Looking for a reliable and affordable smartphone? The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a rugged classic, and the Huawei Y7 Prime (2018), a budget-friendly contender, both offer compelling features. But which one reigns supreme? This comparison dives deep into their specs and performance to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Y7 Prime (2018) edges out the S4 Active with slightly better battery life and a marginally superior display. While the S4 Active boasts a more powerful processor, the Y7 Prime's overall value and modern features make it the winner for most users.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - I9295 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - I537 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, June. Released 2013, June | 2018, March. Released 2018, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm (5.5 x 2.81 x 0.36 in) | 158.3 x 76.7 x 7.8 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 153 g (5.40 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~76.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Adreno 505 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 8.0 (Oreo), EMUI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (11.2GB user available), 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 2 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| 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 | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (LDN-TL10 only) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 312 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Urban Grey, Dive Blue, Orange Flare | Black, Gold, Blue |
| Models | GT-I9295, SGH-I537 | LDN-L21, LDN-LX2, LDN-TL10 |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.26 W/kg (head) 0.36 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -96.1dB / Crosstalk -96.0dB |
Noise -89.0dB / Crosstalk -85.3dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 57h
| Endurance rating 63h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1046:1 (nominal), 2.022 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1111:1 (nominal), 2.421 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
Voice 64dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 71dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 58974 (v7)
GeekBench: 2717 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
- More powerful processor
- Rugged and water-resistant design
- Potentially better GPU performance
- Older technology
- Likely inferior camera
- Smaller display (likely)
- Older battery technology
Huawei Y7 Prime (2018)
- Better battery life
- Slightly better display contrast and sunlight readability
- More modern design
- Likely more modern camera sensor
- Less powerful processor
- May lack ruggedness
- Potentially less RAM
Display Comparison
Both phones offer respectable contrast ratios (1046:1 vs 1111:1). The Y7 Prime (2018) has a slightly better sunlight readability score (2.421 vs 2.022), suggesting it's easier to see outdoors. The S4 Active likely has a smaller display, while the Y7 Prime (2018) probably features a larger screen, typical for its era.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are not detailed, but generally, the Y7 Prime (2018) likely has a more modern camera sensor and image processing capabilities. The S4 Active's camera, while functional, would likely struggle in low-light conditions compared to the Y7 Prime (2018). Both offer Photo/Video capabilities.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active's Snapdragon 600 with a 1.9 GHz Krait 300 CPU provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Y7 Prime's 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 Octa-core. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the S4 Active, though both are showing their age by today's standards. The S4 Active's GPU is also likely more powerful.
Battery Life
The Huawei Y7 Prime (2018) takes the lead with an endurance rating of 63h, slightly surpassing the S4 Active's 57h. This translates to longer usage between charges, a significant advantage for daily users.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is ideal for those needing a rugged, water-resistant phone and prioritizing raw processing power. The Huawei Y7 Prime (2018) is a great choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking a modern design, decent battery life, and a good all-around experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active still worth buying?
It's a niche choice. If you need a rugged phone and don't mind older tech, it can still function. However, newer budget phones offer significantly better features.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates. Both are running older Android versions, posing security risks. Consider this a major factor.
