Samsung Galaxy S4 Pro Reviews

Samsung didn't exactly catch us by surprise with the Galaxy S4. Pretty much all the hardware improvements like the faster processor, better camera, and 5” 1080p screen were expected. Samsung simply had to have those in the Galaxy S4 if it wanted its product to be relevant in 2013. However, it's the flawless implementation of all the features that makes the Galaxy S4 the superb smartphone that it is. Design-wise, the latest Samsung flagship is nothing special. It looks OK and is comfortable to hold. We're more than happy to see that Samsung has managed to make the smartphone even smaller than the GS III, which is a remarkable achievement, considering the bigger screen. The top-notch performance and general lack of issues continue to be among the Galaxy S's strongest sides. If you're the kind of geek who's always running benchmarks on their phone, trying to squeeze every possible bit of performance out of it, then chances are you'll fall in love with the Galaxy S4, which is one of the fastest, if not the fastest Android phone around. When it comes to appearance, the Galaxy S4 may not be particularly impressive, but it's extremely slim, light and easy to handle. This, along with the myriad of custom features make the Samsung Galaxy S4 one truly brilliant Android smartphone – a likable life companion.

These are the two Android phones of the year, or at least for the first half of the year. While the HTC One X lost the fight against the Galaxy S III last year, it looks like HTC has better chances in 2013. The HTC One is equal to the Galaxy S4 in many aspects, and where it feels inferior to the Samsung, it manages to make up for it with something else. The HTC One looks and feels like an expensive product, which isn't something we can say for the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4, however, has its own advantages. Its uninspiring design is actually surprisingly comfortable to hold and use. Its dimensions feel significantly smaller, while its weight is lighter. With the Galaxy S4, Samsung is continuing its quest towards complete domination over the land of Android, transforming the colorful, chaotic jungle into a profitable industrial area. With the One, HTC proves that the former contract manufacturer does deserve its place among the leading smartphone companies. There really cannot be a better phone between these two, as both are successfully countering each other with their own unique assets.

There's no doubt that the Sony Xperia Z is one very capable smartphone. It has a pretty cool appearance and can easily execute whatever task you want. Still, the Samsung Galaxy S4 seems to be the more appealing handset overall. Its design may not be anything to write home about, but it's compact and comfortable to hold, despite the presence of an equally large 5” screen. When it comes to features, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is once again the better-equipped handset thanks to the multitude of user experience enhancements delivered by the latest TouchWiz Nature interface. Sony has definitely created one powerful device with the Xperia Z, but they'll have to do even better than that if they want to be a real challenge for the best in the industry. Improving their designs from practical standpoint and enhancing their user experiences would be great places to start from.

With an extremely similar set of specifications it's hard to make a clear call between the Galaxy S4 and Xperia Z. Key areas in making a decision are design and the custom versions of Android. Look out for our full Samsung Galaxy S4 review soon.