News & Reviews:   Samsung Galaxy S4

As part of the next bunch of Samsung Galaxy S4 variants, the Galaxy S4 Active is the rugged, tougher and reportedly water-proof version of Samsung's flagship smartphone. While the tech specs have revealed that it won't be using the same processor or chipset, the overall design remains the same. However, @evleaks have revealed a number of Samsung Galaxy S4 Active images, one bunch in black for AT&T and a turquoise blue one as well.

While Samsung have plans to reveal Samsung Galaxy S4 variants like the Galaxy S4 Mini, Active, Zoom and Mega, so far only the S4 Mini Active and Zoom specs have been revealed. First off is the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, which was revealed from the AnTuTu benchmark site:

• 4.3" Super AMOLED (540 x 960, 240ppi ~ 256ppi)
• 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core Krait 200
• 1.5GB RAM
• Adreno 305 GPU
• 8GB internal storage
• 8MP rear camera + 2.1MP front camera
• LTE + dual-SIM support

LTE networks in Malaysia are just coming out, with the only major players being Maxis and Celcom. Therefore it makes sense that it took a while for the LTE-enabled version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or I9505 to reach our shores. Coming out for Maxis in the next week or so, the I9505 will be priced a bit higher at RM2499 because instead of 16GB this version has 32GB worth of internal storage.

Out of all the new Samsung Galaxy S4 variants, there was one that we were sure was going to be released and that would be the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, which Samsung have officially announced recently. Following the SIII mini, this year's Samsung Galaxy S4 mini confirms most of the tech spec rumours including:

• 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display
• 1.7GHz dual-core processor
• 8MP rear camera + 1.9MP front camera
• 8GB storage + 64GB microSD
• Android 4.2.2
• 1900 mAh battery
• LTE + IR LED support

In our first smartphone view of Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 800 processor, a Pantech smartphone recently got an amazing score on the AnTuTu benchmark site. Previously, the king of the AnTuTu benchmark score was the Exynos 5 Octa powered Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 with an AnTuTu score of 27000+. The new Snapdragon 800 powered Pantech smartphone got a score of 30133, beating the S4 by an amazying 3000 point margin.

When Samsung first announced their 8 core Exynos 5 Octa processor we were quite enthusiastic. Imagine, a more powerful processor that combines best of class performance with great power efficiency. The fact that Samsung have used both this processor and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 in their Samsung Galaxy S4 means that we can make a more focused comparison between the two processors. On one hand, the Exynos 5 Octa has already proven that it is more powerful, however, does it achieve what it initially claimed, as in better power efficiency? Check out the graphs below:

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is currently one of the best smartphones in the world. One would think that makes it easy to choose, however, the Samsung Galaxy S4 also comes in 3 different versions. Malaysia has two of these versions to choose from, the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505. Recently we only had access to the I9500 but soon vendors will be releasing the I9505 as well. Which one should you pick? Read on and find out.

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 is currently one of the best smartphones in the market the fact that the Non-LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 or I9500 was the only one available when it was released meant that they couldn't take advantage of 4G LTE connections in Malaysia. Worry not, as Maxis have recently revealed that the LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 or I9505 is coming soon. The price for the I9505 should not be any different from the I9500 and you can expect the smartphone to be available within the next few weeks.

Samsung recently released a teaser image for their upcoming Samsung Premiere 2013 event happening on 20 June 2013 in London. They will also be streaming the event live at www.youtube.com/SamsungMobile so you can watch it here in Malaysia as well. From the text it is clear that they intend to release something Galaxy and ATIV related and the chopped up image seems to suggest a new notebook computer or hybrid tablet. However, since the text also mentions Galaxy it could also mean an announcement on new Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung recently came out with another promo ad, this time in the form of a feature-length short music video about a boy wanting to meet a girl and doing it with his Samsung Galaxy S4. The usual S features are available including Air View, Dual Shot, Sound + Shot, Drama Shot and Group Play, but it also reveals a bunch of new colours that will come out for the Samsung Galaxy S4. This includes pastel Blue, Brown and Red.