Samsung galaxy S4 buy or not??

Without going into too much detail, let’s have a.......
look at some of the main pros and cons of the
Samsung Galaxy S4. To put these into context,
we’ll draw some brief comparisons with its main
competitors – the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z
– where appropriate. Some of these factors alone
could be enough to influence a buying decision
and certainly worth considering if you’re
interested in buying the S4.
For more detailed comparisons you may be
interested in some of the other Samsung Galaxy
S4 vs HTC One content that we’ve posted.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Pros

Removable battery –

this is a big plus – it gives the opportunity to
manually power the phone down should it freeze,
facilitates accessories such as the Galaxy S4 flip
cover (which replaces the back cover to clip to
the handset, thus adding less bulk than other
cases) and also enables a third-party extended
battery to be attached if/when it’s released. The
HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z do not have
removable batteries.

Repairability –

early reports have suggested that
the Galaxy S4 should be very easy to repair should
the situation arise. This is in stark contrast to the
HTC One, which was given the lowest repairability
score possible by iFixit.

MicroSD slot –

for some the inclusion (or lack of)
expandable storage can make or break a purchase
decision. The inclusion of a microSD slot with the
S4 gives the opportunity to expand the storage by
64GB. The Xperia Z can also take a microSD card
up to 64GB, whereas the HTC One does not have a
slot at all.

MHL 2.0 – Less wires when connecting the S4 to a
TV. Using MHL 2.0 means that an external power
source (microUSB charger) is not required to
power the MHL adaptor, making it more
convenient to connect and more portable. The
Xperia Z and the HTC One do need the MHL cable
to be powered.
Smaller and Lighter than the competition, but
still manages a 5″ display. It’s only ~15g lighter
than the One and the Z, but beats both with its
dimensions measurements as well.
Newer version of Android – All three handsets
run Jelly Bean, but the S4 runs Android 4.2.2 out
the box whereas the others run 4.1.2. There isn’t
a huge difference between the two versions so not
too big a factor to consider, but is perhaps
indicative of Samsung being quicker to update its
handsets to the latest version of Android.

Wireless charging - a nice feature but not all that
important in terms of functionality. It’s also worth
noting that additional accessories are required
(release date awaited) so it is not offered out of
the box.
Accessories – overall the S4 has the most diverse
range of accessories compared to other handsets.
However, it should be mentioned that Samsung
has disappointed customers in the past by delaying
or not fulfilling accessory promises. Wireless
charging for the S3 as announced but never
released, for example. The situation looks better
this time around though and some stock of
protective accessories such as cases has already
started to arrive.
Built in TV remote – A useful, but not essential
feature to have. This is also included with the HTC
One.
Eye tracking – The S4 has several eye tracking
features included which are its main differentiator
when it comes to software.
Multi window (split screen mode) - another
software element that is unique to Samsung
handsets. It was first introduced with the Galaxy
Note II, but is now included with the SGS4. This
feature enables you to view two apps at once,
which is particularly useful for web browsing,
checking email and reading through documents.
Officially there are only certain apps that work
with multi window, but there’s a hack for the Note
2 to force the feature for other apps, so there will
likely be one for the S4 as well.
AirView - the ability to preview content by
hovering a finger over it – no need to touch the
screen. Hovering over the S Planner (calendar),
images, videos and more will activate the content
as though it’s been clicked.
[image name=samsung-galaxy-s4]
Samsung Galaxy S4 Cons
Not IP57 rated - Usually we wouldn’t look at this
as a disadvantage as it’s only been available in
smaller, bulkier handsets. However, now that Sony
has included it with its
Xperia Z flagship, it warrants a mention alongside
similar devices such as the S4.
Small internal storage (16GB) - This isn’t a huge
problem as microSD storage can be used (up to
64GB), but many users would prefer a large
internal storage as well. Samsung often announces
larger memory variants of its handsets (32GB and
64GB), but in the past availability of these has
been poor. The Xperia Z has the same memory
options as the S4, whereas the One has only 32GB
internal.
Price - It’s the most expensive Android handset
out there and significantly dearer than the Z and
the One.
Design - aesthetically the S4 isn’t as pleasing as
the HTC One and its plastic design feels less
premium than the aluminium of  the One. It
should be noted however that plastic does have
advantages from an industrial point of view, such
as being more flexible and not heating up so much
compared to metal. The S4 also looks similar to
the S3 and other Samsung Galaxy handsets.
Sound – The sound on the Samsung Galaxy S4 is
good, but won’t be as good for music playback
and recording as the HTC One, which has dual
front facing speakers and a dual membrane in the
microphone for recording. See this comparison
between the One and the S3 for reference.
Conclusion
Hopefully this has given you a rough overview of
some of the main pros and cons of the S4. There
are many more comparisons that can be drawn
between the S4 and other devices, especially
when it comes to software, so please feel free to
point out in the comments any that you feel to be
of particular significance.