Samsung’s Galaxy S4 improves on its predecessor with a faster processor, a larger, sharper display, a better camera and a number of added capabilities. Will Apple’s iPhone 5S offer a similar upgrade or will it go one further?
Samsung Galaxy S4: Key specs and features
The Galaxy S4’s display is a focal point of the device – it dominates the front of the phone with its massive 5-inch span. The physical size pitches it as an ideal handset for media consumption, whether its gaming on the go or watching feature films and TV shows, but this isn’t at a compromise in image quality.
It’s a Super AMOLED touch display with a 1920x1080 pixel Full HD resolution at 440 pixels-per-inch (ppi), meaning it’ll put out strong contrast, colour and black depth as well as sharp picture clarity.
The processor is a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core chip clocked at 1.9GHz with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 320 graphics processing unit (GPU). It’s fast, future-proof and fairly battery efficient as high-end processors go.
There’s a range of storage options including 16GB, 32GB and 64GB (though we’re unlikely to see the 64GB version in the UK) and all have microSD capability for cards up to 64GB. The phone also supports wireless charging.
The Galaxy S4’s camera is rated at 13-megapixels, it’s a back-illuminated sensor (BSI) and many of the Galaxy S3’s features such as image and video stabilisation, panoramic capture, simultaneous image and 1080p HD video capture and a multishot mode, as well as the usual selection of camera features such as face and smile detection.
However, it also has some new stuff, including the ability to use both the primary camera and the front-facing 2-megapixel (1080p) secondary at the same time.
A built-in imaging suite allows this dual-capture footage to be blended together, while the multishot mode can capture up to 100 shots in quick succession and offer a time-lapse montage of the images.
You can also record audio over still images and there’s a range of other functions with social media and content sharing in mind.
iPhone 5S: Key specs and features
Obviously we don’t know anything for certain about the iPhone 5S at this point, but there’s often a grain of truth to the rumours which begin circulating ahead of a big Apple launch.
The crucial thing here is discerning what is most likely, given what we’ve already seen from the existing product line-up and, to a certain extent, trends in the industry, though of course, Apple always beats its own path.
One of the main focal points of current rumours is the display. Apple already expanded the iPhone 5 to 4-inches from the 3.5-inches of earlier models, but alongside the expanding collective of titans in the Android space this still looked rather dinky.
Will the iPhone 5S screen be enlarged further? Some say yes, while others disagree. We think an expansion is on the cards, but probably not as big as the colossal 4.8-inches claimed by some.
Somewhere in the 4.5-4.6-inch area sounds about right, though it’s plausible Apple will stick to its guns and not move from 4-inches.
Likewise there’s plenty of divisive discussion on the subject of the rest of the bodyshell. Some think we’ll see the iPhone 5S take the exact same shape as the iPhone 5, which in turn is much the same as all previous models, save for the aluminium back plate.
There is the argument, however, that Apple needs to change things up a bit.
A recently filed patent for a new iPhone design suggests Apple could be changing its aesthetic quite considerably with a curved shape, some reports also claim Apple now has the manufacturing capability for a curved phone.
But equally the recent appearance of the patent would suggest that this is the inkling of a plan for a new iPhone further in the future than the next release, which many believe will occur in the Summer.
Apple’s usually fairly progressive with its processor upgrades and there are a couple of possible options with the iPhone 5S.
An incremental upgrade would see it go up to the iPad 4’s dual-core A6X chip, but if some rumours are true we could see a whole new chip with the A7, which might even be quad-core.
Of course, it is beneficial for the phone to get more powerful – it means it’ll be relevant for longer and be able to handle more demanding content as app development evolves.
But, from a day-to-day usability standpoint, with the way Apple optimises things there is unlikely to be a discernible difference for things like menu navigation and overall speed.
Rumours imply we’ll see a 13-megapixel camera on the iPhone 5S, which will still be a BSI setup using Apple’s iSight configuration.
You can expect the picture and video quality to be decent and with good stabilisation capability. However, the current trend is for a more extensive set of unique capabilities, such as Samsung’s dual-capture on the Galaxy S4.
It’s not clear what kind of perks the iPhone 5S’s camera might have, but it’ll need something to stand out.
The iOS software is an important area for the iPhone 5S. Reports claim Apple’s design chief Jony Ive is running a re-design of the platform so hopefully we’ll see a broad interface change and a slicker UI.
Again though, the value-added features are the most significant aspect – recent iterations of iOS have added very little in this regard and something more substantial is needed to compete.
Rumours point to a possible music streaming service, but apart from this little is known.
Conclusion
Apple could probably get away with yet another incremental update in terms of hardware if the iOS software is given a total revamp and multiple feature additions.
As iOS stands currently it’s a bit dry compared with Android on the Galaxy S4.
A substantial change in terms of overall device design could help the iPhone 5S and put it ahead of the Galaxy S4 but a software update is crucial to keep consumer interest.
by pbriden via Featured Articles
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