Samsung - Galaxy S 4 4G LTE Cell Phone (Verizon)
Model: SCHI545ZBV
SKU: 2400017
This item is no longer available in new condition. See similar items below
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Customers are delighted by the camera quality, screen size, ease of use, and battery life of this phone. Many appreciate the additional features and light weight design. However, some users express concerns regarding limited storage space and occasional software issues. A few also mention challenges with phone reception in certain areas.
I was torn between getting the GS4 and getting the HTC One. In my experience, Samsung and HTC phones are quite comparable - and with these two having such similar specs, it was hard to decide. I've had my share of phones from both brands; the Samsung phones may fain the appearance of "cheap-ness" but they have outlasted all the HTC phones that I have had. You can really beat up a Samsung (and I have). For some reason the HTC phones have been just dying on me for no reason after just over a year. The Samsung can get tossed across a parking lot and you wouldn't even notice. I did eventually decide on the S4, and here's why: It's faster, not by much - they both have the same processor - but the S4 is clocked at 1.9 GHz It's thinner - I like thinner, it's also lighter . I've had my share of bulky phones. It's got a nicer screen - well, it's bigger and has less bezel. It has a nicer camera - 13 Mega Pixels on the S4 beat out the 4 "ultra pixels" on the HTC One any day. Features - it has a lot of 'fun to mess around with' features. Accessories - I like the flip view case and the wireless charging and the health conscious accessories. Build Quality - In my experience, Samsung phones have ALWAYS outlasted HTC phones.
This review is from Samsung - Galaxy S 4 4G LTE Cell Phone (Verizon)
Posted by InformedBestBuyer
When you have a good thing going, why not start with that as your baseline. Samsung has done just that with the S4. The S3 and the S4 are very similar on many levels and very different in key areas. Their size is essentially the same at 5.38" x 2.75" x .31". This actually makes the S4 .7mm thinner than the S3. Its weight is 4.6 ounces, .7 ounces lighter than the S3. Comparing the two, Samsung has increased the size of the screen to a 5" display that offers full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels. While other phones offer similar resolutions, none have the same quality image that comes from the Super AMOLED screen offered on the S4. Side-by-side comparisons with phones such as the HTC One find the S4 shines with more prominent resolution and richer color tones. The screen also has improved capacitance over the S3 and previous Samsung offerings. This improved capacitance supports phone use while gloves are worn. Those who live in cold climates or those who are fashion conscious and wear gloves will find this enhanced capability helpful. While this capability is a nice addition, it takes some getting used to. Because it is more sensitive, it's easy to falsely register a finger press if you hover your hand over the screen in the just the right way. Hopefully Samsung can correct this performance flaw with future software upgrades. The S4 houses a whopping 13-megapixel, rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel, front facing camera. The rear-facing, 13-megapixel camera image is excellent. The imaging capabilities of both cameras extend past the raw hardware with added features built into their associated software. There is software to do most anything you can think of with the images taken. Software even uses both the front and back camera to offer all kinds of imaging effects from panoramic images to slow motion videos. Samsung has integrated a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor to help keep things purring along smoothly. At the time of this review, this makes the S4 one of the fastest smartphones on the market.4 pl The front of the phone contains a number of additional sensors that monitor eye movement and proximity so the phone knows how far it is from your ear. An infra red blaster is integrated into the top of the phone to enable it to act as a remote, with the appropriate app installed to function as a remote. These sensors and the infra red blaster offer many new features not available with the S3. The phone can act as a remote control for your television, CD/DVD player, A/V receiver, and even home appliances that support remote control. The eye sensor offers additional features that control screen dimming and auto pausing when you look away from the screen. Likewise, when you look at the screen, dimming and auto pausing resume their normal operation. Applications available to support the additional sensors include Air View, Air Gesture, and Smart Scroll. While these features are futuristic and helpful in theory, they aren't flawless in practice. They are also rather complex to learn and use, which detracts from the concept of simplicity when it comes to operating the device. Take this into consideration when adopting the phone for your use. Not all the features have to be used at once. You may find some features helpful while others are an annoyance. They are all highly configurable and it will take some time and practice to set them up to your liking. As for battery life, the S4 stock battery is 2,600mAh compared to the 2,100mAh S3 battery. This is a 20% increase in battery size with no added thickness to the phone's form factor. In fact--as stated earlier--the S4 is .7mm thinner than the S3. This added battery storage is required due to the increased screen size and additional features and applications. Each person's use is highly personalized, so it's difficult to gauge how this battery will perform with your personal use, but, in general, it seems to be an adequate amount of power storage for moderate use. Still, it will more than likely require daily charging. If this is a concern to you, you might consider an extended-life battery. These batteries are freely sold on Amazon and other locations, but most of them require an aftermarket back to the case that will replace your stock rear cover. Extended batteries mean heftier weight and added thickness to the phone. Another option is to purchase an additional battery as a backup for when your primary battery discharges. Overall, the S4 is a brilliant device. It's not without its flaws and there is always room for improvement. While Apple performed wonders defining the modern smartphone, Samsung has helped take the concept one step further. If you're looking to upgrade your older smartphone and break into the Samsung Galaxy world for the first time, the S4 is a fantastic selection. It is, arguably, the best Android phone on the market, at present. Some may say it's the best smartphone, period. Each person's decision and opinion is highly individualistic. One thing is for sure, Samsung has pulled out all the stops to ensure consumers get the most for their money, and they have set the bar even higher for newcomers to take the mantle of achievement to a new level.
This review is from Samsung - Galaxy S 4 4G LTE Cell Phone (Verizon)
Posted by taylormcc
Incredible screen! Video, images & text are razor sharp. easy to read an ebook on its large screen. Get a case ASAP to protect that gorgeous glass! Fast processor, microSD slot, very friendly user interface. Extremely customizable: you can adjust almost ever possible feature on the phone! Dual screen mode is a plus! Some features are impractical in the real world and do work...kind of. Yes. You can scroll the screen just by moving your eyes...but only with some programs and your eyes have to be in the right position. Yes. Hand gestures work without touching the phone but, unless your hands are really dirty, you might as well, you know, touch it!. So, for bragging rights its impressive. I wish they hadn't changed the camera software available in the S3 which was more user adjustable and yielded rich, crisp images. If you want the camera to think for you, you may be happy. If you want to adjust ISO, white balance, anti-shake, yourself you're out of luck. These are often crippled in the available preset shooting "Modes". By the way, the 13 MP isn't available in every mode either! The lens is recessed and protected by glass which could get scratched easily. Video is excellent and playback will leave you breathless! Nevertheless, pictures look good but the S3 images win here by a nose. Battery life is impressive with 3 days of moderate use typical. Heavy users can get 2 days maybe. Calls are crisp & clear. Sound quality is outstanding. So, a few personal annoyances aside, its a great phone that works well in spite of all its gimmickry. Well done, Samsung.
This review is from Samsung - Galaxy S 4 4G LTE Cell Phone (Verizon)
Posted by GM370