Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) is releasing a developer edition of its premium smartphone, the Galaxy S5 today, to Verizon customers. The new model, which is aimed at those who like to tinker with their technology, is available to order online from Samsung’s website. It will not, however, be subsidized, so those looking for the developer experience will have to pay the full cost of the smartphone.
In order to get your hands on the new smart phone, you’ll have to go to the Samsung page for the phone, which is right here, and order it directly from the company. The device will cost $599.99 the same amount that the off-contract base model goes for, and it requires the user to fill out a questionnaire before purchasing.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Developer Edition features
The developer edition of the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be almost completely identical to the phone that’s been available to buy since last month. The only difference between the two is the unlocked bootloader that will allow those in the know to edit the software on the phone, and a couple of availability restrictions. The developer edition of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is only available in charcoal black for the time being, at least according to the Samsung website.
Like the original model of the Samsung Galaxy S5, the developer edition features a 2.5 GHz quad core processor, a 16 megapixel rear-facing camera, and 16GB of internal memory. All of the more interesting features are there too, including the finger print scanner and heart rate monitor. KitKat 4.4.2, the latest version of the Google Android operating system, runs on the device.
There is a reason that this phone is known as the developer edition of the Galaxy S5. The differences between this handset and the base model will be subliminal to the uninitiated, and they will be of little use to anybody not familiar with bootloading, and software modification on Android.
Samsung changes mind on smartphone success
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) could arguable be called the second most successful company in the smartphone industry, but the company’s performance in the area has been less than obvious in recent years. Unlike previous releases the last two Galaxy S launches have been accompanied by less iPhone-killer rhetoric and more thoughts of margin mix in the company’s smartphone business.
The Korean company revealed last October that it shipped more than 40 million units of the Samsung Galaxy S4 in its seven months on sale. Updated figures are difficult t find, but it’s clear that Samsung is no longer feigning interest in overtaking the iPhone with its flagship smartphone offerings. The company is more interested in getting its total smartphone business in working order, and the Samsung Galaxy S5 is set toward doing just that.
The traditional fight between the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) smartphones is unlikely to go away in the minds of those watching. Shares in Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) have lost more than 10% of their value in the last twelve months on poor product launches, and rising costs.
