The Samsung Galaxy S III was a groundbreaking phone, and the S4 Active aimed to build on that success with ruggedness and enhanced features. But how do these two older flagships stack up against each other? We'll break down their key differences to help you decide which one might be right for you (if you're considering a retro purchase!).
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S4 Active edges out the S3 primarily due to its superior sunlight display visibility and slightly better battery endurance. However, the S3 boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (though realistically limited) and a more refined design. Ultimately, the Active is a more durable and slightly longer-lasting option.
| 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 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - I537 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, June. Released 2013, June | 2012, May. Released 2012, May |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 2), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm (5.5 x 2.81 x 0.36 in) | 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 153 g (5.40 oz) | 133 g (4.69 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~306 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.8 inches, 63.5 cm2 (~65.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 4412 Quad (32 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Mali-400MP4 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (11.2GB user available), 2GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3.0", AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 1.9 MP, f/2.6 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 312 h | Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h | Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Urban Grey, Dive Blue, Orange Flare | Pebble blue, Marble white, Amber brown, Garnet red, Sapphire black, Titanium grey, La Fleur |
| Models | GT-I9295, SGH-I537 | GT-I9300, GT-I9300I, SHV-E210S, SHW-M440S |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.26 W/kg (head) 0.36 W/kg (body) | 0.21 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -96.1dB / Crosstalk -96.0dB |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 57h
|
Endurance rating 50h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1046:1 (nominal), 2.022 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.419:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
- Rugged and water-resistant
- Better sunlight display visibility
- Slightly longer battery life
- More powerful processor
- Older design
- Potentially less refined software experience
- Limited software updates
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
- Sleeker design
- Potentially more responsive user experience (depending on ROM)
- Advertised 'infinite' contrast ratio (though limited in practice)
- Less durable
- Shorter battery life
- Weaker processor
- Limited software updates
Display Comparison
The S4 Active shines in direct sunlight with a reported 2.022:1 contrast ratio, significantly better than the S3's 3.419:1. While the S3 advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio, this is a marketing term and doesn't translate to a noticeably superior viewing experience in real-world conditions. Both displays are Super AMOLED, offering vibrant colors, but the Active's sunlight performance is a clear advantage.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are similar for both devices, featuring Photo/Video capabilities. However, the S4 Active's image processing might be slightly improved due to the newer chipset. Low-light performance on both will be a challenge by modern standards. Video recording capabilities are likely comparable, both offering 1080p resolution.
Performance
The S4 Active's Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset and 1.9 GHz Krait 300 CPU offer a noticeable performance boost over the S3's Exynos 4412 Quad (1.4 GHz Cortex-A9). Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the Active. However, both phones are showing their age in today's demanding mobile landscape.
Battery Life
The S4 Active boasts a slightly better endurance rating of 57 hours compared to the S3's 50 hours. This translates to a bit more usage time between charges, a valuable asset for a rugged device designed for extended use.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is ideal for those needing a rugged, water-resistant phone for outdoor activities or demanding work environments. The Galaxy S III is a good choice for users prioritizing a sleek design and a potentially more responsive user experience (depending on software). Both are budget options now, but consider their age and software support limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
No, both the Galaxy S4 Active and Galaxy S III have reached the end of their software update lifecycle. Security patches are no longer provided.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The Galaxy S4 Active is significantly more durable due to its rugged design and IP67 water and dust resistance certification.
