Samsung Galaxy S5
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until April 2017 · Buy-by April 2015
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~3-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy S5 should be supported until around April 2017. Buying it today still gets you about -9.2 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
A rugged, water-resistant workhorse with a removable battery, now far past its software prime.
Pros
- IP67 dust and water resistance, rare for its era
- User-replaceable battery and microSD expansion
- Built-in heart-rate sensor and fingerprint reader
Cons
- No updates since roughly 2017
- Plastic build feels cheap next to glass rivals
- Only 2GB RAM struggles with modern apps
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED, 1080 x 1920 (FHD), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 16MP |
| front | 2MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 2,800 mAh |
| Charging | Adaptive Fast Charging wired (microUSB 3.0) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 142.0 × 72.5 × 8.1 mm |
| Weight | 145 g |
| Materials | Plastic body with dimpled soft-touch back |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 4.4.2 with TouchWiz at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB 3.0, 3.5mm jack |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy S5 get updates?
It stopped receiving updates around 2017 after reaching Android 6 Marshmallow. It has been unsupported for years.
Can I still replace the Galaxy S5 battery myself?
Yes. Unlike most modern phones, the S5 has a removable back cover and a swappable battery, so replacements are cheap and easy to fit.
Is the Galaxy S5 still usable in 2026?
It can handle basic calls, texts, and Wi-Fi browsing, but its old Android version and missing patches make it unsuitable for sensitive tasks.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.