The Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 4 were flagship powerhouses in their time. But how do they stack up against each other today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which one might still be worth considering.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Note 4 (USA) is the clear winner. While the S4 boasts impressive endurance ratings, the Note 4's superior processor, better camera, and faster charging provide a more modern and capable experience, even years later.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | CDMA 800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| 4G bands | - | 2, 4, 5, 12, 17 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, March. Released 2013, April | 2014, Q4. Released 2014, Q4 |
| 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) | 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm (6.04 x 3.09 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 130 g (4.59 oz) | 176 g (6.21 oz) |
| | - | Stylus |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 88.5 cm2 (~73.4% 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 2.7 GHz Krait 450 |
| Chipset | Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm) | Qualcomm APQ8084 Snapdragon 805 (28 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX544MP3 | Adreno 420 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 2000 entries | - |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF | 16 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual video call | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 3.7 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| 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 3 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, 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, barometer, gesture, UV, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | ANT+
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) | 15W wired, QC2 |
| Music play | Up to 62 h | Up to 80 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 370 h (3G) | Up to 212 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | Up to 31 h 20 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3220 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition | Frosted white, Charcoal black, Bronze Gold, Blossom Pink |
| Models | GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N | SM-N910A, SM-N910T, SM-N910V, SM-N910M, SM-N910P, SM-N910R4, SM-N910W8, SM-N910T3 |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | 0.88 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.42 W/kg (head) 0.54 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
| - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB | - |
| Battery (old) | 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
- Large display
- Decent battery life (65h endurance)
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Compact size compared to Note 4
- Outdated processor
- Lower camera quality
- Slower charging
- Can feel sluggish with modern apps
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (USA)
- Powerful processor
- Superior camera
- Fast charging (QC2)
- Larger, sharper display
- More modern features
- Larger size may not suit everyone
- Potentially higher price (if found in good condition)
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S4 features a 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a reported 'infinite' contrast ratio (though realistically around 3.352:1 in sunlight). The Note 4 boasts a larger 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, offering significantly sharper visuals and more screen real estate. The Note 4's higher resolution makes a noticeable difference in text clarity and image detail.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Note 4's camera is noticeably superior. It generally captures more detailed images with better dynamic range and low-light performance. The Note 4 also benefits from improved image processing algorithms.
Performance
The Note 4's Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 with a 2.7 GHz Krait 450 quad-core processor leaves the S4's Exynos 5410 Octa (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7) in the dust. The Note 4 handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the S4 can feel sluggish at times. The Note 4's architecture is simply more efficient and powerful.
Battery Life
The S4's endurance rating of 65h is impressive, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Note 4's larger battery capacity (3200 mAh vs S4's 2600 mAh) combined with Qualcomm's efficient chipset allows it to last a full day with moderate to heavy use. The Note 4's QC2 fast charging is also a significant advantage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S4? Budget-conscious users seeking a large screen and decent performance for basic tasks. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (USA)? Users prioritizing performance, a better camera, and faster charging, willing to spend a bit more for a more modern experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy S4 still usable in 2024?
Yes, the Galaxy S4 can still be used for basic tasks, but its performance will be limited compared to modern smartphones. Software updates are no longer available, posing a security risk.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives official software updates anymore. Both are running older versions of Android, which presents security vulnerabilities.
