Is this the best smartphone ever? Samsung unveils its slick new waterproof Galaxy S5

In a world almost bursting at the seams with fitness bands, smartphones, wearables and cameras it takes something special to stand out - and Samsung hopes its new Galaxy S5 will do just that, the Daily Mail reports.

The Galaxy S5, dubbed the 'superphone' has handpicked features from its competitors and put them all into a single handset.

Samsung claims it crams in a professional camera and a powerful fitness tracker while being water and dust proof - and comes with fingerprint sensor technology, just like arch rival the iPhone 5S.

The new flagship device includes a built-in heart monitor, pedometer, fitness apps and fingerprint recognition.

It will go on sale in April, although prices have not yet been announced.

The Galaxy S5 is at the head of a move by tech giants to turn the ever more sophisticated mobile phone into a substitute doctor and personal trainer.

The watch and fitness band can pick up the pulse through the skin on the wrist and display it on the small screen throughout a normal day, or during a workout.

All of the information gathered by the devices can be used to calculate the number of steps taken, calories burned and general fitness.
The firm’s ‘S Health 3.0’ software creates graphs or tables of the results to track changes in activity and health over time.

Samsung’s apps can then develop a fitness regime, including a range of activities from jogging to climbing the stairs rather than using the lift, to help people improve their health.

'Exercise, food, sleep, stress, and weight.

'You can monitor and track each of these areas with Samsung's Lifestyle Coach app. Part of the S Health suite,' the company said.

'We’ve decided to go back to basics with the Galaxy S5 and focus on the features and things that matter the most to our customers – namely the camera, ability to view and download data and content quickly and their health and wellbeing,' said Simon Stanford, Vice President of IT & Mobile division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland.

'People want a smartphone that enhances and enables their mobile life.

'The Galaxy S5 represents just that and we’re excited to see the response to our latest flagship smartphone device.'