With the Samsung Galaxy S5 Duos, Samsung is clearly aiming at buyers who want a well-rounded phone without too many compromises. Here is our take on what it brings to the table. Announced in 2014, June. Released 2014, June, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
Up front there is a 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm 2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) screen, pushing a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density), which is more than sharp enough for everyday use, streaming and a bit of gaming. It is not trying to reinvent the wheel with its design, but it does look the part. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Charcoal Black.
Performance & Software
At the heart of it sits the Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 (28 nm), paired with 2GB of RAM. That combination should handle day-to-day multitasking and most games without breaking a sweat. It runs Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), TouchWiz UI out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
Photography is handled by a main 16 MP shooter that should cover most situations, from daylight shots to the occasional low-light frame. It is not a pro camera rig, but for everyday memories it gets the job done nicely.
Battery
Keeping the lights on is a Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable cell, which should comfortably see most people through a full day on a single charge.
Our Opinion
So, what do we actually make of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Duos? Samsung has clearly gone for substance over gimmicks here, and we respect that approach. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. In day-to-day use it feels like the kind of device you can rely on, whether you are replying to messages, scrolling through social media, watching videos or taking the odd photo. You could nitpick a few things, as you can with any phone in this bracket. Even so, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Duos holds its own and represents a solid, no-nonsense buy. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
