It’s no longer news that Apple, the world’s most valuable technology company, and Samsung Electronics, the most valuable tech company in Asia, have been battling fiercely in the global mobile device market, the two companies dominate this market, although Samsung is also a supplier to Apple, they still compete against each other.
With the recent announcement of Galaxy S IV, Samsung’s new version of its flagship smartphone which will be available in late April 2013, the anticipated Galaxy Note III phablet and a couple of other other new smartphones over the course of this year, the battle for dominance doesn’t seem to be something that will be over very soon
In this article, we will take a look at the two phones and compare them in a neutral manner and try to provide some of the important things you must know to enable you make a decision before you buy, let’s take a look at the two phones
See Also: Best Smartphones of 2012
iPhone 5 Review
The Apple iPhone 5 debuted in September 2012 to predictable enthusiasm and successful sales. In fact, it sold out 20 times faster than its predecessor, the iPhone 4, following its release. Where other companies have an entire line of phones, Apple needs only one to remain strong in a thriving industry. But is the iPhone 5 everything it’s hyped to be, or is it simply resting on its reputation? Despite having style and some cutting edge technology on its side, the iPhone is no longer the obvious choice it used to be. By examining its key features and flaws, consumers will be better able to choose between the iPhone 5 and its top competitors.
Design
The iPhone 5 takes Apple’s sleek minimalism into the next generation with a slender and compact design. It is pleasantly weighty for its size, without being actually heavy, and only marginally larger than the iPhone 4S. Even though it’s lighter and thinner than almost any other phone on the market, it gives the impression of sturdiness. There have been valid concerns, however, about the paint coat chipping away. The screen has been expanded to 4 inches, but it is still entirely accessible with one hand.
Interface
The interface is where Apple is now beginning to fall behind. The menu screen remains largely unchanged from the days of the original iPhone and, as can be expected in such a rapidly changing technology, it’s starting to feel outdated. Where Android phones allow flexible arrangements and integrate apps with the home screen, the simple iOS system feels restricted. Apple loyalists may not notice it, but anyone switching over from another smartphone provider will have trouble with correcting settings outside of apps and a severely limited notification bar.
Hardware
Even though the interface is a bit clunky, the iPhone 5 makes up for it with high speeds that don’t sacrifice battery power. This area really shines, as the iPhone 5 has excellent battery life for its performance. Calls and some apps continue Apple’s ongoing problem of severe battery depletion and should be managed accordingly. The camera is excellent for a smartphone and has several nice options, including touch focusing and better imaging in low lighting, but isn’t macro-capable. The iPhone offers 4G, as well, which should appeal to those wanting something more from their mobile use. Call quality is vastly improved over former models.
Software
One of the iPhone’s biggest draws, of course, is the App Store, which offers just about every function a smartphone can handle. The Safari browser is responsive and intuitive, and lag is rare. Siri, Apple’s helpful voice-recognition software, has had her IQ boosted and is more useful. The major buzz around its software, though, has been the new Maps app replacing Google’s signature guidance system. Although it is adequate, its lack of polish has drawn significant scorn from users. Thankfully, Google Maps is still available in the App Store.
All in all, the iPhone 5 is exactly what its fans have come to expect. It may not be at the forefront of power or customization, but its ease of use and sheer competency is what makes it a worthy successor to the name. For the casual user, the iPhone remains one of the best smartphones available.
Samsung Galaxy S IV Review
Samsung Galaxy S III was a device that gave the mighty Apple iPhone 5 a run for its money. The Samsung Galaxy S III was released in the spring of 2012 and has proven to be a huge hit in the tech world but just a few months after the launch of Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S4 was announced in New York on March 14, 2013.
The new flagship smartphone, which currently runs the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean comes with a 5-inch 1080p PenTile Super AMOLED HD display, 441 PPI with significant improvement in it’s hardware. The new phone has once again raised the bar again for Samsung’s competitors. And by adding so much specialised software which could be accessed via Samsung’s super-sized screen, the new GS4 has succeeded in setting itself apart from the iPhone.
As you can see above, the Galaxy S4 looks very similar to the Galaxy S3 in design. Put simply, it’s just a bigger version. It keeps the rounded corners but has a slightly squarer look to it like the Galaxy S2. The rear removable cover also remains, as does the physical home button which is a slightly different shape.
For users who want to store a lot of content on their smartphone, there is a choice of storage amounts with the Galaxy S IV just like in it’s predecessor You can opt for a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB version, plus the phone has a microSD slot for additional storage and supports cards of up to 64GB. There are two cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S IV. The rear facing shooter is 13-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture,
Using the Galaxy S IV is fairly straightforward, especially for individuals who are already familiar with the Android platform. There are many great pre-loaded Google apps, including Google Maps, Google Talk, Gmail, YouTube and more. Google Play offers more than 600,000 additional great apps that can be downloaded to the phone. In terms of battery life, there is a standard 2100 mAh Lithium-ion battery.
As with most smartphones, the Galaxy S IV has a standard mini USB port for charging and syncing with a computer. Adding content to the device is a snap, and it is possible to upload several different formats of music, photos and video..
iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S IV
| Samsung Galaxy S 4 | Apple iPhone 5 |
| 5-inch 1080p PenTile Super AMOLED HD display, 441 PPI | 4-inch IPS display, 1136×640 pixels, 326 PPI |
| 1.6GHz 8-core Exynos Octa 5 CPU | 1.2GHz dual-core Apple A6 CPU |
| 2GB of RAM | 1GB of RAM |
| 13-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture, 1080p video, 2-megapixel front facing camera | 8-megapixel camera with f/2.4 aperture, 1080p video and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera |
| 16/32/64 GB memory options | 16/32/64 GB memory options |
| 2,600-mAh | 1,440-mAh |
| Android 4.2 with TouchWiz Nature UX | iOS 6 |
| HSPA+, LTE in selected market, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | HSPA+, LTE in selected market, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Wireless Charging | No Wireless Charging |
| IR Blaster | No IR Blaster |
| S-Health, S-Translate, Air View, Air Gesture, Knox, Group Play, S-Voice Drive,Dual-Shot, Drama Shot, Cinema Shot, Sound Shot, Beauty Shot, Eraser and Story Album | Safari, Siri, Apple Maps, Photo Stream, iCloud |
| 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm |
| microSD card slot with support for 64GB of storage | No microSD card slot |
| NFC | No NFC |
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S IV is a great choice of smartphone for anyone who is a fan of the Android operating system. It offers a full day’s worth of usage, plenty of great features and a unique user experience. It is also a super phone that can be used as an all in one type of device
