The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo and Galaxy S4 were flagship devices in their time, offering impressive features for their era. Both are now considered vintage smartphones, but which one holds up better today? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs and performance to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Note 3 Neo edges out the Galaxy S4 primarily due to its significantly longer battery life (74h vs 65h). While both offer solid performance, the Neo's slightly more powerful chipset and superior sunlight readability give it a slight advantage for those seeking a reliable vintage device.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-N7505 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - SM-N7505 | - |
| EDGE | Class 10 | Yes |
| GPRS | Class 10 | Yes |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2(LTE)/21.1(3G)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-N750 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, January. Released 2014, February | 2013, March. Released 2013, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6 mm (5.84 x 3.05 x 0.34 in) | 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 162.5 g (5.71 oz) | 130 g (4.59 oz) |
| | Stylus | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (4x1.3 GHz Cortex A7 & 2x1.7 GHz Cortex A15) | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7) |
| Chipset | Exynos 5260 Hexa | Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T624 MP4 | PowerVR SGX544MP3 |
| OS | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 30 dialed, 30 received, 30 missed calls | Yes |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (11GB user available), 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 contacts, Photo call | 2000 entries |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.6, 31mm (standard), AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec. | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual video call |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide) | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | - |
| Games | Yes | Downloadable |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | Yes |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, Email | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | Up to 64 h | Up to 62 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 540 h (3G) | Up to 370 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 18 h (3G) | Up to 17 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Green, Pink, Red | White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition |
| Models | SM-N750, SM-N7505, SM-N750K, SM-N750S, SM-N7507, SM-N750L, SM-N7500Q, SM-N7506V, SM-N7505L | GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| SAR | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.25 W/kg (head) 0.27 W/kg (body) | 0.42 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -96.1dB / Crosstalk -94.9dB |
Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 74h
|
Endurance rating 65h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.487 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 68dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB
|
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -96.1dB / Crosstalk -94.9dB | Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 74h | Endurance rating 65h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.487 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB | Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB |
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
- Exceptional battery life (74h)
- Slightly better sunlight readability
- Larger display
- Stylus functionality
- Older chipset, limited gaming performance
- Camera quality is dated
- Potentially harder to find replacement parts
Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Slightly more compact design
- Historically considered a slightly better camera (though details are lacking)
- Shorter battery life (65h)
- Lower sunlight readability
- Older chipset, limited gaming performance
- Potentially harder to find replacement parts
Display Comparison
Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays with a nominal infinite contrast ratio. However, the Note 3 Neo boasts a slightly better sunlight readability score (3.487:1) compared to the S4 (3.352:1), making it easier to view outdoors. The Note 3 Neo's screen is generally larger, offering more screen real estate.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer Photo/Video capabilities, but specific megapixel counts and aperture details are missing from the provided data. Generally, the Galaxy S4 was considered to have a slightly better camera system at the time, but both are limited by their age and sensor technology. Image quality in low light will be a significant weakness for both.
Performance
The Note 3 Neo utilizes the Exynos 5260 Hexa chipset, featuring a combination of Cortex-A7 and Cortex-A15 cores. The Galaxy S4 is powered by the Exynos 5410 Octa, also with a mix of these cores. While the S4 has more cores, the Note 3 Neo's slightly higher clock speeds on some cores give it a marginal performance edge in real-world usage. Both phones will handle everyday tasks well, but demanding games may struggle.
Battery Life
This is where the Note 3 Neo truly shines. Its endurance rating of 74 hours significantly surpasses the Galaxy S4's 65 hours. This difference translates to noticeably longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for a vintage device.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and decent performance for everyday tasks. It's a good choice for those who want a large screen and stylus functionality. The Galaxy S4 is better suited for users who appreciate wireless charging (market dependent) and a slightly more compact design, though battery life is a compromise.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are replacement parts readily available for these phones?
Finding replacement parts for these older devices can be challenging. Availability varies depending on the part and your location. Expect to pay a premium for used or refurbished components.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
Neither phone is ideal for modern gaming. Both have older chipsets that will struggle with demanding titles. However, the Note 3 Neo's slightly more powerful chipset might offer a marginally better experience.
