Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus

The Evolution of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus: From Launch to Discontinuation

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus, released in November 2014, was an upgraded version of the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S5. It boasted several new features and improvements, making it a highly sought-after smartphone at the time.

However, despite its initial success, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was recently discontinued, leaving many wondering what led to its downfall and how it has evolved over the years.

Let's take a closer look at the evolution of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus, from its launch to its discontinuation.

The Launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was announced in October 2014, with a release date of November 2014. The smartphone was highly anticipated, building upon the success of its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S5.

At the time of its launch, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was powered by the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, with a TouchWiz UI. It also boasted a powerful Qualcomm APQ8084 Snapdragon 805 chipset and a quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 450 CPU, making it a truly high-performance device.

One of its standout features was its GPU, the Adreno 420, which provided an immersive gaming experience for users. The smartphone also came in two storage options – 16GB with 2GB RAM, and 32GB with 2GB RAM – and had a dedicated microSDXC slot for expandable storage. This was a huge improvement from its predecessor, which did not have a dedicated microSD slot.

Display and Body

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus featured a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, with a screen-to-body ratio of 69.6%. It had a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a density of 432 pixels per inch, providing sharp and vibrant visuals.

The display was also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, making it resistant to scratches and everyday wear and tear. The smartphone also had an IP67 rating, making it dust and water-resistant, with the ability to withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.

In terms of body dimensions, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus measured 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm and weighed 145g, making it a slim and lightweight device. It also had a micro-SIM slot and supported wireless charging, a feature that was not widely offered at the time.

Camera and Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus had a 16MP main camera, with features such as LED flash, panorama, and HDR. It also had advanced video capabilities, with the ability to shoot in 4K at 30 frames per second and 1080p at 30/60 frames per second. Additionally, it had stereo sound recording for a more immersive video experience.

The smartphone also had a 2MP front-facing camera, which supported dual video calls and could record in 1080p at 30 frames per second. This was a significant improvement from its predecessor, which had a 2.1MP front camera with no video recording capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was powered by a 2800 mAh removable battery, which provided up to 20 hours of talk time on 3G and up to 75 hours of music play. It also supported wireless charging with a Qi-compatible charger, making it effortless to top up the battery on the go.

Cellphone Network and Communication

When it was launched, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus supported GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, providing blazing-fast internet speeds. It also had HSPA speeds of up to 42.2 Mbps for downloads and 5.76 Mbps for uploads. Additionally, it had LTE-A Cat6 speeds of 300 Mbps for downloads and 50 Mbps for uploads, making it one of the fastest smartphones at the time.

In terms of communication, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus had Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NFC, and an infrared port. However, it did not have a radio, a feature that was still popular at the time.

Features and Miscellaneous

One of the most talked-about features of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was its Fingerprint sensor, which was conveniently located on the front of the device. It also had several other sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, and heart rate sensor.

The smartphone also supported S-Voice, a natural language command and dictation feature, and Air Gestures, allowing users to interact with their devices hands-free.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was available in four color options – Charcoal Black, Copper Gold, Electric Blue, and Shimmery White – and had the model number SM-G901F. It also had an SAR rating of 1.09 W/kg for the head and 1.29 W/kg for the body, and an SAR EU rating of 0.61 W/kg for the head and 0.38 W/kg for the body.

The initial price of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was around 380 EUR, making it a high-end smartphone at the time.

The Discontinuation of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus

Despite its initial success, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was recently discontinued, with production and sales halted. One of the main reasons for its discontinuation was the release of newer and more advanced smartphones by Samsung and other competitors.

The release of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, with their innovative curved displays and sleek designs, overshadowed the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus. Additionally, as technology advanced, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus became outdated in terms of its software and hardware capabilities.

In Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus was a significant evolution from its predecessor, offering several new features and improvements. It was a highly sought-after smartphone at the time of its launch, but ultimately could not keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements.

Although it may no longer be in production, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus remains a testament to Samsung's commitment to providing top-notch smartphones to its customers. It will always be remembered as a groundbreaking device that pushed the limits of what a smartphone could do.

Latest Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

• Announced:  2014, October. Released 2014, November
• Status:  Discontinued

PLATFORM

• Operating System:  Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), TouchWiz UI
• Chipset:  Qualcomm APQ8084 Snapdragon 805 (28 nm)
• CPU:  Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 450
• GPU:  Adreno 420

MEMORY

• Card slot:  microSDXC (dedicated slot)
• Internal:  16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM - eMMC 5.0

DISPLAY

• Type:  Super AMOLED
• Size:  5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution:  1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
• Protection:  Corning Gorilla Glass 3

BODY

• Dimensions:  142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)
• Weight:  145 g (5.11 oz)
• SIM:  Micro-SIM - IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)

MAIN CAMERA

• Single:  16 MP, 1/2.6", 1.12µm, PDAF
• Features:  LED flash, panorama, HDR
• Video:  4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.

SELFIE CAMERA

• Single:  2 MP
• Features:  Dual video call
• Video:  1080p@30fps

BATTERY

• Type:  Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable
• Charging:  Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
• Talk time:  Up to 20 h (3G)
• Music play:  Up to 75 h

CELLPHONE NETWORK

• Technology:  GSM / HSPA / LTE
• 2G bands:  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• 3G bands:  HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
• 4G bands:  1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20
• Speed:  HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A Cat6 300/50 Mbps

SOUND

• Loudspeaker :  Yes
• 3.5mm jack :  Yes - 24-bit/192kHz audio

COMMUNICATIONS

• WLAN:  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth:  4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX
• Positioning:  GPS, GLONASS, BDS
• NFC:  Yes
• Infrared port:  Yes
• Radio:  No
• USB:  microUSB 3.0 (MHL 2.1 TV-out), USB On-The-Go

FEATURES

• Sensors:  Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture, heart rate - ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation Air gestures

MISCELLANEOUS

• Colors:  Charcoal Black, Copper Gold, Electric Blue, Shimmery White
• Models:  SM-G901F
• SAR:  1.09 W/kg (head) & & 1.29 W/kg (body) & &
• SAR EU:  0.61 W/kg (head) & & 0.38 W/kg (body) & &
• Price:  About 380 EUR

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.