User Review History
scottegos2's review of the Samsung Galaxy S5 (CDMA) / Galaxy S5 Sport
original version, submitted May 2, 2014, 9:47 AM:
Great hardware, software is meh
This is my third Android phone - started with the Photon, then had an HTC One M7, now this. I'd bought the HTC because I didn't like the GS3 (my wife has one). I definitely new I needed to upgrade because I needed triband LTE in my office. On the whole, I'm happy with this choice; however, see below in the obligatory pros and cons.
*Pros:
- Beautiful Screen
- Vastly improved mobile data reception compared to the HTC One M7. Mostly that's probably because of Triband LTE (aks Sprint Spark)
- Improved wifi (2 radios/antennas vs 1 for HTC One M7 *or* M8)
- Very fast CPU and GPU
- Replaceable battery (can get them for $5 on amazon or ebay) which is really helpful for travel.
- Sturdy and waterproof construction
- lightweight (relative to M8 - marginally heavier than M7)
Cons:
- Touchwiz really, really stinks. The settings menu is a confusing nightmare and there's no way to come out of lock screen into particular apps (aside from taking pictures while locked). Nova launcher helps a little, but can't fix the other stuff
- Bloated with awful software - Without exception, all of the Samsung stuff (S-whatever) stinks.
- Can't talk and use mobile data. This is a problem with Sprint Spark, but it's a step backwards from the Photon and the HTC One where, assuming 4g was available, I could talk and either tether or just do a quick internet search or look at email. Now, the only way to talk and access internet is if you're on wifi. HATE it.
- Fingerprint scanner is not great. I can get my index finger to work but almost never my thumb.
- Audio - the sound basically stinks both volume and quality-wise. With headphones it's better.
Oh, yeah. It has a camera. I don't care.
edited May 2, 2014, 9:57 AM to read:
Great hardware, software not so much
This is my third Android phone - started with the Photon, then had an HTC One M7, now this. I'd bought the HTC because I didn't like the GS3 (my wife has one). I definitely new I needed to upgrade because I needed triband LTE in my office. On the whole, I'm happy with this choice; however, see below in the obligatory pros and cons.
*Pros:
- Beautiful Screen
- Vastly improved mobile data reception compared to the HTC One M7. Mostly that's probably because of Triband LTE (aks Sprint Spark)
- Improved wifi (2 radios/antennas vs 1 for HTC One M7 *or* M8)
- Very fast CPU and GPU
- Replaceable battery (can get them for $5 on amazon or ebay) which is really helpful for travel.
- Sturdy and waterproof construction
- lightweight (relative to M8 - marginally heavier than M7)
Cons:
- Touchwiz really, really stinks. The settings menu is a confusing nightmare and there's no way to come out of lock screen into particular apps (aside from taking pictures while locked). Nova launcher helps a little, but can't fix the other stuff
- Bloated with awful software - Without exception, all of the Samsung stuff (S-whatever) stinks.
- Can't talk and use mobile data. This is a problem with Sprint Spark, but it's a step backwards from the Photon and the HTC One where, assuming 4g was available, I could talk and either tether or just do a quick internet search or look at email. Now, the only way to talk and access internet is if you're on wifi. HATE it.
- Fingerprint scanner is not great. I can get my index finger to work but almost never my thumb.
- Audio - the sound basically stinks both volume and quality-wise. With headphones it's better.
Oh, yeah. It has a camera. I don't care.
edited May 4, 2014, 11:41 AM to the current version:
Great hardware, software not so much
This is my third Android phone - started with the Photon, then had an HTC One M7, now this. I'd bought the HTC because I didn't like the GS3 (my wife has one). I definitely new I needed to upgrade because I needed triband LTE in my office. On the whole, I'm happy with this choice despite the amazingly substandard software; however, see below in the obligatory pros and cons.
*Pros:
- Beautiful Screen
- Vastly improved mobile data reception compared to the HTC One M7. Mostly that's probably because of Triband LTE (aks Sprint Spark)
- Improved wifi (2 radios/antennas vs 1 for HTC One M7 *or* M8)
- Very fast CPU and GPU
- Replaceable battery (can get them for $5 on amazon or ebay) which is really helpful for travel.
- Sturdy and waterproof construction
- lightweight (relative to M8 - marginally heavier than M7)
Cons:
- Touchwiz really, really stinks. The settings menu is a confusing nightmare and there's no way to come out of lock screen into particular apps (aside from taking pictures while locked). Nova launcher helps a little, but can't fix the other stuff
- Bloated with awful software - Without exception, all of the Samsung stuff (S-whatever) stinks.
- Can't talk and use mobile data. This is a problem with Sprint Spark, but it's a step backwards from the Photon and the HTC One where, assuming 4g was available, I could talk and either tether or just do a quick internet search or look at email. Now, the only way to talk and access internet is if you're on wifi. HATE it.
- No lock screen widgets except camera!!
- Fingerprint scanner is not great. I can get my index finger to work but almost never my thumb.
- Audio - the sound basically stinks both volume and quality-wise. With headphones it's better.
Oh, yeah. It has a camera. I don't care.
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