The Samsung I9506 Galaxy S4 is Samsung's latest attempt to grab your attention, and after going through the spec sheet, there is a fair bit here worth talking about. Announced in 2013, Q3. Released 2013, Q3, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
Up front there is a 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm 2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) screen, pushing a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density), which is more than sharp enough for everyday use, streaming and a bit of gaming. The build feels well put together, and Samsung has clearly paid attention to the in-hand feel. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including White Frost.
Performance & Software
Under the hood you will find the Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm), paired with 2GB of RAM. For the kind of tasks most of us throw at a phone, there is plenty of muscle here. It runs Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
Photography is handled by a main 13 MP shooter that should cover most situations, from daylight shots to the occasional low-light frame. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
Battery duties are handled by a Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable unit, which should comfortably see most people through a full day on a single charge.
Our Opinion
After spending time with the spec sheet and what Samsung is promising, here is where we land. Samsung has clearly gone for substance over gimmicks here, and we respect that approach. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. In day-to-day use it feels like the kind of device you can rely on, whether you are replying to messages, scrolling through social media, watching videos or taking the odd photo. There are rivals that beat it in one area or another, as is always the case in this segment. But taken as a whole, the Samsung I9506 Galaxy S4 is a sensible, well-judged choice that should keep most users happy for a good while. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
