Galaxy S5 rumors flare up as release date draws near
Galaxy S5 with fingerprint sensor and 16-megapixel camera? Those are two rumors floating around the Web as anticipation for the latest Galaxy smart watch also grows.
Ads for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S4 smart phone hang on display at a showroom of its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Rumors about the next generation Galaxy have been swirling around the Internet all week.
Lee Jin-man/AP/File
Just ahead of the major Samsung “Unpacked 5” event at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week, the Internet is buzzing about what Samsung will offer in its next Galaxy smart phone.
From an improved camera to a fingerprint sensor to a sharper display than ever before, rumors and leaks are flying around the tech world as to what Samsung could have up its sleeve. Though details won’t be revealed until next week, it’s likely Samsung is aiming for its next device to rival the success of Apple’s iPhone 5S, though the tech company hasn't forgotten its presence in growing emerging markets.
One likely improvement over the Galaxy S4 will be a 5.2-inch screen and a sharper display, according to Bloomberg, which cited unnamed sources. Tech blog Pocket Lint also reported this rumor, after an online retailer in the Netherlands was reportedly asked to take down a listing for the Galaxy S5 that included some not-yet-released specifications. These included a 5.2-inch screen (the S4 has a 5-inch screen), full HD resolution, and a 16-megapixel camera.
After the iPhone 5S was released with fingerprint scanner technology, smart phone companies have been scrambling to include innovative security features to their devices. The rumor on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is that a fingerprint scanner is in store, but it will employ a swipe, instead of a straight print. Tech website SamMobile says it confirmed with Samsung insiders that the sensor will be built into the home button and will unlock the phone when users swipe their entire fingerprint, from base to tip, on the sensor.
However, none of these rumors have been proved true, and Samsung has surprised the tech world before.
Samsung executive Lee Young Hee told Bloomberg in a January interview that Samsung has considered eye-scanning security technology, and will go “back to the basics” in terms of design. She also says this model will be more geared toward the professional, and people who are willing to pay more for a handset. It will be released along with the newest design of the Galaxy Gear smart watch.
Though this may be a luxury option, Samsung hasn’t forgotten about growing emerging markets where it has (and hopes to hold) smart phone dominance. On Tuesday, Samsung announced the Galaxy Core LTE for Europe and Asia, a new option for the more cost-conscious consumer. It’s a midrange smart phone, with a 4.5-inch display and runs on Android Jelly Bean. However, Samsung has not yet released pricing or release date.