iPhone Lover's Take on S4

[chris2k5]

So I am obviously an iPhone user and decided to get rid of my iPhone in anticipation of the S4.

I've used the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 before.

Found the S3 to be unpolished. The screen was pixelated. The OS was slow and the phone's build quality was no match for any iPhone model. It twisted creaked and the buttons felt mushy.

The Note 2 felt a little better in terms of OS and speed. The buttons weren't as mushy and had good feel. But still wiggled. The body creaked when I gripped the phone.

Well, the S4 build quality is quite a lot better. The buttons don't move. They click. No creaks and everything fits well. Nothing is loose which is great. The speed is very good in certain apps and it is feature packed. Battery life was very good on the first day with heavy use. Photos were okay (iPhone is better).

My complaints:
The OS does occasionally lag. No doubt about it. It isn't polished 100%.
Camera is already scratched after 1st day.
Once the novelty wears off, the Air Gestures and such don't get used at all.

So overall, I think Samsung did a good job stealing away one of Apple's customers. I am keeping the S4 unless Apple can really wow me with both superior hardware and software in their next update.

 

[Shocky]

Wait...... all those negative comments you made about the Galaxy S4 and you go and buy one?

Were you trying to convince yourself not to get one? I don't get it.

Anyway, congrats I think.

 

[Atma]

What do you mean the camera is scratched? There is plastic around the camera lens that you can pull off. Could that be it?

 

[NikkiC]

What do you mean the camera is scratched? There is plastic around the camera lens that you can pull off. Could that be it?

Speaking of that, do you think it would affect the camera quality if I left it on?

 

[Atma]

I don't think so. I left mine on as a screen protector. . It has a hole in the center so it shouldn't affect pictures.

 

[Turbodc2]

I don't know what phone you have, but my s4 does way better than my old iphone 4s camera and better than my friends iphone 5 in most respects. Just my observation though.

 

[Tomo1971]

Speaking of that, do you think it would affect the camera quality if I left it on?

So, after reading that, can we deduct that the camera isnt scratched after all... its actually the protector on the lens?

Even if it is the glass thats scratched, hardly the phones fault is it?

 

[cybertec69]

So I am obviously an iPhone user and decided to get rid of my iPhone in anticipation of the S4.

I've used the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 before.

Found the S3 to be unpolished. The screen was pixelated. The OS was slow and the phone's build quality was no match for any iPhone model. It twisted creaked and the buttons felt mushy.

The Note 2 felt a little better in terms of OS and speed. The buttons weren't as mushy and had good feel. But still wiggled. The body creaked when I gripped the phone.

Well, the S4 build quality is quite a lot better. The buttons don't move. They click. No creaks and everything fits well. Nothing is loose which is great. The speed is very good in certain apps and it is feature packed. Battery life was very good on the first day with heavy use. Photos were okay (iPhone is better).

My complaints:
The OS does occasionally lag. No doubt about it. It isn't polished 100%.
Camera is already scratched after 1st day.
Once the novelty wears off, the Air Gestures and such don't get used at all.

So overall, I think Samsung did a good job stealing away one of Apple's customers. I am keeping the S4 unless Apple can really wow me with both superior hardware and software in their next update.

Do yourself a favor a go download Nova Launcher, it is much better than TW. Also you need to understand on Android phones that all the bloatware that the carrier and manufacturer instals on the system OS only puts extra weight and strain on the OS and it just lags the system to no end. I own an S3 and have Rooted and unlocked the device running CM 10.1 RC/JB 4.2.2 and the phone is buttery smooth, I mean BUTTERY smooth and fast, it feels like a completely different phone, I could NEVER go back to any TW or carrier bloat.

 

[AdmSuvvuk]

Speaking of that, do you think it would affect the camera quality if I left it on?

YESYESYESYES I spent way too much time trying to take a decent picture until I realized that plastic was there.

 

[jamsterdm]

Mine was fine with the protector on, only reason i took it off was cos I got a case good enough to protect the lens

 

[recDNA]

So I am obviously an iPhone user and decided to get rid of my iPhone in anticipation of the S4.

I've used the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 before.

Found the S3 to be unpolished. The screen was pixelated. The OS was slow and the phone's build quality was no match for any iPhone model. It twisted creaked and the buttons felt mushy.

The Note 2 felt a little better in terms of OS and speed. The buttons weren't as mushy and had good feel. But still wiggled. The body creaked when I gripped the phone.

Well, the S4 build quality is quite a lot better. The buttons don't move. They click. No creaks and everything fits well. Nothing is loose which is great. The speed is very good in certain apps and it is feature packed. Battery life was very good on the first day with heavy use. Photos were okay (iPhone is better).

My complaints:
The OS does occasionally lag. No doubt about it. It isn't polished 100%.
Camera is already scratched after 1st day.
Once the novelty wears off, the Air Gestures and such don't get used at all.

So overall, I think Samsung did a good job stealing away one of Apple's customers. I am keeping the S4 unless Apple can really wow me with both superior hardware and software in their next update.

How would you compare data reception in iphone vs g4?

 

[Kane860]

Do yourself a favor a go download Nova Launcher, it is much better than TW. Also you need to understand on Android phones that all the bloatware that the carrier and manufacturer instals on the system OS only puts extra weight and strain on the OS and it just lags the system to no end. I own an S3 and have Rooted and unlocked the device running CM 10.1 RC/JB 4.2.2 and the phone is buttery smooth, I mean BUTTERY smooth and fast, it feels like a completely different phone, I could NEVER go back to any TW or carrier bloat.

I second that, definitely download Nova Launcher... I also just switched from iPhone to android 2 weeks ago after using iPhone for 5-6 years.. there is a lot of things that require getting use to and there are also several things that you will lose (headphone remotes don't work properly, no robust syncing/backup solution similar to iTunes other than Kies by Samsung which is pathetic) but overall I still say the positives of android still outweigh the negatives..

 

[chris2k5]

How would you compare data reception in iphone vs g4?

I would say about the same. At my house in a small town, the S4 and iPhone 5 got 4G LTE sometimes and 3G the rest of the time.

The Note 2 had stronger data reception. It would hold 4G LTE no matter where I was.

 

[Frisco]

"The Note 2 felt a little better in terms of OS and speed. The buttons weren't as mushy and had good feel. But still wiggled. The body creaked when I gripped the phone."



I'd better stay out of this.

 

[chris2k5]

"The Note 2 felt a little better in terms of OS and speed. The buttons weren't as mushy and had good feel. But still wiggled. The body creaked when I gripped the phone."



I'd better stay out of this.

What do you mean?

The Note 2 body and build/materials weren't up to sniff at all. The silver bezel dented and scratched pretty easily. I had a white one and the blue one that both made noises when I gripped the phone too hard.

And the silver bezel especially near the charging port got scratched to death!

Still have to use the S4 more to see if any of those problems are remedied.

 

[Travisimo]

I go back and forth between iOS and Android every 9-12 months. I just switched from an iPhone 5 to the GS4 on Verizon. So far, I'm fairly pleased. Here are my thoughts after a couple of days of constant use:

- Gotta love the larger screen. I don't care what Apple says, they need to make an iPhone with a larger screen. Give customers more options... not as many as Samsung, LOL, but at least a couple different sizes would be nice.

- iOS on the iP5 is definitely smoother than the Android on the GS4. I know some of that is because of all the crapware on the GS4, but there is some very noticeable lag. And I have turned just about every Samsung-specific feature off. I have also disabled as many VZW apps as I can. It's amazing how much crap they put on these phones, but I'm waiting a week or two before rooting and installing custom ROMs just to make sure all of the tools are stable. I had CM10 running on my GS3 last year and that was a fun ride.

- Battery life seems very good on the GS4. I'd say it's at least as good if not better than the iP5. Obviously the screen is the biggest draw of power, but it seems to be very efficient when the screen is off (good standby time).

- I use Bluetooth a lot and so far no problems. I read that 4.2.2 has had some trouble with the Bluetooth stack, but so far so good. I use Bluetooth for my Pebble watch (which is working great with the GS4), in my Ford car with Sync, and with Bluetooth headphones at work. So this is very important to me.

- Build quality is okay. I like the extra screen real estate due to the smaller bezel. I got the Black Mist because my last couple of phones have been white and I'm getting tired of it. The texture is a little unappealing, but overall it's not a bad design IMO. I definitely agree with most that say the HTC One is a better hardware design. However, battery life is more important to me. I never put a case on any of my phones. My iPhone 5 does not have any dings or chips after 7 months of use in my pocket without a case. The only problem I have had with the iPhone 5 is lint that collects in the Lightning connector that needs cleaned out sometimes when it doesn't charge. Oh, and I have a couple of dust spots under the camera lens that won't come loose. What the GS4 lacks in stylish design, it makes up for in durability IMO.

- I'm interested to see what Apple does with iOS 7 this summer, but I'm honestly not expecting much. A new coat of paint with some flattening of the design is nice, but they are really lagging behind on services. Google is basically taking over iOS by making some very good apps for Apple's OS. Many of the most popular apps on the iPhone are made by Google and they've really stepped up design.

I am not a fanboy of either OS and I would hate to see one become completely dominant. I think competition is good, as it pushes all of them to work harder and innovate. I am a bit worried that Samsung is becoming the only player on Android. It's pretty clear that they are making big plays for their own apps and ecosystem, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them forking Android even more. It would be sad to see ONLY Apple and Samsung making quality Smartphones.

 

[chris2k5]

I go back and forth between iOS and Android every 9-12 months. I just switched from an iPhone 5 to the GS4 on Verizon. So far, I'm fairly pleased. Here are my thoughts after a couple of days of constant use:

- Gotta love the larger screen. I don't care what Apple says, they need to make an iPhone with a larger screen. Give customers more options... not as many as Samsung, LOL, but at least a couple different sizes would be nice.

- iOS on the iP5 is definitely smoother than the Android on the GS4. I know some of that is because of all the crapware on the GS4, but there is some very noticeable lag. And I have turned just about every Samsung-specific feature off. I have also disabled as many VZW apps as I can. It's amazing how much crap they put on these phones, but I'm waiting a week or two before rooting and installing custom ROMs just to make sure all of the tools are stable. I had CM10 running on my GS3 last year and that was a fun ride.

- Battery life seems very good on the GS4. I'd say it's at least as good if not better than the iP5. Obviously the screen is the biggest draw of power, but it seems to be very efficient when the screen is off (good standby time).

- I use Bluetooth a lot and so far no problems. I read that 4.2.2 has had some trouble with the Bluetooth stack, but so far so good. I use Bluetooth for my Pebble watch (which is working great with the GS4), in my Ford car with Sync, and with Bluetooth headphones at work. So this is very important to me.

- Build quality is okay. I like the extra screen real estate due to the smaller bezel. I got the Black Mist because my last couple of phones have been white and I'm getting tired of it. The texture is a little unappealing, but overall it's not a bad design IMO. I definitely agree with most that say the HTC One is a better hardware design. However, battery life is more important to me. I never put a case on any of my phones. My iPhone 5 does not have any dings or chips after 7 months of use in my pocket without a case. The only problem I have had with the iPhone 5 is lint that collects in the Lightning connector that needs cleaned out sometimes when it doesn't charge. Oh, and I have a couple of dust spots under the camera lens that won't come loose. What the GS4 lacks in stylish design, it makes up for in durability IMO.

- I'm interested to see what Apple does with iOS 7 this summer, but I'm honestly not expecting much. A new coat of paint with some flattening of the design is nice, but they are really lagging behind on services. Google is basically taking over iOS by making some very good apps for Apple's OS. Many of the most popular apps on the iPhone are made by Google and they've really stepped up design.

I am not a fanboy of either OS and I would hate to see one become completely dominant. I think competition is good, as it pushes all of them to work harder and innovate. I am a bit worried that Samsung is becoming the only player on Android. It's pretty clear that they are making big plays for their own apps and ecosystem, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them forking Android even more. It would be sad to see ONLY Apple and Samsung making quality Smartphones.

Glad to see a lot of our points match!

HTC would have been back in the game in my eyes only if they released on Verizon. They sold 5 million HTC One's while Samsung sold 10 million S4's so far. Releasing on Verizon could have closed the gap easily.

 

[Turbodc2]

All I know was that I used the HTC 1 and absolutely hated it. I'd go back to an iPhone before using the one again.

 

[chris2k5]

UPDATE: Have been using the phone more and more.

I hate Samsung's keyboard. Apple does the keyboard typing experience better. I downloaded Jellybean keyboard but it looks ugly. Works ok (not as good as iPhone keyboard).

Lag is kind of annoying now. It isn't a persistent lag. It is just the occasional stutter which can be annoying.

Storage situation is horrible. 9GB out of the box and I used up 7GB on apps already...Had to leave a lot of my games off.

 

[Shocky]

UPDATE: Have been using the phone more and more.

I hate Samsung's keyboard. Apple does the keyboard typing experience better. I downloaded Jellybean keyboard but it looks ugly. Works ok (not as good as iPhone keyboard).

Lag is kind of annoying now. It isn't a persistent lag. It is just the occasional stutter which can be annoying.

Storage situation is horrible. 9GB out of the box and I used up 7GB on apps already...Had to leave a lot of my games off.

Use Swype or Swiftkey, Samsung and Android keyboards suck.

Have you disabled animations or tried another launcher? it does help reduce them, I only notice lag now when the phone is doing something like enabling or disabling wifi/data etc. Also the delay on the phone, messenger and contacts apps is a bit annoying, i'm not sure if that's an Android issue or Samsung's, I don't see why there not kept in memory.

Storage is where the average user may run into issues, 32GB should be the standard now especially if they insist on taking more and more space for bloat.

That said it's not an issue for me, using modified stock firmware with all the bloat removed and using foldermount to shift large apps to my 64GB microsd card.

 

[chris2k5]

I love the camera. I think it is right on par with the iPhone 5 and better in some areas. I went to a Good Morning America concert and the videos came out amazing.

Really captured audio perfectly and 1080p video is so clear.

 

[Shocky]

I love the camera. I think it is right on par with the iPhone 5 and better in some areas. I went to a Good Morning America concert and the videos came out amazing.

Really captured audio perfectly and 1080p video is so clear.

Yep, the audio recording quality is very good, much better than the Galaxy S3 and other high end devices. Yet I haven't seen a single review comment on this.