All about Samsung Galaxy S4

[jpeyton]

Engadget reporting that it has Qi wireless charging built in:

And Samsung also had this on display:

People are too worried about feature bloat. The fact is that we've hit a point where adding a bullet point on the feature list carries no performance penalty. If you don't like a feature, don't enable it or use it. If you like it, use it. My stock GS3 with all its Samsung TouchWiz glory still runs incredibly fast; at no point have I ever felt that I needed to install a custom ROM to eek out a little more speed (which is something I've always felt the need to do with past phones). And if you're one of those people who feels insulted even having that feature installed, root it and ROM it. By sales volume alone, the GS4 will have a long healthy life in the ROM community.

The GS4 has a kitchen sink's worth of hardware specs. It has sensors we didn't even know we wanted. A 5" full HD display, 2600mAh removable battery, microSD, you can use the screen with gloves (or without even touching it), wireless charging, NFC, simultaneous front/rear camera recording, etc. Exynos octo or Qualcomm quad, either will be stupid fast. And I'll take Samsung's plastic body with a removable battery/microSD over HTC's pretty but non-serviceable body any time.

 

[Shlong]

Wireless charging built in is awesome that controller looks like an ugly mix of Wii-u & xbox360.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Underwhelming.

Compared to what?

If you aren't shorting HTC all ready now would be the time.

 

[ChronoReverse]

According to what's on Engadget it says it'll run at 1.6GHz.

Are you talking about the Exynos version? The A7 quad runs at 1.6GHz and the A15 quad runs at 1.2GHz (a 1.6GHz A7 will be slower). It's a 4+4 configuration so the A15 takes over when the load gets heavy.


Now that we know the A15 portion runs at 1.2GHz, it should be pretty clear that it's really hard to get the A15's power load under control.

 

[Bateluer]

Verge is reporting the US versions are sporting the S4 Pro SoC? Not that thats a slow CPU, but its second fiddle to the S600s and S800s. Some of the sw features do look pretty slick though. I like the 2600mah removable battery, but still loathe the Samsung plastic grimey bodies. The HTC One is a MUCH better looking phone, there is no question. But I think the GS4 will have it beaten easily in the software department.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm comparing the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs the HTC One in my head. And here are the strong points I see (to me anyway)...

Samsung S4
+ 5 inch display
+ micro SD
+ removable battery

HTC One
+ Stereo front facing speakers
+ aluminum body (and better looking design IMO)
+ Price

To explain the price thing. I guess we don't know the price on the Galaxy S4 yet. But I think the S3 16GB was $700 last year. And the HTC One Developer Edition 64GB model will be $650.

The 5 inch display on the S4 is a pretty nice strength for the Samsung. Micro SD is normally a big plus for me, but if I can possibly buy a 64GB HTC One for less than the 16GB Samsung S4, then micro SD is no longer important to me.

I really really want a phone with front facing speakers and hopefully they sound nice too. I don't mind sacrificing some screen size to fit those speakers on the front bezel. So this is really a big reason I'm leaning much more towards the HTC One at this point.

A little disappointed with the appearance of the Samsung as well. My first Android phone was the Samsung Vibrant, followed that up with the Galaxy Nexus. I don't have a problem with plastic phones. But the glossy look with that carbon fiber looking pattern (I think that is what it is) just makes the phone look cheap and tacky. And protruding cameras are turn offs for me as well.

Looks like in the US both phones will have the same processor, so internals look to be about the same. The Samsung will have a few extra odd sensors that I don't see as selling points for me.

Galaxy S4 will do tremendously well. Samsung will once again show everyone else what good branding and marketing can accomplish. Something HTC has failed to learn and I don't think the "One" branding is going to be going anywhere either.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Verge is reporting the US versions are sporting the S4 Pro SoC? Not that thats a slow CPU, but its second fiddle to the S600s and S800s. Some of the sw features do look pretty slick though. I like the 2600mah removable battery, but still loathe the Samsung plastic grimey bodies. The HTC One is a MUCH better looking phone, there is no question. But I think the GS4 will have it beaten easily in the software department.

The Verge is probably just doing damage control for Apple, everyone else thinks it is a 600.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Verge is reporting the US versions are sporting the S4 Pro SoC? Not that thats a slow CPU, but its second fiddle to the S600s and S800s. Some of the sw features do look pretty slick though. I like the 2600mah removable battery, but still loathe the Samsung plastic grimey bodies. The HTC One is a MUCH better looking phone, there is no question. But I think the GS4 will have it beaten easily in the software department.

I don't think Samsung specified which Qualcomm processor. Seems like the assumption is it'll have the Snapdragon 600.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Verge is reporting the US versions are sporting the S4 Pro SoC? Not that thats a slow CPU, but its second fiddle to the S600s and S800s. Some of the sw features do look pretty slick though. I like the 2600mah removable battery, but still loathe the Samsung plastic grimey bodies. The HTC One is a MUCH better looking phone, there is no question. But I think the GS4 will have it beaten easily in the software department.

If so on the S4Pro I'm curious to see how this does compared to the NExus 4 in battery life. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from Samsung's tweaks?

 

[Dari]

Compared to what?

If you aren't shorting HTC all ready now would be the time.

Compared to the hype and noise others were making in this thread.

Are you talking about the Exynos version? The A7 quad runs at 1.6GHz and the A15 quad runs at 1.2GHz (a 1.6GHz A7 will be slower). It's a 4+4 configuration so the A15 takes over when the load gets heavy.


Now that we know the A15 portion runs at 1.2GHz, it should be pretty clear that it's really hard to get the A15's power load under control.

So it's 1.6 for the smaller processor and 1.2 for the more powerful version? I'm sure there will be many out there who will feel cheated. I know I would if I bought this not knowing the difference. Truly underwhelming.

 

[jpeyton]

The Verge is smoking crack on the S4 Pro bit.

 

[ChronoReverse]

So it's 1.6 for the smaller processor and 1.2 for the more powerful version? I'm sure there will be many out there who will feel cheated. I know I would if I bought this not knowing the difference. Truly underwhelming.

Maybe, but the reason the smaller one existed is because you can't run the A15 at 1.6GHz and expect reasonable battery life (even though it would superbly fast). A 1.2GHz A15 would still run rings around a 1.6GHz A7 anyway.

 

[jpeyton]

So it's 1.6 for the smaller processor and 1.2 for the more powerful version?...Truly underwhelming.

This is quite a role reversal for you. It's all about the GHz now?

Tell me more about the A6.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Maybe, but the reason the smaller one existed is because you can't run the A15 at 1.6GHz and expect reasonable battery life (even though it would superbly fast). A 1.2GHz A15 would still run rings around a 1.6GHz A7 anyway.

yeah considering the Nexus 10 has overheating issues lol yeah 4x1.6ghz in a small phone would be ridiculous.

 

[ChronoReverse]

You know what I really like? Now that Qi wireless charging is confirmed, this means the GS4 is thinner, lighter, has a bigger battery AND still managed to pack in Qi.

I hate to say it but the engineering here is amazing.

 

[Dari]

Maybe, but the reason the smaller one existed is because you can't run the A15 at 1.6GHz and expect reasonable battery life (even though it would superbly fast). A 1.2GHz A15 would still run rings around a 1.6GHz A7 anyway.

DP

 

[Dari]

Maybe, but the reason the smaller one existed is because you can't run the A15 at 1.6GHz and expect reasonable battery life (even though it would superbly fast). A 1.2GHz A15 would still run rings around a 1.6GHz A7 anyway.

But grkM3 said I would get Intel i7-like performance and the battery would last for years on a single charge...

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Compared to the hype and noise others were making in this thread.



So it's 1.6 for the smaller processor and 1.2 for the more powerful version? I'm sure there will be many out there who will feel cheated. I know I would if I bought this not knowing the difference. Truly underwhelming.

Samsung delivered on every single aspect of the hardware, the specs read more like a wish list than an actual product they are so good.

 

[Dari]

This is quite a role reversal for you. It's all about the GHz now?

Tell me more about the A6.

Is it?

 

[ChronoReverse]

But grkM3 said I would get Intel i7-like performance and the battery would last for years on a single charge...

It will still be super fast and have great battery life (both the 600 and the 4+4 versions). Your bias is showing.

Samsung delivered on every single aspect of the hardware, the specs read more like a wish list than an actual product they are so good.

Seriously yeah. I wasn't impressed with the look but the hardware is amazing the more I think about it. I just realized this thing is SMALLER than the GS3! Literally the only thing I lust after are the dual front-facing speakers from the HONE.

 

[Dari]

It will still be super fast and have great battery life (both the 600 and the 4+4 versions). Your bias is showing.



Seriously yeah. I wasn't impressed with the look but the hardware is amazing the more I think about it. I just realized this thing is SMALLER than the GS3! Literally the only thing I lust after are the dual front-facing speakers from the HONE.

Of course I'm bias. I'm bias against lies and misrepresentation. And terrible OLED screens. This octacore marketing will seriously confuse people. Maybe it was a good idea not to bring it here. I can see the lawsuits already.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Why would it confuse people? It's just a fast phone. And in the States it won't even be the Exynos.

No you're just making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[ponyo]

I might have to import this phone. I do not want the Snapdragon which I'm afraid the US versions will have.

 

[Dari]

Samsung delivered on every single aspect of the hardware, the specs read more like a wish list than an actual product they are so good.

They've always been good with loading their devices with hardware, only to fail in implementation. But the homegrown processor here (if you can call it that) is truly underwhelming. Last year we saw 1.5GHz quads. This year we see 1.2GHz quads will little 1.6GHz quads to complement them. I visit this site often and I didn't expect that. I had no idea that there were heat issue with A15s either. Now I know. So that makes it underwhelming.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I might have to import this phone. I do not want the Snapdragon which I'm afraid the US versions will have.

Why's that? Development is better on the Snapdragon versions of the S3 and a 1.9GHz 600 should be just as fast as a 1.2GHz A15. The PowerVR chip in the International version might be a lot better though.

They've always been good with loading their devices with hardware, only to fail in implementation. But the homegrown processor here (if you can call it that) is truly underwhelming. Last year we saw 1.5GHz quads. This year we see 1.2GHz quads will little 1.6GHz quads to complement them. I visit this site often and I didn't expect that. I had no idea that there were heat issue with A15s either. Now I know. So that makes it underwhelming.

Yeah, you're deliberately being obtuse. Not too long ago, someone was going on about how the A6 was better even though its clock were lower (not necessary false).