Not to be left out, Vodafone has stepped up to the plate to announce they’ll also be stocking the Samsung Galaxy S5, the latest iteration to the Galaxy flagship. They’ll be joining EE and Three who have already confirmed the 16 Megapixel waterproofed wander will be gracing their shelves. As usual, we don’t know exactly when it’ll hit, but we’ve been assured its soon.
[edit: other sources have announced the phone will be on global release on April 11.]
How about Vodafone also letting you know that they’ll also be stocking the Sony Z2? That’s right, 5.2 inches of their glorious new triluminos screen at 424 ppi.
The GALAXY S5 is stacked with headline features; both the software and hardware have had a careful overhaul, and there’s a laundry list of tech that makes it an early contender for 2014’s best phone. Ready to find out more? Read on for the details.
A GALAXY not so far, far away…
There’s a lot to talk about with the Samsung GALAXY S5, so the best way to do it is to divide it out into specific areas:
GALAXY S5: Display and design
With the S4, Samsung worked hard to chip away at the bezel while making the screen bigger, and that’s a trend that’s continued to the GALAXY S5. The display is a 5.1” FHD Super AMOLED, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, but it’s inside a frame that’s only 8.1mm thick. That means your apps, videos and favourite websites will look stunning, but you won’t have trouble keeping hold of it or slipping it into your pocket.
The chassis itself has been given a fresh lick of paint, taking some of the design cues from previous GALAXY S phones and adding a splash of colour. The rear now features a stylish dimpled design, and the whole thing is also IP67 dust and water resistant.
GALAXY S5: Camera
Keen on photography? The GALAXY S5 has got you more than covered. The rear camera has had an overhaul, now sporting a hugely impressive 16-Megapixel sensor with the world’s fastest smartphone autofocus speed – up to 0.3 seconds. That’s backed up by Samsung’s new and enhanced camera interface software.
The front webcam is a 2.0-Megapixel sensor, for great video calling.
GALAXY S5: Processor and memory
Underneath that gargantuan screen, things get even more impressive. Your apps and games will be powered by a next-generation Quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM. That’s an incredibly powerful setup, and it means that the GALAXY S5 will handle absolutely anything you throw at it with ease.
GALAXY S5: Touchwiz and software
Touchwiz is the name for the software that Samsung lovingly layers over the top of Android to make the interface more fluid. The GALAXY S5 boasts a brand new version of this, Touchwiz 5, which sits over Android 4.4.2 KitKat – the very latest iteration of Google’s operating system.
“The GALAXY S5 has a heap of amazing new tech built to make the experience even better.”
As per usual, Samsung’s software innovation doesn’t stop there; the GALAXY S5 has a heap of amazing new tech built to make the experience even better. The new Ultra Power Saving Mode turns the screen black and white and kills off unnecessary applications. Want to keep in shape? The inbuilt S Health 3.0 software can act as your personal trainer – tracking your activity with a variety of sensors, including a pedometer and heart rate sensor.
There’s also a fingerprint scanner built into the home button, which lets you keep your phone safe, as well as letting you make payments securely.
galaxy s5 back
As you’d expect, the Samsung GALAXY S5 is also 4G-ready, which means it’s all set for our ultrafast 4G network when you sign up to one of our Red 4G plans.
We’re really excited to be able to lift the lid on the Sony Xperia Z2, which will be coming to Vodafone soon. Sony’s new flagship improves on the already stellar Z1 in just about every way, with a plethora of headline specs.
Keen to find out more? We’ve got everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia Z2 below…
Improvement, everywhere
The Sony Xperia Z2 takes everything that’s great about the Xperia formula and makes it better in every way, from the outside in. It has the highest ever level of waterproofing (IP58 in fact) on a Sony phone and its body takes its design cues from the Z1 but is slimmer and smoother to hold.
Despite the reduced size, that chassis now sits around a brand new, even bigger display. The 5.2-inch, full HD Triluminos screen now boasts Live Colour LED, which makes the colours pop and every detail of pictures and video even clearer.
Continuing the great work that Sony did to make the Z1 better than its predecessor, the Xperia Z2’s camera is an even bigger step ahead. For stills, the camera has a top-class 20.7-Megapixel sensor, and software like SteadyShot to really help you get the most out of your pictures. The front-facing webcam, meanwhile, is a highly capable 2-Megapixel number.
“It’s akin to having a £2,500 camcorder in your pocket.”
When it comes to video the Z2 gets even more impressive. It records video in 4K – the next generation of HD with a resolution of 3840 X 2160. That means that videos shot on the Xperia Z2 will look phenomenal, and are future-proof enough to carry on looking amazing when you play them back on a 4K TV.
Sony says it’s akin to having a £2,500 Sony FDR-AX1 ‘prosumer’ camcorder in your pocket, ready to shoot whenever you are, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll be able to shoot on it.
Inside, the Xperia Z2 benefits from the force of a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It’s an immensely powerful Quad-core 2.3GHz chipset with a huge 3GB of RAM, and that means that the Xperia Z2 can handle an awful lot.
There’s plenty more to be excited about, like the inbuilt Playstation app, monster 3,200mAh battery and NFC technology, but one standout feature has got to be the sound tech…
The sound of tomorrow
Utilising the best of Sony’s BRAVIA TV and Stereo know-how, the Sony Xperia Z2′s stereo speakers are something a bit special. They’ll breathe new life into your videos and music, and really help when it comes to showing your friends what you’ve done with that stunning video camera.
But that’s just one side of the coin: Sony’s imbued the Z2 with new Digital Noise Cancellation technology that reduces up to 98% of ambient noise when you’re on a call.
The same Digital Noise Cancellation technology also pumps through the headphones included with the Xperia Z2, meaning that whether you’re on a call or listening to music, you won’t be bothered by the world around you.
