Into
![]( "Samsung launches Galaxy S4 in Kazakhstan")
The Galaxy S4 we talked about it, talked again, we video-reviewed. We are using it for two weeks. It’s on sale on Saturday. It’s time to take stock and to
tell you how it really . It really is the best smartphone Android? It is the best smartphone ever?
Nuff said and Ciancio bands: we leave.
Design – Okay, it’s plastic . Even if they call  polycarbonate , which is more scene. It agree, we prefer solutions more refined and more aesthetic impact (the usual suspects: iPhone 5, the new entry One Htc, Sony Xperia Z, Nokia Lumia 920). But the Samsung designers have done a good job. S4 appears much more “finished” S3, the elements chosen convey a sense of quality and, in black, the back with a fine texture and translucent is very pleasant.
Beyond this, the design can not be reduced to purely aesthetic considerations. S4 of the praise goes to the ability to incorporate in the same dimensions as S3, indeed even minor, a screen much more big, 5 inches . Smarpthone a big but, unlike Xperia Z with its sharp edges, well-portable in your pocket (not so much if you use tight jeans from pischelli but everyone tortures as he prefers).
Removable back cove r will be less of a chic solution unibody, it is preferable by those who delivers everything it promises. You can replace, you can access the battery (perhaps to put a more capacious: come how did they get those for S3), you can buy one that allows wireless charging.
Sure, it’s still plastic and some details is reviewable: the volume rocker with a little ‘game, for example. In the end “premium” market (translation: stuff that costs money) expected more . It is also aware of Samsung and is allowed, even after talking with some leaders of the Korean house, expect something different in the future. Maybe down the Galaxy Note 3 (maybe not, eh).
Into The
videoprova :
Hardware – Quad core? Octa-core? Who cares, who cares. He says the boss of Samsung J. K. Shin: “The public does not care nà © notice it.”  In the presentation of New York specifications have been blatantly neglected if not concealed. © Not sure why they are poor. © Because the company wants to tell its products based on what they know and can do and more in engineering terms. A correct approach in terms of marketing. But for a very small audience of early adopters and enthusiast  (sorry for the bad words), ultimately importing again. With this in S4 will Manoa er mejo der Bigonzo fig.
In the European version of S4 there is the Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU 600 (1.9 Ghz, to Htc One is to 1,7 Ghz) and not the Exynos Octa Core, reserved for models without LTE connectivity. Not to worry: in all tests, Galaxy S4 smashes the competition, with results monstre in the bench mark. The RAM is 2 GB. The data space of the Italic version of the S4 is 16 GB. Of these a large slice is occupied by the system. Remain free for applications just 9 GB . The internal memory can be expanded with a microSD up to 64 GB. The connectivity is at the top level and for variety of solutions. LTE, NFC, Â Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi 802.11 even with the new standard and fast ac .
As for the display, the Super Amoled Full Hd (1080 x 1920) definitely makes a good impression. The whites are more white and less blue, blacks are always very deep and the tones are more natural finally. A screen also promoted by rigorous analysts DisplayMate. Someone will say that it is a screen type pentyl , but these are things that can be seen under a microscope. Your eye will enjoy the super definition of 441 ppi and so there will be enough. Only negative points: a lower brightness in terms of candles (Nit) to som e competitors, and especially a high consumption. But on this we go back to more forward.
Interface – The impression is that Samsung did not want to give up anything. On Galaxy S4 there is everything and more. Pure too. Even the most jaded user after weeks of use will discover some function or some shortcut that until then had never used nà © noticed. Luckily than the Galaxy Note 2 options menu has been reorganized and rationalized becoming more accessible. There is also a mode Easy Mode S4 that transforms into a kind of toy really easy.  But to think seriously about using it on a phone from 700 € must have to be a ultraottuagenario or a madman. Or both. O David Pogue.
In general, the TouchWiz Samsung is valuable in many ways but we like less than the Htc Sense. Several things are convoluted: the folder management is cumbersome, counter-intuitive, the limit dell’usabile. Perhaps to avoid accusations of plagiarism by Apple. Other shortcuts, already introduced in the past by Samsung instead remain useful. Just to mention one: the chance to send a message (swype to the left) or call (swype right) a contact in the call log.
Lag? – The software version of S4 that we are using for a couple of weeks is not the final one . © The specify why, beyond the can-pleasure-or-not-like interface, we noticed that not everything runs smoothly on this S4. Not often, but incontrovertibly , there is some lag . Some passages in which transitions from one app to the home or inside the app are not just extremely fluid. Incredibly seen Popa ² of the data sheet that can show off this Galaxy. We are confident that a future software update will smooth every Spigolino. But in the meantime, as good reporters, we report what we have seen and touched.
The browser every now and then a little effort ‘, losing a few shots in terms of fluency. Chrome better then, but in this case we abdicate to functions such as the Smart Scrolling, implemented only on Android browser (the default).
Smart features – Lots of new features  “Smarta”, on which I had already focused the launch of S4, representing the true novelty of which Samsung has walked the hand during the presentation. Some have a POA? ™ inaccurate, almost all have a certain effect  «wowa,” just in case some are really useful. Quickly we became friends Air View : Shows a? ™ preview of emails, photos and events calendar approaching your finger to the screen, without touching it. Smart scrolling work when it seems to him. When he goes allows you to scroll web pages and emails with  tilting the neck (never worked) or wrist (works 50% of the time). Air Gesture allows you to “browse” pages or to do other things (to answer or reject calls) without touching the screen but waving his hand in front. It works once it is learned how to properly make the gesture. © Why sho uld we wave the hand in the air instead of touching the screen that is more than 5 cm at the bottom? For example, because we are © Carlo Cracco, we are cooking and we got our hands dirty with sauce.
The smart part is the most interesting area ‘s Health . There is a great pedometer, a training manager, a calorie counter, a diary / log of body weight. The environmental sensors for temperature and humidity are quite accurate. To get the 100% these functions are used accessories (balance, cardio strip, a bracelet “smart”) sold separately. So the Galaxy S4 becomes truly the “ Life Companion “, the life partner, the slogan devised by Samsung.
How about Htc One there is a useful and functional area tv ( Watch On ). S4 can do thanks to thanks to the remote control infrared port, there is the tv guide and electronic alerts for your favorite programs.
Into
Camera and Multimedi a  – The camera,
13 Megapixel is very good shots, I would say excellent, in sunny days. The noise rises a bit ‘in low-light environments: other smartphones (Nokia for example) in these situations do best. Quality aside S4 has dozens of filters, effects and settings. There are several
Profiles with a carousel menu that follows the one already seen on the Galaxy Room (our videoprova). As in smart features, not all Profiles are fool-proof nà © work as they should (Photo Dynamic, Animated photos, eraser, etc.). Some, however, are really enjoyable and fun. How  «Dual Camera ‘, which take a picture, or a video clip, using at the same time the anterior chamber (2-megapixel) and rear, creating to” a? ™ image nellâ? ™ immagine “(in this video see a concrete example).
Here a little ‘photo examples, in the original:
Into On the front of the digital content to buy, very interesting Samsung Hub : fills in the gaps of Google Play, for example in the video, in which he proposes a library of movies (rental or purchase) eye aligned with that of Apple iTunes. With Screen Mirroring you can then shoot them on tv.
Telephone – Audio in call quality decent, not excellent. Improved compared to S3, the speaker for the speakerphone.
Battery – the autonomy we expected more, given the generous 2,600 mAh of the battery. The first few days, with many downloads and much spippolamenti intensive screen access to the novelty, the results were almost dramatic: after little less than 9 hours of use were 10% of charge remaining. With a few cycles of discharge / recharge in most results have improved. With a use that for our standard is “average”, autonomy has reached about 15 hours . Enough to make morning-evening but not much more. The overnight charge is imposed. To consume much is the Super Amoled display Full HD, with values ??ranging between 40 and 60% of the overall impact on the battery. In stand by , if you do not disable push notifications, the nocturnal decline was evident: about 25%. Even in airplane mode, all the networks turned off, S4 has left on the ground 3% during a night. In short, we are in line with S3, maybe just a bit better, but not much more. And more or less aligned with Htc One, maybe a little less. Given the 300 mAh in more than One, I was expecting better.
Note – All tests of independence were so dealt with: 3G and 4G, wi-fi ON, Bluetooth and NFC OFF, push email, about 4-500 emails per day, a dozen text messages, a dozen messages on various messanger (WhatsApp, Facebook, G Talk), 30 minutes of calls; app for rss feed with push update in the background; Smart Features On all except Air Gesture.
Here consumption patterns , to give you a yardstick with your personal use:
Accessories – One of the strengths of this Galaxy S4. There is something for all tastes. Very interesting is the flip cover “with a hole”, a window to control notifications and time without exiting from standby. Here there is a full list of accessories and their prices.
Price and operators – 699 to list, on various Internet sites and is also very down to figures under 620 € . Here is a summary of operators’ offers. Particularly interesting is the one that gives the Wind 100 euro in charge until June 9, though only by signing a certain plan (Super Smartphone).
In summary – If you are seeking the perfect smartphone , you can continue to chase your Holy Grail. Materials, but also interface and autonomy does not allow us to give praise to this Galaxy S4. However it is confirmed that the Android smartphone richer of functions, possibility, accessories, hardware power. Â Who buys you put in your pocket a “complete package” probably unequaled in today, considering the level of confidence that the Samsung brand has earned in recent years (and the weight of the brand, when you spend € 700, counts and much in buying decisions).
If you are interested in giving it a try for yourself, Samsung has opened two “temporary store” store in Milan (Via Torino corner Piazza Santa Maria in Beltrade) and in Rome (Via Borgognona 39 / 40). To promote the purchase price in full, with the assurance to speak Italian, Samsung offers a new serv ice of personalized assistance with the withdrawal of the defective product at home and the subsequent return home (all CIA ² registering your product in the club Samsung Exclusive). A good incentive.
Vs iPhone Vs Htc One, Galaxy S3 vs , etc -By popular demand, the play back of the “which is better”
Galaxy S3 S4 vs Galaxy – With the new LTE model you have (if you have one of the recent S3 LTE …), bigger screen, camera a bit ‘better, a handful of sensors anymore. Is it worth the ride? No, because © S3 is still a Mr. smartphone. Yes, if you are very interested in the area’s Health.
Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 – Android, individual preferences aside, now is the most feature-rich system and possibility of customization. S4 is the richest of the rich world. There is much, much, too much. iPhone 5 is the comparison  zen experience. Linear, light, relaxing. But boring and compelling. The difference in size in the screen are abysmal. With 5 inches instead of 4 many things change. In the virtual keyboard in the video, in browsing. It als o changes the clutter in your pocket. S4 is light and thin but someone will seem to carry around a catafalque. I remain doubtful, in fact.  Democristianamente in the balance. In times of government m’adeguo Letta, in fact.
Of course, if you have a hungry for change after years of the iPhone here you have a very, very credible.
Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 2 – The battery of the Notes remains unmatched. Other than that though, the 5-inch S4 lead us in the area “phablet” without the device size esondino. If you do not care of Note S Pen, best S4.
Galaxy S4 vs Htc One – Challenge of giants. Both have pros and cons. Design, materials, audio, camera functions tip the balance in favor of HTC. Screen size, weight, expandability, the value of the brand by Samsung. But HTC has worked on the interface
by subtraction , eliminating the superfluous and enhancing strengths. Samsung
Addition , adding everything and more. This time around then convinces us of the most splendid One, enhanced by an interface Sense clean, basic and fast noncha © by unique features (type Htc Zoe) really useful (not as Smart Scrolling …) that others do not have. Matter of crumbs in the ratings and a lot of subjectivity. But that’s what. For me. No religious wars, please.
Galaxy S4 vs Nokia 520 and / Huawei Ascend W1 – Do you really need a super-smartphone from over 600 euro? We are using the two Windows Phone 8 low cost (
199 € list) and compared to most phones well renowned really have little or nothing to envy in terms of real
things-that-can- do . We will be back on it calmly.
Hulk vs The Thing – Hulk always wins!
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On paper, the Galaxy Tab 3 does not have much that can serve to impress the audience of experienced users: the tablet is equipped with a screen of 1024×600 pixels, a CPU (ARM) dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 8 or 16 GB of internal storage (with SD card reader up to 64GB), facing camera (1.3 megapixel) and rear (3MPX), 4000mAh battery, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean . 
Joseph Iovene 
Into Samsung Galaxy S4 against iPhone 5 
