Screen test
What is a PenTile matrix screen, and
is it any good?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a stunning
five-inch, 1080p AMOLED display, with a pixel density on a par with the Sony Xperia
Z, considerably higher than on the iPhone 5, and bested only by the HTC One,
which packs the same resolution into a 4.7-inch panel.
However, display aficionados may be
disappointed to discover the S4’s screen uses a PenTile matrix, which some
argue actually reduces the effective resolution. Where the pixels on a
traditional display are created from red, green and blue subpixels, a PenTile
display most often uses a red, green, blue, green subpixel arrangement, just
two subpixels per pixel. The extra green pixels can potentially result in a
green tint on the display, while the presence of a third fewer subpixels could
be interpreted as meaning the display technically has a lower resolution than
is reported.
The
Samsung Galaxy S4 features a stunning five-inch, 1080p AMOLED display
PenTile displays are used in AMOLED screens
for reasons of power and lifespan. Blue subpixels require more power to achieve
the required brightness levels, which in turn can reduce their lifespan.
Halving their number reduces the amount of power needed, and so ensures they
last longer as well.
Whether this matters now is questionable.
It is generally agreed that at a pixel density below 230ppi, the PenTile matrix
is clearly visible to the eye and is therefore much less desirable. At much
denser levels, such as the 441ppi on the S4 you’ll have to look very closely
indeed to discern them.
Specs comparison
between the S4 and its predecessor
Samsung Galaxy S3
·
Processor and key specs: One version (the one
sold in the UK) has a 1.4GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 and the second has a 1.5GHz
dual-core Krait. With 1GB of RAM and either 16 or 32GB of flash memory, a
2100mAh battery finished things off nicely.
·
Other features: Released with Android 4.0.4 Ice
Cream Sandwich, the S3 is upgradeable to 4.1 Jelly Bean. It weighs 133g and
that is more than the S4 but not by a massive margin.
·
Design and build: A thickness of 8.6mm combines
with a height of 136.6mm and a width of 70.6mm. It is made of plastic but looks
good with its large, dominating screen.
·
Screen: The 1,280 x 720 pixel screen looks
wonderful. The 4.8-inch screen allows for 306ppi which is not as good as some
of its rivals but does the job incredibly well.
·
Software features: With eye-tracking and
voice-control that gives access to weather forecasts, web searching and
scheduling, the S3’s software features kept it truly in the game. The
machine-gun camera is a great feature.
·
CAMERA: Quite why the Galaxy S3 stuck with a
8-MP camera from the S2 beats us. We forgave it then and Buddy Photo Share,
Burst Mode and face zoom help thing alone
Samsung Galaxy S4
·
Processor and key specs: Version one has an
Exynos octa-core 1.6GHz processor while version two includes a Qualcomm
quad-core 1.9GHz processor. Both have 2GB of RAM, 16, 32 or 64GB storage and a
beastly 2600mAh battery.
·
Other features: The S4 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly
Bean. It can take advantage of 4G too. The actual device weighs 130g which
isn’t hefty and will not weigh down a pocket.
·
Design and build: A sleek device that is just
7.9mm thick. At 137mm tall and 70mm wide, it is bigger than an iPhone. It is
made of plastic which can feel rather cheap.
·
Screen: For all the talk of the iPhone 5, its
four-inch 326 pixel screen doesn’t compare with the 1,920 x 1080 five-inch, 441
ppi screen of the S4 which perhaps is better suited to a phablet.
·
Software features: But the S4 improve. While
software features capable of running en S3 will be made available, we like the
pause-when-you-look- away from the screen feature and the touch less
interfacing that can be done
·
Camera: A Whooping 13-MP offering make all the
difference. Yes, it doesn’t always matter how many pixels there are but this
Camera is a Vast improvement on S3
And the winner is...
Samsung Galaxy S4
There isn’t a single feature in the S4 that
you could consider revolutionary when compared to last year's model. Vet when
you put all the smaller improvements together - the screen, the battery, the
software, the camera - it amounts to a noticeable advancement
over the S3, It should be more than enough to keep the
Galaxy In Its position as the must-have Android device. And, of course, It will
mean that the still excellent S3 will become available at even keener prices
tool. We can’t get enough Galaxy.
