Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5
The biggest feud in the smartphone industry comes to a head with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4, but should the latest Android powerhouse have Apple shaking in their boots? We got down and dirty and crossed platform lines to see whether the now 6-month-old iPhone 5 could still give the brand-new Galaxy S4 a run for its money.For more in depth analysis, don’t forget to check out our full Galaxy S4 review. If you’re on the fence about another Android flagship, check out our Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One comparison. But now let’s jump right into our point-to-point comparison of some of the main features of the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4.
Design and Build Quality
In the past, it was no secret that Samsung looked to Apple’s design language for a little bit of inspiration, but, after a few lawsuits, the look and feel of the latest Galaxy S and iPhone handsets couldn’t be more different. For starters, the iPhone 5 looks like a little baby next to the sizable Galaxy S4
In pure measurements, the GS4 sits at 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches. The
iPhone 5 measures 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 inches. Because the 5-inch versus
4-inch display size causes a large variation in height and width, the
easiest comparison is in thickness. Both phones come in at just a hair
apart, with the Galaxy S4 0.01 inches thicker than the iPhone 5.
In terms of build quality, Apple has crafted the iPhone to be as much
a work of art as a useful machine. While we’re sure Samsung’s staff had
the same intentions, there is no denying the craftsmanship of the
iPhone. Its solid aluminum and glass design tends to make the Galaxy S4
feel cheap by comparison. Still, the Galaxy S4 gains some benefits from a
removable back cover.
Display
When Apple introduced their Retina Display, they ignited a new trend
in mobile. For the first time, pixel density became as important a
factor in marketing smartphones as did HD resolutions. This leads us to
the 4-inch Retina Display found in the iPhone 5. It’s a full inch
smaller than Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen. This equates to a pixel
density of 326 ppi for the iPhone 5 (1136 x 640 resolution) and 441 ppi
for the Galaxy S4 (1920 x 1080).
Technically the Galaxy S4 features a crisper image, and it definitely
looks amazing stacked next to the iPhone 5. It’s arguable how much a
difference the greater pixel density makes, but what there is no debate
about is the size difference. The Galaxy S4 is like a spacious penthouse
suite while the iPhone 5 is a totally accommodating, yet cramped, room
at a 5-star hotel. Navigating the web and interacting with apps is
definitely roomier on the GS4. Going back and forth, the GS4 was the
clear choice for such activities.
The iPhone 5′s display offered a color profile that could be
considered a bit truer to life, while the Galaxy S4 opts for a saturated
image with great reproduction of darker tones. Both look great, but
we’re naturally drawn to the richer image quality and greater screen
real estate of Samsung’s offering.
Edge: Samsung Galaxy S4
Processing Power & Performance
When matching the iPhone 5 against the Galaxy S4 on the basis of
hardware, there is no argument that Samsung’s phone features the
superior component compliment. The Galaxy S4 features a Qualcomm
Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz (an Exynos 5 Octa
in some regions) coupled with 2GB RAM. The iPhone 5 sports Apple’s
dual-core A6 chip clocked at 1.3GHz and 1GB RAM.
While a large portion of performance is directly tied to pure power,
optimizations make up the remainder. The iPhone is tailored to its iOS
interface and operates as smoothly as any smartphone out there, but we
suspect a benchmark would show the Galaxy S4 blowing it out of the
water. We can attribute the gap in hardware to the fact that the iPhone 5
was released over half a year ago, but we still have to give the Galaxy
S4 the edge based on its upside.
Edge: Samsung Galaxy S4
iOS vs. Samsung TouchWiz
It’s almost impossible to begin making software comparisons between
the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4. As much as iOS and Android set out
to achieve many of the same tasks, they are accomplished in much
different ways. The most basic difference comes in a lack of an app
drawer in iOS, putting all app icons directly on the homescreen. This
also means you can forget about widgets in iOS.
But aside from surface level differences such as the notification
shades found in both iOS and Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, there are
also plenty of software enhancements that set each device apart. Samsung
has built in plenty of hands-free and touch-free input methods to the
Galaxy S4, including AirView and Smart Scroll. Don’t expect anything so
experimental from the iPhone 5 (other than Siri voice commands,
something Google Now does equally well).
Perhaps the best way to compare the two is this: if you are looking
for a simple, clean, and intuitive interface, iOS might be a good place
to start. For those seeking a deeper level of control and customization,
as well as some more advanced interface options, TouchWiz and the
Galaxy S4 provide the answer.
Edge: Toss-up
Multimedia
The iPhone’s roots in the iPod have made media a big part of the
handset’s success, and while the focus in recent years may have started
shifting away from iTunes and earbuds, syncing, sorting, and playing
your favorite music is still a real strong suit of the phone. The Galaxy
S4, and Android in general, isn’t so blessed, but things are a lot
better off than they were in year’s past.
iTunes offers a complete solution for organizing tunes and moving
them between smartphone and computer. It’s a super refined experience,
as is the separate Music app found on the iPhone. Samsung’s default
music player isn’t as slick, nor is it backed by such tried-and-true
desktop software. Samsung Hub does offer a one-stop shop for content,
including videos and music, but it’s not quite where iTunes is.
Of course, there is Google Play, which is a bit more evolved in terms
of available content. And there is Play Music, as well, which provides
one clear edge over the iPhone. Cloud storage and streaming of your
tracks is 100 percent free for Android users. iTunes Match, a service
providing the same function on the iPhone, costs $24.99 per year. No
official Google Music app exists for iPhone.
Despite that final caveat, it’s still hard not to give the edge to a
device that was born from the iPod, the undisputed portable media king
of the past decade.
Edge: iPhone 5
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 13MP camera with LED flash capable of
capturing 1080p video. Likewise, the iPhone 5 features an 8MP camera
with LED flash and 1080p video capture. Both handsets squeeze every last
ounce of picture quality out of the hardware they are equipped with.
Storage
Apple offers the iPhone in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities. Likewise, so does Samsung for the Galaxy S4. Where to two differ is expandable storage. The iPhone features none, while the GS4 can add up to 64GB of additional storage via a microSD slot located under the battery cover.
Pricing is a consideration here. Both the 16GB Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5
start at $199 when purchased from most US carriers. Since the GS4′s
storage can be expanded, consumers can spend less up front and add more
memory later. On the other hand, an iPhone buyer will have to spend more
up front to secure a larger storage volume.
Edge: Samsung Galaxy S4
.
Battery Life
Looking at the numbers, you can predict which phone is expected to come out on top in terms of battery performance. Though Apple doesn’t advertise the fact very loudly, the iPhone 5 contains a meager 1,440 mAh hour non-removable battery. It’s touted as providing up to 8 hours of 3G talk time and 225 hours of standby. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 2,600 mAh removable power cell.
Samsung doesn’t provide battery life estimates, but the Galaxy S4 was
clearly dominant in this area. However, the gap wasn’t as huge as the
milliAmp hours suggest. Credit this to the larger display and its AMOLED
technology, a well-known battery hog, as well as the Snapdragon 600 CPU
clocked up to 1.9GHz.
Edge: Samsung Galaxy S4
Verdict
Head-to-head, it’s pretty clear that the Samsung Galaxy S4 outdoes
the iPhone 5 in the majority of our categories. But in the few
categories that the iPhone did win, it was an obvious and decisive
victory. Here’s the breakdown:
- Design & Build Quality: iPhone 5
- Display: Samsung Galaxy S4
- Software: Toss-up
- Multimedia: iPhone 5
- Camera: Samsung Galaxy S4
- Storage: Samsung Galaxy S4
- Battery Life: Samsung Galaxy S4
Which Phone Should I Buy
The answer to this question isn’t so simple. Looking at our rankings,
it would seem like the Galaxy S4 is the obvious choice, and for many it
will be. Perhaps it’s even an unfair comparison considering the age of
the iPhone 5 and the promise of a new Apple phone around the corner. The
decision will ultimately come down to software, design, and brand
preferences. If you want to earn some cool points and value beautiful
design alongside a simple, intuitive, clean interface, go for this
iPhone, the next iPhone, any iPhone. If you want power, a big display
and battery, and a deeper software experience, the Galaxy S4 is the way
to go.
So, I’m almost afraid to ask this, but which phone is your choice? Sound off in the poll below!