Introduction
Having a Smartphone is the necessity rather than another accessory for most people. This paper is on the topic of product evaluation with the comparison of Samsung Galaxy S4 and Apple iPhone 5s. The comparison criterion in this case will be the product measurements and weight, display, processor, battery, software, camera, storage, construction and colours. Apple and Samsung have over the years started a Smartphone war, through their latest phones. The launch of Samsung Galaxy S4 and Apple iPhone 5s is the next edition of technology and the Smartphone war. Lately, Apple’s iPhone has had the upper hand over their Korean counterparts. However, this trend seems to be changing since the death of Apple’s visionary leader Steve Jobs. The superiority of Apple over Samsung is waning with passage of time, with Samsung Galaxy Smartphone boasting similar features to Apple iPhone. Both the Apple iPhone 5s and the Samsung Galaxy S4 seem like an iterative improvement on its predecessors (Ritchie). The Samsung Galaxy S4 is taller and wider than the Apple iPhone 5s. Both these phones are very thin, but the Samsung Galaxy S4 is around thicker. The iPhone was considered the highest standard of quality and style, but with Samsung Galaxy S4 it, has deserving competitor (Shanklin).
Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S4 & Apple iPhone 5S
On paper, both these phones are great, and both of them have their definite appeals. The specifications of these two Smartphones’ suggest that they both are the ultimate optimum in terms of technology and quality any customer can purchase. Measurements and weight is one of the first criterions, Measurement, of Apple iPhone 5S is 124x59x7.6mm, and it weighs 112g, whereas Samsung Galaxy S4 measures 137x70x7.9mm and weighs 130g. The design of Apple iPhone 5s is very similar to the iPhone 5s, coming in multiple colour options. Meaning the Apple iPhone 5s is lighter and smaller in size than the Samsung Galaxy S4, making it attractive option for the smaller handed customers (Stevenson).
Another criterion for comparison between these phones is Display. The Apple iPhone 5S has 4 Inch 1136x640, 326ppi Retina display, whereas Samsung Galaxy S4 has 5 Inch full HD super Amoled 1920x1080 display, 441ppi display. When Apple first came out with their retina display technology, they were one of the biggest selling factors for its sales. This made iPhone screens crispest and sharpest ever seen for a Smartphone. Though with time, Samsung Galaxy S4 have come up with a superior screen, with their display of 441ppi full HD (Stevenson).
Another way to distinguishing between these phones is the Processor. Apple iPhone 5S has Apple A7 processor, whereas Samsung Galaxy S4 has Quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. Apple has for long promoted its A7 processor by claiming that they have the world’s first 64 bit mobile chip making the Apple iPhone 5s supremely faster Smartphone. This gave iPhone 5s 40 times better CPU performance in comparison to its predecessor. Apple has till date declined to disclose the speed of their A7 processor, by making it impossible to compare with Samsung’s quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 that has powered the Galaxy S4 (Stevenson).
Also, Battery of these two phones can be compared. The Apple iPhone 5S has 10 hours of 3G talk time and unspecified lithium-ion battery, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S4 has 17 hours of 3G general use and 2,600mAh lithium-ion battery. In the present market, battery life is a commonly appealing issue for buyers. Especially in case of Samsung Galaxy S4 which despite stating that it has up to 17 hours of battery life on 3G use, needs a top-up after just 6 hours of battery use. This means that in case the battery life of 10 hours stated by Apple for its iPhone 5s relives to its claims, the 10 hours battery life will easily outlast the 6 hours of active battery life of Samsung Galaxy S4 (Stevenson).
Software is another criterion to compare between these phones. The Apple iPhone 5S has iOS 7 mobile operating system, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S4 has Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean mobile operating system. To choose which mobile OS (operating system) is better than the other is quite difficult, as the answer is determined by the ecosystem user is better embedded in. This is made even worse by the fact that both Apple and Samsung have installed multiple business friendly features on their respective Smartphone. With Apple iPhone 5s having its customer touch ID fingerprint scanner and Samsung having the Knox Sandboxing service (Stevenson).
Camera is one the prominent feature of Smartphones, and these two phones have one of the best cameras in a Smartphone industry. The Apple iPhone 5S has 8 Mega Pixel Rear and a 1.2 Mega Pixel front camera, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S4 has 13 Mega Pixel rear and 2 Mega Pixel front camera. For a layman, the Apple iPhone 5s camera seems like having a disadvantage over the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the basis of its megapixel count. Due to lower Mega Pixel count, Apple iPhone 5s captures lesser pixels. Apple iPhone 5s boasts custom technology that is designed for capturing bigger pixels. This means it is better than others at taking pictures in lesser or lower light (Stevenson).
The next criterion for these two phones is Storage. The Apple iPhone 5s comes in 16/32/64GB storage with no microSD card slot and 2 GB of RAM, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S4 comes in 16/32/64GB storage and microSD card slot up to 64GB with 2GB of RAM. Both these devices give the option of multiple storage options to customers, with Galaxy S4 having a microSD card slot for customers who cannot afford paying for a 64 GB model at start. They can add the larger storage card later on when they can afford it (Stevenson).
Finally, Construction and Colours can also be used for evaluating these two products. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has glossy plastic build whereas the Apple iPhone 5s comes with an air-tight body made out of anodized aluminium. The anodized aluminium gives the Apple iPhone 5s a classier look in comparison to the plastic-body Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 body comes in Black and White whereas the Apple iPhone 5s comes in black and slate and the older silver and white option (Shanklin).
After reviewing all these features, it is quite difficult for any customer to choose between these phones. Personally I have been using an Apple phone for years now and have no complains over buying the new iPhone 5s. Apple’s brand name has always been the biggest attraction for me and many other Smartphone owners. The crisper picture quality of Apple’s camera has been a big attraction. But after going through the features of Samsung Galaxy S4, it can easily be understood why they have managed to create such a stir in the Smartphone market.
Conclusion
Both these phones have its pros and cons and one the basis of above discussed criterions of measurements and weight, display, processor, battery, software, camera, storage, construction and colours, it can be understood that Apple iPhone 5s is lighter and smaller that fits in just about anyone’s hand, but it has a smaller screen and the phone is slightly different from the Apple iPhone 5. The Galaxy S4 has a bigger and more gorgeous display but it has cheaper construction in comparison to the Apple iPhone 5s and most of the features are waste of space. The choice to buy either one depends upon the customer’s personal interest. Samsung Galaxy S4 is bought by customers who need bigger screen and customization ability and it is more important than running an iOS and having high quality applications and accessories. Whereas, if having access to iTunes, iOS App Store and Apple Stores is more necessary than flexibility and power which comes with an Android customers can go with the Apple iPhone 5s.
Works Cited
Shanklin, W. Under the Microscope: iPhone 5s vs. Samsung Galaxy S4. http://www.gizmag.com/galaxy-s4-vs-iphone-5s-in-depth-comparison/29318/. gizmag.com. 2013. Web. 2014
Stevenson, A. iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy S4 specs comparison. http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2294652/iphone-5s-vs-samsung-galaxy-s4-specs-comparison. theinquirer.net. 2013. Web. 2014
Ritchie, R. Apple iPhone 5s vs. Samsung Galaxy S4: Which phone should you get?.
http://www.imore.com/apple-iphone-5s-vs-samsung-galaxy-s4-which-phone-should-you-get.
imore.com. 2013. Web. 2014
