On Monday morning, Apple announced they were resuming in-store pickups for the iPhone 5S. The phone has been selling well for Apple, although some question the reliability of some of those reports.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 came out last April. We initially gave the phone a lackluster review, but the phone and its features (the ones that aren't gimmicky) have really grown on us. Let's compare features of both phones to see what is the best for you.
Build and design
The iPhone 5s is built exactly like the iPhone 5 -- this isn't a bad thing at all. It measures 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches and weighs 3.95 ounces. The smaller volume buttons are on the left hand side of the device. The smaller Lightning connector is on the bottom of the device and connecting it is easier than it is on any Android phone. The home button now doubles as a reliable fingerprint scanner and the camera in back has a dual flash instead of a single flash. All of your iPhone 5 cases will easily fit your new iPhone 5s.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 looks like a slightly distorted Galaxy S3. At 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches, it is easy to carry. The plastic might have felt decent in 2012, but feels cheap in 2013. You have to give Samsung credit for making this unit so light at 4.5 oz. However, we would have preferred a stronger casing that weighs a little more. The Galaxy S4, however, feels slightly more sturdy than the Galaxy S3 since the corners are more square than rounded. However, the slimy feel of the phone is still a turnoff.
The iPhone 5S wins easily wins this category. Samsung really needs to change the build and design of the Galaxy S5.
Screen
The iPhone 5S screen is the same exact one from the iPhone 5. Last year, the 1136 x 640 pixel resolution (326 ppi) screen was far ahead of its time. This year, it's a little behind such devices as the Samsung Galaxy S4, which has a 1080p screen with 441 pixels per inch. Truth be told, the eye really doesn't notice the individual pixels when you get past 300 pixels per inch. However, 4-inches is way too small for a phone these days.
The Galaxy S4 houses a 5-inch Super AMOLED screen that is absolutely stunning. However, we wish the device could get a little brighter. Samsung probably limits the brightness in order to save battery life. Still, the 1080p screen delights the eyes.
The Galaxy S4 easily wins this round. Apple really needs a larger screen on their next smartphone device.
