Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date Coming: A Rundown Of Likely Features And The First Video Teaser Of The New Device

With only a few more days to go for the unveiling of the Samsung (KRX:005935) Galaxy S5 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week, rumors continue to flow in about the features and specs to be found in the new flagship handset.

Ranging from a larger and sharper display to more biometric features, the rumor mill around the Galaxy S5 is generating more buzz about the device among consumers than ever before. Based on current market trends and what Samsung has done with its flagship handsets over the years, here are some of the features that are likely to be found on the new Galaxy S5.

Build

Although Samsung has faced criticism for the plastic-build of its phones, it has not hurt the company's ability to sell millions of smartphones worldwide. The company did use other materials on its devices recently, such as the silver ring around the existing Galaxy S4 and the faux-leather stitching on the Galaxy Note 3's back. But that does not necessarily mean that the next-gen Galaxy S smartphone will put on a metal outfit. Despite rumors about an aluminum form factor, Samsung is still likely to continue with its plastic formula once again.

The Galaxy S5 is also expected to sport one or two additional sensors above the screen, while retaining the traditional three-button design, according to CNET.

Display

The Galaxy S4 comes with a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, and given that display quality has always been a key feature in Samsung’s handsets, the Galaxy S5 is expected to improve further on this front. The most likely display configuration for the new device is a 2K ultra-HD display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels.

An increase in the screen size from 5 inches to 5.2 inches has also been rumored, which is quite reasonable. But, rumors about flexible displays might be a little far-fetched.

Camera

Rumors are rife that the Galaxy S5 could feature a 16-megapixel camera, which is likely to be true. Along with the enhanced sensor, other possible improvements include optical image stabilization, better low-light performance and a set of camera filters and tricks. A 5-megapixel front-facing shooter also seems to be a sure thing.

Processor

The Galaxy S5, especially the U.S. variant of the device, is likely to be powered by a faster quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, clocking at more than 2 GHz. The device could also feature the Adreno 420 graphics processor, CNET said.

Storage and Battery

With 3GB of RAM, the Galaxy S5 is expected to be available in three versions based on storage capacity -- 16GB, 32GB and 64GB -- while the battery is likely to have a capacity of around 3,000mAh.

The X Factor: A Fingerprint Scanner

The Galaxy S5 is highly rumored to feature a fingerprint scanner on the device’s front. While in case of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5s the technology requires the user to tap on the Home button, users of the Galaxy S5 may need to swipe their finger on the Home button to use the biometric scanner.

Availability And Other Rumors

A Samsung executive reportedly has confirmed that the Galaxy S5 could go on sale in mid-March.

Citing an anonymous company executive, GSMArena reported on Thursday that Samsung would officially unveil the Galaxy S5 on Feb. 24, which would give the company two weeks to launch the device in stores.

According to a leaked Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD) document, Samsung could also offer a gold-colored version of the Galaxy S5.

The Next Galaxy Teaser

On Friday, Samsung released the first video teaser of the Galaxy S5, which is expected to be announced in Barcelona next week. The company is trying to keep the mystery alive around its next device, also to be named (obviously) Galaxy, while providing some intriguing hints in the video.

The teaser uses the words "fit," "wet," "outdoor," and "alive," lending credibility to some earlier rumors that the device could have health-oriented apps, and could be water- and dust-resistant.

Check out the video here, and see if you can decipher some more details: