The launch of iPhone 5S has, in a way, compelled the Korean tech titan Samsung to launch a replacement of its Galaxy S4, the Samsung Galaxy S5, well before it was expected. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S5 was launched in April 2014, some 12 months after the release of Galaxy S4 on the market.

Now, the Galaxy S5 needs to further cement the reputation of its predecessor as a top Android smartphone and also establish a benchmark. Apple's iPhone 5S is definitely a stiff competitor to the device.

A comparative evaluation of the two devices' specs and prices, should provide some further insight into the competition.

Design

For the premium customer, the iPhone has always remained an extremely attractive product, mainly owing to its quality design. This feature has been enhanced in the iPhone 5S. Unlike the iPhone 4, it may only feature subtle changes and not radical changes. However, the iPhone 5S is enough to position this as a unique offering, as it is evident following the introduction of the cheaper version - iPhone 5C.

On the contrary, the Galaxy S5 has been persisting with the same plastic materials that formed the casing of its predecessors. Hence, it is not surprising that the product been criticized a lot for using cheap materials in a phone that originally retailed at $700. The Galaxy S5 has been trying to conceal its plastic material by using fake leather materials for its back cover. But when pitted against the iPhone 5S, there is simply no competition in the design department.

Display

The Galaxy S5 cashes in the display department as its 5.1-inch display beats the iPhone 5S' 4-inch display. The much talked about Apple retina display, however, does not succeed the S5's larger display having a higher pixel density, primarily owing to its full HD resolution. On the other hand, the iPhone 5S continues to offer a 640 x 1136 pixel density.

Fingerprint Sensor

The iPhone 5S is among the first mainstream phones to sport a fingerprint sensor which really worked. On the other hand, after being found guilty of many copyright violation claims in the last few years, Samsung has now introduced its own fingerprint sensor. Both the devices are far from being perfect, but the iPhone 5S seems to be a more reliable system. However, the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S5 comes with support for PayPal payments, which may be a serious bonus to some parts of the world.

Camera

The Galaxy S5 reins in this department, with it's high mega pixel camera with extensive features. In comparison, the eight megapixel camera on the iPhone 5S can only perform full HD video recording. The 16 megapixel camera on the Galaxy S5 is capable of 4K video recording along with several other high-end features. The Galaxy S5 also features a somewhat larger sensor, which denotes better photography even in poor light conditions. However, the iPhone 5S is available with dual LED flash compared to the single LED flash on the Galaxy S5.

Price

While the iPhone 5S retails at $690, the Galaxy S5 costs $590 for the base versions.