Samsung's current Galaxy S4 flagship phone is still going strong, but that hasn't stopped the technosphere from beginning to whisper about the next Galaxy S smartphone. While most of the initial speculation is just that — speculation — one Samsung executive may have let slip that the Galaxy S5 will sport a 64-bit processor.
"Not in the shortest time. But yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality," Samsung Mobile business chief Shin Jong-Kyun said during a weekly meeting with other chief executives as reported by The Korea Times.
Shin was referencing Apple's new iPhone 5s, which comes with a 64-bit ARM A7 processor. Android phones currently run on 32-bit processors, but with 64-bit support rumored for Android 4.4, it's hard not to see big Android phone manufacturers jumping on the train. With twice as many bits, processors can handle more demanding applications and open up a more integrated infrastructure tunnel between mobile and desktop operating systems, which are mostly 64-bit nowadays.
That's not all the Galaxy S5 gossip we have for you, however. Rumors are beginning to swirl that the Galaxy S5 will come in two key variants: one running the traditional Android experience, and another running Tizen. While Tizen is still untested in the smartphone market, the operating system has been spotted running on a Galaxy S4, leading many to believe Samsung will want to move away from relying on Google.
The Galaxy S5 is also expected to be encased in metal after the negative reaction to the Galaxy S4's plastic casing. By comparison, rival phones like the Apple iPhone and the HTC One utilize metals in their design in order to deliver a more solid feel.