Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505 Review - Samsung S4 sets the bar to a new level
By Paul S. Remington
The Samsung S4 cell phone is the hottest and newest phone on the smart phone market. This Android device has gotten much press and rightly so. In terms of specifications, the S4 has a lot going for it that has it as the leader of the pack over many smart phones. But at first glance, this new phone looks and feels much like its predecessor, the Galaxy S3. So what makes this phone different and why should you be interested in purchasing it? This review will explore those issues and help answer that question.
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When you have a good thing going, why not start with that as your baseline. Samsung has done just that with the S4. The S3 and the S4 are very similar on many levels and very different in key areas. Their size is essentially the same at 5.38" x 2.75" x .31". This actually makes the S4 .7mm thinner than the S3. Its weight is 4.6 ounces, .7 ounces lighter than the S3. Comparing the two, Samsung has increased the size of the screen to a 5" display that offers full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels. While other phones offer similar resolutions, none have the same quality image that comes from the Super AMOLED screen offered on the S4. Side-by-side comparisons with phones such as the HTC One find the S4 shines with more prominent resolution and richer color tones.
At first glance, the camera appears to also be the same as the S3. This is, in fact, not the case. The S4 houses a whopping 13-megapixel, rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel, front facing camera. The rear-facing, 13-megapixel camera image is excellent. The imaging capabilities of both cameras extend past the raw hardware with added features built into their associated software. There is software to do most anything you can think of with the images taken. Software even uses both the front and back camera to offer all kinds of imaging effects from panoramic images to slow motion videos.
Coupled with this increased processing power is an expanded memory card slot for additional storage. Samsung is selling the S4 in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB configurations. For those considering the S4 with 16GB of storage, this may be a bit limiting. Approximately 6GB is eaten up by the OS and installed apps, which leaves a scant 8-9GB of storage. This is 2GB less storage than the S3. The S4 supports the installation of up to an additional 64GB using a Micro SD card. If you're considering purchasing this phone, you might want to add a Micro SD card to your purchase and expand the base memory, or purchase an S4 with a higher amount of integrated storage.
The front of the phone contains a number of additional sensors that monitor eye movement and proximity so the phone knows how far it is from your ear. An infra red blaster is integrated into the top of the phone to enable it to act as a remote, with the appropriate app installed to function as a remote. These sensors and the infra red blaster offer many new features not available with the S3. The phone can act as a remote control for your television, CD/DVD player, A/V receiver, and even home appliances that support remote control. The eye sensor offers additional features that control screen dimming and auto pausing when you look away from the screen. Likewise, when you look at the screen, dimming and auto pausing resume their normal operation.
Applications available to support the additional sensors include Air View, Air Gesture, and Smart Scroll. While these features are futuristic and helpful in theory, they aren't flawless in practice. They are also rather complex to learn and use, which detracts from the concept of simplicity when it comes to operating the device. Take this into consideration when adopting the phone for your use. Not all the features have to be used at once. You may find some features helpful while others are an annoyance. They are all highly configurable and it will take some time and practice to set them up to your liking.
Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505 Review - Conclusion
Overall, the S4 is a brilliant device. It's not without its flaws and there is always room for improvement. While Apple performed wonders defining the modern smartphone, Samsung has helped take the concept one step further. If you're looking to upgrade your older smartphone and break into the Samsung Galaxy world for the first time, the S4 is a fantastic selection.
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It is, arguably, the best Android phone on the market, at present. Some may say it's the best smartphone, period. Each person's decision and opinion is highly individualistic. One thing is for sure, Samsung has pulled out all the stops to ensure consumers get the most for their money, and they have set the bar even higher for newcomers to take the mantle of achievement to a new level.