The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a rugged classic, faces off against the modern Motorola Moto G53. Can the older, tougher phone compete with the newer features and improved specs of the Moto G53? This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Moto G53 decisively wins this comparison. While the S4 Active boasts impressive sunlight readability, the Moto G53’s significantly longer battery life, brighter display, and more modern chipset make it the superior choice for most users, despite the S4 Active's ruggedness.
| 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 - EMEA & AP, China |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - I9295 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42 - EMEA & AP |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - EMEA & AP |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - I537 | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, June. Released 2013, June | 2022, December 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, December 15 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm (5.5 x 2.81 x 0.36 in) | 162.7 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 153 g (5.40 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | Water-resistant design |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 13, planned upgrade to Android 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (11.2GB user available), 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro) |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
or
16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired (China, LATAM)
10W wired (International)
Reverse wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 312 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Urban Grey, Dive Blue, Orange Flare | Ink Blue, Arctic Silver, Pale Pink |
| Models | GT-I9295, SGH-I537 | XT2335-2 |
| Price | About 310 EUR | $ 295.00 / £ 143.15 |
| 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 | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 57h
|
Endurance rating 123h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1046:1 (nominal), 2.022 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1746:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
-26.0 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 314195 (v9)
GeekBench: 1594 (v5.1), 1797 (v6.0)
GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
- Rugged and water-resistant
- Excellent sunlight readability
- Relatively compact size
- Outdated chipset
- Poor battery life
- Limited app support
- Low-resolution display
- Slow charging
Motorola Moto G53
- Excellent battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Modern chipset with 5G
- Reverse wired charging
- Affordable price
- Less rugged than the S4 Active
- Charging speed varies by region
Display Comparison
The Moto G53’s display shines with a 1746:1 contrast ratio and a measured 599 nits of brightness, offering a significantly more vibrant and visible experience, especially outdoors. The S4 Active’s 1046:1 contrast ratio is decent, but the sunlight readability (2.022) is its saving grace. However, the Moto G53's brightness advantage is undeniable.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Moto G53's newer sensor and image processing algorithms likely result in superior image quality, especially in low light. The S4 Active's camera is dated and struggles to compete with modern smartphone cameras. Specific megapixel counts are unavailable for the S4 Active, further highlighting the Moto G53's advantage.
Performance
The Moto G53’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset, built on an 8nm process, provides a noticeable performance boost over the S4 Active’s Snapdragon 600. The Moto G53's octa-core CPU handles multitasking and modern apps with ease, while the S4 Active can feel sluggish by today's standards. The Moto G53 also supports 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the S4 Active.
Battery Life
The Moto G53’s endurance rating of 123h is a massive improvement over the S4 Active’s 57h. This translates to significantly longer battery life for the Moto G53, easily lasting a full day or more on a single charge. The S4 Active's battery, being old, likely has degraded further.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active? Those needing a truly rugged, water-resistant phone and are comfortable with older technology and limited app support. Who should buy the Motorola Moto G53? Anyone seeking a modern smartphone with excellent battery life, a bright display, and a capable camera at a budget-friendly price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active still worth buying?
Only if you absolutely need a rugged, water-resistant phone and are willing to compromise on performance, battery life, and modern features. Otherwise, the Moto G53 offers a much better overall experience.
❓ Does the Moto G53 have a good camera?
While specific camera specs are not detailed, the Moto G53's newer hardware and image processing should provide significantly better photo and video quality than the S4 Active's dated camera.
