Like many of this year's newest smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S5 isn't a radically new device. It looks a lot like last year's Galaxy S4 , and in many respects it handles very similarly. The difference is in the details.

Spectacular screen; Super-fast Wi-Fi and LTE performance; Excellent camera; Waterproof.

All-plastic design; Bloatware; No Download Booster

In a world where nearly everyone owns a smartphone, it's getting harder for companies to stand out. Samsung's Galaxy S5 isn't a game-changer, but it is one of the best smartphones money can buy.

Beautiful display; Water-resistant chassis; Improved camera is easier to use; All-day battery life

Inconsistent fingerprint reader; Plastic body; Annoying USB port flap

After using for a little while, I've concluded this is a good phone, however it feels as if everything but the camera is below premium. The build is noticeably cheap, battery drains quickly despite all power save features in use; however the speed and camera might be enough to convince you.

Great camera; High resolution screen; Speedy phone; Water resistant

Horrendous battery; Cheap; very breakable build

I have been using this device for over two months now and i am pretty content with it. I have had a note 1, an s3, & an s4 in the past. As a matter of fact, this is the best galaxy i have ever bought. It feels sturdier than the previous iterations. The display is crisp and bright, surely the...

A technological tour de force, the Galaxy S5 is Samsung's best smartphone to date.

Industry-leading performance; Gorgeous HD screen is best on the market; Fingerprint scanner works flawlessly; Excellent camera with huge range of features; Impressive battery life, and battery saving mode

Design feels dated with little change in two years; Rear cover and fake chrome bezel will not appear to everyone; Heart rate monitor seems to have little use

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great phone, and while it is not a huge re-imagining of the firm's flagship model, the tweaks and additions that Samsung has made make a huge difference.

Fantastic screen; smooth performance; latest version of Android; Touchwiz is huge improvement; great camera; good battery life; fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor are worthwhile additions

Touchwiz can feel overbearing in places; lacks a premium feel; Nothing

The Bottom Line Subtly improved and smartly refined, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a superior superphone that hits every mark but the sharpest design.

The Good Samsung's Galaxy S5 excels at everything that matters -- Android 4.4 KitKat OS; a bright, beautiful display; blistering quad-core processor; and an excellent camera experience.

The Bad The Galaxy S5 is a only small upgrade over the Galaxy S4; The fingerprint scanner can be confusing to use, and the heart-rate monitor is a niche feature at best.

When's the best time to buy a flagship phone? When it gets replaced by a new flagship phone, of course. Following on from the announcement of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge , the Samsung Galaxy S5 has been given a second wind, courtesy of an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Fantastic screen; Still one of the best cameras around; Now updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop; Update has improved fingerprint sensor; Better battery life than S6; Has microSD and water resistance

Not the prettiest of 2014 phones; Processor still decent; but behind the times

Samsung's fifth Galaxy model is here, and poised to take on whatever Apple has next, as well as anything else from the other manufacturers. For the new model, Samsung has revised the look, the hardware, and so much more. Is this Samsung's best phone yet?

Fast system performance; Textured back makes it easy to grip; Beautiful screen; Excellent 4G performance; Water and dust resistant; Still features a remote control; Built-in heart rate monitor is a neat idea; Amazing screen that works beautifully in direct sunlight; Monochromatic power saving option...

Australians are given virtually no control over customizing their handset; Battery life needs work; The occasional slow down tends to rear its head in the worst possible way; Remote control can't learn from unknown remotes; My Magazine seems less customisable than HTC's BlinkFeed

The Galaxy S5 is another win for Samsung. If you're looking to upgrade, there are a lot of watertight reasons to choose GS5.

Fast; powerful processor; Clean; redesigned interface; Waterproof and dustproof; Built-in fingerprint scanner; heart-rate monitor; Feels comfortable to hold; Competitive camera; MicroSD support; Removable battery with new Ultra Power Saver Mode

Stale design; Poor speaker quality; No KnockOn feature; Audio jack is on top of phone; Camera refocus is a gimmick; Packed with Samsung services