Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport Review

One of the most obvious differences between the Galaxy S5 Sport and the Galaxy S5 is the external shell. Not only does the Galaxy S5 Sport come in vibrant Cherry Red and Electric Blue colors, but the casing also has a textured finish that adds a little grip to the phone. We have the Cherry Red model in house for testing. As you can see from the pictures below, the entire device is covered in a red finish, varying from matte to glossy depending on the area. The textured grip on the back of the phone has a soft rubber feel.

Another key difference between the Galaxy S5 Sport and the Galaxy S5 is the fact that the Galaxy S5 Sport has three textured hard keys below the display. The function of these buttons remain the same—Recent Apps, Home, and Back—but the Home button doesn’t have the built-in fingerprint scanner on the Sport model, which is available on the Galaxy S5.

Like the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S5 Sport is IP67 rated which means it is dust resistant and can withstand being submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, provided you’ve closed the covers tightly. When booting the phone, it will remind you to make sure the back battery cover is fully closed. The microUSB port is also covered. Personally, I felt the microUSB port cover was a slight nuisance since I’ve seen waterproof phones that don’t have covered microUSB ports, but in the end, this is a minor thing in the scope of it all.

Samsung placed the volume rocker on the left edge of the phone and the Power button on the right edge. This feels very natural to use, so we’re glad to see Samsung isn’t trying to get creative and change the placement of these controls. A microphone, infrared transmitter, and 3.5mm headset jack are located on the top edge of the phone.

The phone’s 16 megapixel rear-facing camera, LED flash, temperature and humidity sensor, and heart rate monitor can be found on the top of the back of the device. The camera protrudes slightly from the phone. A speaker port is located to the left of the Galaxy S5 Sport logo near the base of the phone.

When you remove the rear cover, you’ll find the phone’s micro-SIM and microSD card slots as well as the user serviceable 2800mAh battery. When the cover is removed, you’ll notice the cover has a rubber seal that surrounds the battery and other internals of the phone. This cover is thin and appears to be able to withstand a reasonable amount of flexing, which is good since you’ll likely bend it while releasing the many clips that secure it in place.