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Samsung clambered to the top of the Android pile with the launch of the defining Galaxy S back in 2010, and has managed to repel its rivals with increasing confidence since then. The Galaxy S5 is the latest member of the family, and seeks to build on the success of previous models without scaring away the legions of fans that Samsung has amassed of late. In that regard, it's a triumph - certainly more of an evolution than a revolution - although if you're expecting any amazing innovations or life-changing features, you're going to come away distinctly disappointed. Samsung knows that it has found a winning formula in the Galaxy S range, and clearly doesn't want to tinker with it too much lest the commercial magic should somehow be lost in the process.Let's focus on the positives for now, though. The Galaxy S5's 1080p Super AMOLED screen is nothing short of incredible, providing fantastic colour replication, deep blacks and impressive performance in direct sunlight. It's a miniscule 0.1 inches bigger than the one witnessed on the S4 - a negligible increase - but anything bigger would have pushed the phone into "phablet" territory, and Samsung already has the Galaxy Note series in that sector. The resolution is the same as the S4 - 1920x1080 - and as is the case with pretty much any top-level smartphone on the market right now, picking out individual pixels is nigh-on impossible.
With the S4 range, Samsung tried to offer an option for everyone. Alongside the standard handset, consumers were also given the choice of the S4 Zoom and the S4 Active, the latter of which was essentially the same internals as the S4 encased in a water and dustproof chassis. The good news is that Samsung has taken note of Sony's approach with the Xperia Z2 and decided to bring IP67 certification to its flagship handset, rather than presenting it as a separate alternative. While the S5 lacks the S4 Active's tough, rubber-coated casing, it will happily survive a dip in the wet stuff - although you have to be especially diligent about properly sealing the USB port and ensuring that the battery cover is always properly affixed. Thankfully, the phone flashes up on-screen reminders regarding these steps whenever you remove it from the wall charger or replace the back cover.
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