The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A, a rugged flagship from 2014, faces off against the more modern Samsung Galaxy M33. Can a nearly decade-old phone still compete with a mid-range device boasting newer technology? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy M33 is the clear winner overall. While the S4 Active boasts a powerful (for its time) Snapdragon 800, the M33's modern Exynos 1280, improved display, and significantly better camera and battery life make it the superior choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA |
| EDGE | Class 33 | - |
| GPRS | Class 33 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, December. Released 2013, December | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, April 08 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm (5.5 x 2.81 x 0.36 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 147 g (5.19 oz) | 198 g (Global) / 215 g (India) (6.98 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI | Android 12, upgradable to Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 500 entries | - |
| | eMMC 4.5 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual video call | - |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | Downloadable | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro |
| | DMB-T TV tuner
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired
4.5W reverse wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 320 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 15 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Ion 5000 mAh (Global)· Li-Ion 6000 mAh (India only) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dive Blue, Pink | Green, Blue, Brown |
| Models | SHV-E470S | SM-M336B, SM-M336B/DS, SM-M336BU, SM-M336BU/DS, SM-M336K |
| Price | About 410 EUR | £ 299.00 |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.30 W/kg (body) | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.38 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A
- Rugged and Waterproof
- Compact Size
- Powerful (for its time) Snapdragon 800
- Outdated Processor
- Low-Resolution Camera
- Short Battery Life
- Limited Software Updates
Samsung Galaxy M33
- Large, High-Refresh-Rate Display
- Modern Exynos 1280 Processor
- Excellent Battery Life
- Versatile Camera System
- Fast Charging
- Plastic Build
- No Headphone Jack
Display Comparison
The Galaxy M33 features a 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The S4 Active has a smaller 5-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, but lacks the higher refresh rate. The M33's larger size and modern panel provide a significantly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy M33's camera system is a major upgrade. It features a 50MP main sensor, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens, delivering much better image quality, especially in low light. The S4 Active's 8MP main camera is simply outdated by comparison.
Performance
While the Snapdragon 800 was impressive in 2014, the Exynos 1280 in the M33 offers a substantial performance boost. The M33's octa-core processor and 5nm manufacturing process provide better efficiency and raw power for modern apps and multitasking. The S4 Active's 28nm Snapdragon 800 will struggle with demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Galaxy M33 has a larger 6000mAh battery, providing significantly longer battery life than the S4 Active's 2600mAh battery. The M33 also supports 25W fast charging and reverse wired charging, features absent in the S4 Active.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A is for collectors or those needing a very rugged, basic phone. The Galaxy M33 is ideal for budget-conscious users seeking a modern Android experience with a good display, camera, and battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the S4 Active still usable in 2024?
Yes, but it will feel slow and outdated. Software support has ended, so security updates are unavailable. It's best suited for basic tasks or as a backup phone.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The S4 Active is more rugged and waterproof (IP67 rating), designed for harsh environments. The M33 is not as rugged but offers better overall protection against everyday wear and tear.
