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Screen

The GS5's display is a Super AMOLED panel measuring 5.1 inches across the diagonal with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It's fractionally larger than the GS4's screen. Samsung certainly didn't drop the ball when it came to the display. The screen is fantastic through and through. I have no complaints whatsoever. It is large, pixel-rich, colorful, and bright. I didn't have any trouble using it indoors or out. All the graphics and UI elements are smooth and show no signs of pixelated edges. It's a truly good screen, just as good as that of the HTC One. Samsung knows how to make excellent displays.

Signal

The Galaxy S5 was a strong performer on Verizon's network, both in terms of calling abilities and data. The GS5 remained connected to Verizon's network throughout the review period and even held on in a known dead zone. The Verizon GS5 always connected calls on the first dail and, unlike the AT&T model, didn't drop any calls at all. The GS5 performed great on Verizon's LTE data network in the metro NYC region. It always showed LTE and never dipped down to EVDO. In general use, web sites loaded quickly and apps had no trouble downloading updates. I was always able to post images to Instagram and Facebook on the first attempt. (It's a bummer the Verizon model lacks Samsung's Download Booster, which combines Wi-Fi and LTE to speed up downloads.) The GS5 didn't give me any trouble on Verizon's network.

Sound

It amazes me how the same phone can sound so different when used on a competing network. The AT&T variant of the GS5 offered crystal clear calls, but it lacked a bit in volume. The Verizon version improves the volume significantly, but at the cost of quality. The calls I made over Verizon's network were better than average, but I wouldn't qualify them as "great." There was noticeable background noise - even if just a little bit - during each of the calls I made. The marked jump in audio volume, however, makes up for the dip in quality. The earpiece of the Verizon version produced much louder voices that I was able to hear at coffee shops, in a busy household, and in crowded malls. The speakerphone's performance mirrored that of the earpiece: Quality was just a bit better than average and volume was quite good. Thanks to background noise elimination, those with whom I spoke through the GS5 said I sounded very, very good. Ringers and alert tones offer plenty of volume to get your attention. The vibrate alert is particularly strong. What's better, you can control the intensity for calls, messages, and so on. The GS5 even lets you select from 6 prerecorded vibrate patterns and create your own. I didn't miss any calls or messages for lack of hearing the phone.

Battery

That Galaxy S5 offers fantastic battery life. The 2,800mAh is slightly bigger than last year's phone, and the Snapdragon 801 processor is better at managing power. The GS5 shows clear gains in useable up time compared to the GS4. I ended most days with 40% or more left in the battery, despite thorough testing and heavy use from 7 AM to midnight. I think it's safe to say most people won't have to worry about draining their battery unless they play games all day long. Even then, the odds of making it are pretty good.

Like the HTC One, Samsung gave the GS5 a power saver mode - and an ultra power saver mode - that can be used to extend the useful life of the phone. The power saver can be toggled on manually, or automatically set once the battery reaches 20%. Users can opt to block background data, restrict performance (ramp down the processor), or set the display to grayscale mode. Ultra power saving mode takes it a lot further. It sets the screen in grayscale mode, turns off all data when the screen is off, turns off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and only permits six user-selected apps to function, three of which are phone, messaging, and email. Power saver mode and extreme power saver mode will provide estimates (when switched on) of how long the phone will continue to function based on the remaining charge. For example, with ultra power saver mode on and the battery at 82%, the GS5 says it can continue to operate for 10.2 days.

I didn't notice any significant difference in battery life between the AT&T and Verizon variants of the GS5. The GS5 should provide the bulk of users with enough juice to get through the day. In the event it doesn't, these energy efficiency modes can be used to eke out enough time to find a charger - even if that's not for several hours.

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