Samsung Galaxy S 4 Review - Part 1
by Brian Klug on April 24, 2013 12:01 AM ESTCPU Performance
For our CPU analysis we're left with our usual browser based benchmarks. Again this isn't an ideal list of tests but it's the best we've got for now. Where necessary we'll show results using both stock and Chrome browsers. We did notice a single case of thermal based throttling under SunSpider 0.9.1 (the benchmark alone is ine, but running it after a bunch of others caused throttling), so we're once again presenting results in our standard test environment as well as inside of a freezer to show peak performance. Although the Galaxy S 4 managed to throttle in one of our tests, the device never felt all that warm to the touch. We could be seeing some of the same aggressively set thermal governors that we saw back with the Nexus 4. It's also worth pointing out that we're simply in an era of pushing the limits of just how fast you can go at 28nm LP in many of these smartphones. The mobile SoC vendors also need to do a better job of power management, enabling controlled bursting to these high frequency states vs. sustaining the higher frequencies until there's a serious enough thermal issue that the CPU cores have to throttle themselves significantly.
Under Kraken in particular we see a measurable improvement in performance over the 1.7GHz S600 used in the HTC One. Qualcomm still can't attain the peak performance of ARM's Cortex A15, but once again we're looking at a much lower power profile.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
335 Comments
View All Comments
alexvoda - Thursday, April 25, 2013 - link
The smaller display on the HTC is a plus point.However even the HTC is too large for me.
The perfect phone for me would probably be the Xiaomi Mi2S. The only thing it lacks is MicroSD, and popularity(support from XDA for alternative roms).
http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_2s-5397.php
danbob999 - Thursday, April 25, 2013 - link
You could get an S4. It is smaller than the One.It's never the display that is too large. It's the phone.
darwinosx - Saturday, April 27, 2013 - link
You might have a point if everything you said wasn't wrong.angrypat - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
Form follows function, if it does what it is supposed to and fits your need then that is what matters. If you just want the fanciest piece to show off to friends then you should speak to a professional about inadequacy issues or buy a gold plated iPhone. What are you going to do with it, use it, or just sit and stare at it as if it were a rare jewel. It's a phone/toy/tool not a Rolex to wear to dinner parties.spookyjess - Friday, July 19, 2013 - link
I'd rather not have a phone that's built to be destroyed on FIRST impact...since I paid so much money.EnzoFX - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
Because S4 buyers don't buy for looks or vanity? S4 is a looker to some people, there's no denying that. I'm sure we can all imagine an ugly 5" phone.... So don't erect straw man. HTC One is just better in the looks department to most.dyc4ha - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
lol look at all the designer labels, appearance matters in real life I assure you.MrSpadge - Thursday, April 25, 2013 - link
He didn't say he would.Reikon - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
Is it that hard to realize that a lot people don't actually use cases for their phones?darwinosx - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
I never use a case. Lots of people don't. Quit making excuses for Samsungs cheapness.