Samsung Galaxy S5 Due in April, will launch with new Galaxy Gear smartwatch

Samsung logoSamsung is eyeing an April release date for its upcoming Galaxy S 5, and speaking of eye, it's currently testing iris recognition technology that could be featured in the new handset.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Samsung confirmed a March or April release date for its successor to the popular Galaxy S4, and the new device is expected to have a new design and features to compete with Apple's iPhone 5c and 5c smartphones.

Samsung plans to change up the design of the Galaxy S5, mainly because consumers complained that the S4 resembled its predecessor -- the Galaxy S3 -- too closely. Samsung fans want a change, and the company plans to give them that with the new S5. No details were given as to what kind of changes, but there were hints of a possible screen size adjustment.

Aside from cosmetic changes, Samsung is looking to bulk up the new S5 with all-new features. One that may be included in the new handset is eye-scanning technology, which would be on par with Apple's new fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5C and 5S. However, Samsung Executive Vice President of Mobile Lee Young Hee said that this new tech might not be ready in time for the S5.

“Many people are fanatical about iris recognition technology,” said Lee. “We are studying the possibility but can’t really say whether we will have it or not on the S5.”

In addition, Samsung will be coupling its new S5 with an updated wearable that is meant to work alongside the handset.

“We’ve been announcing our first flagship model in the first half of each year, around March and April, and we are still targeting for release around that time,” said Lee. “When we release our S5 device, you can also expect a Gear successor with more advanced functions, and the bulky design will also be improved.”

A recent Reuters report said that Samsung would likely see a slow 2014 for smartphone sales due to Apple moving into the Chinese smartphone market. The iPhone maker just scored a deal with China's largest mobile carrier -- China Mobile Ltd -- late last month, which opens the iPhone up to 760 million China Mobile customers starting January 17, 2014.

Aside from that, Apple is expected to start selling phones with larger screens this year, which is one feature typically dominated by Samsung's Android-powered phones. With Apple entering the market and offering similar features, it poses a real problem for Samsung's mobile business.

Thomson Reuters' Starmine SmartEstimate added that Samsung's fourth quarter business was likely hit by Apple's strong iPhone sales, and that this is expected to continue through the end of the first quarter of this year.

Samsung just posted its Q4 2013 earnings, which saw the company's first profit decline in nine quarters. Operating profit was 8.3 trillion won ($7.8 billion USD) in the three months ended December 2013, which was a decrease from 9 trillion won a year earlier.

Source: DailyTech

Tags: Galaxy S5, Samsung, smartphones, smartwatch

Comments
Add comment

Your name:
Sign in with:
or
Your comment:


Enter code:

E-mail (not required)
E-mail will not be disclosed to the third party


Last news

 
Galaxy Note10 really is built around a 6.7-inch display
 
You may still be able to download your content
 
Facebook, Messenger and Instagram are all going away
 
Minimize apps to a floating, always-on-top bubble
 
Japan Display has been providing LCDs for the iPhone XR, the only LCD model in Apple’s 2018 line-up
 
The 2001 operating system has reached its lowest share level
 
The entire TSMC 5nm design infrastructure is available now from TSMC
 
The smartphone uses a Snapdragon 660 processor running Android 9 Pie
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Review
The evolution of the successful smartphone, now with a waterproof body and USB Type-C
February 7, 2017 / 2
Samsung Galaxy TabPro S - a tablet with the Windows-keyboard
The first Windows-tablet with the 12-inch display Super AMOLED
June 7, 2016 /
Keyboards for iOS
Ten iOS keyboards review
July 18, 2015 /
Samsung E1200 Mobile Phone Review
A cheap phone with a good screen
March 8, 2015 / 4
Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card review
Good sound for those who are not satisfied with the onboard solution
September 25, 2014 / 2
Samsung Galaxy Gear: Smartwatch at High Price
The first smartwatch from Samsung - almost a smartphone with a small body
December 19, 2013 /
 
 

News Archive

 
 
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
232425262728 




Poll

Do you use microSD card with your phone?
or leave your own version in comments (16)