What Is The Best Smartphone? Samsung Galaxy S4 Or iPhone 5?

What is the best smartphone?

New smartphones are coming on the market all the time, prompting consumers to do a smartphone comparison between all of the major brands. Despite major efforts by companies like HTC, LG, Nokia, and many others, the decision for most smartphone buyers comes down to a pretty simple one: Should they buy a Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5? When determining what is the best smartphone for any need, though, it's worth looking at a head-to-head matchup as well as looking at which smartphone performs best for specific tasks that most users do on a daily basis.

The Software Features: Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone?

Virtually all new smartphones are characterized by their operating systems and built-in features before hardware specifications even come into the picture. This is one area where the choice between a Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone becomes quite clear. With Samsung's latest release, the company has focused on hands-free control of the device using Air Gestures. Live translation of text and speech can be done using S Translate, and outdoor runs or traditional workouts can be monitored and recorded using S Health. It all makes the S4 one of the most exciting new smartphones in terms of features.

A good smartphone comparison must point out the areas of strength for Apple as well. The company does not have a feature like S Health, but Apple has always offered Nike+ integration with each of its new smartphones and iPods. Apple also features iCloud, an all-in-one syncing solution that can't be found on the Galaxy S4. Determining what is the best smartphone requires looking at which features are most useful and most likely to be used on a regular basis. Because the Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with translation, hands-free control, health monitoring, and a far more inventive user interface than the iPhone, it's a natural fit for seasoned smartphone buyers, younger Android customers, and those who think outside the box with their high-tech tools.

Hardware is No Contest When Choosing the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone

Apple made a really great effort with its release of the iPhone 5, offering what was then the fastest processor in any of the new smartphones on the market. Much time has passed, however, and Apple has decidedly fallen behind. In fact, the two processors found in Samsung's Galaxy S4 models routinely clock in as much as four times faster than the iPhone 5's A5 processor. Samsung packs its new smartphones with either a dual-core 1.9GHz processor in the US and UK, or a 1.6GHz octa-core processor for other markets. Apple is still working with dual-core architecture.

Both companies offer internal storage amounts of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB, which is pretty standard for new smartphones. An astute smartphone comparison, though, will note that Samsung has twice the internal RAM found on the iPhone 5.

Does the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5: What is the Best Smartphone Screen Size?

For screen real estate, Samsung offers a 4.99 inch display that is among the largest for a flagship smartphone. Apple's display measures just four inches diagonally, although that's an increase over prior models of the device. An in-person smartphone comparison will reveal just how useful the 4.99-inch screen of the S4 really is. The screen's larger size allows for more intense video games, better multi-tasking, and easier use of the on-screen keyboard. Apple's smaller screen is good for those with tiny pockets and smaller hands, but it does sacrifice usability and overall utility in the process.

In terms of what is the best smartphone for buyers, it's worth using both devices in person and deciding which screen size works best. Deciding what is the best smartphone in this case will mean determining which device feels natural in the hand, which one feels more usable, and which one feels more capable. Increasingly, consumers are finding that to be the Galaxy S4:

The Smartphone Comparison: Deciding Between the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone

There are three factors that consumers need to look at objectively when choosing what is the best smartphone for their needs:

- Screen size and utility
- Software features
- Hardware capability

The Samsung Galaxy S4 wins this smartphone comparison in all three metrics, objectively speaking, with a screen that is larger, hardware that is far faster and more powerful, and software features that outpace the iPhone 5. When choosing what is the best smartphone for any need, be sure to do an in-person smartphone comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5, using each and assessing which one meets each of the three metrics listed above.

After choosing between each device, be sure to tell the rest of the world where you stand.

Answer the poll and help solve one of the hottest high-tech battles in recent years: Does Samsung finally have a device that Apple simply cannot compete with?