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GSMArena team, 14 July 2013

Purified


Samsung I9505G Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition review: Purified

  • Comments (44)
  • User reviews
  • I9505 Galaxy S4

2. Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition design and handling
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition design and handling
  3. 3. Display, controls
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Google Now, synthetic benchmarks
  6. 6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Gallery, video and music players, audio quality
  8. 8. Camera and video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser
  10. 10. Organizer, Google Maps and Earth, Play Store
  11. 11. Conclusion
  12.  
  13. Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4 specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (44)

Samsung Android

Design and handling

The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is the exact same size as the regular Galaxy S4 - 136.6 x 69.8 mm tall and wide and it's 7.9 mm thick. It weighs the same as well at 130 grams so it looks exactly as a regular S4 - that is, until you unlock it.

It's a very impressive feat on Samsung's part stamping a 5" display on such a thin and compact body without making it unusable. It's even more impressive when you consider there is a physical power button, which is also surrounded by two capacitive keys for menu and back. The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is still slightly taller than the Google Nexus 4 but offers a bigger screen without the need for on-screen buttons, which only waste the available screen real estate.

Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition

The US Galaxy S4 aside, the Galaxy S4 GPE is identical hardware-wise to the Snapdragon-powered version of the regular S4. The GPE only comes in White Frost, so you'd be out of luck, if you are into the Black Mist color.

Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition
Compared with the Nexus 4

The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition has... or rather, as some would argue, suffers from the same design language used for the regular Galaxy S4. The edges are curved and smooth, plastics are hyperglazed with an underlying texture, the front is entirely made out of glass and there are chrome accents around the front, the home button, the camera, the earpiece and volume rocker.

Even though the design's appeal has already worn off in the past year or so, the slim bezels allow the brilliant screen to really shine through, while the slim body offers a strong high-end vibe.

Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505G Google Play Edition
Handling the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition

The stock Android doesn't affect the usability of this Galaxy S4 in any way. The phone is still comfortable to use in one hand but users coming from a Nexus 4 would need to adjust to the physical button layout instead of the on-screen one. Ultimately, you get more screen space to work with this way.

Next Page » 3. Display, controls
2. Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition design and handling
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition design and handling
  3. 3. Display, controls
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Google Now, synthetic benchmarks
  6. 6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Gallery, video and music players, audio quality
  8. 8. Camera and video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser
  10. 10. Organizer, Google Maps and Earth, Play Store
  11. 11. Conclusion
  12.  
  13. Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4 specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (44)

Reviews Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition reviewPage 2
  • Comments (44)
  • User reviews
  • I9505 Galaxy S4

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