Samsung may straddle the fence with regard to build quality when it comes to the company's highly anticipated Galaxy S5 flagship, offering both a metal version and a version that keeps the Galaxy S series' signature plastic construction. This
according to SamMobile, which cites Samsung insiders in saying that the South Korean tech giant will walk two paths when it comes to the materials going into its next high-end handset. This latest report also comes with additional information on the device's internal specifications, with yet more sources saying that Samsung will pack a super high-resolution screen into the GS5.
Samsung had been rumored to have been considering metal construction for its 2013 flagship, the Galaxy S4. That device, though, appeared sporting the same polycarbonate build of previous models, even as Samsung hailed it as quality material. Some reports claim that Samsung had actually tried metal builds but had been unable to produce units in sufficient quantities to meet the high demand that would accompany the device's launch.
Soon after the GS4 launched, rumors began circulating that Samsung was looking to higher quality materials for its successor. These rumors picked up late last year, with
reports of a confirmed manufacturer for the metal chassis.
Now, the rumors resurface, as the Galaxy S5 is thought to be approaching an unveiling in the very near future. The latest claims have the metal version selling for roughly 800 euros, while the plastic model would sell for around 650 euros. It is unclear whether Samsung will differentiate the two devices by name, but the company is said to be interested in herding consumers toward the higher-cost metal unit.
Aside from its build, the Galaxy S5 is also said to pack one of the highest-resolution screens crammed into a smartphone. Its Super AMOLED display is said to output at a QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440, powered by an Exynos 6 CPU or Snapdragon 805 processor. It will also likely run Android 4.4 KitKat at launch, the latest version of Google's mobile operating system.
Samsung may also launch a number of Galaxy S5 variants around the same time, just as it did with the Galaxy S4. Reportedly, Samsung would release a Galaxy S5 Mini and Galaxy S5 Zoom after the proper S5 launches. Last year saw the introduction of the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy S4 Zoom, as well as a tougher model of the S4, the Galaxy S4 Active.
Top