Nostalgia for older Android devices? The Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3 Neo Duos were flagship contenders in their time. But which one holds up better today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S4 edges out the Note 3 Neo thanks to its superior processor and potentially better camera. While both are aging devices, the S4's Octa-core chip provides a noticeable performance boost, making it the slightly better choice for general use.
| 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 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, March. Released 2013, April | 2014, January. Released 2014, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) | 148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6 mm (5.84 x 3.05 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Dual SIM, (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 130 g (4.59 oz) | 162.5 g (5.71 oz) |
| | - | Stylus |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7) | Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8228 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX544MP3 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 16GB (11GB user available), 2GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 2000 entries | - |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF | 8 MP, f/2.6, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual video call | - |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 2 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide) |
| 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, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 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, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | Downloadable | - |
| Java | Yes | - |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) | - |
| Music play | Up to 62 h | Up to 87 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 370 h (3G) | Up to 440 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | Up to 22 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition | Black, White, Green |
| Models | GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N | SM-N7502 |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 410 EUR |
| SAR | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 1.45 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.42 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body) | 0.45 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 65h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB
| - |
Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
- More powerful processor
- Potentially better camera
- Excellent battery life (65h endurance)
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Older device, limited software updates
- Smaller screen compared to Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos
- Larger screen for media consumption
- Dual SIM functionality
- Generally good display quality
- Less powerful processor
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Older device, limited software updates
Display Comparison
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo boasts a larger 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display compared to the S4's 5.0-inch screen. Both offer vibrant colors, but the Note 3 Neo's size provides a more immersive viewing experience. The S4's contrast ratio is reported as 'infinite' nominally, but the sunlight readability is rated at 3.352:1, suggesting good outdoor visibility. The Note 3 Neo's display is also excellent in sunlight.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the S4 is generally considered to have a slightly better camera. The S4's camera hardware and image processing were generally regarded as superior at the time. Specific megapixel counts are not provided, but the S4's image quality is typically preferred.
Performance
This is where the S4 shines. Its Exynos 5410 Octa-core processor (with a mix of Cortex-A15 and A7 cores) significantly outperforms the Note 3 Neo's Snapdragon 400 quad-core. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the S4. The S4's CPU architecture is more complex and generally more powerful.
Battery Life
The S4 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 65 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Note 3 Neo's battery capacity is likely smaller, and its less efficient processor will impact battery performance. The S4 is the clear winner in this category.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S4? Users seeking a slightly faster experience and potentially better camera quality. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos? Those prioritizing a larger screen and dual SIM functionality, and are comfortable with a less powerful processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
No, both the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 Neo have reached the end of their software update lifecycle. Security patches are no longer provided.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Galaxy S4 is the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful processor. However, don't expect to play modern, demanding games smoothly on either device.
