Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5s: A Throwback Tech Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and Apple iPhone 5s were titans of their time, representing the pinnacle of smartphone technology in 2013. While newer models have eclipsed them, these devices still hold a nostalgic appeal and can be surprisingly capable. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S4 edges out the iPhone 5s thanks to its superior battery life and unique features like wireless charging. However, the iPhone 5s boasts a more streamlined iOS experience and a generally more robust app ecosystem, even today. It's a close call, depending on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4	Apple iPhone 5s

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all models
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - A1533 (GSM), A1453
4G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25 - A1533 GSM, A1533 CDMA
EDGE	Yes	-
GPRS	Yes	-
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 39, 40 - A1530

Launch
Announced	2013, March. Released 2013, April	2013, September 10. Released 2013, September 20
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in)	123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	130 g (4.59 oz)	112 g (3.95 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)	640 x 1136 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~60.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7)	Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)
Chipset	Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm)	Apple A7 (28 nm)
GPU	PowerVR SGX544MP3	PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics)
OS	Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI	iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 12.5.7

Memory
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM
Phonebook	2000 entries	-
	eMMC 5.0	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF	8 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.5µm, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps

Selfie camera
Features	Dual video call	face detection, HDR, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular
Single	2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard)	1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard)
Video	1080p@30fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	16-bit/44.1kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX	4.0, A2DP
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	Yes	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	No
USB	microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG	Lightning, USB 2.0
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, hotspot

Features
Games	Downloadable	-
Java	Yes	-
Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	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 370 h (3G)	Up to 250 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 17 h (3G)	Up to 10 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable	Li-Po 1560 mAh, non-removable (5.92 Wh)

Misc
Colors	White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition	Space Gray, White/Silver, Gold
Models	GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N	A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530, A1533, iPhone6,1, iPhone6,2
Price	About 320 EUR	About 330 EUR
SAR	0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body)	1.12 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.42 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body)	1.00 W/kg (head) 0.80 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -90.3dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 65h	Endurance rating 54h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1219:1 (nominal) / 3.565:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB	Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 14341

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -90.3dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 65h	Endurance rating 54h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1219:1 (nominal) / 3.565:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB	Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 14341

Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4

Longer Battery Life
Larger Display
Wireless Charging (market dependent)
More Customizable Android OS
Octa-Core Processor

Can feel sluggish at times
Software updates discontinued
Potential for slower performance with demanding apps

Apple iPhone 5s

Smooth iOS Experience
Strong App Ecosystem
Compact Size
Generally more reliable performance
Good Camera

Shorter Battery Life
Smaller Display
Less Customizable
Older Hardware

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent displays for their time. The S4's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though a marketing term) and 3.352:1 sunlight readability are impressive. The iPhone 5s's 1219:1 contrast and 3.565:1 sunlight performance are also very good. The S4's larger screen (5.0 inches vs 4.0 inches) gives it an advantage for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 5s's camera was a significant leap forward in 2013, introducing features like burst mode and improved low-light performance. While the S4's camera is capable, the iPhone 5s generally produces more consistent and pleasing results. Both offer photo and video capabilities.

Performance

The Galaxy S4's Octa-core Exynos 5410, while technically more cores, doesn't translate to significantly faster real-world performance compared to the iPhone 5s's dual-core A7 chip. Apple's optimization of hardware and software gives the iPhone 5s a surprisingly smooth and responsive experience. The S4 can sometimes feel sluggish with demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S4's endurance rating of 65h significantly surpasses the iPhone 5s's 54h. This translates to noticeably longer battery life for the S4, a major advantage for users who rely on their phones throughout the day.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is ideal for users who prioritize battery life, a larger screen, and a more customizable Android experience. The Apple iPhone 5s is a better choice for those who prefer iOS, value simplicity, and appreciate Apple's ecosystem integration, even with older hardware.