Nexus 5 Vs. Galaxy S4: Spec by Spec Comparison
The Nexus 5 was the last of the high-end behemoths to launch this year and seemed to live up to most of the hype surrounding it before its release.
The handset impresses in many areas and outclasses competitors as well by perfecting some of the attempts made by them to create something solid. The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes to mind when thinking about a failed attempt to solidify a brand.
Although the Galaxy S4 was an impressive device that introduced new features such as Smart Pause and Smart Scroll, it just failed to excite consumers leading to lackluster sales. LG and Google chose to play it a bit safer by just perfecting what they already had instead of entering into new territory. Here is a spec by spec comparison of these two high-end devices.
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Design
The Galaxy S4 features a slightly different design than its predecessor with the addition of metal edges and a more rounded look. Samsung took a page from Apple by flattening the edges and gave the device a shaper appearance. However, the company chose to stick with plastic material for the exterior. The Nexus 5 features a plain black outside that can be gripped firmly. Other than that it is quite dull. The plain black look is a step back from the glossiness found on the Nexus 4. The Galaxy S4's changes definitely allow the handset to exceed in this area.
Speed
The international Galaxy S4 features Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa-core chipset while the Nexus 5 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Both are fast, however, the U.S. carrier version of the Galaxy S4 is easily outclassed by the Nexus 5 as it features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip. In various side by side comparisons the Nexus 5 was able to open apps much faster and was able to interact with Android more smoothly.
Display
The Nexus 5 features a 4.95-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution at 445ppi while the Galaxy S4 comes with a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with the same amount of pixels at 441 ppi. In a side to side comparison, the Nexus 5 and S4 displays were almost evenly matched in terms of clarity and color.
Software
Various versions are the Galaxy S4 run a decent version of Android 4.3, JellyBean. Much of the lag from the previous firmware has been fixed. The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat flawlessly. The GPe of the Galaxy S4 might be the only way for Samsung to compete with the Nexus 5 in this department. The Nexus devices just cannot be topped in this area.
Camera
The Nexus 5 features an 8-megapixel camera that has been the cause for various complaints since the handset's release. The Galaxy S4 features a solid 13-megapixel camera that takes great pictures and video. Both can shoot video in 1080p and the Nexus 5 issues are expected to be corrected with software updates set to roll out soon. However, until that time Samsung has the clear advantage.
Extras
Samsung's efforts to change smartphones have been underappreciated. The Smart Scroll feature added with the new eye sensor is quite enjoyable and gives readers a way to move up and down a page without using their fingers. The hand gestures are slightly less impressive and really did not prove to be useful in my personal experience. Google really kept it simple with the Nexus 5 by not adding anything outside the box. While using the Android device, I kind of hoped for more and was left with something that felt like a bigger version of the Nexus 4. Samsung takes this area easily.
Conclusion
The Nexus 5 might be a more consistent device in terms of performing the regular features and running the Android platform, but the Galaxy S4 is certainly more innovative. Samsung's handset took some risks that were underappreciated and Google played it a bit too safe on this go round. Those looking for something fresh should grab the Galaxy S4. The Nexus 5 is probably the better buy for consumers looking for something cheap that doesn't require a contract.
