Just trying to break from all the negativity that's surrounding this forum, I actually would like to know what people liked about it?
ICS?
Design?
It could be anything, I guess majority had a phone before it, how did the experience change? What were you doing before, that you are now doing differently? stuff like that...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1358661
OK... im not going to compare it to other phones so:
great screen
feels sturdy and, in my opinion, well built
camera shutter speed
ICS
Great GPS
Great call quality
Fantastic Audio (including equalise) although im no formal audiophile
did I mention the great screen ?
ICS is just beautiful. Little things like the transition animations when opening and closing apps and the transparency effects seen in the browser and all over the O/S make for a really polished, highly visual experience, something that android has so far been lacking in.
The screen is awesome. I can't see a major step up from this in terms of display quality and size in a while. Obvious next step is samoled +, but imo the difference will be marginal compared to the difference between sgs2 screen and this.
I personaly think it's the best looking phone out there. Clean unbroken glass with a subtle curve. No buttons or logos in sight. The finish on the plastics is much classier than on sgs2 too. And it's amazing to hold, it just melts into your palm.
Quick fluid interface. Signifcantly improved ui thats far more intuitive to use.
Gingerbread, froyo whatever... android was getting a bit stale. 4.0 just feels great and new.
The galaxy nexus has a great screen... the finish on the glass looks beautiful. Overall case is well made and doesnt look tacky... like the galaxy s or s2 does. It also feels very solid unlike other samsungs.
Maybe not the fastest cpu but the smoothest android phone there is imo. The hardware accelerated ui feels faster and smoother than previous android phones
.
Shame about the volume issue because this is the best android experience so far.
Gotta agree with the comments about the design - feels really great in the hand. Nice materials. Sturdy.
And ICS is a real joy to use. SO much better than GB
Has anyone noticed how the edges of the screen tapers in to the body? There is a slight curve to the taper compared to the more angular tapering on the gs2. Looks really classy, especially when you see light reflect off it.
The subtle curve of the screen, the size and quality of the display and the weight of the device truely make it a classy item.
Great idea for a thread - for all the problems, it's still an amazing device.
- Stunning screen. Amazingly sharp, and I continue to be amazed by the size when I go fullscreen in the YouTube app.
- Quick. The UI acceleration isn't perfect IMO (still get "jerkiness" when a live wallpaper is applied, for example), but that's minor. Fact is, the CPU gets the job done, and FAST.
- Build quality is very, very nice. Coming from a Galaxy S it's a really nice step up. The S wasn't poorly built - it took its fair share of drops and knocks - but it did feel a bit cheap. The Nexus just feels solid. No creaks or flex in the bezel, the backplate is nice to the touch, and the front is simply beautiful. It's lovely to hold.
- ICS is a total breath of fresh air. It's just a wonderful new interface, and in no small part to the new Roboto font.
- Live video effects! Haha. I know it's a childish thing, but you can have SO much fun with them with your friends (it's especially great that they work through the front cam too). The Big Eyes effect never gets old.
I would like to preface this with a couple of items:
1. I have owned these Samsung mobiledevices:
Vibrant
GS 2
GS 3
GN 2
N 10
So it IS fair to say that I have a preference for Samsung devices
2. My unit, mfg date 5/11 ...does not seem to suffer from some of the screen issues that others are having. As for overheating... my GS 3 and GN 2 get blisteringly hot when running 3D intensive games. That, is a reality of mobile gaming... that much computing power in such a small, passively cooled form factor is a recipe for poor heat dissipation. Thus, I do not find the GS 4 to be any different (neither a step back nor an improvement in heat dissipation.)
Those caveats aside, here are my initial impressions:
1. Aesthetically speaking, this is the closest in form to an iPhone that I have perceived a galaxy device to be. Does it bother me...not particularly, but it does give credence to those who bemoan "copy cat" and others who say that the galaxy design ethos is a bit... "tired".
2. Remaining on aesthetics for a moment, which is a very subjective matter....mind you, the GS 4 does not hold a candle to the HTC one. In my opinion, one is a ground-up rethink of mobile design with "form" being a primary emphasis... the other a simple continuation of a design that has met with success in the market. While the GS 4 is not ugly... the HTC One IS stunning. I tip my cap to HTC... (and to some extent sony), and hope that it will push Mobile Divisions to approach future design, with part ruler and part brush.
3. Durability: Now I don't have the stones to just drop my phone; nor has my ownership period been long enough to rebuke anyone else...but the device feels surprisingly sturdy in my hands. Reading some of the comments on the board... and coming from the Brick that is the GN 2 (which survived several falls unscathed), I expected the GS 4 to be a porcelain doll. Frail and fragile to the touch. Not the case. It is clearly lighter than the GS 3 and slimmer as well, but it does not feel like it was done to so at the expense of durability. Now I know that there are plenty of comments and reviews that dispute this... but, in MY hands, some of the initial concern that was raised by all reports has been dispelled. I hope (keyword) that the hairline fractures some have experienced are a mfg anomaly and not a design flaw.
4. Smart gestures: I am one, who truly thinks that this could be a revolution in mobile technology...and I admire what Sammy is trying to accomplish here. But (you knew one was coming), the current implementation just feels not-ready-for-primetime. The gestures do not respond as intended all the time... and sometimes they just flat out don't work. When they do... it is impressive, and is a window in the future of interaction with technology. Given time, I think samsung will iron the kinks out.... I just don't think we will see that on the GS 4.
5. UI: Touchwiz is a love or hate proposition for many... personally, I tend to use some functions and replace others. That being said, whether its smart gesture integration, poor coding or loads of bloatware...sammy dropped the ball here. The UI feels clunky and gimmiky... and lags on hardware that should easily breeze through transitions, screen renders and app launches. You can literally feel the Snapdragon chomping on the bit... being restrained by a poorly designed UI. This to me, was the largest disappointment. Not because I don't think I can fix with kernel and Rom installations... but rather because I was so impressed with how far touchwiz had come on my GN2. This feels like a huge step back... with stutters and judder reminiscent of my Vibrant. For me aesthetics are a luxury... but function is a necessity. Multi-window does feel much smoother in this implementation...so there is that, but still, for shame sammy (don't take 1 step back for every 2 forward). Again, our community will most certainly solve these issues... but it should not exist out of the box for premium hardware.
6. Camera: Very simply, impressive. Will it replace your D9...or any nice DSLR? No. Does it take sharp photos, with a bevy of adjustments, filters and post processing perks? Yes. Can it serve as an everyday shooter? Absolutely. Crisp photos, quick autofocus and no shutter lag make it a joy to snap shots with. Low light performance does lag behind some other phones (notably Nokia and HTC)... but I find this to be the only shortcoming.
7. GPS: It works. Well. I will never....ever.... ever...forget the vibrant debacle. It is the first thing I check on all my TMO samsung devices
8. Display: I left this for last... because, really if you didn't read anything else (TL;DR) then know this: the display ALONE is worth the price of admission. Maybe I have been conditioned as such... but when it comes to mobile devices give me the deep blacks of AMOLED over LCD. Furthermore, sammy had learned a bit from the community, and toned down some of the intrinsic oversaturation. The clarity, rendering and overall visual candy of the 1080x1920 Super AMOLDED is OUTSTANDING. Apple, HTC, LG all make excellent flagship phones... this is reality. No one touches the display technology of Samsung, yet... this is fact. The pixel density allows for the obliteration of any aliasing due to the pentile arrangement. It is jaw-dropping. For those who have gotten a device with screen issues... I wouldn't wait, return it and return it and return it until you get one that is perfect, because it is well worth the hassle.
Conclusion:
Is the Galaxy design, tired and in need of a refresh...probably. Is the HTC One the "prettiest" device on the market... certainly. Did touchwiz initially sour my excitement...definitely. However, those who compare the GS3 to GS4 evolution to the iPhone X to iPhone Xs tract... neither know android nor samsung hardware. Though the design is not a complete or even partial refresh (though I love the way the GS4 feels in my hand as compared to the GS3 and even my GN2) this phone is clearly the next step forward in Samsungs continued mobile presence. The hardware is top notch and only slightly fettered by TW. The display is stunning and the camera and accompanying software a leap forward from both the GN2 and GS3. The continued dedication to sd card expansion and removable batteries should not be underscored.
Perhaps the GN3 or the next GS will feature an aesthetic redesign befitting the hardware inside... and if that is of the utmost importance, than by all means you can wait. Or buy the One, (which in my time with, I did truly enjoy...). But...
If you are eligible for the upgrade... or have some coin kicking around, I can say with all confidence that Galaxy S4 is a top flight device... and quite possibly the best available on the market today.
Nice review Poser. I too have had an GS2, GS3, GN2 and now GS4. I feel you have hit it right on the head. TW is disappointing and the hardware isn't very exciting (except cam). But the device is top notch and Sammy did a good job overall. I came from VZW to Tmobs because of Wifi call/text. Such a great feature!!!
I just got a s4. My old phone was the s3. The phone is great but heres my view on it. It is no different than the s3 except it is faster cpu wise and has a higher res screen. If u had an s3 next to an s4 (like i do) and played around with both of them you would think its the same phone. Some of the features are pointless on the s4. Like air guestures (in my opinion). They are novelties. Why wave my hand 3 inches above the screen to scroll through pictures when i could simply just lower my finger 3 inches and swipe through my pics? All and all it is the fastest phone out and im happy i got it. But if i was goin to keep my s3 though, there wouldnt be much differance.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
As much as some people despise TouchWiz and the Samsung Apps that are preloaded, I actually like using some of the features.
I think, so far, my favorite is the Air Hover where I can preview emails.
Nice op. I had the S3 on Sprint, which was a great device as long as I was on Wifi. So far I have been very happy with the S4 on T Mobile. All the pros as noted above, plus an affordable data plan with excellent coverage for my areas. The wifi calling feature is simply awesome and all carriers should have this technology built in. As far as touchwiz goes, I find it to be functionally quite similar to vanilla android, meaning the basic functions work the same way. For example, adding widgets or adding a shortcut to the dock is done easily (as opposed to how the latest Sense does it). The esthetics are a different matter but are easily altered. Lag is zero with some basic tweaks.
Very well worded essay, Poser. My thanks for addressing aspects of the phone that are important to me (how well the GPS works in particular, which few people seem to comment on). I too hope (and expect) that the reports of screen cracks are an indication of defective samples and not a design flaw. I find it hard to believe that the design would not have been subject to a battery of stress tests.
I spent some time looking at and handling the phone at Best Buy, and I liked how it felt in my hand. That experience makes me dismiss comments about the plastic construction. Seeing the phone up close and personal also showed me just how gorgeous the display is (it truly is eye candy), and thanks for emphasizing this point.
Some additional thoughts:
1. Wifi calling is exceptional when it works flawlessly... I have noticed that it does experience voice dropouts, call answering issues and connecting issues. This was a problem that was present in my S3 GN2 and S4, and does seem to be software propigated (independent of access point).
2. Disabling smart gestures and home key activation of S Voice... SIGNIFICANTLY reduces lag
3. The screen is Amazing. I cant say this enough,
Coming form sgsii
While rebooting, flashing roms, running ANY benchmark, taking video, or browsing the web the phone compared to my SGSII gets way hotter than i would have ever imagined. maybe it is just my phone, however i cant get a stable overclock at all. my MAX stable OC is 1999mhz..... really? that's just a 100mhz overhead from stock........ a 5.2% increase in speed is all i can get.......... in contrast my SGSII i was able to get 300mhz out of it (25% increase in speed) and it would run cooler than this phone on stock.....
however at stock speeds the SGS4 is snappy, lag free, FAST, comfortable to hold, poor battery life, bright screen, alright overall
7 out of 10 is what i give MY phone. as it did meet my personal expectations. I was hoping for 2.2ghz cpu stable 550mhz gpu and then i could see it getting as hot as it is now. i guess i just got a poor OC phone
I'm thinking about shorting the circuit board while it is on, and if that doesn't work, i will hook up usb cable to straight 120VAC wall current and see if it explodes. at least i would get a different phone....
overall disappointed in the phone i got, however the phone itself, like most Samsung products is GREAT!
jimmboonline said:
While rebooting, flashing roms, running ANY benchmark, taking video, or browsing the web the phone compared to my SGSII gets way hotter than i would have ever imagined. maybe it is just my phone, however i cant get a stable overclock at all. my MAX stable OC is 1999mhz..... really? that's just a 100mhz overhead from stock........ a 5.2% increase in speed is all i can get.......... in contrast my SGSII i was able to get 300mhz out of it (25% increase in speed) and it would run cooler than this phone on stock.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, IIRC the GS2 only had a dual core CPU clocked around 1.2-1.5GHz, so to be fair you can expect the GS2 to be cooler and more stable since the stock speed is lower and less cores.
jimmboonline said:
I'm thinking about shorting the circuit board while it is on, and if that doesn't work, i will hook up usb cable to straight 120VAC wall current and see if it explodes. at least i would get a different phone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to see a video of that...
Poser said:
I would like to preface this with a couple of items:
1. I have owned these Samsung mobiledevices:
Vibrant
GS 2
GS 3
GN 2
N 10
So it IS fair to say that I have a preference for Samsung devices
2. My unit, mfg date 5/11 ...does not seem to suffer from some of the screen issues that others are having. As for overheating... my GS 3 and GN 2 get blisteringly hot when running 3D intensive games. That, is a reality of mobile gaming... that much computing power in such a small, passively cooled form factor is a recipe for poor heat dissipation. Thus, I do not find the GS 4 to be any different (neither a step back nor an improvement in heat dissipation.)
Those caveats aside, here are my initial impressions:
1. Aesthetically speaking, this is the closest in form to an iPhone that I have perceived a galaxy device to be. Does it bother me...not particularly, but it does give credence to those who bemoan "copy cat" and others who say that the galaxy design ethos is a bit... "tired".
2. Remaining on aesthetics for a moment, which is a very subjective matter....mind you, the GS 4 does not hold a candle to the HTC one. In my opinion, one is a ground-up rethink of mobile design with "form" being a primary emphasis... the other a simple continuation of a design that has met with success in the market. While the GS 4 is not ugly... the HTC One IS stunning. I tip my cap to HTC... (and to some extent sony), and hope that it will push Mobile Divisions to approach future design, with part ruler and part brush.
3. Durability: Now I don't have the stones to just drop my phone; nor has my ownership period been long enough to rebuke anyone else...but the device feels surprisingly sturdy in my hands. Reading some of the comments on the board... and coming from the Brick that is the GN 2 (which survived several falls unscathed), I expected the GS 4 to be a porcelain doll. Frail and fragile to the touch. Not the case. It is clearly lighter than the GS 3 and slimmer as well, but it does not feel like it was done to so at the expense of durability. Now I know that there are plenty of comments and reviews that dispute this... but, in MY hands, some of the initial concern that was raised by all reports has been dispelled. I hope (keyword) that the hairline fractures some have experienced are a mfg anomaly and not a design flaw.
4. Smart gestures: I am one, who truly thinks that this could be a revolution in mobile technology...and I admire what Sammy is trying to accomplish here. But (you knew one was coming), the current implementation just feels not-ready-for-primetime. The gestures do not respond as intended all the time... and sometimes they just flat out don't work. When they do... it is impressive, and is a window in the future of interaction with technology. Given time, I think samsung will iron the kinks out.... I just don't think we will see that on the GS 4.
5. UI: Touchwiz is a love or hate proposition for many... personally, I tend to use some functions and replace others. That being said, whether its smart gesture integration, poor coding or loads of bloatware...sammy dropped the ball here. The UI feels clunky and gimmiky... and lags on hardware that should easily breeze through transitions, screen renders and app launches. You can literally feel the Snapdragon chomping on the bit... being restrained by a poorly designed UI. This to me, was the largest disappointment. Not because I don't think I can fix with kernel and Rom installations... but rather because I was so impressed with how far touchwiz had come on my GN2. This feels like a huge step back... with stutters and judder reminiscent of my Vibrant. For me aesthetics are a luxury... but function is a necessity. Multi-window does feel much smoother in this implementation...so there is that, but still, for shame sammy (don't take 1 step back for every 2 forward). Again, our community will most certainly solve these issues... but it should not exist out of the box for premium hardware.
6. Camera: Very simply, impressive. Will it replace your D9...or any nice DSLR? No. Does it take sharp photos, with a bevy of adjustments, filters and post processing perks? Yes. Can it serve as an everyday shooter? Absolutely. Crisp photos, quick autofocus and no shutter lag make it a joy to snap shots with. Low light performance does lag behind some other phones (notably Nokia and HTC)... but I find this to be the only shortcoming.
7. GPS: It works. Well. I will never....ever.... ever...forget the vibrant debacle. It is the first thing I check on all my TMO samsung devices
8. Display: I left this for last... because, really if you didn't read anything else (TL;DR) then know this: the display ALONE is worth the price of admission. Maybe I have been conditioned as such... but when it comes to mobile devices give me the deep blacks of AMOLED over LCD. Furthermore, sammy had learned a bit from the community, and toned down some of the intrinsic oversaturation. The clarity, rendering and overall visual candy of the 1080x1920 Super AMOLDED is OUTSTANDING. Apple, HTC, LG all make excellent flagship phones... this is reality. No one touches the display technology of Samsung, yet... this is fact. The pixel density allows for the obliteration of any aliasing due to the pentile arrangement. It is jaw-dropping. For those who have gotten a device with screen issues... I wouldn't wait, return it and return it and return it until you get one that is perfect, because it is well worth the hassle.
Conclusion:
Is the Galaxy design, tired and in need of a refresh...probably. Is the HTC One the "prettiest" device on the market... certainly. Did touchwiz initially sour my excitement...definitely. However, those who compare the GS3 to GS4 evolution to the iPhone X to iPhone Xs tract... neither know android nor samsung hardware. Though the design is not a complete or even partial refresh (though I love the way the GS4 feels in my hand as compared to the GS3 and even my GN2) this phone is clearly the next step forward in Samsungs continued mobile presence. The hardware is top notch and only slightly fettered by TW. The display is stunning and the camera and accompanying software a leap forward from both the GN2 and GS3. The continued dedication to sd card expansion and removable batteries should not be underscored.
Perhaps the GN3 or the next GS will feature an aesthetic redesign befitting the hardware inside... and if that is of the utmost importance, than by all means you can wait. Or buy the One, (which in my time with, I did truly enjoy...). But...
If you are eligible for the upgrade... or have some coin kicking around, I can say with all confidence that Galaxy S4 is a top flight device... and quite possibly the best available on the market today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great review OP, thanks!
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10411/the-oneplus-3-review/4
I like the Anandtech site. But sorry, I can't understand his harsh criticism of the display.
When I compare the colors with my LG G2 and my Galaxy Tab S2, they are a bit different (like they are on any device...), but absolutely ok and in no way extreme. And you can set the color balance yourself - the reviewer doesn't write anything about that...
Only thing is the resolution, I can see that indeed the pentile matrix isn't optimal; but I don't think that is a point which justifies such a hard criticism.
Not for some. Personally the display is the main interacting point. I kind of question OP's decision to economise there.
Snapdragon do very good midrange processors, especially the latest series which are plenty fast enough for the latest games and heavy multi tasking. They went for shop headlines instead with a (relatively) pointlessly fast processor and 6gb ram which no one really needs.
A better display, larger battery, water proofing and perhaps better camera would have made more sense IMHO. Of course it wouldn't quite have blitzed benchmarks and thus lost headline appeal. Need proof? Just read how many on here quote Antutu results of 120'000 + even if that is absolutely pointless in real life use.
Still, not taking anything away from OP, the phone seems like good value and I may get one yet at some stage but I don't like to adopt to early. Rather let others do the field testing first!
I am not sure if it will be a good buy and for how much? Still confused at the right price to pay for it. Any help, I just love the dark blue color...
@LineArc I checked from sources, Price may vary in between 160-200 USD, For Now the device is OUT OF STOCK
an Elephone P9000 user here. in term of hardware vs selling price, no doubt it is value for $$. but this Elephone company couldnt get the hardware works. great hardware with S*h*i*t software/rom. i will say this is my 1st and last Elephone product. Better look at other cheap china brands like MI or Oppo.
From a person that has a dark blue on his hands, I've got to say it is a very unique piece of hardware. I really like the way it feels on the hand, and even with a bigger screen than my old IUNI U2 4.7'' I have a much more confortable touch with it.
Also, the amazing tickness of it make him a wonderfully attractive phone.
Now, regarding hardware,
Camera 13MP could be better, but that would involve a bigger one. This one takes good quality pictures with a very good flash. Single one, but very powerfull.
The CPU is very good. You can see in most of site reviews everyone complaining about the bad deca-core because the 2 high speed cpu shutdown when it get's to acertain CPU threshold.
In my oppinion, that if great.
I use it heavily with all sort of app's, and I just feel it a little warm, nothing more. More, I don't even feel a difference on the speed, because it performs amazingly smooth.
Comparing to other mobiles, that are indeed very fast (2.4GHz+) where you can't even touch the mobile because it's very hot.
Please note that I have this mobile for only a couple of weeks, but as a heavy user, I test it the most of my capabilities, and till now I rather preffer it over many available phones.
One last note, regarding the software problems that @ckleon said, can you please be more specific, so that I can also check them in mine?
lotryf said:
From a person that has a dark blue on his hands, I've got to say it is a very unique piece of hardware. I really like the way it feels on the hand, and even with a bigger screen than my old IUNI U2 4.7'' I have a much more confortable touch with it.
Also, the amazing tickness of it make him a wonderfully attractive phone.
Now, regarding hardware,
Camera 13MP could be better, but that would involve a bigger one. This one takes good quality pictures with a very good flash. Single one, but very powerfull.
The CPU is very good. You can see in most of site reviews everyone complaining about the bad deca-core because the 2 high speed cpu shutdown when it get's to acertain CPU threshold.
In my oppinion, that if great.
I use it heavily with all sort of app's, and I just feel it a little warm, nothing more. More, I don't even feel a difference on the speed, because it performs amazingly smooth.
Comparing to other mobiles, that are indeed very fast (2.4GHz+) where you can't even touch the mobile because it's very hot.
Please note that I have this mobile for only a couple of weeks, but as a heavy user, I test it the most of my capabilities, and till now I rather preffer it over many available phones.
One last note, regarding the software problems that @ckleon said, can you please be more specific, so that I can also check them in mine?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this. Got mine yesterday.
The ONLY negative points are: touchscreen-sensor is a little too weak and the brightness could be brighter Maybe in future we get new roms which could soulve this problem! LineageOS would be perfect imo.