Samsung Galaxy S4 Specs

Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2013 is the Galaxy S4. Recently released in the United States, this phone has garnered a great deal of attention both from Samsung's core base as well as the wider tech community. I've already reviewed the HTC One, so let's now take a look at the S4's credentials.

First off it boasts a 1.6 GHz quad core processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. This can increased however to 64GB with the use of a micro SD card. Due to the RAM and the processor, this phone flips through apps and whatever other screens you are viewing with ease. There really isn't any lag to speak of with this smartphone. It runs on the Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 operating system.

On to the display. The S4 has a 5 inch HD Super AMOLED 1920*1080 display. This works out to a pixel density of 441ppi. Needless to say, these specs make the screen display look absolutely stunning. Colours are bright and true, with everything reproduced sharply on screen.

The S4 comes with a 2MP front facing camera and a massive 13MP rear camera. Obviously, the rear camera takes fantastic pictures. Added to this is the HD video recording and playback capabilities and you have a winning combination. This phone also has the added functionality of allowing you to take pictures with both the front and rear facing cameras on at the same time. One point though, in low light conditions I would say that the HTC One takes better pictures. Maybe there really is something to their Ultrapixel language after all.

Let's move on to what is one of the most important aspects of any new phone, the battery. The S4 comes with a 2600mAh removable battery. The fact that it is removable is already a great deal better than the HTC One's battery configuration in which they made it near impossible to remove. In terms of battery life, the S4 does very well and even after a full day of installing apps, watching videos and surfing the internet consumers have reported that there was still some power left.

In terms of the S4's construction, there is some room for improvement. Plastic was used in the construction of this phone and unfortunately when you hold the phone it feels a little flimsy. Compare that to the aluminum construction of the HTC One and you can realize the big difference it makes. It is however very light and thin, which allows someone even with medium sized hands to comfortably hold the phone. Not bad for a screen size of 5 inches.

One of the really nice features of this phone is the IR blaster. What this basically does is that it allows your S4 to be transformed into a universal remote in conjunction with Samsung's WatchON app. It works really well and is extremely convenient. Those of us who are constantly struggling with many remotes can breathe a sigh of relief with this feature.

The S4 is also packed full of great features. Firstly, there is Samsung's Air View which allows you to hover your finger over emails, images and other files to see a preview without actually opening the file itself. Also, there is Samsung's Smart Scroll which first recognizes the postion of your face and allows you to scroll up and down by just moving your eyes. There are quite a few more features in addition to these two so you're certainly not going to get bored with this phone.

Overall this phone is fantastic. If you are looking to get a smartphone for the first time or going for an upgrade, the S4 is a good choice. It's currently being offered on all the major carriers as well as being sold factory unlocked. For more on this phone, check it out here.



*Images courtesy Janitors