Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Blackberry Q10

KOREAN PHONE MAKER Samsung's Galaxy S4 couldn't be much more different from Blackberry's Q10 smartphone, but the handsets have become two of the most talked-about phones of 2013 so far.Not only are the two phones different, the two companies are world's apart in terms of recent success. Samsung is leading the smartphone race, and in January posted a fourth quarter $8.2bn profit. Blackberry, on the other hand, is struggling, pinning all of its hopes on its Blackberry 10 operating system and its latest smartphones that run the new OS.

It was revealed on Thursday that the Blackberry Q10 will be released on 26 April, the same day that Samsung's fourth-generation Galaxy flagship will make its debut on UK shelves. The two handsets are likely to feature near-identical price tags of around £530, bought SIM-free.

While the rival handsets are likely to appeal to different audiences, we take a look at the devices' specifications to see which stacks up as the most impressive device on paper.

Measurements and weight
Samsung Galaxy S4: 136.6x69.8x7.9mm, 133g
Blackberry Q10: 120x67x10.4mm, 139g

With its large screen, the Galaxy S4 is a much larger device than the Blackberry Q10 to hold in the hand, and the Blackberry is more palm-friendly with its pint-sized display and physical keyboard.

However, Samsung still leads the way when it comes to design, as its handset measures just 8.6mm thick and is lighter than the Blackberry at 133g.

That said, we're not convinced that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the better looking of the two, as the Blackberry Q10's weaved plastic and stainless steel casing feel much more rugged and attractive than the Galaxy S4's glossy plastic casing.

Display
Samsung Galaxy S4: 5in 1080x1920 Super AMOLED touchscreen
Blackberry Q10: 3in 720x720 Super AMOLED touchscreen

Samsung has long been regarded as one of the top dogs when it comes to smartphone displays, and the screen on the Galaxy S4 easily tops the one on the Blackberry Q10.

While we have yet to give it a thorough testing, if the Galaxy S4's 5in 1080x1920 Super AMOLED touchscreen complete with floating touch technology lives up to expectations, it's likely to be one of the best on the market.

We've also caught a glimpse of the Blackberry Q10's 3in 720x720 touchscreen, which has Super AMOLED technology, and it looked crisp and vibrant - albeit a bit cramped - on first impressions.

Text input
Samsung Galaxy S4: On-screen keyboard powered by Swype
Blackberry Q10: Portrait physical Qwerty keyboard plus touchscreen input

This category is all down to preferences, as some people prefer physical keyboards while others prefer full touchscreen input.

However, the market is severely lacking in QWERTY keyboard handsets at present, and we think the Blackberry Q10 will be a welcome arrival for buyers looking for an up to date handset with a keyboard.

However, Samsung has used Swype to power the Galaxy S4's on-screen keyboard, so we're expecting it to be one of the most user friendly on the market.