Skip to main content

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S4 Google Edition: Spec Showdown

GalaxyS4Banner
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google’s big reveal at Google I/O 2013 was not a new phone. Well, it kind of was, but not really. Instead of building a brand new handset of its own, Google decided to instead provide its own take on an existing device. Even though the Galaxy S4 from Samsung isn’t available yet, Google got its hands on it and brought its own flavor to the phone. The Google Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 won’t be available until June 26, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at how the Google-fied phone will stack up against the standard Samsung version with a spec showdown.

Galaxy S4 Standard
Screen shot 2013-05-15 at 1.14.34 PM
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Galaxy S4 Google Edition
Screen shot 2013-05-15 at 1.17.52 PM
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Price
$600 (no contract) $650 (no contract)
Availability AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon June 26 at AT&T, T-Mobile
OS Android 4.2.2 w/ Touchwiz Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Snapdragon 600 quadcore Snapdragon 600 quadcore
RAM 2GB 2GB
Display 5-inch Super AMOLED 5-inch Super AMOLED
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels 1080 x 1920 pixels
Dimensions (WxDxH) 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm
Weight 130g 130g
4G LTE Yes Yes
NFC Yes Yes
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (dual-band) 802.11 a/b/g/n (dual-band)
Rear-facing camera 13 megapixels 13 megapixels
Front-facing camera 2 megapixels 2 megapixels
Video capabilities 1080p recording 1080p recording
Internal storage 16/32/64GB 16GB
SD card slot Yes (up to 64GB) Yes (up to 64GB)
Battery 2600mAh 2600mAh

So obviously the internals aren’t all that different between these devices. After all, it’s essentially Google providing its own skin for the Galaxy S4. Or, more specifically, it’s Google stripping away Samsung’s skin and making the Galaxy S4 more of a Nexus S4. That could be a huge selling point, though. The Google Edition of the phone will come bootloader-unlocked and will also have operating system updates pushed out to the device promptly. It’s essentially using the powerful specs of the Galaxy S4 to give users the experience Google believes they want. If there’s a hang up that comes with Google’s Galaxy S4, it’s the price. There’s no subsidized price announced yet, but the unsubsidized price is $50 more than Samsung’s Galaxy S4. Of course, that’s a small price to pay for the full Google experience if that’s what you’re after.

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
How to watch the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch event
Close-up view of the camera module on Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

Samsung is about to launch its most ambitious smartphone in years later this week, one that brings back the fondly remembered “Edge” moniker. The Korean electronics giant’s next offering is the Galaxy S25 Edge, an ultra-slim phone that was first showcased earlier this year and will finally get the full launch treatment. 

The online event kicks off at 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET on May 12 for those of you in the US, instead of multiple on-ground events across different regions.

Read more
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE could be here sooner rather than later
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE laying face-down outside.

Good news, Samsung fans: it seems likely the Galaxy S25 FE will release before the end of the year. Samsung has released an FE (Fan Edition) of its main flagship every year since the Galaxy S20, with the exception of 2021. The news that the Galaxy S25 FE is on the way isn't really news — it's been leaked several times before — but SamMobile has now discovered the firmware for the US variant of the phone, assuaging worries that Samsung might skip this generation. Some fans feared that, due to the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge, there might not be a Fan Edition in 2025.

According to SamMobile, the US version for the Galaxy S25 FE uses model number SM-S731U and firmware version S731USQU0AYDH. This doesn't mean much on its own, but it's a distinct identifier confirming a US model is on the way. If Samsung sticks to timing from years past, the Galaxy S25 FE is likely to drop sometime around September or October.

Read more
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge could have a surprisingly solid camera
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Dummy Video

One of Samsung's upcoming best smartphones is getting closer and closer to its rumored release date, and as we get there, more and more specs begin to leak out. Today, we learned that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might have a camera that will rival some of its much larger rivals.

The leak comes from SammyGuru, which managed to spot an interesting detail on a Samsung shipping manifest. According to the publication's findings, the S25 Edge will have the same selfie camera as other phones in the S25 lineup, which would spell good news for the Android flagship. After all, being more compact, one might expect the camera to take a hit, but so far, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Read more