Table of Contents
Security and Privacy Problem
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is arguably, the most sought after and feature-rich phone of the year. Customer expectations are at the highest level for this flagship phone. However, this phone came up short in a few areas that we will discuss here.
The Galaxy S5 comes with a fingerprint sensor, similar to the iPhone. However, Samsung as enabled third-party application developers to interface with this sensor, thus exposing itself to malware and hacking. iPhone claims that the fingerprint value is securely stored within a vault within the phone. They are not saving any kind of information on companies’ server. The Galaxy is integrated with Paypal, and if your fingerprint is hacked, it could be costly! This security hole is probably the biggest drawback of the Galaxy S5.
Camera Performance
Some users have reported issues with the Galaxy S5’s 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera device. Reports indicate problems with the steadiness of the lens module coating method. This is a result of manufacturing difficulties in molding the 6-element optics. Issues seem to have been resolved in later builds of the phone, but keep an eye out on this if you have one of the first batches.
Heart Rate Monitor
One of the new features included in the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a Heart Rate Monitor. Using this monitor is both simple and useful. Samsung has embedded the heart rate monitor feature into the S Health app that is currently available. In addition to measuring your heart rate, it will tell you about your total time resting, exercising, standing, etc. Nifty looking charts are also available to you. For the most part this feature is solid, but there have been reports with consistency issues – repeated measurements can have above normal variance.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Design
Samsung attempted to overhaul this version of the phone to set it apart from the previous generation S4. The S5 features a matte back, whereas the Galaxy S4 is slick and shiny. One huge departure with the S5 is that the body is made completely out of plastic. The average user may think there are metal components to the body, but that is just a type of plastic. The new-design side’s area unit is ribbed too, which does not look as nice as the S4. Still, it feels smooth in hand and Samsung succeeded in simplifying the design.
Internal Speaker
One thing that is immediately apparent, is that Samsung neglected the internal speaker. There are two sound pipes on the top of the back side but the sound coming from it is pretty tinny and bass-free. The speaker also causes fairly severe vibration within the lower a part of the phone’s rear. Compare to HTC One and other smart phone its average in this area; also it is a bit annoying.
Samsung really has done a horrible job with the speakerphone option as it sounds absolutely horrid.
Tons of vibrations and static. I have changed 3 handsets and all with the same problem.
Is there a solution for this?
Samsung should make this a recall….
This is the last time I am buying everything Samsung. My BB Z30 was way better……So much for giving Samsung a try
Thanks for your feedback Alex. I am not aware of any solution for this. Unfortunately, this day in age manufacturer’s focus is not on actual call quality. It is pumping out the biggest, fastest phone and as often as possible.
My 10 year old Samsung flip phone was rock solid that never dropped calls.. I’ve tried numerous smart phones and they all have signal issues.
Yes i am having issues with my S5 as well, the back and the front speakers both sound very fuzzy, i can barely understand what people are saying when im on a call. My S3 speakers were much clearer and had more clarity than this S5 i have got now, very unhappy with this. I do think it could be because samsung added some sort of waterproof layer on top of these speakers to stop water from passing in hence could be the reason for unclear sound.
I came to this site seeking information because the speakerphone on my girlfriend’s S5, which I bought as a Birthday gift, sounds like crap from just a small distance a way, because you can’t make out what is being said. It clips off words, and is tinny, and has the poorest speakerphone pickup I have ever witnessed in a cellphone, and that is no lie or exaggeration. Since this seems to be a design problem, and NONE of the so-called pre-release testers caught this obvious flaw, how can Samsung be alerted and this issue be corrected via a re-call or something? I own an S3 and have had no problems with this brand’s speakerphone, before now…anyone else with this problem? or better yet, a solution route through Samsung?
Seriously peeved with the S5. It is my business phone and half the time people complain that I sound like I am talking in a tunnel and echoing. It’s so irritating. I called my provider emobile and they need the phone back for 5 days to ‘check it’. In its abscence they will give me basic text call phone. I wont be able to check emails and in my work I cannot give that up. So I cannot send the phone back. My S2 which i no longer have was fine. Now Im stuck with this or buy a brand new smart phone. This must be recalled.
So I get my S5 in June 18, 2014 vrom RadioShack. Less than a month later the camera keeps giving me the “Camera Failed” warning. I could reboot the phone and it worked fine, but as of today, rebooting does not work. Factory reset did not work either. I called Samsung and they will only repair (not replace the phone). It requires I send the phone to them and wait 7-14 business days to get my phone back. Who can go that long without their phone? I called Sprint and they won’t touch the issue because I bought the phone from RadioShack. RadioShack told me to go to Sprint. I also have the option of using my insurance coverage and paying $100 for the phone. But why should I pay when it’s the manufacturer’s defect and not mine? I’m pissed. About to place a complaint with several agencies. This is a rip off!
I just contacted Samsung about my Galaxy S5 because the camera isn’t operating properly. Once I take a photo or record a video and play it back, I would get and error message that says, “Unable to play this video or view this photo, File has incorrect data.” In addition to the phone freezing up. The freezing up doesn’t happen all of the time. I purchased this phone June 15, 2014. I didn’t expect to have problems this soon.
The representative requested that I download Kies version 3.0 to reset the phone to factory settings. I will reset the phone and see what happens.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Cheryl D Morris, I feel the same way that you do. I also have insurance on my phone. My was purchased from BoostMobile in June and they want me to pay $175 for a new phone…what!!
Sorry to hear about so many issues with this phone. If you are interested in getting rid of your phone at a good price, try Craigslist or howardforums.com
The S5 i have will not allow me to see or post photos via text. It worked the first week i had it then it completely stopped. Now all i get is a download button that only makes a boing noise. Verizon tech support has been zero help with the issue, so i have to tell my friends that there photos are not coming threw. Very frustrating
Lately I received many complaints that my phone was switched off. If I am making a call the call doesn’t go through. I end up restarting phone several times before it starts working again. I don’t know what is the problem. Is it a conflict with some other app or bug that needs to be fixed. Has anyone else come across similar problem?
hi everyone,
i came with a samsung s5 strange problem…
when i put backcover of my s5(flipcover or simple back cover), during the call the guy that i am talking to is hearing his own voice in his phone.if i remove the backcover everything it s normal…any ideas?
i tested the sim card in oter phones and it s ok.
i test another sim cards in this phone and it s happening too.
I am having the same problem with the sound on my phone. People tell me they can hear me. They hear every third word or so. I think I’m taking mine back to where I purchased it!
Can’t hear me. Sorry.
So I got the s5 Pease of shit phone I will never buy anything from Samsung most problems ever ever again att wount change it I had change my phone 5 times and they wount replace with other phones so 100% would not recommended to anyone
I’ve just discovered that my camera lens is cracked. Phone is just on two months old. Never been dropped. Reading through other forums, this seems to be a problem for quite a few others. Has anybody else had this? Is it a defect?
Do Not Purchase S5 if u are thinking about it!!! I hate this phone. This is my 3rd phone that I have had to exchange out and now my speaker does not work at all. I am paying a lot of money for a phone I have to exchange every 3 months. This phone is not worth the money or time!!!! I wish I never got it!!
I was much happier with my S3! The speakers are terrible & my phone is constantly dropping my wifi connection… as I sit only feet from the router. Also the auto correction is a real pain.
I agree Samsung should do a recall due to the speakers. We spend way too much money not to have a good quality phone worth all the bells & whistles!!!!!
I am having issues with people claiming i sound as if im talking to them through a “tunnel” or through “water.” The engineering team is trying to fix the issue, but I don’t know if they will be able to considering the other reviews i read 🙁
I hate samsung galaxy s5. Will request all not to waste u r money for such a garbage phone.
My S5 has an echo reported to me by listeners on the other side. My S3 didn’t have this problem. Last Samsung I’ll buy. I wish I had my S3 back… much better phone.
Yea, this phone’s a piece of crap. I am mad at myself for getting roped into marketing ploy. The camera is absolute crap. It you aren’t out in perfect daylight, your pictures are grainy. So much for “higher quality than the iPhone”. Thanks but no thanks, Samsung
Samsung s5 I hear myself in the background as an echo and people say that I sound muffled does anybody have a solution to this crap?
Had my s5 for 3 weeks now. Would if been a good phone if it weren’t for the crapp speaker.I have to cup my hand to be able to hear it and that’s on max speaker. Plus it has rattle/ vibration syndrome. Not happy. Might go back to my s4 or s2.
My S5 internal speakers have developed a short after about 3 months of use. Of course AT&T is making me take the phone to a ” warranty center ” to be checked out, instead of letting me replace it at a phone center store. Great customer service….nope 🙁
The S5 is nowhere near as good as the S4. Speaker is crap and it’s functionality is average. It’s taken me 3 minutes to type this for God’s sake!
I had the HTC One which I LOVED but the scroll started slowing down majorly after 18 months. I didn’t like the camera on the upgraded one so instead of waiting a little bit longer for the one that’s out now, I figured I would try the G5. I’ve had it for a couple of months. I actually hate it. The Camera takes the worst pictures for an Android. It takes forever to focus and by the time is does you miss the shot. I can hear myself talking to people, it echoes. My back button doesn’t work half the time. And, why are we stuck in this dreaded Picasa land of pictures???? I’ve gone online to try to troubleshoot my pictures out of there. Won’t work. It constantly syncs my apps together whether I tell it to or not. I have to double check every text I send. If not, I appear drunk in all of them. It spaces, capitalizes, makes up words as it goes along. One text or post takes forever. And I never had a phone that roams for service so much that my data usage is always over even though I have everything to a minimum and data is off. It’s a new adventure everyday, I could go on. It appears to have a mind of its own. Good news is I can get another HTC if I’m willing to pay like 600.00 to pay the G5 off of the stupid next plan. So, I’m stuck. My son’s G4….he LOVES it. He can’t believe how horrible the G5 is. Someone dropped the ball on this one just a little bit I think.
I have been a iPhone user for years and decided to switch to a Samsung s 5 active. Worst mistake of my life. The storage became full 7 days after I got it and could not take photos. The speaker is terrible, the focus on the camera is of no use, the screen freezes way to much, apps close on their own, I cannot always post to social media sites, I haven’t even had this phone for 30 days, seriously am I supposed to be ok with this phone paying 659.00. I think not. But what choice do I have. I wish something would be done about all this.
Bought a G’S 3 weeks back, had a lot of expectations and hopes but they all seemed to have dashed. The speaker really isn’t that good, the handsfree calling does not work for some reason, the person just cannot hear my voice, the problem gets resolved if I put my phone off loudspeaker but then this is no solution. My s3 actually was better just a little slow. Any help anyone..??
So, I’ve had my S5 for … 3-4 months now, not really sure how long.
I love it!
I haven’t experienced any of the problems that the other users have had, but I spent a lot of time customizing my phone so that it works the way that I want it to.
I’m not really sure what else to say. It takes great photos… sometimes the flash is hella bright, but that’s just the way that is. I have no trouble with the interface, with the way it accesses applications, none of that.
I’m literally trying to figure out something that I don’t like about it, but I’m having trouble.
I think maybe the one thing that frustrates me is that I don’t have a television that I can beam things to at home. So I haven’t been able to use that feature yet. I want to use all of the things!!!
I am so frustrated with everyone complaining they can’t hear me all the while I hear them fine. Thankfully I still have a landline and have to move to that phone. There are a lot of people complaining about the sound quality. Samsung needs to do the right thing and recall because it is going to cost them customers for future purchases…starting with me.
Hello every one my Samsung Galaxy S5 at&t phone is when it freezes there is no display, invert the screen and changes the color of the screen. So how to fix those problem please tell me?
I previously had a galaxy 5 that I purchased in July. It was stolen. Received a new galaxy this past Monday 11/24/14. Having major issues customizing my phone and personal contacts the way it was last time. And certainly it’s much more of an issue this time around! Have setting changed? Not to mention I can’t delete any photos from gallery. Someone please point me in the right direction
I got this phone s5 in may, sound is very muffled constantly, got a refurbish phone and its worst than the previous one, it constantly drop calls, roaming to make calls, im tired of being told i cant be heard on the other end. my iphone 3g was way more reliable and rarely drop a call, this phone is crap im going back to iphone
My samsung s5 is itself getting back. Without touching the back button. This usualy happens when i am using my phone it is on charging. But this issue also happens when it is unplugged form charging. Do anybody knows why this is happening or anyone can help. Or should i go to service centre.
Anyone having trouble with the time? My phone keep changing the time.
Speaker makes lot of static noise when I play a video and the sound is also bad on loudspeaker..I’m trying to make my mind up.. should I change it for an other smartphone or do all other brands also have issues? I have had a galaxy s for around 4 years, the only problem with it was that I couldn’t use the sat nav because a manufacturer issue, but that wasn’t to important to me and apart from that no other problems.. should I keep this Gs5 or witch phone should I get?
Same problem with my s5 active, my s3 worked just fine, I want my money back.
my speaker phone is not working on my samsung galaxy 5 please tell me if I am missing a setting somewhere or something is very annoying not to have the speaker working thank you
Just got the S5 on the weekend of Thanksgiving. One of the features that drawed to this phone was the HRM sensor that is on it. I downloaded S health and the sensor lit red one time when I placed my finger over the sensor and hasnt worked sense. Iam very disappointed because my husband and mother both got these phones at same time and theirs work fine and mine dont. Geesh go figure and I was the one that wanted it
my $20 LG took better pics
Loved my S3! Getting endless complaints while speaking in speakerphone mode. ‘It sounds like you’re in a tunnel’, ‘I can’t understand what you’re saying’ etc. From what I’ve read only solution is go and turn this in for a Samsung S4.I’ve had it for one week today and it’s been one week too long!!
Hate my samsung s5 switched from iPhone bad idea, I have 3 s5 and 2 of them have lost the door to the place where you charge it , customer service sucks. People at AT&T say they know others that it has happened to. I hate it never again
Do not purchase the Samsung S5! It’s speakers are the absolute worst! I am having the same problems being heard as the others. I too wished I stayed with IPhone.
same problem here gs5 speaker phone just went out and is horrible.
This phone is a piece of crap, no signal lots of times, people can not hear me, plus I use my keypad, at times this doesn’t work. The speaker is just horrible, who puts a speaker in the BACK of a phone, should of stuck with my 4, did a much better job..
I too am having trouble with this phone and I have not even had it a month. The speaker on it is now so low you can hardly hear it and people say they hear a bad echo when they talk to me. I had no problem with my old flip phone. I want it fixed or a new phone.
Had the Galaxy S5 for 3 weeks right now. Upgraded from a flip phone. People can’t hear me and say that they can’t understand what i’m saying. Speaker volume is low on max. Very dissapointing. I do have Sprint but I really wasn’t expecting a brand new smart phone to not be able to make phone calls lol.
Hey, the speaker from the back of the phone doesn’t work at all. This is a bad experience with the phone. I need an answer otherwise, can’t continue like this.
i have all the setting right on my samsung galaxy s5 including mono sterio n sound balance i even changed the ear phone but sound didnt came from my right ear phone.it came only from left.what should i do