0 Samsung Galaxy S4 Less Durable than S3

By Admin_AT | At 6:26 PM | Label : apple , durability , Galaxy S3 , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S4 just can't catch a break. Well, that might be a poor choice of words, considering this is the second test that shows that the Galaxy S4 could break easily. Squaretrade's system rates a phone's durability on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the worst score. The brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 scored a 7 on that chart. Meanwhile, the S3 from last year got a better score, 6.5. In comparison, the iPhone 5 scored a 5.

The thinner design, plastic body, and larger screen are the most likely culprits of the Galaxy's reduced durability. Squaretrade agreed with previous reviews that mentioned the slipperiness of the plastic phone case. That means people could be dropping their fragile S4s very often. It's not all bad news though, the S4 did score better on the water submersion test than the S3 did.

After facing so much criticism over the plastic case, storage space, durability, texture, software, and even the rear facing speaker, Samsung will probably come back next year with a very different phone. Don't be surprised if they release an all metal phone like their competitors. Then again, I also wouldn't be surprised if they release a phone that's just like the S4, only with a slightly bigger screen and faster processor, but spend millions on "marketing".

Squaretrade estimates that despite the issues facing the Galaxy S4, one in five people will buy one anyway. Of those who buy one, they also estimate that one in eight will break their phone within six months of owning it. The odds aren't terrible, but not something I'd bet more than $200 on, and that's for the base model.

Via Bloomberg

 

0 iPhone VS Samsung Galaxy S4 Drop Test

By Admin_AT | At 3:16 PM | Label : apple , drop test , durability , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The video above is a little over 10 minutes long, which can be a bit long for an Internet video. Still, I recommend checking it out, at least skimming through it. Basically, TechSmartt tried to simulate some stereotypical drop situations. They dropped both an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy S4 from various drop heights, the pocket, chest height, over the head, and from 10 feet. Each time, they examined the phones after they were dropped, and compared the damage. You'll have to check out the video for the full details, but there's a summary below.

Both the screen and camera were shattered early in the tests for Samsung's newest phone. Though they're using gorilla glass for the screen, they've surrounded it with cheap plastic and poor build quality. As a result, the screen shatters when dropped from about 7 feet.

The iPhone, however, is a completely different story. The screen never breaks from their drop tests. The sapphire camera lens never shatters, cracks, or even gets a scratch on it from the drops. In fact, the iPhone 5 survived so well, they decided to run it over with a car. No, really, they ran it over with an SUV. The iPhone even managed to survive that, without the screen breaking, and with no damage to the phone itself or the camera.

Now, you shouldn't go throwing your iPhone around like this, but it's good to know that it's a very durable phone. If you want a phone that's durable enough to last you until your next phone, the iPhone 5 is the right choice. The aluminum unibody construction, gorilla glass, sapphire camera lens, and amazing build quality make the iPhone 5 one tough phone. The plastic Samsung Galaxy S4, on the other hand, did well for a plastic phone, surviving the more frequent drop types. However, in terms of durability, it can't even begin to compete with the iPhone.

via TechnoBuffalo