Samsung has now launched its new Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone. Earlier, we saw some teardown photos of the new S4, and now the guys over at DisplayMate have tested the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5. The two handsets’ displays were put head to head to see which performed the best.
The guys over at DisplayMate managed to get their hands on an early production unit of the Samsung Galaxy S4, and then tested it against the iPhone 5, and the older Samsung Galaxy S3.
The Galaxy S4 continues the rapid and impressive improvement in OLED displays and technology. The first notable OLED Smartphone, the Google Nexus One, came in decidedly last place in our 2010 Smartphone Display Shoot-Out. In a span of just three years, OLED display technology is now challenging the performance of the best LCDs. Each has its own particular strengths and weaknesses, but if you scan our color-coordinated Comparison Table, both displays and technologies perform quite well and look quite good and comparable overall – we’ll see how they both evolve and improve in the next generation, which we consider next…
Display Technology Advancements
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch (PPI). This is a significant improvement over the Galaxy S3, which had a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of 306 PPI. The iPhone 5, on the other hand, features a 4-inch Retina display with a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels and a pixel density of 326 PPI.
One of the key advantages of the Galaxy S4’s display is its vibrant colors and deep blacks, thanks to the OLED technology. OLED displays are known for their ability to produce true blacks by turning off individual pixels, which results in higher contrast ratios compared to LCDs. The iPhone 5’s Retina display, while still impressive, relies on IPS LCD technology, which offers excellent color accuracy and wide viewing angles but cannot match the contrast levels of OLED displays.
Performance and User Experience
In terms of performance, the Galaxy S4’s display was praised for its brightness, color accuracy, and power efficiency. DisplayMate’s tests showed that the Galaxy S4’s display is 25% brighter than the Galaxy S3’s display and has better color accuracy. The power efficiency of the Galaxy S4’s display is also noteworthy, as it consumes 20% less power than the Galaxy S3’s display, which is a significant improvement for battery life.
The iPhone 5’s display, while not as bright as the Galaxy S4’s, still offers excellent color accuracy and wide viewing angles. The Retina display has been a benchmark for smartphone displays since its introduction, and it continues to deliver a high-quality visual experience. However, the smaller screen size and lower resolution compared to the Galaxy S4 may be a drawback for users who prefer larger displays for media consumption and gaming.
You can see full details on the test between the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs the iPhone 5 over at DisplayMate.
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