Apple iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Alpha: 2014's Biggest Smartphone Fight

Welcome to the biggest smartphone battle of 2014. In the blue corner the Apple iPhone 6 and in the red corner the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

This isn’t the head-to-head many were anticipating. The four month old Galaxy S5 was expected to be the natural challenger, but following disappointing sales Samsung has had a rethink and the newly announced Alpha is a like-for-like metal handset which throws down the gauntlet to the heavily leaked iPhone 6 in every area.

So let’s break down these rivals ahead of what promises to be two of the biggest advertising campaigns in smartphone history.

Display: iPhone 6 4.7-inches – Galaxy Alpha 4.7-inches

For Apple the new iPhone represents a big step up in screen size from the 4-inch display seen since the iPhone 5 and an even bigger 5.5-inch model is expected to launch soon after. For Samsung the Alpha actually represents a step down from the 5.2-inch display on the Galaxy S5 and demonstrates how determined it is to make a phone which directly trades blows with the new iPhone.

iPhone 6 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch dummy models

But the first blows here will go to Apple. It’s widely reported 1704 x 960 pixel display creates a pixel density of 416ppi (pixels per inch) compared to the Alpha whose screen surprisingly is just 1280 x 720 pixels for a 320ppi.

Given how close both pixel densities are to Apple’s claim that a ‘Retina Display’ (the point where your eyes cannot distinguish individual pixels) starts at 326ppi it remains to be seen how much difference there will be in reality, but it is odd that Samsung has stepped down from the Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel displays it has used in flagship phones for the last few years.

In turn Samsung will be hoping the head turning (though arguably garish) AMOLED technology it uses in the Alpha and S5 will be enough to catch the eye compared to Apple’s more subtle IPS screens.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Materials: iPhone 6 Metal and Sapphire – Galaxy Alpha Metal, Plastic And Gorilla Glass

The second blow Apple lands will be the materials of the iPhone 6. Samsung has taken direct cues from the HTC One M8 and the iPhone 6 in finally producing a phone which uses metal in its chassis, but this only extends to the edges while rear remains plastic and the screen is the familiar Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

By contrast the iPhone 6 will ditch its glass back in favour of an all metal chassis and the screen is heavily tipped to be sapphire-based. Doubts still remain after the ‘proof’ offered by several leaks was undermined, but if Apple does go with sapphire it is expected to be layered with glass. As such the durability may not be as indestructible as many hope but it should still represent a step up from Gorilla Glass 3.

Alleged iPhone 6 fascia with sapphire display

Size and Weight

Despite this being one of the few aspects of the iPhone 6 not to leak, here Samsung appears to hold all the aces. At 0.26-inchs (6.7mm) thick the Galaxy Alpha is the slimmest mass market smartphone ever made and with a footprint of 5.21 x 2.58 inches (132.4 x 65.5mm) and weight of just 4.06 oz (115g) it should remain usable with one hand.

By contrast dummy units of the iPhone 6 have shown it to be almost the same footprint as the Samsung Galaxy S5 – 5.59 x 2.85 inches (142 x 72.5 mm) – despite the S5 packing a 5.2 inch display. This is due to Apple retaining thicker top and bottom bezels which add to the height. Meanwhile the only other all metal 4.7 inch handset is the HTC One M7 which tips the scales at 5.04 oz (143g). Apple should beat that as the iPhone 6 is also expected to be very thin, but it does look like one handed use will be tough for most.

Power: iPhone 6 Apple A8 Chipset – Galaxy Alpha Exynos 5 Octa 5430

Here both handsets should be a real treat. The power of the A8 remains unknown, but Apple has doubled the power of its A series of ARM-based chips with each generation so the dual-core 1.3GHz CPU and quad-core GPU in the already fast iPhone 5S A7 chipset should see major gains and there is also talk of a step up to 2GB of RAM.

But the Galaxy Alpha should be able to match anything the iPhone 6 throws at it. The Alpha will come with 2GB of RAM and Samsung’s own Exynos 5 Octa 5430 chipset which the company claims will outpace the Snapdragon 805, ARM’s latest and greatest chip which is expected to appear in the Galaxy Note 4 and Nexus 6.

For reference the Snapdragon 800 chipset was seen to be largely on a par with Apple’s A7 and since then the 801 has added more power and battery optimisation while the 805 is a major leap forward in both.

Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor

Camera: iPhone 6 13 Megapixels – Galaxy Alpha 12 Megapixels

Megapixels a poor guide to camera quality, but it is noticeable that Apple is set to step up from the 8 megapixel lens in the last three iPhones reportedly toSony ’s 13 megapixel Exmor IMX220 camera sensor. This makes sense given previous iPhones have all used previous generations of this Sony line and it brings a 1/2.3′ sensor which would be a notable jump from the 1/3.2” sensor in the iPhone 5S. Video recording will remain at 1080p while optical image stabilisation (OIS) is expected to be exclusive to the monstrous 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant.

As for the Galaxy Alpha, Samsung has curiously taken a step down to 12 megapixels from the 16 megapixel sensor in the Galaxy S5. The sensor has yet to be revealed and while it also lacks OIS it offers real-time HDR (High Dynamic Range) so you can see the light balancing on the screen before taking a photo. Samsung has also fitted the Alpha with a selfie-friendly 2.1 megapixel front facing camera, something Apple should match.

Memory: iPhone 6 Up to 64GB – Galaxy Alpha 32GB

Rumours once suggested the iPhone 6 would be the first 128GB smartphone, but having seen those dry up I will stick to what we know: up to 64GB of non-expandable storage is guaranteed. Consequently the Galaxy Alpha has two surprises in stock: neither of them good.

The first is that the handset does not have a 64GB version (at least not yet) and second is Samsung has ditched the microSD expansion slot that almost every Galaxy smartphone (and certainly every high end Galaxy smartphone) ships with. The logic may be to mimic Apple and keep storage options simple, but it could be a potential deal breaker for some.

Battery Life: iPhone 6 1800mAh – Galaxy Alpha 1860mAh

Like megapixels, battery capacities don’t tell the whole story but here the handsets appear to be very well matched. It has been suggested the iPhone 6 may see a last minute bump to a 2100mAh battery, but regardless Apple will be leaning heavily on the efficiency of the A8 chip and iOS 8 to compensate for the larger screen and its higher resolution. Apple will need to produce some magic here as the iPhone 5S has mediocre battery life at best and that sported a 1560mAh battery.

It is a similar story for Samsung. The 1860mAh battery in the Alpha is a big drop from the 2800mAh battery in the S5, but Samsung will also hope the greater efficiencies in its Exynos 5 Octa 5430 chip make a difference. Where it may hold an advantage, however, is the 720p screen as driving less pixels greatly lessens the workload and may explain Samsung’s decision to shy away from 1080p. If Samsung can significantly top the iPhone 6’s battery life few may care about the lost pixels.

Miscellaneous: Sensor overload

Both handsets will pack fingerprint sensors (though the iPhone 5S has shown slicker integration compared to the S5) while the Galaxy Alpha will carry over the heart rate sensor seen in the Galaxy S5. With fitness having played a major part in Samsung’s Galaxy S5 software, the same will again happen here and with Apple HealthKit formally launching with the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 this will be a major battle ground for these handsets.

That said the Galaxy Alpha loses the S5’s water resistant coating and no leaks have indicated the iPhone 6 will have it either so while both handsets have tough exteriors they won’t be happy being used in the rain.

iPhone 5S current pricing

Release Date And Price

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 6 on September 9th while Samsung has signalled its deliberate clash by confirming the Galaxy Alpha will go on sale in ‘early September’. Given the potential for a small gap between announcement and release this may give the Alpha a slight head start.

While the cost for the iPhone 6 remains unknown, Apple is famed for releasing each new iPhone at roughly the same price point as the last. That should mean from $199 on contract and $649 contract-free. Samsung has yet to reveal the cost of the Alpha, but it would be surprising if the company doesn’t try to marginally undercut this.

Sales projection

It is widely reported that the iPhone 6 launch will be the largest in Apple history with 50-60 million units expected to be sold before the end of the year. As such I’d expect the iPhone 6 to easily outsell the Galaxy Alpha, even though these figures will include the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6.

Then again that isn’t really the point. The point is for years now Apple rivals have been wasting their opportunity to meet the iPhone 6 head-on. So called ‘mini’ handsets have been of a similar size to the iPhone 6, but come in at midrange prices often with lower midrange components. A trend only bucked by Sony and its relatively unknown Xperia Compact series.

With Samsung finally stepping up to the plate, however, this depressing trend looks to be coming to an end. Apple knows the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will already face a tough fight and now it can expect one in the 4.7-inch bracket as well.

The smartphone war just got even tougher and that’s good news for all of us.

Also See :- Samsung GALAXY Tab S

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Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. LG G3: A Closer Look

It's a battle of the best Android smartphones, as Gizmag goes hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3

LG might fly under the radar a bit more than its Korean rival, Samsung. But that doesn't mean the company hasn't churned out some good mobile devices through the years. How does LG's best smartphone to date, the LG G3, compare to Samsung's 2014 flagship, the Galaxy S5? Read on, for Gizmag's hands-on look.

We still have a Samsung Galaxy S5 in house, and I've been using the LG G3 as my primary smartphone since it launched last week in the US. Both are terrific phones, with big and sharp screens, the latest version of Android under the hood and some unique features to boot. You can't go wrong with either one of these beasts, but let's try to hone in on a few key differences to help you make your decision.

The G3 is the bigger phone, but not by a huge margin. It's 3 percent longer, 3 percent wider and 10 percent thicker than the Galaxy S5. The G3 is also only 3 percent heavier than Samsung's flagship. The GS5 feels a bit more natural in my hand, but we're really splitting hairs, as it isn't much of a difference.

That minor size and weight difference is a very good thing for the G3. That's because, despite having a face that's only a little bigger than the GS5's, the G3 gives you a 16 percent bigger screen (measuring 5.5 inches diagonally, compared to the Galaxy S5's 5.1-in display).

This balance – thanks to the slim bezels above and below its screen– is the LG G3's killer feature. It takes a screen that you'd typically find on a phablet, and squeezes it onto a body that's more like a "normal" Android smartphone. Or, to put it another way, the G3 gives you the perks of a phablet without all the baggage.

The Galaxy S5 has home, back and recent apps buttons below its screen. The G3, meanwhile, uses virtual (software-based) versions of those same buttons on its screen. That usually means you'll sacrifice some precious screen real estate, but LG was smart about this, as the G3 lets you choose apps to hide those navigation keys in. So you can enjoy the G3's full 5.5-in screen in any app you want, including Kindle, Flipboard, Chrome or any other app – whether it natively supports Android's Immersive Mode or not (and when you do need the keys, you can just swipe up from the edge of the screen to get them back)

Both phones have "faux" plastic finishes. The GS5's is a strange faux leather finish with dimples on it (it's been compared more than once to a Band-Aid). Needless to say, it looks a little ... odd. But, on the plus side, the slightly soft-touch finish feels comfortable in hand. The G3, meanwhile, has a faux metal finish, with its plastic backing having a metallic layer sprayed on top of it. The G3's finish doesn't feel as high-end as something like the iPhone 5s or HTC One, but plastic does have one bonus, as the G3 feels fairly light in hand.

The G3 also has a sharper screen, though both phones are going to be past the point of concern for most eyeballs. The G3 sports a Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) display, which comes out to an absolutely insane 538 pixels per inch (PPI). The Galaxy S5 sports "only" a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) screen, which comes out to 432 PPI.

In terms of experience, what does that mean? Well, when I put the two side-by-side and look closely, my eyes can notice the denser pixels packed into the G3. It's the sharpest screen I've seen on any smartphone or phablet. But the Galaxy S5's display isn't as far behind as those pixel counts might suggest. In fact, I don't think most eyes will notice much of a difference between a 500+ PPI screen like the G3's and a 400+ PPI screen like the GS5's (the iPhone, for example, is 326 PPI and still looks pretty sharp). The G3's sharper screen is a nice bonus, but I wouldn't recommend basing your decision on that alone.

There are also some downsides to the G3's Quad HD display. First, we noticed some minor performance lag while navigating around the home screen, settings menus and apps. That's unusual for any modern high-end smartphone, much less one with a Snapdragon 801 processor. It could be related to LG's custom software that's pasted on top of Android, but I'm guessing it comes more from the G3's GPU working overtime to move those 3.6+ million pixels.

Fortunately there's a fairly easy fix for the G3's lag issue: switch from Dalvik runtime to Android runtime (ART). If that sounds like gibberish to you, have no fear: it's an easy change to make and you can enjoy the results without understanding the developer-level software changes that it makes. ART is still considered an experimental setting on the G3's Android 4.4 KitKat, but I noticed a big performance boost (and no stability problems) on the G3 once I made the change. For a quick summary of how to switch to ART, you can hit up our full LG G3 review (about 2/3 of the way down the page).

Another minor downside to the G3, that could be related to its Quad HD display, is that its battery life isn't quite in the same league as the Galaxy S5's. In our standard battery test, where we stream video over Wi-Fi with brightness set at 75 percent, the G3 lasted 67 percent as long as the Galaxy S5 did. Specifically, the Galaxy S5 chugged along for 9 hours and 27 minutes, while the G3 lasted 6 hours and 20 minutes.

I don't think the G3's uptimes are a huge concern (its uptimes are about the same as the iPhone 5s'), but there have been several times that my G3 came dangerously close to conking out at the end of the day. Granted, I streamed Netflix for an hour or more on those days, in addition to spending many more hours with the screen on. But if you want the phone with the longer battery life, then the GS5 is the winner.

I suspect that LG realized that battery life wasn't the G3's biggest strength, because the G3's auto-brightness setting is ridiculously low. Every time I've activated the setting on the G3, it's made the screen very dark – to the point where the screen was just a couple notches above "readable." I'm not sure why you'd want to invest in an expensive smartphone with a stunning display, only to suck all enjoyment out of looking at it. In other words, I wouldn't bother using auto-brightness on the G3.

When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy S5 also has an ace up its sleeve. Ultra Power Saving Mode is a setting that lets you stay on the grid when your phone is about to conk out, turning its screen black & white and severely limiting available apps. The downside is that it temporarily turns your expensive smartphone into a glorified feature phone. But the upside is that it can take just 10 percent of remaining battery life and stretch it out into 24 hours of extra uptime. It's an innovative feature that the G3 has no direct answer to.

Both phones have very good cameras, but I'd give the edge to the G3. First, it fires up quicker than the GS5's does. On the G3, I can go from a sleeping (screen-off) phone to having snapped a picture in as little as 3.5 seconds. Impressive, eh? On the GS5, that process takes 5-6 seconds. It might not sound like much of a difference, but that window could be the difference between capturing the moment and missing it.

The G3's big camera feature, though, is its laser-based autofocus. When you're shooting with the G3's camera, you simply tap the point on the screen where your subject is and the G3 will quickly capture a shot with that point in focus. When you do that, the G3 actually fires a laser beam (don't worry: no children, animals or starships will be harmed) that measures the distance between phone and subject, helping to quickly and automatically bring it into focus.

In my experience, this autofocus in the G3 makes its camera stand out from the crowd – and it's arguably the phone's second killer feature. The whole shooting process is fast, seamless and leads to some terrific shots (with a bare minimum of effort on your part). That's really all I can ask for from a smartphone camera.

In case you haven't heard, the Galaxy S5 has a fingerprint sensor in its home button. It's a swipe-based one, not touch-based like the one in the iPhone 5s. But it works well enough, letting you swipe a finger to login to your otherwise passcode-protected phone. It also integrates with some third-party apps, including PayPal and LastPass. The G3 doesn't have one.

Like other recent LG products, the G3 does, however, have a couple of nifty features called Knock-On and Knock-Code. Knock-On lets you tap twice on your sleeping G3's display to turn it on, jumping straight to your home screen. Tapping twice on an empty part of your home screen then turns it back off. Knock-Code does the same thing, only with an added security-based twist: it lets you create a unique pattern of taps that you'll need to log in to your phone. It isn't quite a fingerprint sensor, but it's still a fairly secure option that can spare you some button-mashing.

Speaking of buttons, the G3 has a minimalist design, without any buttons on its front or sides. Its power and volume buttons instead sit on its back, just below its camera. This layout takes some getting used to, but I don't have a big problem with it. And it does have one big advantage: when watching video or playing games, you can hold your phone in any orientation you like without accidentally pressing any buttons (not a huge issue, but I've actually run into that problem on other phones).

We can't forget about the Galaxy S5's killer feature: its IP67 water and dust resistance. That rating means it's certified to sit in 1 m (3.3 ft) of water for 30 minutes, and keep on ticking. This opens the door to all kinds of places you can use your GS5 that you couldn't use most other smartphones. It's also insurance against accidental drops in sinks, tubs or toilets.

The Galaxy S5 has a heart rate monitor as well. It sits on the phone's backside, just below its camera. It can be a handy feature for workout enthusiasts, but know that you can also measure (or at least approximate) your heart rate on other phones – including the G3 – with apps that use the camera and flash.

The G3 is an outstanding smartphone – and quite possibly the best you can buy today. Its huge screen and relatively small body make for a terrific combination, that Quad HD display delivers some nice eye candy and its laser-focusing camera is another big draw. Its slightly laggy performance is disappointing (and a little surprising), but at least you can get rid of it with one simple tweak.

The Galaxy S5, meanwhile, is still a great choice. Though there isn't a huge size difference, it is 9 percent thinner, making it a bit more manageable in hand. It has that fingerprint sensor, some nice water resistance and zippier performance out of the box. And, though its display isn't as big or sharp as the G3's, the Galaxy S5's screen is spacious and gorgeous nonetheless.

If you were looking for a one-size-fits-all answer, then, well, you don't know us very well. If I personally had to pick right now, though, I'd go with the G3 (in fact, as I'm now using it as my main phone, I have already picked it). But tastes are different, and there's also a lot to like about the Galaxy S5. What we do hope is that this hands-on look gives you a clearer idea of the phone that will work better for you.

... and if you're still stumped, you can get more on both of these phones from our full reviews of the Galaxy S5 and LG G3. And if you want to cast your net a bit wider, you can check out our latest Smartphone Comparison Guide andPhablet Comparison Guide

Also See :- .Samsung GALAXY Tab S

Source :- gizmag

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How to fix camera failed on Samsung Galaxy S3

The most annoying thing is when apps close suddenly or display an error message. I think that they should integrate a better user-friendly help system, especially on Samsung devices, to fix these problems. There is a Samsung app called Samsung Cares that you might want to consider installing. In any case, this is how to fix the annoying camera failed problem on the Galaxy S3.

© Samsung

There are a few standard things that you can do, and some of them are pretty easy. First off, you can clear the camera cache and data. This won’t erase your images, but it will wipe any preloaded data that help the app to load quicker when starting it up. In most cases, this data is corrupted, so you need to wipe it clean. Doing this won’t have a noticeable effect on your camera’s speed, but it may clear up the camera fail problem.

Tap on the menu button when on the home screen and select Settings.Tap on Applications Manager and swipe to left to find All apps.Scroll down and select the Camera app.Once in the Camera app info, tap on force close, then clear cache and finally clear data. Settings that you may have saved will now be wiped, but you can easily set them up again. No pictures will be deleted.After this is done, restart your phone (press on the power button and select restart).Menu button, Settings, Applications Manager, All, Camera app info! © AndroidPIT

Did this work for you? If not, there are some other solutions to consider. You might want to do this for the Gallery app as well.

If this is still causing your problems, you can also clear the cache partition for the Galaxy S3. This, again, is quite simple to do, but might seem scary if it is your first time. Never fear! You can do it. Here’s how it is done:

Turn off your Galaxy S3Press the Volume Up, home and power keys and hold them.Once the phone vibrates, let go of the power button but keep pressing on the volume up and home buttons. Soon enough, the Android System Recovery screen will be displayed.Navigate to the Wipe cache partition using the volume down key and then press the power button to select.

This is not a factory reset, it won’t delete your data, but it will wipe app cache contents, which will alleviate the problem (hopefully).

If the problem is still here (gosh darn it!) there is yet another few solutions. The next consists of doing a factory reset, which you can learn on how to do in our forum tutorial how to factory reset the Galaxy S3. 

If all else fails, you might want to consider using a 3rd party app, and there are a bunch out there, like the Google Camera app for example, which is an awesome app everyone should be using. Install the Google Camera app for free from the Google Play Store.

 © Google Play

If you don’t want to settle for an alternative app, then it would be a good idea to bring it back to a Samsung or Best Buy mobile shop, or wherever you bought it. A representative will likely try to flash factory binaires from an image factory reset and if you still get the camera fail message, you could be in line for a new smartphone.

I hope you found a solution that works for you! What do you do when this happens?

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 rumor roundup: YOUM, 2K, new technology

Each release of a Galaxy Note device has been a major event for Samsung, almost as important as the Galaxy S flagship series. The Note family has a lot of fans, especially because of its attractive format and useful S Pen. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the next in the gamut and we are starting to hear more about it, especially regarding the possible flexible YOUM display, 128 GB of internal storage and a 2K resolution that it could be boasting...we have high hopes.

© AndroidPIT

Samsung promised a ''return to the basics'' with the Galaxy S5, and the company certainly fulfilled its promise. Many consider that Samsung lacks technological innovation, while others think that the errors committed with the Galaxy S4 were fixed with the S5. TouchWiz was partly revised and seems to be taking after Tizen, the manufacturer’s own operating system (if not the other way around). That leaves us wondering if the Note 4 won’t look even more differently than the stock Android UI, by adopting for example the rounded icons in the entirety of the phablet's user interface, not only in the settings like with the Galaxy S5. We won’t know for sure unless we get a glimpse of a leaked screenshot.

There has also been news that Samsung is getting rid of Samsung Hub, or at least not pre-installing it onto its devices. There could be other radical changes on the Note 4, to get rid of the bloatware that Galaxy users don't use anyways.

The YOUM display has been talked about for some years now, and we m,might finally see this flexible display on the Galaxy S4, marking it’s commercial debut. This now seems more plausible considering LG manufactured the slightly bent LG G Flex, and Samsung already commercialized the Galaxy Round with a curved display in Korea.

 © AndroidPIT

Some are even expecting Samsung to bring a bent touchscreen display that is stretched onto the sides of the smartphone. The flexible display, or at least curved, would potentially allow shortcuts to the phone’s sides, so that you can access them without meddling with the main screen, as shown in the picture below:

/ © TecIdentity 

2K on smartphones translates to a resolution of 2560 x 1440 or around that amount. It’s completely likely that the Galaxy Note 4 would have a 2K display, though it won’t be the first (Oppo Find 7). This resolution on a 6-inch phablet would mean a density of approximately 500 pixels. If Samsung does come out with a 2K phablet, that can record videos in 4K, like the Note 3 and the Xperia Z2, the brand would have its come-back after the relately disappointing characteristics of the Galaxy S5.

The rumor of a 20 MP camera was launched on the Korean site etnews.com, a website that we wouldn’t consider the most legitimate of sources, at least in the way of rumors. That being said, this is completely foreseeable if you consider that Samsung has never been last in the pixels race. The S5 has a 16 MP camera, making 20 MP quite probable. And like mentioned above, 4K video will probably also be on the menu, considering the Note 3 already has it.

 © AndroidPIT

Samsung has the habit of announcing new high end technologies independently of their flagship press events. This was the case with its latest Exynos true octa-core processors, the flexible YOUM display, as well as the 2K displays. This being a common occurrence allows us to speculate that the Note 4 will in turn benefit from advanced technologies. I can imagine that a 2K display on a 6-inch display would be very impressive.

© Samsung

We also know that Samsung plans on augmenting the internal storage in its mobile devices, which is why we believe that the Note 4 could be released with 128 GB. According to CNET, Samsung is also working on 64-bit technology. The Note series often marks the arrival of a higher number of gigabytes. Could the Note 4 be the first to come with 4G of RAM? 3 GB, on the other hand, is more than ample for present smartphones. A new graphics processor could be coming up though, considering the Adreno 330 is equipped in previous generations of Samsung devices.

It’s pretty easy to deduce that the Galaxy Note 4 will debut in September, considering that (mostly) all other Notes saw their start during this month:

Galaxy Note N7000 : September 2011Galaxy Note 2 N7100 : August 2012Galaxy Note 3 : September 2013Galaxy Note 4 : August/ September 2014?

In regards to the Note 4 price, it will likely go for 700 USD, as this was the price for all the previous models at the moment of their release.

There haven’t been that many rumors or speculations in regards to any specific functions to come on the Note 4, like a fingerprint scanner or a heart-rate monitor like the Galaxy S5. If Samsung comes out with a 2K flexible YOUM display, they will be able to retrieve bit of lost ground lost to Sony Xperia Z2 during the MWC 2014 and more recently to the HTC One (M8). And who knows, LG may also steal some of Samsung’s territory when they finally reveal the LG G3 on May 27th.

(originally by Quentin Ducreux)

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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs the Galaxy Note 3: Which Galaxy to choose?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 are from the same “generation” in the Samsung line, but due to the release of the Galaxy S4, the S4 is much more affordable than its larger Note counterpart. Beyond the size differences and design, however, which one should you pick up if you had the choice? We take a look at both the Note 3 and the Galaxy s4 in this comparison.

 © Samsung, AndroidPIT

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3 come from two different design generations: the Galaxy S4 has a glossy plastic back while the Note 3 has benefitted from the leather style that Samsung has decided is becoming the standard for their devices. The rest of both devices share the same design choices: frame color, chrome volume and home buttons, and capacitive keys. The aesthetic design choices do become pretty subjective when looking at them side by side.

The faux-leather backing of the Galaxy Note 3. / © AndroidPIT

When held in your hand, the Note 3 is clearly much more comfortable and grippy than the Galaxy S4 (without a case). The Galaxy S4 tends to become slippery when used for a longer time and/or when you’ve got sweaty hands. The biggest difference in the design side of things is the size of the two devices: the Note 3 display is much larger, but the size is not dramatically different.

The overall design on the front of both devices is relatively similar. / © AndroidPIT

Just like the Galaxy S5, the Note 3 and Galaxy S4 share the same type of display: coming in with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 Full HD, the big difference between the two is the pixel density. On the Galaxy S4 it comes in at 441 and on the Note 3 it’s 386. While the difference does seem pretty stark on paper, it’s hard to perceive any difference with the naked eye.  Both displays are Super AMOLED and offer very saturated and bright colors with strong contrasts.

Despite the difference in pixel density, the difference is hardly noticeable. / © AndroidPIT

What strikes us as the big difference between the two is just how bright the display on the Note 3 is. While based on the same technology for the displays in both devices, the Galaxy Note 3 comes ahead in this matter due to the unusual brightness.

Both the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 are running Android 4.4.2 and are on the list for the Android 4.4.3 update in the coming weeks. The major difference between the two is that the Note 3 sports the S Pen and has some S Pen specific functions and apps. This allows you to manage your smartphone/phablet in a very practical and natural way.

Despite some specific Note 3 applications, the interfaces on both devices are almost identical. / © Samsung/AndroidPIT

Both devices come pre-installed with Samsung specific apps and widgets, but as stated above, the Note 3 gets a little bit more functionality due to S Pen specific features.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has 2 GB of RAM against the 3 GB of RAM for the Note 3. The difference is particularly significant when it comes to running demanding applications or videos. However, at the moment, the S4 is able to run all available applications with no issues. The Galaxy Note 3 is a beast when it comes to performance as benchmarks classify at or near the top for all Android devices and thanks to the extra boost in its RAM allows for a little bit more future proofing that should see it in the long run against the Galaxy S2.  As well, the Note 3 is USB 3.0 Compatible while the Galaxy S4 is compatible with USB 2.0 and below.

One thing to note, although it doesn’t have much of an effect on performance, is that the S4 comes in two varieties with different processors: a version with the quad-core Snapdragon 600 and another with the Exynos 5 Octa processor.

While information regarding the exact sensors in the S4 and Note 3 isn’t exactly known, both cameras have almost identical performance on paper.  For photos, they both sport the same camera software and options, allowing capturing images of similar (excellent) quality. In video mode, the Note 3 pulls ahead with its ability to shoot in 4k, much like the Xperia Z2 which was just released.

Photos on the Note 3 and S4 offer the same quality. As well, the camera software is identical. / © AndroidPIT

For the Galaxy S5, it seems Samsung has put a quite a bit of effort and reworking into it, making it perform leaps and bounds above the Note 3 and Galaxy S4.

The Note 3 sports one of the larger batteries out in the wild, coming in at 3200 mAh and it uses it well: despite a larger display and processor, it uses it well and is able to keep on going. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is nothing to laugh at, with a battery coming in at 2600 mAh and the ability to take a full day of use with no problems/need for recharging throughout the day.

Tech Specs

 Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy Note 3DisplaySuper AMOLED, 5.1-inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 441 pppSuper AMOLED, 5.7-inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 386 pppProcesserExynos 5 Octa,  Snapdragon 600 Quad-coreQualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2.3 GHzConnectivityHSPA, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, USB 2.0HSPA, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, USB 3.0

If the issue of price is excluded, the Galaxy Note 3 is easily the device you should be choosing if you’re looking in the performance department.  While coming in with a larger package, it feels more ergonomic in your hands with its faux-leather backing.  If size and price do come into play and you’re looking for something more compact and to get more bang for your buck, consider the Galaxy S4. While definitely not the leader in this comparison, it holds its own against many other devices currently available. However, with the imminent release/announcement the next device in the Note line, you can bet that the Note 3 will start to see a decline in price shortly. 

(originally by Quentin Ducreux)

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