European Galaxy S5 LTE-A will not get QHD display

This might be a disappointment to some die-hard folks, but to people who recently got the Galaxy S5 this could mean a sigh of relief- According to a recent benchmark, when the European variation of the Galaxy S5 LTE-A makes its way to Europe (same probably goes for the rest of the world), it will not sport an improved QHD display.

After the Galaxy S5 LTE-A's initial release, when it was revealed to feature an improved QHD display paired with a Snapdragon 805... Actually, it didn't cause a fret to S5 owners, since it was alleged to be South Korea exclusive.

Now, according to SamMobile, not only will it make its way to Europe, but it will not feature the QHD display, instead settling for FHD, and so basically the only change will be the addition of a Snapdragon 805, which was proved not to be a big change. Anyways, the SD 805 is a necessity for LTE-A since SD 801 doesn't support Cat.6 LTE, which is basically a long name for LTE-A. 

More changes in specs are actually negative, and include a 15 MP camera (1 MP less than standard) apparently without support for 4K recording (this might change by the official announcement). Rest of the specs are standard, including 2 GB RAM, 2 MP front, and the phone will run the latest Android KitKat 4.4.4. Here is the full benchmark:

So, if you're lucky enough to live in a zone which even supports this new broadband, then unless it's the same price you shouldn't make an effort to get it. Stay tuned anyways for official release and pricing. 

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Samsung to announce Galaxy Alpha on August 4th

Thanks to recent leaks, we already have plenty of information concerning the upcoming Galaxy Alpha, including the screen size, resolution, and some of the specs. So, with this much information leaking out, it seems Samsung will not hold it for much longer, and an upcoming release is imminent.

This Galaxy Alpha is rumored to be an iPhone contender, and so an August release date would make sense, since on the one hand it will be pretty close to the rumored iPhone 6 September launch date, and from the other hand it will not compete with the Note 4 for the attention (if it would have been release in September). 

Let's remind you of the device's features- It will sport a 4.8' 720p display, along with 32 GB non-expandable storage, but the big deal is the metal chassis, rumored to be a mere 6 mm thick. That would make for a really attractive device, and at its dimensions a very direct grab for the iPhone's money. Perhaps a downside, but that's really depends on your opinion, it will have the same dimpled back as the S5.

What do you think of the device, liking what you're seeing so far? 

Source: SamMobile

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Galaxy S5 camera shown off in new video

Pre-release, much has been said about Samsung's 16 MP ISOCELL sensor, most positive, but after the phone was released and some pictures were taken, some people were disappointed by the camera's performance, mainly in tricky situations such as low-light. 

In this video, Samsung is trying to show how the S5's camera performs great in every lighting/movement situation. Moving has been another issue once Samsung's omission of an OIS was revealed, and it is getting a 'thorough test' in this video. While I think the consensus is that in fair light the S5 performs nicely, the interesting part is when the sun starts setting. Before we get on with the commentary, watch the video below:




Purely based on what we see in this video, it seems Samsung breaks most of the bad reports concerning the camera's performance, as it seems to perform particularly well in all situations, including a video seemingly shot from a helicopter, in which the lack of IOS isn't showing at all.

However, worrying is Samsung's line, "certain images and videos may be enhanced". While that was expected, it is worrying we might see the Lumia case all over again (I'm talking about the camera-performance video by Nokia about the Lumia 1020, when they pass by a mirror and the alleged Lumia 1020 doing the shooting is actually revealed to be a complex set of high-end cameras. Hmm...). 

Nonetheless, these videos were probably shot by the S5, and while it might not be fair as well in reality, it is by no means a bad camera and is overall on par with the rest of the market.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Extreme Power Saving Mode highlighted in new video

Samsung is known for releasing controversial ads that, while sometimes being a little provocative, I personally find very amusing, even if I don’t completely support the content.

With this new ad, Samsung is cleaning its hands and focusing primarily on the product itself, without sending clues at other companies, and highlights two features of the phone: The main one the Extreme Power Saving Mode, and at the end also the swappable battery.

In contrary to what I usually do, since I don’t want to spoil the video, I’ll add the video explanation after the video. So, here’s Samsung’s official ad:

After we’ve all watched it, I can say the video features two US-lovers, which go on a coast-to-coast trip with only one battery (which in a dramatic end-of-the-video twist are revealed to be two!) and an Extreme Power Saving Mode, to survive the trip on a single charge, which they successfully do, while taking over 100 pictures, sending tens of texts and taking some videos.

While usually I would’ve doubted company-made reviews like this, I would believe it of the power-saving mode to be capable of that, since it takes away all power-consuming parts of the phone- most apps, and display color.

I find it pretty impressive, and while people don’t usually go on such long trips, and those who do might bring a power-pack, this can be a very simple solution for those looking to last with just a phone, without giving up all smart-capabilities. Tell us what you think below!

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