The Samsung Galaxy S4 was a flagship device that came in two distinct flavors: the I9506 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and the I9500 featuring Samsung's own Exynos Octa-core chip. Both offered impressive features for their time, but significant differences existed under the hood. This guide breaks down the key distinctions to help you understand which model was the better choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The I9506 generally offered superior performance and gaming capabilities thanks to the Snapdragon 800. However, the I9500's Exynos Octa provided a unique multi-core experience and often matched or exceeded the I9506 in certain benchmarks. Ultimately, the I9506 is often considered the slightly better performer, but both are aging devices.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - I9506 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - I9506 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - I9506 | - |
| EDGE | - | Yes |
| GPRS | - | Yes |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | 5, 9 - SHV-E330S | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, Q3. Released 2013, Q3 | 2013, March. Released 2013, April |
| 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) | 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 130 g (4.59 oz) | 130 g (4.59 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | 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 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A7) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) | Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | 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 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | 2000 entries |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.14µm, 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 | Dual video call |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide) | 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, temperature, humidity, 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) | Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | Up to 62 h | Up to 62 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 370 h (3G) | Up to 370 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | Up to 17 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Frost, Black Mist (I9506)/ Arctic Blue, Red Aurora, rose gold white, rose gold black, deep black (SHV-E330S) | White Frost, Black Mist, Arctic Blue, Black Edition |
| Models | SHV-E330S, GT-i9506, GT-I9506, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330K, SHV-E300S | GT-I9500, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919, GT-I9507V, SHV-E330L, SPH-L720T, SHV-E300S, SHV-E300L, SHV-E300K, GT-I9507, SGH-M919N |
| Price | About 390 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| SAR | 0.93 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.39 W/kg (head) 0.44 W/kg (body) | 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
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1105 | - |
| 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 |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1105 | - |
Samsung I9506 Galaxy S4
- Generally better performance
- Stronger single-core performance
- Potentially better gaming experience
- Slightly more efficient
- Can be harder to find in good condition
- May have slightly higher price (if available)
Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
- Unique Octa-core processor experience
- Potentially better multi-threaded performance in specific scenarios
- May be easier to find and cheaper
- Generally lower performance than I9506
- Higher power consumption
- Can run hotter under load
Display Comparison
Both models feature a 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. While both boast an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (a marketing term), the 3.352:1 sunlight contrast ratio indicates good outdoor visibility. There's little to differentiate them visually; both offer vibrant colors and sharp details.
Camera Comparison
Both devices have a 13MP rear camera capable of recording 1080p video. Image quality is comparable, with both producing decent results in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is average for the era. The I9506 might have a slight edge in processing due to the Snapdragon chip.
Performance
The I9506's Snapdragon 800 generally outperformed the I9500's Exynos 5410 Octa in most benchmarks and real-world usage, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. The Snapdragon's single-core performance was typically stronger. However, the Exynos's eight cores could sometimes shine in multi-threaded applications, though often with increased power consumption.
Battery Life
Both models have a 2600mAh battery. The listed endurance rating of 65h suggests similar battery life under moderate usage. However, the Exynos Octa's higher power consumption could lead to slightly shorter battery life in some scenarios.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung I9506 Galaxy S4? Users prioritizing raw processing power, especially for gaming and demanding applications. Who should buy the Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4? Those interested in experiencing Samsung's early Octa-core technology and potentially finding a budget-friendly device with a unique processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the I9506 worth more than the I9500?
Generally, yes. The I9506's Snapdragon 800 offers better overall performance, making it more desirable to collectors and users seeking a functional device.
❓ Which processor is better, Snapdragon 800 or Exynos Octa?
The Snapdragon 800 generally holds an advantage in terms of raw performance and efficiency, especially for gaming. The Exynos Octa offered a unique multi-core architecture but often struggled to match the Snapdragon's single-core speed.
