I have an iPhone 5 and an S4 - Comparisons & Observations

[Sir Ruben]

Ok here we go. i think the S4 fares a LOT better outdoors than it does indoors. Check out these quick shots. I didn't take into account lighting or anything else for that matter, I simply snapped them quickly in the way most people use a smartphone camera (S4 on the left iPhone 5 on the right - all images resized to 1024x768):

I think Im done comparing the camera quality now. In my opinion I really don't think there is much between them. In some cases I got better shots with the iPhone 5 and other times the S4. I personally think the colour reproduction on the iPhone 5 is a little warmer and in some shots the detail is a little better on the S4.

Seeing as the S4 came out a long time after the iPhone 5, and the fact that the camera module is bulging out of the back of the phone I did expect to see a bigger leap over the iPhone 5 shots but there you go. I suppose there is only so far you can go on a phone. I think its fair to put to bed any "S4 camera blows away the competition" comments though because thats simply not the case at all. Oh and lets never suggest that a cameraphone damn near rivals a DSLR again

 

[Ann P]

Thanks for the comparison. Close call, but the photos from the S4 definitely looks more natural and accurate to me.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

They are very close and both phones take a good picture considering how small the lens is. I would still say the iPhone takes a better picture. The colours look a lot more accurate IMO. The pictures taken outside with the S4 look a little washed out and it appears to struggle a little more in low light scenario's. The S4 looks like in outdoor scenes it lets too much light onto the sensor, whereas the iPhone has better control concerning its auto aperture.

I think I've seen enough to judge the iPhone has a marginally better camera.

 

[Sir Ruben]

Just a small update on my day to day experiences with the S4.

1) The ringtone starts of quiet and then goes loud. This is really annoying and cannot be changed without running a dodgy 3rd party app. So much for customisability Android

2) I HATE the on/off button being on the side of the phone. Terrible placement! I constantly hit it by accident turning on the screen when picking the phone up, or turning off the screen whilst in the middle of looking at something.

 

[Vegastouch]

Just a small update on my day to day experiences with the S4.

1) The ringtone starts of quiet and then goes loud. This is really annoying and cannot be changed without running a dodgy 3rd party app. So much for customisability Android

2) I HATE the on/off button being on the side of the phone. Terrible placement! I constantly hit it by accident turning on the screen when picking the phone up, or turning off the screen whilst in the middle of looking at something.

Yeah it does do that but it doesnt bother me. It is actually good in a quiet place. You can cach it sooner before it gets loud and many times i can hear it even in normal conditions. It isnt a big deal imo. Its just a ringer. At least it does go loud....something Apple took forever to fix and it still isnt as loud. Ive never hit the button accidently.

As for the button...i love it on the side. Works great for either hand with it right there. Much better than the top imo. Ive never hit it accidently.

 

[2298754]

Just a small update on my day to day experiences with the S4.

1) The ringtone starts of quiet and then goes loud. This is really annoying and cannot be changed without running a dodgy 3rd party app. So much for customisability Android

2) I HATE the on/off button being on the side of the phone. Terrible placement! I constantly hit it by accident turning on the screen when picking the phone up, or turning off the screen whilst in the middle of looking at something.

1) I think you can turn this off. I remember seeing some setting about how it gets louder when you pick it up or something

2) don't know what to say. The side is better than the top like the HTC One

 

[Sir Ruben]

1) I think you can turn this off. I remember seeing some setting about how it gets louder when you pick it up or something

2) don't know what to say. The side is better than the top like the HTC One

1) Nope cant be turned off. There is a lot of discussion out there regarding it and the best advice is a dodgy 3rd party app that has to run in the background all the time (which its also suggested kills battery life). Plus it sounds really naff, if its mandatory couldnt the sound gradually increase rather than start quiet and then bounce right up to full blast?

2) I know WHY the on/off button is on the side, its because the phone is so damn big people cant reach the top (apparently). Also with it being directly opposite the volume rocker its easy to hit it when gripping the phone to adjust the volume too. In fact everyones hands naturally hold the sides of a phone so the chance of accidentally hitting it is incredibly high. Its not helped by the fact that the buttons are so soft to depress. A better idea would have been to use stiff buttons such as the volume buttons of the iPhone 5. You can easily handle them without accidentally pressing them.

Ive recently installed iOS7 on the iPhone 5 and as much as I love the S4, when I use the iPhone 5 I realise how much I miss the fast responsive screen and fluid performance. The slower less responsive performance of the UI on the S4 becomes natural until you switch back to an iPhone 5. Again I know, root, pure Android, touchwiz, etc etc

 

[sbddude]

1) Nope cant be turned off. There is a lot of discussion out there regarding it and the best advice is a dodgy 3rd party app that has to run in the background all the time (which its also suggested kills battery life). Plus it sounds really naff, if its mandatory couldnt the sound gradually increase rather than start quiet and then bounce right up to full blast?

Not sure why you think this. I just checked on my S3 and it indeed can be turned off and customized how fast it gets louder.

 

[Vegastouch]

Not sure why you think this. I just checked on my S3 and it indeed can be turned off and customized how fast it gets louder.

I don't have that option on my GS3. You must have a newer JB version than me. I'm on 4.1.2 and it looks like you are in the sound section of the settings.

 

[sbddude]

I don't have that option on my GS3. You must have a newer JB version than me. I'm on 4.1.2 and it looks like you are in the sound section of the settings.

I have 4.2.2

 

[Sir Ruben]

Yeah you have an S3, I am talking about the S4, a quick Google search confirms this cannot be changed without a 3rd party app:

http://gs4.wonderhowto.com/how-to/d...sing-ringtone-your-samsung-galaxy-s4-0146863/

In their increasing ringtone system, the ringtone will start off on a low volume and increase until it reaches your set volume. In theory, this is useful for not shocking the user with a sudden, blaring ringtone. In practice, this mainly leads to missed calls, because that sudden, blaring ringtone is what we're trained to listen for.

Additionally, for SoftModders, is the added annoyance of not being able to disable or turn off the feature. Control of our devices is important, and Samsung took it out of our hands on this one.

and more discussion here:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...rst-ring-low-then-sounds-jump-up-any-fix.html

sbddude if you are still convinced that it is there please give the direct path to the setting so that I can check it out eg: System settings > My Device > Sound > ?

Also after using the S4 nearly every day I have come to the conclusion that a lot of the suggested gimmicks really are just that. The smartpause feature is particularly annoying. Just today I tried to show someone a video and because we were both looking at the screen it was continually spazzing out and starting and stopping. Watching videos with others is something I regularly do. Turning it off every time I want to show someone a video in this way really isnt worth the effort so I have just turned it off completely.

 

[sentinelsx]

I have 4.2.2

You are using a custom ROM. They are talking about the option not there on stock touchwiz.

 

[sbddude]

You are using a custom ROM. They are talking about the option not there on stock touchwiz.

The point I was trying to make is that android in general has this feature/customizability.

 

[Sir Ruben]

The point I was trying to make is that android in general has this feature/customizability.

Ah, from your original post I thought you were suggesting that the feature was there and I had missed it. So just to clarify, this cant be changed on a stock Galaxy S4 right?

 

[davey0]

I'm getting rid of my S4 today and going back to my ancient iPhone 3g (gave wife my iPhone 5 when I upgraded) until the 5s comes out.

I really tried to like it, but there were so many little things that irritated me. Plus the apps crashed so often, especially the Google Nav app. During a recent vacation I gave up using it and ended up using Navigon on my wife's phone. Switching from the browser to email to nav made the phone so unstable that I ended up rooting it just to install a simple reboot button on the home screen that I could quickly tap while driving.

Here's a list of things that I found lacking:
- can't click on tracking numbers in email
- no consistent icon size - home screen looks a mess
- no physical mute switch
- bluetooth media audio doesn't automatically connect to car or headphones
- no tap to go to top in browser
- no direct forward or bookmark buttons in browsers (have to click another button to get to them)
- all the Samsung and AT&T bloatware
- no volume sliders on screen in apps (have to press volume buttons to get it to appear)
- why is the Google music app always running?
- all plastic including the chrome trim (I thought the trim was at least metal)
- can't load apps onto sd card
- voicemail app not built into phone app
- clicking on a favorite in the phone app brings up contact information and does not call directly
- no universal search
- apps constantly crash

I know a lot of the things I listed were nitpicky, but they got to me. The only thing that I will miss is the larger screen.

There are millions of people who are happy with their Android phones and that's really awesome, but it's just not for me.

 

[jcpb]

Here's a list of things that I found lacking:
- can't click on tracking numbers in email
- no consistent icon size - home screen looks a mess
- no physical mute switch
- bluetooth media audio doesn't automatically connect to car or headphones
- no tap to go to top in browser
- no direct forward or bookmark buttons in browsers (have to click another button to get to them)
- all the Samsung and AT&T bloatware
- no volume sliders on screen in apps (have to press volume buttons to get it to appear)
- why is the Google music app always running?
- all plastic including the chrome trim (I thought the trim was at least metal)
- can't load apps onto sd card
- voicemail app not built into phone app
- clicking on a favorite in the phone app brings up contact information and does not call directly
- no universal search
- apps constantly crash

Except, because iOS has distinct and separate volume adjustment toggles for sound, the physical mute switch does not really mute everything. The guys behind the KS project Mutator mentioned it as well.

Apps do crash on iOS.

Voicemail = hold "1" on your dialer app (varies with carrier), you don't need Visual Voicemail at all

Samsung released an S4 update that contained App2SD, ofc it's of little use if you bought your S4 from a carrier instead of buying the phone unlocked. In which case, the only fix for the bloatware payload (besides flashing ROMs) is to root the S4, gain superuser privileges, and remove all the S-cr@p.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Just a small update on my day to day experiences with the S4.

1) The ringtone starts of quiet and then goes loud. This is really annoying and cannot be changed without running a dodgy 3rd party app. So much for customisability Android

That's more of a Samsung thing than an Android thing I think. I haven't had that on my Nexus 4 or Droid X before that. The nice thing though is that you were actually able to download a utility to change something you didn't like within the OS.

 

[Sir Ruben]

That's more of a Samsung thing than an Android thing I think. I haven't had that on my Nexus 4 or Droid X before that. The nice thing though is that you were actually able to download a utility to change something you didn't like within the OS.

I didn't download it. People reported that it had to run in the background to intercept a call and correct the ringtone volume, which in turn was causing battery drain :/

I'm also still waiting for this update that Samsung are releasing to free up space on the phone by allowing you to move bloatware onto the SD card. Some people seem to have it some don't, but everytime I check for my phone there is no update available.

 

[daveathall]

I'm also still waiting for this update that Samsung are releasing to free up space on the phone by allowing you to move bloatware onto the SD card. Some people seem to have it some don't, but everytime I check for my phone there is no update available.

It's the UK carriers fault, not Samsungs, the update has been out quite a while, Vodaphone got it some weeks ago, I got it yesterday on O2.

Not all apps can be moved onto your SD card.

 

[mattopotamus]

I'm getting rid of my S4 today and going back to my ancient iPhone 3g (gave wife my iPhone 5 when I upgraded) until the 5s comes out.

I really tried to like it, but there were so many little things that irritated me. Plus the apps crashed so often, especially the Google Nav app. During a recent vacation I gave up using it and ended up using Navigon on my wife's phone. Switching from the browser to email to nav made the phone so unstable that I ended up rooting it just to install a simple reboot button on the home screen that I could quickly tap while driving.

Here's a list of things that I found lacking:
- can't click on tracking numbers in email
- no consistent icon size - home screen looks a mess
- no physical mute switch
- bluetooth media audio doesn't automatically connect to car or headphones
- no tap to go to top in browser
- no direct forward or bookmark buttons in browsers (have to click another button to get to them)
- all the Samsung and AT&T bloatware
- no volume sliders on screen in apps (have to press volume buttons to get it to appear)
- why is the Google music app always running?
- all plastic including the chrome trim (I thought the trim was at least metal)
- can't load apps onto sd card
- voicemail app not built into phone app
- clicking on a favorite in the phone app brings up contact information and does not call directly
- no universal search
- apps constantly crash

I know a lot of the things I listed were nitpicky, but they got to me. The only thing that I will miss is the larger screen.

There are millions of people who are happy with their Android phones and that's really awesome, but it's just not for me.

Honestly, it just sounds like you are so use to the IOS way of things and that you tried to do it like that with an android phone. There is nothing wrong with that, but it sounds to me like you were just stuck in that frame of mind.

 

[Sir Ruben]

It's the UK carriers fault, not Samsungs, the update has been out quite a while, Vodaphone got it some weeks ago, I got it yesterday on O2.

Not all apps can be moved onto your SD card.

I don't like the way updates are handled on Android. I understand the technicalities behind it all but it doest make it any less frustrating for the end user.

 

[deeddawg]

I don't like the way updates are handled on Android.

It reminds me of how Blackberry updates were handled four or five years ago.

 

[daveathall]

I don't like the way updates are handled on Android. I understand the technicalities behind it all but it doest make it any less frustrating for the end user.

Yes, I can understand that. As an aside, I'm noticing on the O2 site that not all O2 users have got the update yet, seems like they are rolling it out in stages. i must have been one of the lucky ones, although, TBH, I'm not a update the minute it is released sort of person, but I can see the frustration of those that do like timely updates.

 

[Sir Ruben]

Well just an update on my experiences using both handsets. Over time the Galaxy S4 has had less and less use. In fact its been sitting on my desk now and hasnt been used for weeks and weeks. I have been using my iPhone 5 running iOS7 and have really enjoyed using it so far.

So the Galaxy S4 has sold (which will pay for my PS4!), but something I have noticed, when selling Android phones the lack of interest is really surprising. I have sold many iPhones in the past and they get snapped up instantly for top prices. With my S2 and now my S4 I have noticed that there was very little interest and it was a real struggle to get a good price even with a 32GB SD card, cases, thrown in. As the S4 is the hottest and highest spec Android handset out there, I just don't get it.

Anyway it was fun to experience both for a while, the S4 was a lovely piece of hardware, but at the end of the day there is no giant gulf between an iPhone and an Android handset (as many would have you believe). Yes I could do more on the S4 but the amount of times I NEEDED to do more were almost never. Plus what iOS does less of it does better, many of the wild features of the S4 were just flakey and half baked. If there is one thing I have learned is that if you are perfectly happy with what your current device does (be it iOS or Android) then just stick with it. Its always tempting to try out the competition but for every pro you may very well find a con. I am contented now, however I certainly wouldnt say no to a bigger screen from Apple

 

[daveathall]

Well just an update on my experiences using both handsets. Over time the Galaxy S4 has had less and less use. In fact its been sitting on my desk now and hasnt been used for weeks and weeks. I have been using my iPhone 5 running iOS7 and have really enjoyed using it so far.

So the Galaxy S4 has sold (which will pay for my PS4!), but something I have noticed, when selling Android phones the lack of interest is really surprising. I have sold many iPhones in the past and they get snapped up instantly for top prices. With my S2 and now my S4 I have noticed that there was very little interest and it was a real struggle to get a good price even with a 32GB SD card, cases, thrown in. As the S4 is the hottest and highest spec Android handset out there, I just don't get it.

Anyway it was fun to experience both for a while, the S4 was a lovely piece of hardware, but at the end of the day there is no giant gulf between an iPhone and an Android handset (as many would have you believe). Yes I could do more on the S4 but the amount of times I NEEDED to do more were almost never. Plus what iOS does less of it does better, many of the wild features of the S4 were just flakey and half baked. If there is one thing I have learned is that if you are perfectly happy with what your current device does (be it iOS or Android) then just stick with it. Its always tempting to try out the competition but for every pro you may very well find a con. I am contented now, however I certainly wouldnt say no to a bigger screen from Apple

Just interested on how much you got for your S4? I normally (less hassle) sell my used phones through Mazuma mobile, just did a quick comparison and noticed that a S4 (£280) would get me more than a iPhone 5 (64gb) (£270) on their site, the lower capacity iPhone 5's getting even less, thus suggesting that they would get more for the S4 than the iP5 when they sold them on.
.
http://www.mazumamobile.com/?gclid=CPHPnLaClrkCFQbJtAodHxAAQw