Galaxy S4 Mini Specs and Features

 A lot of people didn't like many things associated with the Galaxy S4 and it seems like the Galaxy S4 Mini is a perfect answer to the problems a lot of us had with the main flagship. The main problems of course focus on the size and cost of the original device. However, will this Mini device really stand up to its name? The S3 Mini model was quite a failure when compared to its bigger brother, so let us see if this new device will be any better.

Press photo of the new device. Click to zoom.

 The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini looks rather good and it is obviously a lot more compact and portable than the bigger flagship. The display is 4.3 inches and in spite of the bad resolution settings the display quality is quite sharp and impressive. So, without further to do, let us just dive right in to the Galaxy S4 Mini's specs!

General Specs and Design of the S4 Mini

• Smartphone dimensions: 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.9 mm (4.91 x 2.41 x 0.35 in).
• The original model had the following body dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in).
• Weight: 107 g (3.77 oz); this 23g lighter than the larger device.
• Display: 540 x 960 pixels, 4.3 inches (~256 ppi pixel density); Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen.
• 16 million colors and multitouch support.
• Internal memory: 8 GB, but 5 GB is actually user-available.
• RAM: 1.5 GB for the standard 3G model and 2GB for the advanced LTE device.
• Extra storage: Both models have microSD card support with up to 64 GB expansion.
• Operating system: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
• Colors: White Frost and Black Mist (same as the original).

The White Frost model.

Advanced Specs and Hardware details

• Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400
• CPU: Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait
• GPU: Adreno 305
• Primary camera: 8 MP
• Max format: 3264 x 2448 pixels; autofocus and LED flash.
• Secondary camera: 1.9 MP
• Video quality: 1080p at 30 frames per second.
• Data connectivity: USB v2.0, WLAN, Bluetooth, Infrared, NFC, EDGE and GPRS.
• Networking: 2G and 3G is available, however for 4G you need the advanced LTE model (LTE - GT-I9195).
• Battery: Li-Ion 1900 mAh battery, but stand-by time has not yet been tested by any reviewer.

Price and Release Date

 The details regarding the price and the release date of the Galaxy S4 Mini have not yet been revealed to the general public although we do have some general idea when it comes to the numbers. The Galaxy S4 Mini release date is expected to come somewhere in the first half of July, while the price is expected to be around $400, although most experts and tech savvy users can't really agree with each other when it comes to this.

 We will keep you updated as more news come so make sure your subscribe to us via RSS or via Twitter.

Galaxy S4 Active Review - Water-resistant and Amazing!

 It has been a bit more than 2 months since we had a chance to experience what the original Samsung Galaxy S4 has to offer, but not it is time for the main flagship to get a few interesting updated and the Galaxy S4 Active is brilliant example of that. Just like the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora for AT&T the Active is a device exclusive to AT&T that is available for $199.99 on two-year contract. Other payment options include you paying $449.99 (saves you $145) for a one-year contract and paying straight up-front $594.99 for a month-to-month deal. You can see the full prices and order online here.

Dip it in water - nothing bad is gonna happen!

 So, how exactly is the Galaxy S4 Active different from the regular model? Well, while this isn't the unique Advanced LTE model that people might have been expecting, the S4 is still quite unique on its own. However, the only real changes are on the outside since the internal hardware is pretty much the same. 

The Exterior Changes to the Galaxy S4

 Thus, let me point out right now that the most important difference is that the Galaxy S4 Active is water and dust resistant.

 But just how water-resistant is it? Some are even saying it is waterproof, but as you know that cannot really be true. Still, for the purpose of this Galaxy S4 Active review we can say that this device does show that we are slowly getting close to a an actual "waterproof" smartphone. According to Mashable, the device can be submerged as up to  three feet in water and can stay there for roughly 30 minuets. Apparently, you can even listen to music while swimming, although I am not sure who swims with their smartphone and how they find this practical.

 Another major change is that the camera on the Galaxy S4 Active has 8 MP instead of 13. However, to compensate for this, the camera actually has an Aqua mode for underwater photography which looks rather impressive.

The body is actually thicker!

 The final important change to the exterior of the phone is that the body is a bit thicker. It is hard to notice it until you actually compare the two. This is actually a welcoming change in my opinion as I always prefer smartphones which are a bit heavier in one's hand. Of course, this is a very niche opinion and depends on your style and needs.

 So, do I think that the Galaxy S4 Active is worth it? If I wanted to buy the S4 right now and had access to AT&T then I would certainly opt for the Active. While it has one of the worst names ever, I quite like the water and dust resistant body and the thicker back. I don't plan on putting the phone into the water, but having a device that can work like a charm during the rain is a brilliant feature that is slowly becoming an industry standard on many devices.

Galaxy S4 Surpasses iPhone 5 Retina Display

 For a long time many companies including Samsung have played catch-up with Apple. When the first Android phones were presented I though that they would never even get close to taking a bite of the big market share that Apple had, especially on American soil. But here we are today - Samsung is no longer playing catch-up in any regard. Many critics, tech enthusiasts and respected reviewers are saying that the Galaxy S4 full HD display is much better than the retina display of the iPhone 5. What I am wondering however is, does an average consumer notice and/or care about this?

 

Forbes recently published an article on their website which tried to stay as objective as possible without offending either of the parties. However, in spite of the article title being "Samsung's Galaxy S4 Display Catches Up With iPhone Retina" the author was clearly trying to say - it didn't just catch up, it is better by a mile.

 Of course, the average consumer will not notice this. In fact, I am quite sure I wouldn't really notice either. I wouldn't really even like to discus this over as it is a bit useless. Who wants to read an article explaining which device has a better representation of the shades of green? Well, if you do want to read on that, go to Forbes and see their opinion.

 What I would like to talk about, however, is innovation. Lately, Apple hasn't been doing much of it and on this you all have to agree. It is not like Samsung is pushing things beyond our expectations but they are working a lot harder than the folks at Apple. You see, unlike Samsung, Apple contracts other companies to create their parts for them. Thus, Apple's innovation is limited to the combined innovation of their suppliers, which hasn't been very impressive in the past several years.

 A Sammy/ Galaxy S4 fan might be happy to hear this, but honestly this is not something to be overjoyed by as this affects us all. Until Apple starts doing things the right way, the competition will not be as difficult as it should be in terms of innovation and we will take a lot of time to move forward.

Or is a slow pacing something that you all prefer? Leave us a comment down bellow!

Galaxy S4 VS iPhone 5 Drop Test

 Now that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is available a lot of tech enthusiasts have gotten their model already. While the rest of us will have to wait for the Galaxy S4 shortage to get resolved before we can buy our own model, tech nerds and geeks are already hard at work doing various tests on the new device. We already posted a good Galaxy S4 VS iPhone 5 review but we never covered their build quality. I already mentioned that this was because we were waiting to see someone do a drop test, and you can be sure that the good folk at Android Authority have already gone and done that for us! Let us see the results, shall we?

Which do you think did better on the drop test?

 So let us not spoil things for you, but let me just say that I wasn't surprised much by the results of the test. The method of testing itself is quite random and not really "scientific". Android Authority is known for not being any from of authority when it comes to this stuff as they prefer to goof around and entertain their readers rather than educate them. But nonetheless, they did provide us with a nice video and I invite you to have a look at it right now:

 So, did you watch yet?

 I suppose you have, so let us continue with the analysis of the test.

 It seemed to me that Darcy was rather fair in the way he performed the test and that neither of the phones got any advantage in any of the tests. The iPhone 5 did better as expected due to the fact that it has a metal body which will beat the Galaxy S4 plastic build any day. This doesn't mean that plastic is bad or easy to break, but it fails to provide good protection around the corners as we had a chance to see in this video.

 Once a phone suffers impact on the corners, the force spreads across the entire display and depending on the impact itself, the glass will shatter up to a certain point. However, the internal mechanism and hardware isn't harmed and it would take a lot of force to damage those parts. In the end, it is far cheaper to repair the display then the internal hardware.

 Also, tests have shown that the Galaxy S4 is very easy to tear-apart by professionals which makes repairs very easy. It fact, it is much easier to repair it than any Apple device out there, which counts a lot if your S4 ever does take any damage.

 Finally, one should note that, if you are going to spend between $600-800 on a smartphone, you might as well invest between $25-100 into a good case for it! Finally, I invite you to have a look at the Galaxy S4 scratch test as well!

Galaxy S4 VS Note 2

 These two devices are currently the best that Samsung has to offer and I hope you are anxious to see the results of this Galaxy S4 vs Note 2 review! Now, it is true that the Note 2 is an older devices, but none the less if the Galaxy S4 cannot outmatch it then things aren't looking so bright for Samsung's latest smartphone. We will do this comparison as objectively as possible and once the new Galaxy Note 3 comes out we will pit it against the two as well.

 Let us start by looking at the general features, the body and design. The image bellow shows the body dimensions of the two devices. As you are aware of the Galaxy S4 is smaller, thinner and much lighter. It weighs around 130 grams, while the Note 2 weighs just around 180 grams. Both devices are built from plastic.

 The Galaxy Note 2 is as you know built to be this large on purpose. It is a mix between a phone and a tablet that fans like to call a "phablet". This makes comparing the two devices a bit harder, but nonetheless their performance and features can be compared regardless of this fact.

Galaxy S4 vs Note 2: The Display

 In spite of the larger size of the Note 2, it no longer outmatches the Galaxy S series when it comes to the size of the display. The S4 has a 4,99 inch display while the Note 2 has a 5.55 inch display. Is 0.55 inches really worth it? After all, the Note 2 is quite bulky and not very practical and mobile and it no longer has a major advantage over Samsung's smartphone. If you are, however, looking for a mobile phone with an even larger screen, then stick around for the Note 3, which will have a 6.3 inch display.

 Aside from this the Galaxy S4 provides superior display quality. The display is much better, although if you are keeping the Note 2 at a reasonable distance away from your eyes you would probably not notice that the difference in pixel density is so large. Nonetheless I believe that it same to say that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is in the lead so far.

Performance and Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes in two variation as far as the processor is concerned. The more common version features a quad-core Qualcomm processor, while the other has the famous Exynos 5 Octa-core processor. Benchmarks show that both models are superior in performance to the Galaxy Note 2.

 As far as random access memory goes, both devices have 2GB RAM which makes them even. Storage is also the same as both devices come with 16/32/64 GB and can support an micro SD card.

 And when talking about their performance, it is a wise decision to pit the two devices against each other via the Basemark X 1.0 app which was initially made for gamers. It puts the devices to major graphical tests and as you can see bellow the Samsung Galaxy S4 wipes the floor with all the other contestants.

In terms of software both devices use Android and the Galaxy S4 comes with a newer version out of the box. However, an official update for the Note 2 will soon be available so this doesn't really matter all that much.

 As far as the camera goes, you can compare samples via GSM Arena which is quite handy. The Note 2 has 8 MP, while the Galaxy S4 has a 13 MP camera. However, the difference in quality isn't anything ground-breaking and these numbers don't even matter as much. However, the Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with an array of amazing new features and options when it comes to shooting photographs and I have to say that they looks both amazing and like tons of fun!

In conclusion, which of these wins the Galaxy S4 vs Note 2 battle? In my eyes the Galaxy S4 is worth successor to the series and much better than the Note 2 having outclassed it in every aspect. The price is, however, still a major factor and since the Note 2 is pretty good on its own and it will also get a price cut once the Galaxy Note 3 is out, you can hold on to your money for a bit longer and wait to see what is the best option.

Do you disagree with the final opinion? Leave a comment down bellow and tell us what said wrong!

Galaxy S4 Scratch Test

 These types of review are the latest rend in the mobile tech industry. Some good folk gets his hands on a device early and then finds all sorts of ways to destroy it on camera, and naturally, the video becomes viral. The Samsung Galaxy S4 scratch test is one such example and the video does provide some useful content if you are considering to buy this device. During our Xperia Z VS Galaxy S4 review we did mention that the new Gorilla Glass III is a very good feature, but let us see if it will do the phone any good.

 The scratch test features all sorts of sharp pointy objects such as pens and knives. I personally found the test with the pennies the most realistic as they have in the past caused several scratches on some of my phones when I wasn't very careful where and how I was putting them. The Galaxy S4, however, took the punishment quite well, although this is honestly nowhere near as impressive as the Xperia Z.

 However, we don't need to place the Galaxy S4 underwater or scrub it with sandpaper just to see if it will work. This isn't such a realistic test as I don't see how one could even get into a situation to ruin their phone this way. However, I am really looking forward to seeing the Galaxy S4 take place in a drop test. The previous model wasn't very resilient as people had hopped and I am really wondering if Samsung has addressed this issue.

If you have similar videos to share with us, leave them in the comments! :)

Galaxy S4 VS Sony Xperia Z Review

 A long time ago I did a hypothetical Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xpreia Z review which got a lot of attention. However, this was clearly just a lot of guesswork and hypothetical talk and an early analysis. But, now that a lot of time has passed we can compare the two phones head on against each other. This can safely be called "The battle of the Titans" as both of these phones are their respective company's smartphone flagships for this season. So, without further to do let us get the Galaxy S4 VS the Xperia Z battle going!

The Overall Specs

 In this section we will try and see what type of specs both of the devices have. This by no means the most important factor in this comparison, but we will try to see right off the bat what these devices have to offer. We are already familiar with the Galaxy S4 (or else you probably wouldn't be here!) but non the less let us compare the two devices side by side!

The Body and Design

In my opinion the Xperia Z has a superior design

 The Sony Xperia Z has the dimensions of  139 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.47 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches) and weighs roughly around 146 g (5.15 oz). The display diagonal is 5 inches and the overall design of the phone is quite nice. I personally prefer it to the design elements of the Galaxy S4, but I find this a very subjective and irrelevant topic. It is, however, important to note that the device is dust and water resistant. But a word on water resistant - it is resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes which is quite a lot honestly. Aside from this the screen is shatter proof and scratch-resistant (to some extent).

 On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a bit more compact with the dimensions of 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches). It is also quite a bit lighter as it weight 130 g (4.59 oz). This is actually both a difference in size that one can see and a difference in weight that one can feel, although it isn't anything ground-breaking I assure you. The display of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is also 5 inches (4.99 to be exact) and and it is protected with Gorilla Glass III.

 I have seen a lot tests done with the Xperia Z - it has been bashed with a hammer, scratches with a knife, thrown underwater and yet it looked fine. This is really a tough smartphone that can go through hell and back and I honestly have to give it first place when it comes to this! However, I also prefer the S4's slimmer and more easy-to-handle body.

The Geeky Stuff

 But, here we are - the good stuff! This is one of the more important parts of this Galaxy S4 vs Xperia Z battle as this one of the more important things that I look at when buying a phone.

 The Sony Xperia Z boasts 2 GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory. The memory can of course be expanded further with a SD Card (up to 64GB). This smartphone runs with a Quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Krait processor  with Adreno 320 GPU. I will also mention that the tech that the Xperia Z uses is known for its power-saving properties.

 On the other hand the Samsung Galaxy S4 also has 2 GB of RAM and comes and, depending on the model, it has 16/32/64 GB of internal memory. This can be further expanding with a SD Card (again, up to another 64GB). As far as the processor goes, there are two models available:

• The Exynos 5 Octa (which has two quad-core processor that switch on and off depending on which one is needed).
• The Qualcomm Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 which comes with Adreno 320 GPU.

 While there is an ongoing debate on which of these two performs better, there is no dispute that they handle things better than what the Xperia Z has to offer.

 Another "geeky" thing to note is that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has recently proven itself to be a very powerful device when it comes to handling complex graphics. The recent benchmark app for graphics called Basemark X 1.0 has placed the phone at first place according to its tests. The Sony Xperia Z was ranked third just for comparison.

The Display Quality

 Both of these devices are great in this department and I doubt this section will influence the outcome of this Galaxy S4 vs Xperia Z battle. Here is what you should note about the S4:

• Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• 16 million colors
• Resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (~441 pixels per inch pixel density)

 And about the Xperia Z:

• TFT capacitive touchscreen
• 16 million colors
• Resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (~441 pixels per inch pixel density)

 Not exactly ground-breaking differences are they? 

The Camera Quality

 Many of you were probably waiting for this section, after all, you have probably seen the latest S4 commercials that focus on its camera features. Well, it is true, right off the bat we can safely say that the S4 has superior features and software which makes the camera awesome and pretty cool. But is it really a better quality camera?

 Both devices have a 13 MP camera with the same resolution so let us look at some tests before we judge which one is better.

Sample 1

Sample 2

 In my opinion, the Galaxy S4 wins this comparison, especially when you take the cool software into account!

Battery Life

 This is another important aspect that I often consider when comparing two smartphones. All the awesome features aren't worth much if you are going to spend more time recharging the phone than using it! 

 Here are the Xperia Z battery specs:

• Non-removable Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery
• Stand-by: Up to 550 h (2G) / Up to 530 h (3G)
• Talk time: Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G)
• Music play: Up to 40 h

 The Galaxy S4 has a Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery, but I couldn't find information on its stand-by time and other tests since nobody has had the chance to do such tests yet. It does features a removable battery however, which is always a good thing of course.

Galaxy S4 VS Xperia Z: The Winner Is...

 And here we are, at the end of this Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z battle, so who won? Well, were you expecting for more to crown the winner? Well, I am afraid I am not such an important authority figure to give out such an opinion. I would honestly say that the Galaxy S4 is a much better device, but if I can get the Sony Xperia Z for a much better price, then I would not hesitate believe me!

 But what do you guys and girls think? Which is the winner of the Galaxy S4 vs Xperia Z battle in your opinion? Leave us a comment down bellow and tell us what you think!

Galaxy S4 Is Amazing for Gaming says Basemark X 1.0 Benchmark

 We already know that the Galaxy S4 is a pretty amazing device right? It works brilliantly and packs an amazing combination of both hardware and software. However, I never really though about the Galaxy S4 as a gaming device. Most of the people I know don't use phones like this for games that will drain your battery instantly to slow your phone down (they tend to use tablets for that). However, the recent tests that were conducted by an Android app called Basemark X 1.0 suggest that the Galaxy S4 is currently one of the best gaming devices in the mobile industry.

 Well, how does it work? What score did the S4 get? Well, the Galaxy S4 climbed to the top for chart with a pretty impressive score. The benchmark app is constructed with the use of the Unity 4 platform and it provides a tough challenge for any device. It tests the phone via series of complex graphical tasks and then awards points to the device based on its performance.

 The goal is obviously not to measure the quality of the graphics, but the performance of the device and how it handles with such challenges. Among some of the many things that Basemark X 1.0 measures are the lightning effects, particles, shading and shadows and so on. The graphical tests are really tough and are designed to push the devices that are being tested to their very limits.

 Here is how Samsung Galaxy S4 did on the test:

The S4 passes with flying colors!

 As you can see, the Samsung Galaxy S IV did great on this graphical test and really made the series proud. It proved itself much better than the HTC One which is a brand new phone on the market that is trying to take the crown away from the SG S4. So far, however, it has not done such a good job in my opinion!

 If you are interested how well your current phone is doing then have a look at the free Basemark X 1.0 app on the Play Store. The developer has also noted that there will soon be an iOS and a Windows 8 application available as well, in case this is your OS of choice.

 What do you think about these tests results? How does your current phone perform? Post anything you have to say about this in the comments and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

Galaxy S4 vs HTC One X: A Hypothesis

 The Galaxy S4 isn't out yet, but this guy is the writing a comparison with the HTC One X! - is that you must be shouting at the screen right now. Yes, you are correct, this is indeed not very smart or very accurate, but why not? A lot of sites do this and I have done it in the past as well. A lot of you actually tweeted/liked the Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z review and I am hopping that you will enjoy this hypothetical review as well! Today, I will pit the S4 against the powerful HTC One X and we will see how it goes!

 So what is the idea here and how will we be comparing the two devices since we aren't sure what the S4 is going to have once it comes out? Well, we will compare the HTC One X to the rumored Galaxy S4 features as well as highlight some key features that Samsung will have to have/improve in order to be competitive and better than HTC's flagship device. Ready to get started then? Alright, let us start the review, shall we?

Galaxy S4 vs the HTC One X: The Overall Specs

 The HTC One X is a phone a had an opportunity to play around with on several occasions. In my opinion HTC is a company that produces very good smartphone devices and their products are quite reliable in my eyes. The HTC One X is the top gun in their collection and it a very powerful device. Samsung will have to do a lot in order to compete with this device and you can be sure that the Korean tech giant will do all in its power to win the market share war!

 So, here is what the HTC One X is sporting:

• 1 GB RAM
• 32 GB of memory (26GB is accessible to the user) and no microSD card support
• A quad-core processor (1.5 GHz)
• A Nvidia Tegra 3 Chipset
• 4.7 inch screen with 312 ppi
• ULP GeForce for the CPU
• Corning Gorilla Glass
• 8 MP back camera and 1.2 MP front camera
• Android Ice Cream Snadwich out of the box and an official Jelly Bean update

 So far, the One X looks rather sweet doesn't it? Right off the bat you can see why it is a successful smartphone and HTC's pride and joy. However, the Samsung Galaxy S4 should not have a lot of trouble competing with these specs.

Rumored Galaxy S4 specs and design

 As you can see from the above image, the S4's rumored specs are quite superior although HTC One X will not be completely outdated and will still stay quite competitive. Among other things we must mention the obvious advantage that the S4 has when it comes to RAM and internal memory, display quality and processing power. Also, the impressive Galaxy S4 battery should also give this smartphone a lot more durability than what the HTC One X offers. The lack of microSD card support on the One X will also bring a lot of points for Samsung among many users as well.

The HTC One X is just not up to the challange

 

According to last year's benchmarks, the Galaxy S3 performed much better than the HTC One X, so it can be said that we are expecting the S4 to wipe the floor with the One X this year! Just for good measure here is what the benchmarks said:

• Galaxy S3 scored 12016 points on AnTuTu benchmarks which is more than what the HTC One X was able to score (it was 11024 points).
• The HTC One X has a score of 47,4 on NenMark 2 which is rather good, but the S3 blew it out of the water with its own score of 58,6.

 Now, a a lot of people won't agree that the S3 is better than the HTC One X and this of course their right and I respect their opinion. However, based on every test that was done out there I have to conclude that the S3 was indeed a better device and thus the S4 will have no trouble in winning the Galaxy S4 with the HTC One X battle.

But was it really worth comparing the upcoming Galaxy S4 with the HTC One X? Well, some will say it was a waste of time since it is an unfair challenge, but even so, the consumer has a right to know what they will be getting out of these two for their money. The real battle that we will be looking at in our next hypothetical review will be the Galaxy S4 vs the HTC M7. Until then my dear readers you will have to wait a bit, but fear not! You can follow me on Twitter or via RSS in order to keep updated on the latest Galaxy S4 news, rumors and leaks!

Galaxy S4 vs HTC One X: A Hypothesis

 The Galaxy S4 isn't out yet, but this guy is the writing a comparison with the HTC One X! - is that you must be shouting at the screen right now. Yes, you are correct, this is indeed not very smart or very accurate, but why not? A lot of sites do this and I have done it in the past as well. A lot of you actually tweeted/liked the Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z review and I am hopping that you will enjoy this hypothetical review as well! Today, I will pit the S4 against the powerful HTC One X and we will see how it goes!

 So what is the idea here and how will we be comparing the two devices since we aren't sure what the S4 is going to have once it comes out? Well, we will compare the HTC One X to the rumored Galaxy S4 features as well as highlight some key features that Samsung will have to have/improve in order to be competitive and better than HTC's flagship device. Ready to get started then? Alright, let us start the review, shall we?

Galaxy S4 vs the HTC One X: The Overall Specs

 The HTC One X is a phone a had an opportunity to play around with on several occasions. In my opinion HTC is a company that produces very good smartphone devices and their products are quite reliable in my eyes. The HTC One X is the top gun in their collection and it a very powerful device. Samsung will have to do a lot in order to compete with this device and you can be sure that the Korean tech giant will do all in its power to win the market share war!

 So, here is what the HTC One X is sporting:

• 1 GB RAM
• 32 GB of memory (26GB is accessible to the user) and no microSD card support
• A quad-core processor (1.5 GHz)
• A Nvidia Tegra 3 Chipset
• 4.7 inch screen with 312 ppi
• ULP GeForce for the CPU
• Corning Gorilla Glass
• 8 MP back camera and 1.2 MP front camera
• Android Ice Cream Snadwich out of the box and an official Jelly Bean update

 So far, the One X looks rather sweet doesn't it? Right off the bat you can see why it is a successful smartphone and HTC's pride and joy. However, the Samsung Galaxy S4 should not have a lot of trouble competing with these specs.

Rumored Galaxy S4 specs and design

 As you can see from the above image, the S4's rumored specs are quite superior although HTC One X will not be completely outdated and will still stay quite competitive. Among other things we must mention the obvious advantage that the S4 has when it comes to RAM and internal memory, display quality and processing power. Also, the impressive Galaxy S4 battery should also give this smartphone a lot more durability than what the HTC One X offers. The lack of microSD card support on the One X will also bring a lot of points for Samsung among many users as well.

The HTC One X is just not up to the challange

 

According to last year's benchmarks, the Galaxy S3 performed much better than the HTC One X, so it can be said that we are expecting the S4 to wipe the floor with the One X this year! Just for good measure here is what the benchmarks said:

• Galaxy S3 scored 12016 points on AnTuTu benchmarks which is more than what the HTC One X was able to score (it was 11024 points).
• The HTC One X has a score of 47,4 on NenMark 2 which is rather good, but the S3 blew it out of the water with its own score of 58,6.

 Now, a a lot of people won't agree that the S3 is better than the HTC One X and this of course their right and I respect their opinion. However, based on every test that was done out there I have to conclude that the S3 was indeed a better device and thus the S4 will have no trouble in winning the Galaxy S4 with the HTC One X battle.

But was it really worth comparing the upcoming Galaxy S4 with the HTC One X? Well, some will say it was a waste of time since it is an unfair challenge, but even so, the consumer has a right to know what they will be getting out of these two for their money. The real battle that we will be looking at in our next hypothetical review will be the Galaxy S4 vs the HTC M7. Until then my dear readers you will have to wait a bit, but fear not! You can follow me on Twitter or via RSS in order to keep updated on the latest Galaxy S4 news, rumors and leaks!

Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z: A Hypothesis

 Doing an actual Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z article is impossible as the S4 is not currently available and I have really not held the Xperia Z in my hand nor had a live encounter with it just yet. So, what is the point of making an article like this then? Well, there are no other Galaxy S4 news to report and I know that Android fans like me can't wait to get their next fix of news and leaks! Furthermore, this is also a hypothetical model and is based on analyzing the current market so we will try to separate reality from speculations in this article. Let us start by seeing what the Xperia Z has to offer when it comes to hardware.

Galaxy S4 VS Sony Xperia Z: The Specs

 This is what we already know about the amazing Sony Xperia Z:

• 5-inch Reality Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor
• 16GB Storage (microSD Card Slot)
• 13.1MP rear camera/2.2MP front-facing camera
• 2,330 mAh battery (Non-Removable)
• 2GB RAM
• NFC

 Obviously this phone has quite a nice thing going for it already. The 5-inch screen looks great and it even splash resistant along with the rest of the casing! The default brightness and LUX settings look rather well and it seems that they will not consume to much of your battery as well. The S4 will also have a 5 inch screen (well 4,99" to be exact!) and it will be in full HD so this might be a tough call. 

 Furthermore, the Snapdragon S4 Pro is a great quad-core processor and is quite an industry standard to place into a flagship of this level. The battery is also very impressive, although non-removable and the camera is simply breath-taking!

 Let us look at a photo test that compares the Xperia Z's camera with some other top dogs in the mobile industry:

 Now, the ISO settings are a bit unfair but they were probably preset for the best possible photo on all three devices. Either way, you can see that the Xperia Z does a very nice job with its 13 MP camera. You can expect the Samsung Galaxy S4 to perform quite well too, since their flagship is also rumored to feature a 13 MP back camera with some awesome features that should be greatly improved compared to what we saw on the S3.

Ready to continue?

 In terms of battery life, Samsung is rumored to offer a 2600 mAh which is slightly better, however, the S4 will also have a removable battery and possibly even wireless charging which would certainly be a great feature and a major trump card over the Sony Xperia Z.

 In terms of processor power, the S4 might have another edge over the Xperia Z. This is because they will put the Exynos 5 Octa processor into this device most likely. As we explained already, this doesn't mean that this Octa processor is two times as powerful. In fact, it may not even be much stronger that any other quad-core out there! However, this processor has 4 small units and 4 bigger ones. The smaller ones work on easier task while the 4 bigger A15 chipsets are shut-down. When the user starts streaming HD video, playing 3D games or doing some other complex stuff, the bigger chips take over for the little guys. This should lead to optimum performance while conserving battery and is a great feature of Samsung's new flagship. For more info, consult this article!

  

 That covers some of the specs. But what about software? Well, it will generally not play such a major role in your decision as far as the official software goes. Both devices will come with the latest available Android OS versions. Sony is loved for its Time Scape UI, but even so a lot of people still love what Samsung does with the TouchWiz. I guess this will just be a matter of personal preference.

The Design

 Maybe we should have started this Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z review/battle/hypothesis with the whole design thing, but it just made very little sense since we don't know how the S4 will really look like. Also, this is a rather subjective thing as well and people's opinion's on the design of the phone are not always the most important factor when they are choosing what to get. I would personally want an uglier phone if it was the most advanced thing available rather than a great-looking one with nothing to offer in terms of hardware and software.

 Anyway,  I will point out that the Xperia Z looks very elegant and that I am a fan of the design. However, I also like how all the Galaxy S models have looked so far as well. Also, I am very anxious to see if the S4 will really be coming with an S-Pen to be honest. If you want to see some speculations about the S4 design, have a look at this post.

 So, that what I can say so far, both are great phones, but I am wondering what their prices will be since this is also a major issue. What do you guys think? Did you enjoy this article? Let me know what you think in the comments bellow!

Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z: A Hypothesis

 Doing an actual Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z article is impossible as the S4 is not currently available and I have really not held the Xperia Z in my hand nor had a live encounter with it just yet. So, what is the point of making an article like this then? Well, there are no other Galaxy S4 news to report and I know that Android fans like me can't wait to get their next fix of news and leaks! Furthermore, this is also a hypothetical model and is based on analyzing the current market so we will try to separate reality from speculations in this article. Let us start by seeing what the Xperia Z has to offer when it comes to hardware.

Galaxy S4 VS Sony Xperia Z: The Specs

 This is what we already know about the amazing Sony Xperia Z:

• 5-inch Reality Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor
• 16GB Storage (microSD Card Slot)
• 13.1MP rear camera/2.2MP front-facing camera
• 2,330 mAh battery (Non-Removable)
• 2GB RAM
• NFC

 Obviously this phone has quite a nice thing going for it already. The 5-inch screen looks great and it even splash resistant along with the rest of the casing! The default brightness and LUX settings look rather well and it seems that they will not consume to much of your battery as well. The S4 will also have a 5 inch screen (well 4,99" to be exact!) and it will be in full HD so this might be a tough call. 

 Furthermore, the Snapdragon S4 Pro is a great quad-core processor and is quite an industry standard to place into a flagship of this level. The battery is also very impressive, although non-removable and the camera is simply breath-taking!

 Let us look at a photo test that compares the Xperia Z's camera with some other top dogs in the mobile industry:

 Now, the ISO settings are a bit unfair but they were probably preset for the best possible photo on all three devices. Either way, you can see that the Xperia Z does a very nice job with its 13 MP camera. You can expect the Samsung Galaxy S4 to perform quite well too, since their flagship is also rumored to feature a 13 MP back camera with some awesome features that should be greatly improved compared to what we saw on the S3.

Ready to continue?

 In terms of battery life, Samsung is rumored to offer a 2600 mAh which is slightly better, however, the S4 will also have a removable battery and possibly even wireless charging which would certainly be a great feature and a major trump card over the Sony Xperia Z.

 In terms of processor power, the S4 might have another edge over the Xperia Z. This is because they will put the Exynos 5 Octa processor into this device most likely. As we explained already, this doesn't mean that this Octa processor is two times as powerful. In fact, it may not even be much stronger that any other quad-core out there! However, this processor has 4 small units and 4 bigger ones. The smaller ones work on easier task while the 4 bigger A15 chipsets are shut-down. When the user starts streaming HD video, playing 3D games or doing some other complex stuff, the bigger chips take over for the little guys. This should lead to optimum performance while conserving battery and is a great feature of Samsung's new flagship. For more info, consult this article!

  

 That covers some of the specs. But what about software? Well, it will generally not play such a major role in your decision as far as the official software goes. Both devices will come with the latest available Android OS versions. Sony is loved for its Time Scape UI, but even so a lot of people still love what Samsung does with the TouchWiz. I guess this will just be a matter of personal preference.

The Design

 Maybe we should have started this Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z review/battle/hypothesis with the whole design thing, but it just made very little sense since we don't know how the S4 will really look like. Also, this is a rather subjective thing as well and people's opinion's on the design of the phone are not always the most important factor when they are choosing what to get. I would personally want an uglier phone if it was the most advanced thing available rather than a great-looking one with nothing to offer in terms of hardware and software.

 Anyway,  I will point out that the Xperia Z looks very elegant and that I am a fan of the design. However, I also like how all the Galaxy S models have looked so far as well. Also, I am very anxious to see if the S4 will really be coming with an S-Pen to be honest. If you want to see some speculations about the S4 design, have a look at this post.

 So, that what I can say so far, both are great phones, but I am wondering what their prices will be since this is also a major issue. What do you guys think? Did you enjoy this article? Let me know what you think in the comments bellow!