Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date Rumors: Wireless Charging, Iris Scanner Shot Down As Possible Features

Both news websites NewsTomato and SamMobile are reporting that Samsung will not be adding wireless charging technologies to their upcoming smartphone, the Galaxy S5. Although the company has been working on new wireless charging technologies including magnetic resonance wireless charging for quite a while it appears the highly-anticipated S5 will not carry this feature. In many cases for users to utilize the wireless charging feature they have to purchase additional equipment, which adds to the cost of the device, which might explain why Samsung is passing on the feature. It also seems that the rumored Iris scanning feature may not make it to the S5 as well.

BGR reports that an unnamed source has said that the iris scanning feature will not make it to the next iteration of the Galaxy S phone lineup because it’s not practical. The source familiar with the technology said “iris scanner would not be intuitive and user-friendly” and inconvenient especially if a user is in a dim lit area or doing physical activity. However a contradicting report from The Korea Herald reports a tipster informed them the Galaxy S5 specifications which included the iris scanning feature. The reports says the S5 will feature a 2k QHD display (2560 x 1440 resolution), 2900mAh battery, 20-megapixel camera and a “state of the art iris sensor and wide range of health accessories.”

The official release date has not yet been released for the Galaxy S5 but a blogger has said that the new smartphone will be coming Feb. 23. Blogger Elder Murtazin took to Twitter to announce the news writing, "Samsung Galaxy S5 launch- 18.00. Barcelona. 23 February. Price the same. Launch- end of April. Specs- I know them :) new touchwiz ;).” Murtazin predicts the device will be announced at this year’s Mobile World Congress and will begin shipping by the end of April. It’s probably wise to listen to Eldar Murtazin prediction seeing how he accurately predicted the launch of the Galaxy S4 last year.