Nostalgia for older Samsung phones? The Galaxy S4 CDMA and S5 Neo offer a glimpse into a simpler era of Android. But which one holds up better today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S5 Neo edges out the S4 CDMA thanks to its more efficient Octa-core processor and slightly improved battery life. While the S4's wireless charging is a neat feature, the S5 Neo provides a more balanced and usable experience for modern tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F |
| 4G bands | 4, 13 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, May. Released 2013, May | 2015, August. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 136.7 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 130.1 g (4.59 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Mali-T720MP2 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF | 16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual video call | - |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (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 | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 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, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | ANT+
S-Voice |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless | - |
| Music play | Up to 69 h | Up to 73 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 350 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (3G) | Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Frost, Black Mist | Black, Gray, Gold |
| Models | SCH-I545, SGH-I337 | SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL |
| Price | About 440 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.43 W/kg (body) | 1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.18 W/kg (head) | 0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy S4 CDMA
- Wireless Charging
- Compact Size
- Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
- Older Processor
- Lower Camera Resolution
- Limited Software Updates
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
- More Efficient Processor
- Slightly Better Camera
- Improved Multitasking
- Smaller Battery Capacity (compared to potential alternatives)
- Older Design
- Limited Software Updates
Display Comparison
The S4 CDMA boasts a 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, offering vibrant colors. The S5 Neo features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, also with 1080p resolution. Both offer good viewing angles and sharpness, but the S5 Neo's slightly larger size might be preferable for some.
Camera Comparison
The S4 CDMA has a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. The S5 Neo features a 16MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the S5 Neo generally captures slightly better images with improved dynamic range and detail, especially in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is comparable.
Performance
The S4 CDMA's Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 with a 1.9 GHz Krait 300 quad-core CPU was powerful for its time. However, the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580 Octa (1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) offers a more efficient and generally smoother experience, especially with multitasking and modern apps. The Octa-core architecture provides a noticeable advantage.
Battery Life
The S4 CDMA has a 2600 mAh battery with wireless charging. The S5 Neo has a 2400 mAh battery. Despite the smaller capacity, the S5 Neo's more efficient processor often results in slightly better battery life in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S4 CDMA is best for those seeking a retro Android experience with wireless charging and a compact form factor, primarily for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is ideal for users needing a bit more performance and battery life for everyday use, like browsing and social media, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
No, both the Galaxy S4 CDMA and S5 Neo have reached the end of their software update lifecycle. You won't receive major Android updates or security patches.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful Octa-core processor and improved thermal management.
