Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active GT-I9295 - 16GB - Orange Flare (Unlocked) Smartphone

Cell phones are the most commonly used electronic device on the planet and every year or two, I find myself upgrading to a phone far more advanced than the one I owned before. In the past, I usually settled for something middle of the road because I didn’t have much need for all of the bells and whistles. But this time around, I traded in my older phone for what many consider one of the very best cell phones available: The Samsung Galaxy S4. Does this phone measure up to its promises? Let’s take a look:
 
Cell Phone Facts and Figures:

Samsung Galaxy S4 is a slightly larger than average cell phone with exterior dimensions of about 5.5 inches by 2.8 inches. The viewable screen itself is about 4.375 inches by 2.6 inches. Other specs include:

Android 4.2.2 Operating System
1920 x 1080 resolution
1.9GHz quad-core processor 
RAM  - 2GB 
4G LTE 
Expandable Micro SD Storage 
13 Megapixel camera (back), 2 Megapixel camera (front) 
Processor is 1.6GHz Octa-Core Exynos 5 / 1.9GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 
Weight is about 5 ounces
Battery is (mAh) 2600, replaceable 

The package comes complete with instruction booklet and earbud headphones.

My Experience:

Samsung Galaxy S4 is my latest cell phone adventure and a major step forward from the cell phones of my past. You see, as much as I use the internet and partake in other things techie, I have always avoided owning a cell phone with too much capability and only recently did I even purchase a data plan. I always reasoned that I had plenty of internet access already and, if anything, I needed a break from the constant urge to open up a web browser to check e-mail, read reviews, go to Facebook, etc. I figured having this type of access on my cell phone wasn’t necessary and could absorb far too much of my precious free time.

A few months ago, it was time to upgrade to a new cell phone and this time, I caved. I gave in and purchased one of the best cell phones available, the Samsung Galaxy S4. I decided that, with my constant interactions on the internet and the need to remain available, it was best to just give in and get a cell phone that would provide everything I needed and more. I looked at a few other high- end phones and eventually decided the Samsung Galaxy S4 was the phone for me.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 offers more than enough reasons to make it rank among the very best cell phones and among them, the one quality that sold me above all else was the camera. With 13 Megapixels of clarity, it was far better than the camera on my previous cell phone, which only offered 3.2 Megapixels. Before purchasing, I took a couple of pictures with this phone and was blown away by the sharp detail. Even my point and shoot digital camera cannot take pictures with this level of sharpness. You can see the smallest details, like individual blades of grass when taking a picture outdoors. This quality was the one that convinced me to purchase this camera instead of others, many of which were just as good in other areas but did not have as good a camera. You can even take pictures from the front of the camera and the back at the same time. With all of the pictures I take for the different web sites I own and write for, a good camera is essential and the Samsung Galaxy S4 gave me what I needed and more.

But the camera isn’t the only reason to love the Samsung Galaxy S4. The screen resolution is just as amazing as the pictures and, again, far better than that of my old LG Vortex cell phone. The details are crisp and clear and it makes a great phone for watching videos, movies, television shows, etc. The difference in screen resolution between this and other cell phones I have owned is so great, I couldn’t stop looking at the screen when I first purchased the phone. I have since recovered from my initial infatuation, but at first, I would often find myself pulling up pictures, videos, and other things from the internet, just to admire the excellence of their appearance on the screen.

Other features of the Samsung Galaxy S4 are also memorable.  The S- Voice application is very useful, for it operates based on verbal commands and is good when you don’t want to use your hands. The air gesture controls are also unique as you can get a response by simply waving your hand over the screen. I carry my phone in my pocket and prefer the touchscreen, so I tend to not use the air gesture, but it is yet another convenient feature of this phone.

Speaking of the touchscreen, I like it a lot and, again, it outperforms the touchscreens on past cell phones. The larger viewing area means there is a larger space to touch, and that means less chance for error. On other cell phones I have owned, the letters and number keys were so tiny, I would often press the wrong one. There is no such problem here and I rarely make any mistakes. I also like the internal memory when texting. If there is a phrase you use frequently, it will remember them and quickly pull up the words as you type, saving you time. For example, I often text that I am “Leaving” and the phone will now pull up the word “Leaving” after I enter just the first two letters of the word. I can then touch the word, saving me from having to type out the full text.

For browsing, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is very good and very fast. It is much better than the other cell phones I have used in the past and in many instances, it responds even faster than my laptop or desktop pc. It requires almost no warm- up period. The moment I logon to the internet, it is ready to go and load up pages in a matter of seconds. And if an image on the screen is too small to touch, no problem- just touch your fingertips to the screen and spread them apart, for a quick zoom. 
Yet another positive quality with the Samsung Galaxy S4 is its battery life. I can use it for a long time, browsing the web, taking pictures, and more and I am surprised to find that the battery still has half or more of its remaining power. With other cell phones, the phone would have been dead just from web surfing alone. I have a better feeling of security with this cell phone, as it always seems to maintain its charge. And when it does finally die down, I notice that it charges back up very quickly. In, say, 30 minutes of charging, it will go from 50% power to near 100%.

As for the call quality, it is good and easily matches the quality of my other cell phone experiences. I have to admit, with all of the phone’s other capabilities, I haven’t really given the call quality much thought until I decided to write a review. It’s funny, isn’t it? In the past, the call and sound quality would have been of utmost importance but now, cell phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 do so much, I almost don’t even think of it as a phone but rather as a computer with a camera that happens to make calls, too. Still, if call quality is important, don’t worry- what you get with this phone is more than sufficient.

Samsung Galaxy S4 is a customizable cell phone and is overloaded with features. I have mentioned some of the important ones to me, but there are really too many to name. Some of the other standouts include the Multi- Window function that lets you perform multiple tasks at the same time and the ease of moving applications around, organizing the ones you use most to keep them within easy reach. I recommend reading up on all the features to familiarize yourself with them. Even after four months of ownership, I am still discovering more things I didn’t even know were there.
Bottom Line:

I could ramble on for several thousand words, but let me just sum everything up by saying that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is by far the best cell phone I have ever owned and the first and only cell phone I have rated 5 stars. Its supreme functionality, amazing camera, and beautiful screen resolution make it the perfect choice for those who want a cell phone that does much more than just answer and send phone calls. I use this phone far more than any other I have owned and I must admit I do not regret going all out and buying one of the best cell phones on the market. I resisted long enough, and now that I have used the Samsung Galaxy S4, I am glad I finally made the leap to high quality.

Recommend this product? Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 250
Recommended for: Professionals On-the-Go - Internet and Email is a Must!