The Samsung Galaxy S4 is already more than two years old, but it continues to be a desirable smartphone to many of its loyal users.
The 2013 flagship smartphone of the Korean tech giant still looks pretty smart and is a very capable handset. However, its age started to show when it was among the last few devices that got Google’s latest mobile operating system, the Android 5.0 Lollipop, when it officially rolled out in November last year, notes Expert Reviews of UK.
While it is a great-looking smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is actually unrecognizable when compared to both its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S3, and successor, the Samsung Galaxy S5, unless a thorough scrutiny is made.
The Galaxy S4 has the usual white plastic finish but looking up close, one could see the fine diamond pattern beneath the glossy surface. The feature offers a nice touch which is subtle enough to avoid being considered as merely a bling. It also prevents attraction of fingerprints and smudges so users can do away with the usual regular polishing to keep it clean. The silver trim on the edges also gives it the metal look, but the material is also plastic.
A svelte and modern smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 4.99-inch display screen and is surprisingly svelte. The smartphone has a dimension of 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 millimeters and weighs only 130 grams.
At the time of its launch in 2014, the Samsung Galaxy S4 went up against smartphones that have slightly larger screens packed into slightly larger bodies, making the Korean tech giant’s 2014 flagship smartphone look really modern.
The modern look can be attributed to its thin screen bezels, both down the edges and at the other end, which puts the screen just 2.5 millimeters away from the edge of the device. It’s really difficult to imagine this particular distance getting small any further without seriously compromising the survivability of the handset when dropped.
The sides have also been squared off to make it easier to grip, which was a problem with the Samsung Galaxy S3, although the Galaxy S4 looks a little chunkier for it.
The areas above and below the screen are now far smaller and has significantly reduced the amount of space for the physical home button and touch sensitive menu and back commands. While it made the features look awkward, but the button needs an appreciably lighter press and users had no trouble hitting the touch sensitive controls.
A life companion
Samsung has positioned the Galaxy S4 as a life companion, based on its website. The company wanted to make the life of its users richer, simpler, and more fun with the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Accordingly, the device would become the users’ real-life companion because it would bring them closer as well as capture fun moments.
Each of the features of the device was designed to simplify the daily lives of its users. The Samsung Galaxy S4 also cares enough to monitor the health and well-being of the user and it promises to be there for him in time of his needs.
As Google is already all-out in pushing for the release of both the Android 5.1 Lollipop and the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on many Android devices given the impending roll out of the Android M in the third quarter of this year, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is officially up to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop as of last month.
Unofficially, however, custom ROMs have made it possible for the 2013 flagship smartphone of the Korean tech giant to take on either the Android 5.1 Lollipop or the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop already.