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10 Ways the Samsung Galaxy S4 Could Beat the iPhone 5

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On March 14th, Samsung will more than likely unveil its next Samsung Galaxy S smartphone, the Galaxy S4, a phone that will replace the Samsung Galaxy S3 from last year. And while the Galaxy S4 will be taking on other Android smartphones like the HTC One and Nexus 4, it will also be aimed squarely at Apple and its current smartphone, the iPhone 5.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch Date: What to Expect.

Last year, Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy S3 to quite a bit of attention. The launch event took place in May after the company pushed it back in order to make it closer to the release in the U.S.. In May, June and July, the Galaxy S3 touched down in regions all over the world to take on the iPhone 4S from 2011 and to replace the Galaxy S2 which had previously set sales records.

The Galaxy S4 will battle the iPhone 5 in the months ahead.

The Galaxy S4 will battle the iPhone 5 in the months ahead.

The Samsung Galaxy S3, backed by good hardware, some unique and attractive software features and a bold ad campaign that took on Apple and the iPhone directly, the Galaxy S3 has gone on to be a worldwide success with Samsung reporting over 40 million units sold around the world. That success has placed the company and its Galaxy series in the same echelon as Apple and the iPhone and put the spotlight on it like never before.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4, which originally cropped up in rumors at the end of last year, has been in the news ever since with rumors popping up on almost a daily basis. From hardware to software, we’ve heard about features that the Galaxy S4 could have on board when it arrives in the middle of next month. While nothing is confirmed yet, we do know that this will be a phone that is on par with Apple’s current smartphone, the iPhone 5, which is was launched in September of last year.

Read: 7 Ways the iPhone 5 Could Beat the Samsung Galaxy S4.

With the iPhone 5, Apple attempted to close the gap by offering 4G LTE data speeds for the first time to go along with a larger 4-inch display, .5 inches larger than previous iPhone displays. But will that be enough to handle the Galaxy S4? Perhaps and perhaps not.

Here, we explore ten ways that the Samsung Galaxy S4 could beat the iPhone 5.

10 Ways the Samsung Galaxy S4 Could Beat the iPhone 5

Better Display

With the iPhone 5, Apple upped the ante with the size of the display, taking it to 4-inches whereas previous iPhones had used a 3.5-inch display. It also added 16:9 aspect ratio for widescreen content. Due to the aspect ration, the iPhone 5 can display videos without those pesky black bars. However, the company didn’t change much else and that could set the iPhone 5 back in 2013.

While the trend last year for Android smartphones were 720p displays, in 2013, we are seeing manufacturers raise the bar even further as they look to add stellar display technology to their smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S4, for instance, is rumored to have a 4.99 to 5-inch display with full HD 1080p resolution and a pixel-per-inch count that should be 400+. The iPhone 5 display, while featuring a respectable 326 PPI, isn’t HD quality which means that content is very likely going to look superior on the Galaxy S4’s display.

In addition, Samsung is rumored to be including some magic with its display, namely, touch less gestures that could allow users to do things like change the home screen without physically touching the display.

Removable Battery/Expandable Storage

A staple of Samsung smartphones of the past have been their removable backs and their microSD card slots. The removable back allows owners to easily replace their battery if it malfunctions and also install an extended battery if they need more power than the stock battery.

The microSD card slot has allowed them to expand their storage beyond the internal space without needing to depend on cloud storage. While both might seem like small features, they are extremely important to many people.

The Galaxy S4 is rumored to look like both the Galaxy S3 and the recently announced Galaxy Note 8.0 which both contain a microSD card slot. The Galaxy S3 has a removable back and given that we’ve heard that Samsung will be supplying a wireless charging kit for the Galaxy S4, we expect it to have one as well.

The iPhone 5 on the other hand features a design that doesn’t allow for owners to extend their battery life. Instead, users are forced to buy bulky cases like the Mophie Juice Back to add extra battery life. The iPhone 5 also doesn’t come with expandable storage space which means that owners are forced to deal with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 is rumored to be coming in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB which means that owners might be able to expand their storage space up to 96GB simply by buying a cheap 32GB microSD card.

Better Camera

As it stands, the iPhone 5 possesses one of the better rear cameras on the market. However in the near future, it’s going to start looking a bit outdated thanks to the new camera technology that is emerging on this year’s crop of Android smartphones.

Already, we’ve seen the Xperia Z launch with a 13MP Sony sensor, and more recently, the HTC One arrived with an Ultrapixel camera that HTC is touting as the next step in camera technology.

Here is a comparison between the Xperia Z camera and the iPhone 5’s.

Xperia-Z_Oppo_iPhone_1-575x38312

The iPhone 5 camera against the Sony Xperia Z’s camera.

And here is one between the HTC One and the iPhone 5.

iPhone-5-vs-HTC-One-Photo-Samples1-575x176

HTC One camera versus the iPhone 5 camera.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 camera was good but not the best-in-class and we aren’t sure if the Galaxy S4 camera will be either. However, rumors suggest that Samsung will be adding a 13MP sensor to the Galaxy S4, quite possibly the 13MP sensor from Sony, which is the same camera rumored for the iPhone 5S, the iPhone 5’s successor.

Given the competition that the Galaxy S4 is facing in the camera department, Samsung’s penchant for delivering fantastic camera software – its app is better than the stock Android camera app and the fact that it’s rumored to have a 13MP sensor, the Galaxy S4 camera has the potential to beat the iPhone 5’s rear camera.

Easy Software Customization

Since the release of iOS 6.1, iPhone 5 owners hoping to customize their iPhone have been spoiled. That’s because the Evasi0n jailbreak tool has been available for iOS 6.1, iOS 6.1.1 and iOS 6.1.2, a streak that is rare in the world of iPhone jailbreaking.

For years now, the iPhone jailbreak has been a game of cat and mouse between hackers and Apple, leaving consumers with extended waits and periods of disappointment. Often, the jailbreak will work with a certain version of iOS, that is, until Apple patches up the exploit meaning users have to stay on a specific version until hackers can achieve success.

In many cases, that has meant waiting on aging versions of iOS.

Android is more easily customizable than iOS.

Android is more easily customizable than iOS.

With Android, which is an open operating system, users don’t have to worry about this game. In fact, while iPhone 5 owners had to wait for months for a jailbreak, owners of the Galaxy S3 were able to easily personalize their device with ROMs, skins and more.

We expect the same from the Samsung Galaxy S4. The only drawback might be the Verizon Galaxy S4 model which will more than likely feature an encrypted bootloader preventing custom ROM installation, at least right off the bat.

As we’ve seen though, developers have become more adept at cracking the chains and Samsung itself has even moved to offer Developer Edition models for easy access to an unlocked bootloader on Verizon.

So, when it comes to customizing and personalizing a device or even getting features from major update early, the Galaxy S4 will likely be the smartphone to look at.

Official Wireless Charging

Last year, Samsung promised wireless charging for the Galaxy S3 and failed to deliver. This time around, we expect the company to introduce wireless charging with the Galaxy S4 whether it’s through a wireless charging kit or with built-in capabilities.

Signs are pointing to an official wireless charging kit from Samsung which would mean users could buy an official kit and perhaps a dock if it’s not included and charge the device without any wires.

This could be the Galaxy S4 Wireless Charger.

This could be the Galaxy S4 Wireless Charger.

The iPhone 5 currently doesn’t feature any official wireless charging options from Apple and likely never will. Instead, users will have to deal with third-party offerings that are evidently set to start arriving in March of this year, the same month of the Galaxy S4 launch.

T-Mobile at Launch

No carriers have been confirmed quite yet for the Samsung Galaxy S4, but we imagine that we will get our fill come March 14th. And if the last two big name Galaxy smartphone launches are any indication, we should see the device show up on a number of carriers at launch, including T-Mobile.

Both the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 have been wildly successful and a likely big part of that has been their launches on all five of the major carriers in the United States. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon all launched the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 and we expect that the Galaxy S4 will arrive on those carriers as well.

This would give the Galaxy S4 an advantage over the iPhone 5 as it would more than likely arrive for T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network at launch, much like the HTC One.

T-Mobile has confirmed the iPhone for sale later this year but as of yet, it has not given an official date nor has it confirmed which iPhone it will offer: the iPhone 5 or the iPhone 5S.

Quick Price Drops

Besides the hardware, there is another iPhone 5 feature that stays consistent over time and that is its price tag. While there are offers from time to time, the iPhone typically stays priced at $199.99-$399.99 with the $199.99 price for the 16GB model.

While this has been a standard price for big name smartphones, and we expect the Galaxy S4 to launch for this price at all carriers but T-Mobile (which will likely offer it with its pre-paid plans), the Galaxy S4 should see quick discounts arrive through third party outlets like Amazon.

Amazon typically offers discounts shortly after launch.

Amazon typically offers discounts shortly after launch.

As we’ve seen with just about every Android launch, Amazon typically introduces Galaxy smartphones through its website and often, the devices are available with a discount. The Galaxy S3 on Amazon saw a price drop just a few days after it launched, as did the Galaxy Note 2.

We expect the same from the Galaxy S4 which means that those who are able to buy it through a place like Amazon will likely be able to get the device for cheaper than the iPhone 5.

NFC

Apple has yet to include Near-Field Communication (NFC) with its iPhone and while we don’t know if the Galaxy S4 will have the technology just yet, we imagine that it will probably will.

Just about every Android smartphone that has launched in recent months includes NFC support, which allows it to be used as a mobile wallet with services like Google Wallet as well as ISIS.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 May Include Visa NFC Payments.

https://youtu.be/hLbmy4XQsMo

The Galaxy S4 is said to include support for VISA’s payWave which would, like the other services, allow owners to easily make mobile payments simply by using their smartphone. For some, this has replaced the need for carrying tons of mobile payment cards everywhere they go.

Google Maps/Google Now

One of the nice things about having an Android phone is that Google supplies owners with robust versions of their applications. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S4, because it is an Android phone, will have access to the Android version of the Google Maps application that is arguably superior to the Google Maps on iOS.

The Android version has Wikipedia integration. It has turn-by-turn navigation for walking. And maybe best of all, it offers Offline Maps. The app in iOS 6 is good, but it definitely has some features missing.

Google Now is also a key part of Android’s makeup. While iOS and the iPhone 5 use Siri, Android and the Galaxy S4 will use something called Google Now which is predictive technology which is arguably far more useful than anything Siri can do. Google Now’s cards depict extremely useful bits of information without owners even having to pull them up.

For instance, Google Now will show owners alternate routes to work before leaving home or display popular photo spots nearby a user’s location.

Smart Software

Last year, Samsung introduced a hefty dose of features with its TouchWiz Nature UX, a skin that is not available outside of Samsung-made devices. And as Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners learned, Samsung truly added some remarkable features, including smart features that are aimed at making the life of a smartphone owner much simpler.

The Galaxy S4 will likely arrive with many of the features that the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 have. For example, Multi-Window View, a feature that allows owners to split the massive displays into two parts to run two apps at the same time.

Other smart features include the ability to call a contact simply by lifting the phone to the ear while writing a text message or flipping the phone over to silence a call that one can’t take.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 2: Multi-Window View.

With the Galaxy S4, there are rumors that Samsung might be making the Galaxy smartphone even smarter. Trademarks suggest features that could revolve around the eye with one apparently shutting down content when a user looks away, simply by using the front-facing camera. Or a feature called “Eye Scroll” which seems like it would allow owners to scroll content with their eyes.

None of this is confirmed but Samsung has been delivering some fantastic additions to its software, some of which we expect to best iOS 6, the software on the iPhone 5.

29 Comments

29 Comments

  1. martin mander

    02/26/2013 at 1:53 pm

    This is getting a little out of hand. We sign on a 2 year contract. Yet there is another phone out every 9 months or so. Im locked into a contract of 2 years. Very frustrating samsung

    • Diego Matamoros

      02/26/2013 at 2:15 pm

      Do you really need this new phone NOW? I bet your S3 still kicks ass, and will probably do in a year’s time. I personally love how fast technology is moving, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to change phone every time something new comes out, I just wait until it dies or I can’t longer do what I need in my current phone.

    • Alec Reser

      02/26/2013 at 2:20 pm

      All phone manufacturers are doing this, it’s not just Samsung. If you have a gsIII or even gsII, I wouldn’t worry about it, your devices are superb enough.

    • Jay Chun

      02/26/2013 at 2:26 pm

      #1stworldproblems

    • rgarcia

      02/26/2013 at 5:51 pm

      Its because its geared to those who have the SII, which should be getting off there contract, just like when yours is up it might just be the S5, who knows, its strategy. Apple does this too.

    • KFear

      02/26/2013 at 9:08 pm

      You can still get the phone even if you are in the middle of a contract. The contract is not with the phone, it’s with the network. You might want to read your contract again.

  2. chris t

    02/26/2013 at 2:56 pm

    Love my s3 it is absolutely amazing. I bought it a week after it was released. But not even a year yet and they release this s4 news. Good thing I kept my s3 in near mint condition because I had a feeling Samsung would do this. I can sell my s3 for around 300 and spend 300 to get the s4. Nevertheless, very frustrating Samsung.

    • dada

      02/26/2013 at 5:22 pm

      why are you getting mad that Samsung is releasing a new phone? They are a company that wants to make money… its the responsibility of the company to make money for share holders…

    • chris t is spoiled

      03/01/2013 at 8:49 pm

      The hell is your problem dude. you have a gs3 already. then you complain about it when the next phone comes down the line? #firstworldproblems #meanwhileinafrica.

  3. Rodfather

    02/26/2013 at 3:41 pm

    GottaBeMobile: Mobile Rumors and Speculation.

  4. Mr. Srt4

    02/26/2013 at 4:43 pm

    I still would prefer the new HTC one I own the S3 and the 4glte and personally I loved the HTC 1000x more this is the 3 one I’ve had and the best. I think the One should is going to be superior at least until apple let’s out their new phone they always change the the game and then it’s back to who could beat apple again lol I’ve been an HTC before apple and Samsung and still will stay with the best

    • Joel Queen

      04/27/2013 at 10:44 am

      Please tell me how they “change the game” they’ve been putting out last years technology since the 4s. Drone

  5. Mike liu

    02/26/2013 at 5:25 pm

    Nexus 4 bro?

  6. Milly ZD

    02/26/2013 at 5:45 pm

    I dig the article! There is a lot of guessing and speculating of course, but it is rather entertaining. If you need more ideas and news about the Galaxy S4 guys just check out https://samsung-galaxy-s4-news.blogspot.com/

    • tate

      02/27/2013 at 8:25 am

      woooooow galaxy S4 is so amazing eish

  7. ken

    02/26/2013 at 8:33 pm

    adam … you must be crazy… the s3 already beat the iphone 5 … the s4 will be competing with the 5s not the 5 .. with its dual core processor and less than 720p resolution, the iphone 5 is more comparable to the android phones of 2011 2 years ago

  8. khadeer

    02/27/2013 at 6:12 am

    I love Galaxy S4 because camera is very good better then iPhone 5 and I am going to buy…!

  9. tate

    02/27/2013 at 8:29 am

    i wish i have a money,samsung is ruling ,i see 4 and 5 galaxy

  10. Dennis G

    02/27/2013 at 8:55 am

    I thought T-Mobile used HSPA+, not LTE…

  11. Gem

    02/28/2013 at 4:16 pm

    “Could beat?” Seriously? If S3 already beat iPhone5, why would you need an S4 to be able to say that? Psshh…

    • ken

      02/28/2013 at 6:27 pm

      i agree … s3 won phone of the year at mwc … this writer is a joke

  12. Taape

    03/03/2013 at 7:32 pm

    man this sick i definately gettin since i have a grap fone hahah yo im waiting for you S4

  13. asianboy

    03/06/2013 at 2:49 pm

    I hear it will have nfc and the highest gb range is 128Gb

    • Idkdkd

      03/28/2013 at 1:56 am

      Naa bull shit

  14. Tony

    03/07/2013 at 9:57 pm

    I have the galazy 3 and im good .And I have had plenty….

  15. Riley

    03/14/2013 at 7:52 am

    Seeing as the Galaxy S3 already outsold the iPhone 5 for a few months, I think the S4 has a good chance of outselling it again. Considering it should have a better camera, faster processor, and a 1080p display, I think it’ll do well. During the commute to and from work at DISH, I like to stream my live and recorded shows on my phone, since it takes some time getting there. I use the DISH Anywhere app to stream from my DVR wherever I go, and I’d like a higher resolution display to watch them on.

  16. ygoldie

    03/19/2013 at 8:14 am

    Looking forward to getting the S4 – Just need to decide if I will use Sprint or AT&T for the new phone. Great timing for me as I am starting a new contract next month.

    • Idkdkd

      03/28/2013 at 1:59 am

      Cool story bro

  17. Idkdkd

    03/28/2013 at 2:01 am

    Looks kind of sick but still prefer brick Nokia

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