The Samsung Galaxy S4 was a revolutionary device in its time, setting a new standard for Android smartphones. Years later, the S6 Edge+ arrived with a stunning curved display and upgraded internals. But which phone holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The S6 Edge+ offers a significant performance and camera upgrade, alongside wireless charging and a more modern design. However, the S4's incredible battery life and classic appeal might still resonate with some. Ultimately, the S6 Edge+ is the clear winner for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G9287 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G9287 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A Cat6 300/50 Mbps/ LTE-A (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - SGH-i337 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 40, 41 - G9287C |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, March. Released 2013, April | 2015, August. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) | 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9 mm (6.08 x 2.98 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 130 g (4.59 oz) | 153 g (5.40 oz) |
| 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 (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 89.6 cm2 (~76.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Mali-T760MP8 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, AF | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual video call | Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard) | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| 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 |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Air gestures | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) | 15W wired
Wireless (Qi/PMA) (market dependent) |
| Music play | Up to 62 h | Up to 66 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 350 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | Up to 20 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Frost, Black Mist, Aurora Red (AT&T only), Arctic Blue, Purple Mirage, Brown Autumn, Pink Twilight, Black Edition | Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl |
| Models | GT-I9505, GT-I9515, SGH-I337, SC-04E, GT-I9515L | SM-G9287C, SM-G9287, SM-G928A, SM-G928F |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 450 EUR |
| SAR | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | 1.22 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.28 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body) | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.9dB / Crosstalk -96.4dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 69h
| - |
| 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 69h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.352:1 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB | - |
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
- Exceptional battery life
- Classic design
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Affordable
- Outdated processor
- Lower resolution display
- Less impressive camera
- Older software
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ Duos
- Powerful processor
- Stunning curved display
- Superior camera
- Wireless charging (Qi/PMA)
- Modern design
- Battery life not as impressive as S4
- Curved screen can be impractical
- Potentially higher price (depending on condition)
Display Comparison
The S6 Edge+ boasts a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display with a vibrant color profile and excellent viewing angles. The S4 has a 5.0-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, which is still good but noticeably less sharp and immersive. The S6 Edge+'s curved edges add a unique aesthetic, though some find it impractical. The S4's contrast ratio is impressive, with a nominal 'infinite' rating, but the S6 Edge+ offers better sunlight visibility (3.352:1).
Camera Comparison
The S6 Edge+ features a 16MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a faster aperture, resulting in sharper, brighter, and more detailed photos, especially in low light. It also records 4K video. The S4's camera is decent for its time, but it lacks the advanced features and image quality of the S6 Edge+. The front-facing camera on the S6 Edge+ is also a significant improvement.
Performance
The S6 Edge+’s Exynos 7420 Octa chipset with its 14nm process and Octa-core CPU (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) provides a substantial performance leap over the S4’s Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 and Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and demanding games run significantly better on the S6 Edge+. The S4, while still capable for basic tasks, shows its age in more intensive scenarios.
Battery Life
The S4's endurance rating of 69h is truly remarkable, showcasing its exceptional battery efficiency. However, the S6 Edge+ also offers decent battery life, benefiting from more efficient components and wireless charging (Qi/PMA). While it doesn't match the S4's longevity, it's still respectable for a phone with a larger, higher-resolution display.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S4? Budget-conscious users seeking a reliable, albeit older, Android phone with exceptional battery life. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ Duos? Users prioritizing performance, a premium design, a better camera, and modern features like wireless charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 still worth buying?
If you prioritize battery life and are on a tight budget, the S4 can still be a usable phone. However, be aware of its limitations in performance and camera quality.
❓ What is the main difference between the S4 and S6 Edge+?
The S6 Edge+ offers a significant upgrade in performance, camera quality, and design, featuring a curved display and a more modern chipset. The S4 excels in battery life.
