Smart scroll s4 test 720p#

What is noticeable is the difference between the AMOLED display technology Samsung uses and the LCD technology HTC employs. The Galaxy S4's pixels-per-inch measurement, it's worth noting, is slightly less than that of the HTC One - but we've reached the level here where such a difference isn't really noticeable to the human eye. Like most Samsung products, the phone's autobrightness mode - which is activated by default - is rather wonky and tends to keep the display too dim regardless of your environment in order for the screen to look its best, you'll need to disable that setting and manually set the brightness level yourself. The screen is somewhat oversaturated but noticeably less so than with past Samsung devices.

Smart scroll s4 test 720p#

720p display Samsung managed to shrink down the device's bezels to make space for the larger screen while maintaining the same basic frame size.Īt 441 pixels per inch, the Galaxy S4's display looks quite good: Colors are bold and brilliant, images are pleasantly crisp and text is sharp and easy to read. That's quite a boost from the Galaxy S III's 4.8-in. That level of quality is pretty typical for a smartphone speaker, but the superb front-facing stereo speakers on the HTC One, which I reviewed previously, left me a bit spoiled and expecting more. The Galaxy S4's speaker - housed behind that aforementioned single grille on the device's back - is adequate but underwhelming: Audio played through the phone sounds hollow and tinny and tends to be muffled by your hand (if holding the phone) or a table (if the phone is sitting flat on a surface). The top of the phone houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the bottom holds a micro-USB port that doubles as an HDMI-out with the use of a standard MHL adapter. The left edge holds a silver-colored volume rocker while the power switch sits on the phone's top-right side - a natural position that's easy to find with your fingers. The Galaxy S4 has a silver-colored trim around its edges that's made to look like metal (though it, too, is actually plastic).

The rear camera creates a slight bump in the phone's back, as does a small speaker grille located at the bottom-left of the device. The back panel is slick to the touch but not difficult to hold. (The Galaxy S4 is available in either 'Black Mist' or 'White Frost,' by the way - and yes, those colors are basically just black and white.)Ĭomparisons aside, the Galaxy S4 feels nice if a bit insubstantial in the hand. The downside is that it makes the phone look and feel rather cheap next to more elegantly constructed devices like the all-aluminum HTC One and glass-centric Nexus 4. The benefit of the plastic casing is that it allows you to access and optionally replace the battery it also makes for a lightweight and relatively durable frame. The phone's back has a shiny, candy-shell appearance pull on it from the right spot and you'll realize it's actually a thin panel that peels away to reveal the phone's internal battery compartment. In terms of design, the Galaxy S4 is very much in line with what we've seen from Samsung before, with a plastic-centric construction and almost toy-like feel. Beyond that, the phone is a bit less curved than Samsung's previous-generation device, with a flat back and more square-like shape.īut you'd really have to be looking closely to notice those differences. It's a hair lighter, too, weighing 4.6 oz. The Galaxy S4 is actually slightly narrower and thinner than last year's model, at 2.7 x 5.4 x 0.31 in. At first glance, you might even mistake it for last year's Galaxy S III the phone shares the same basic size, shape and form as its predecessor. One thing's for sure: For better or for worse (depending on your perspective), the Galaxy S4 looks and feels distinctly like a Samsung phone. It'll launch on Verizon Wireless on May 30 for $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a new two-year contract.) Cellular for $200 with a new two-year contract.

(The Galaxy S4 is available now on AT&T for $200 with a new two-year contract, Sprint for $250 with a new two-year contract, T-Mobile for $150 down and a two-year payment plan, and U.S.

By the time we're done, I suspect you'll know if your future belongs with this phone - or in a galaxy far, far away. So join me on this detailed tour of the Galaxy S4 and see what the device is like to use in the real world.