The Samsung Galaxy S4 was a landmark phone, and the S4 Active offered a ruggedized version. But which one holds up best today? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison of these two classic Samsung flagships, examining their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which is the better choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S4 (I9500) edges out the S4 Active (I9295) thanks to its superior display, more powerful Octa-core processor, and wireless charging. While the Active boasts impressive battery life and ruggedness, the S4 offers a more refined overall experience.
| 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 | - |
| EDGE | - | Yes |
| GPRS | - | Yes |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - I537 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, June. Released 2013, June | 2013, March. Released 2013, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), 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 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 153 g (5.40 oz) | 130 g (4.59 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | PowerVR SGX544MP3 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | - | Yes |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (11.2GB user available), 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | 2000 entries |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual video call |
| Single | 2 MP | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) |
| 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 | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 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/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | - | Downloadable |
| Java | - | Yes |
| Messaging | - | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 62 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 312 h | Up to 370 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h | Up to 17 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Urban Grey, Dive Blue, Orange Flare | White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition |
| Models | GT-I9295, SGH-I537 | GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.26 W/kg (head) 0.36 W/kg (body) | 0.42 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -96.1dB / Crosstalk -96.0dB |
Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 57h
|
Endurance rating 65h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1046:1 (nominal), 2.022 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB
|
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
- Rugged and water-resistant
- Excellent battery life
- Good sunlight readability
- Durable build quality
- Lower performance than S4
- Less vibrant display
- Bulkier design
- Older software
Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
- Superior display quality
- Faster performance (Octa-core)
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Slightly more refined design
- Better image processing
- Less rugged than S4 Active
- Battery life slightly shorter
- Older software
- More susceptible to damage
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S4 boasts a significantly better display. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though a marketing term) and 3.352:1 sunlight readability are superior to the S4 Active's 1046:1 contrast and 2.022 sunlight rating. Colors are more vibrant and viewing angles are wider on the S4.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature similar camera hardware, but the S4's image processing algorithms were generally considered slightly better. Both offer decent photo and video quality for their time, but don't expect flagship-level performance by today's standards. Low-light performance is a weakness on both.
Performance
The Galaxy S4's Exynos 5410 Octa-core processor provides noticeably faster performance than the S4 Active's Snapdragon 600. The S4's big.LITTLE architecture allows for efficient power usage while still delivering strong performance. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the S4.
Battery Life
The S4 Active and S4 have nearly identical endurance ratings (57h vs 65h), with the S4 having a slight edge. Both offer all-day battery life under moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is ideal for those needing a durable phone for outdoor activities or demanding work environments. The Galaxy S4 is a better choice for users prioritizing a vibrant display, faster performance, and convenient wireless charging, and who don't require extreme ruggedness.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy S4 Active truly waterproof?
The Galaxy S4 Active is IP67 certified, meaning it's dust-tight and can withstand immersion in freshwater up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. However, saltwater exposure can still cause damage.
❓ Can I update the software on either of these phones?
Both phones have reached the end of their official software update cycle. While custom ROMs may be available, using them carries risks and voids warranties.
