Samsung's Galaxy S4 is perhaps one of the biggest success stories of 2013. It has helped Android and Samsung surpass its biggest rival, Apple, at almost every turn. As a result of the phone's wild success, fans are already clamoring to know when the next installment of the company's popular flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5. So far there isn't much in the rumor mill, but here is a brief list of what we know so far.
Release Date: The S4 is a very successful and popular phone. However, upon its release just a few short months ago, the smartphone was met with mixed reviews. Although it caught on because consumer seemed to want to jump at the idea of a high-end Android powered smartphone to give them an option other than Apple, that is no longer the case. Google's Moto X is going to be hitting the shelves quite hard in the coming weeks offering the first Android-against-Android competition on the high-end market for quite some time. The Galaxy S4 is good, but it isn't so good that it can't be dethroned as demand for the device is already starting to drop, according to Value Walk. Rumors of the device put it released sometime within a year. It's possible that time frame will be moved up as a result of The Moto X. Based on previous unveilings of Galaxy devices, many are speculating the earliest date will be in March or May of 2014.
Design: The Galaxy S4 Active, Samsung's water and dust proof device is a popular hit with customers. It's perfect for people who want a smartphone but work a job or live a lifestyle that puts their handheld through serious punishment. Meanwhile, the regular S4 has been criticized for its plastic back. Sources close to the South Korean tech giant claim the Galaxy S5 will sport an aluminum body, making it dust and water resistant while still maintaining a high-end look. Samsung's recent acquisition of SGL Group indicates such a makeover will likely take place in the very near future according to States Chronicle
Specs: The device will definitely run the Android operating system. However, it will probably be released with Android 5.0, nicknamed "Key Lime Pie." It will be bigger and wider according to most reports. It will feature a 2GHz octa-core processor, although there is still debate on that particular component. The company will give the device a shot in the arm with 4GB of RAM, never before seen on a smartphone according to Digital Journal.
The device is expected to sport a 5.2-inch display with a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. While that isn't an improvement from the current S4 camera setup, it is still considered the top-of-the-line as Digital Journal points out.
Tell us what you think? Are you excited for the rumored smartphone? Do you think these rumored features are going to be on the finished product or is the rumor mill completely off this time? Comment and share your thoughts below.
