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Samsung's Galaxy S5 smartphone goes on sale today around the world

Samsung's Galaxy S5 smartphone goes on sale today around the world

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Samsung's latest smartphone, the Galaxy S5, is now available around the world. The Korean company's flagship smartphone launched in 125 markets, including the United States, Europe, and much of Asia. It's joined on shelves by the Samsung Gear 2 and Samsung Gear 2 Neo smartwatches, and the Samsung Gear Fit health tracker, which also launch today.

The reasons for moving up to a Galaxy S5 are fairly straightforward: it features the fastest processor on the market, offers a number of built-in fitness features, and is immune to the water-related incidents that would spell doom for most phones. If the company's recent phones are anything to go by, you can also expect solid camera performance. But there are also valid arguments for holding off: Samsung's software customizations haven't been toned down much, and that new fingerprint sensor is getting less than stellar marks all around.

The Galaxy S5 features the fastest smartphone processor on the market

In the US, the Galaxy S5 can be found on every major US carrier — Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile — for a going rate price of $199.99 on-contract. If you'd prefer to avoid a two-year wireless commitment, providers like T-Mobile are pushing their monthly financing plans as an easier way of buying the device at full retail cost. Most US retailers and carriers are pricing the attractive Fit health tracker at $199. That's the same price as the Gear 2 Neo smartwatch, while the standard Gear 2 runs to $299, but to use one of Samsung's new smartwatches or fitness trackers, you'll need a Galaxy smartphone to pair it with. Samsung's marketing machine is already kicking into overdrive with the same message that's helped the company dominate Android: the next big thing is here.