Skip to main content

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

GalaxyS4Banner
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Sundar Pichai stands in front of a Google logo at Google I/O 2021.
This story is part of our complete Google I/O coverage

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

Galaxy S4 Google Edition

Screen shot 2013-05-15 at 1.17.52 PM

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…
The best Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus screen protectors for your new phone
The Galaxy S25 Plus in the hand with the screen on

The new Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is finally here, and if you've snagged one of the best Galaxy S25 pre-order deals, you'll likely also need protection for your new $1,000 smartphone.

There are a myriad of options to choose from, and everyone claims to be the most protective with the most features at the best price, so which Galaxy S25 Plus screen protector should you purchase? We're here to help, and we've rounded up the best Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus screen protectors to help cut through the noise and find you the best option to suit all requirements and budgets.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: worth jumping ship?
The Galaxy S25 series held in someone's hand.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 has launched to a crowded arena, where it competes against multiple generations of iPhone. Don't get me wrong — all are fantastic devices with specs that make expert guesses from a decade ago look wildly inaccurate — but with every new phone generation, there are objectively better picks. The Apple iPhone 15 may not be the latest version of Apple's flagship, but it's a strong smartphone, and if you're using a iPhone 15, you may be wondering if it's worth jumping ship when it's time to upgrade.

So which one of these two phones is the better choice? There are a lot of factors involved, and it ultimately depends on what you're most interested in: performance, storage, AI functionality, photographic potential, or something else. We'll break down the differences between the two options, but as for which of the two phones is the better choice, that is up to you. Here's what we think.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: specs

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Plus: luxury over practicality
Samsung Galaxy S25 ultra jetblack versus S25 Plus pink.

Samsung's flagship lineup for 2025 has arrived, with three new phones landing. On top of the line sits the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, one of the mightiest contestants for head position in our best phones list. Right underneath it is the Galaxy S25 Plus, which gets the basics right while excluding some luxury features from the Ultra. Samsung's improved AI functionality gives us a glimpse of what phone upgrades may look like in the coming years.

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Plus run the best Samsung hardware and software, but the Ultra adds extra bits such as an anti-reflective display, a 5X telephoto camera, and the useful S Pen. However, with a $300 chasm between them, there is definitely room for pondering if those features aimed at specific users are really worth the extra expenditure.

Read more