The Samsung Galaxy S4 is coming. The phrase is not quite as iconic as the motto in Game of Thrones, “winter is coming,” but it still set the geek world ablaze with speculation and interest. The Galaxy S3 selling almost 50 million units worldwide as of March is testament to the allure the Galaxy S series has among Android fanboys and new users alike.
In essence, Samsung’s Galaxy S series became Android’s new royal family, toppling HTC’s Desires and Sony’s Xperias. The design could’ve used a more stylish or revolutionary approach, yet the essentials, such as a powerful processor, ample storage (8/16 GB of flash storage and a microSD card slot) and an awesome display (Samsung pioneered Super AMOLED screens) are there and are certainly a hit with users. To date, the combined sales of the Galaxy S lineup surpasses 100 million units worldwide.
Android manufacturers can only stare in envy.
However, after the initial outpouring of hate, most people realized that however disappointing the Galaxy S4 is, it certainly raised the bar high for flagship devices. While the design is not revolutionary (it looks like a Galaxy S3 mashed with a Galaxy Note 2) or an innovation in any way (it only added to the already capable hardware of its predecessor) the internals of the phone and the display more than compensate for the Galaxy S4 becoming a huge slab of cheap plastic. Who cares about glass and aluminium in their phones, anyway?
As iSheep wake up from their deep slumber and realize how outdated their devices are, here are an additional ten reason why your Apple god should start praying to Steve Jobs now. Yeah, that’s figurative.
1. The display is just eye-popping.
Let’s face it, all of the screens of available smartphones and upcoming ones (right, HTC One) pale in comparison to the Galaxy S4’s display. The iPhone 5 is not exempt; a Retina screen is old news and the 4-inch, while revolutionary for an iPhone, is still too miniscule for users. C’mon now, Super AMOLED display with 1080p resolution, what can beat that?
2. The Galaxy S4 is the fastest phone on Earth.
While much fuss has been generated by the octa core processor of a Galaxy S4 version, the older Snapdragon 600 (four cores, quad core) that some versions would be shipped with sure doesn't disappoint. Benchmarks, basically a way to determine how fast or slow a phone is, show the Galaxy S4 comfortably seated on top of the other former Benchmark Champions like the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z. Geekbench gave the Snapdragon Galaxy S4 a score of 3163, easily twice the iPhone 5 score of 1596. Twice the much touted A6 chip of the iPhone 5 is easily blown to smithereens with its mediocre score. Interesting.
3. Storage for the Galaxy S4 is almost limitless.
Fixed storage is a much hated limitation on the iPhone; users are limited to 16/32/64 GB with no option for further expansion. The Galaxy S4 follows in the footsteps of the Galaxy S lineup and has both flash storage and a microSD card slot. If the phone memory of the Galaxy S4 is not enough for you, a microSD card of up to 64 GB can be added. While I have no idea with what you’re going to do with so much storage, the Galaxy S4 gives you the freedom, unlike the fixed iPhone 5.
4. The Galaxy S4’s cameras can record at the same time.
While the iPhone 5 only has an 8 MP rear camera and a 1.2 MP front-facing one, the Galaxy S4 has a 13 MP rear camera and a front-facing 2 MP camera. Furthermore, the Galaxy S4 can shoot videos from both cameras AT THE SAME TIME. No more left-out moments for the family’s photographer!
5. Updates will be a breeze for the new smartphone king.
The Galaxy S4, launching with Jelly Bean, is sure to also come with Project Butter, basically “Goodbye lags forever,” and Google Now, an AI personal assistant that, while not as witty as Siri, can provide real time answers to your queries. Furthermore, an update to Key Lime Pie, the next iteration of Android, is assured. IOS might have more quality apps than Android, however, the advantage ends there. Android is just iOS’ better in so many aspects like customization and being an open-source platform, thus the fanbase is much larger.
6. The Galaxy S4 battery will last two iPhone 5 days.
Yeah, the Galaxy S4’s battery has almost double the capacity of an iPhone 5’s irremovable battery. Take a look at these figures: 2600 mAh (milliamp) for the Galaxy S4 and 1400 mAh for the iPhone 5. Need further explanations?
7. The latest iOS launcher gives you an additional row of icons while TouchWiz on the other hand...
Fast-forward five and TouchWiz is now a full-fledged and feature-filled launcher. The same, though, could not be said of the iOS launcher which hardly changed for almost five years, save for an additional row for icons on the iPhone 5. Maybe after another five years, an additional row could be added?
8. The Galaxy S4 uses gestures as features, while the iPhone 5...
Air and Motion gestures, Quick Glance, Smart Stay, Smart Rotate, Smart Pause, Smart Scroll. It seems that the list of sensors on the Galaxy S4 is just limitless. They work well, too. For example, if you want to pause the music player, you can just place your palm on the screen. Another example is taking a screenshot by swiping your palm on the screen. The iPhone 5, on the other hand, well, if you want gestures, you can try the iPad. The iPhone 5 has none.
9. People are getting bored with iOS.
They say that your typical iOS experience is pretty much comparable to a plateau; after an initial upsurge, everything just normalizes. Then at one point, you become so bored with it. Android on the other hand is pretty much like a heart rate monitor of a living person, there are always ups and downs and plenty of surprises down the road.
10. Samsung is the new Apple.
Oh boy, this is the one thing that Apple needs to look out for, or rather, stop. Apple events always attract a huge following, not only of developers but also of loyal fanboys who wish to see the latest and greatest of their most cherished brand. However, with the overwhelming positive reviews of the Galaxy S series and the translation of that positive feedback into sales (100 million Galaxies sold worldwide), the hype surrounding every launch of a Galaxy flagship is pretty much the same as that of Apple iPhones. Crowds are getting thicker every time and the internet explodes in a flurry with every leak of rumors of a new Galaxy S phone. Attention that before, only the iPhone received.
Is Samsung, then, the new Apple? Probably, but then, Apple has never shown itself as a leader of innovation, whereas, Samsung has done so repeatedly with every launch of a Galaxy S device.
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Archie Morgan is a raving techie that reveres technology as religion and gadgets as gods. He's currently a resident blogger for http://www.cashforsmartphones.com/, writing about all the latest and greatest in the techworld.
