The Complete Samsung Galaxy S4 Family
With the introduction a new range of S4-linked devices to Samsung's lineup, consumers are likely to get lost. However, this isn't as bad as it sounds. For one, the chaebol is leveraging on its positive S4 branding, which may help it sell a lot more phones than it otherwise would.
More importantly, it shows that the electronics giant is capable of sticking to the same design aesthetics for its products. This come with the risk of everything looking too similar, which can be a problem. We wonder if Samsung employees themselves have trouble identifying the handsets without close examination if they were all placed together.
The launch of yesterday's S4 Zoom means Samsung now has five S4 handsets. Here's a quick cheat sheet showing the key differences of between them.
| Phone | S4/Google Edition | S4 Active | S4 Mini | S4 Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5-inch full-HD (Super AMOLED) | 5-inch full-HD (TFT) | 4.3-inch qHD (Super AMOLED) | 4.3-inch qHD (Super AMOLED) |
| Camera | 13-megapixels | 8-megapixels | 8-megapixels | 16-megapixels |
| Processor | 1.9GHz quad-core | 1.9GHz quad-core | 1.7GHz dual-core | 1.5GHz dual-core |
| Internal storage | 16GB | 16GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB | 1.5GB | 1.5GB |
| Battery | 2,600mAh | 2,600mAh | 1,900mAh | 2,330mAh |
Samsung Galaxy S4
The flagship smartphone comes with all the bells and whistles expected of Samsung's top handset. We mentioned in our review that there are likely some software features you'll probably never use, but the hardware and build of the handset is top notch, despite its plastic chassis.
If you must get Samsung's best, the S4 (available now) is really the smartphone of choice. But those seeking alternatives should look below.
Key features: It's the top end handset from Samsung, and you get all the software features Samsung has developed inside this handset.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
Announced for a Q3 launch, the S4 Active seems aimed at those who lead sporty lifestyles (or really clumsy people). It's water- and dust-resistant, though not drop-proof. For those worried about accidental dunks, the phone can be submerged to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes.
Specs-wise, it's pretty similar to the S4, such as a quad-core 1.9GHz processor, but uses a TFT panel (rather than AMOLED) for its 5-inch full-HD display, and comes with an 8-megapixel shooter with software enhancements for taking better pictures underwater.
Key features: You never have to worry about getting your phone waterlogged, and you get almost all of the benefits of Samsung's flagship S4.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition
Available only in the US and meant really for developers, the S4 Google Edition uses the same hardware as the original S4, but runs stock Android instead of Samsung's TouchWiz. This means OS updates will come much faster, but you lose out on the software enhancements that Samsung has put into its TouchWiz UI.
Key features: Fast Android updates.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Like the S3 Mini, the smaller version of the S4 is meant for markets in Asia and Europe. It is expected to debut at a much more affordable price and features a 4.3-inch display and packs a 1.7GHz dual-core processor instead.
Other downsized features include an 8-megapixel camera instead of the S4's 13 as well as a smaller 1,900mAh battery. It ships with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and may come with LTE depending on the market.
Key features: You'll get the S4 design in a compact form factor at a cheaper price.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Remember last year's Samsung Galaxy Camera? it's now back in the form of the S4 Zoom--and this time, it can make phone calls. The LTE-capable S4 Zoom comes with 16-megapixel shooter with 10x optical zoom and built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), and runs on Android 4.2.
A dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz powers the Zoom, and you'll be able to view the shots you've taken with the 'phomera' on its 4.3-inch screen. Due in Q3, the phone isn't likely to be cheap, and we expect components such as the 10x optics and sensor will bump up the cost.
Key features: The 10x optical zoom and larger sensor should let you take much better pictures compared with normal smartphones. And you can make phone calls on this camera, too.
Via: Cnet
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