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Pros
Dizzying number of features. Incredibly fast. Ships with Android 4.2.2. Relatively small for its display size. Spectacular call quality.
- Cons Limited storage on 16GB model. Low-light camera performance could be better.
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Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is the ultimate kitchen-sink smartphone with features you'll still be discovering months after you buy it. It's our top Android pick on Verizon.
Performance, Call Quality, and Bloatware
Aside from carrier logos, Verizon's S4 is more or less identical to T-Mobile's version inside and out. And performance is the same thanks to the 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. This model supports CDMA on 850/1900/2100MHz bands, 750/1700MHz LTE, and 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM. Verizon had the best nationwide LTE coverage in our Fastest Mobile Networks survey, but the fastest speeds belong to AT&T. Reception was excellent during our tests in New York City, as the S4 was even able to maintain a connection in our office basement, where signals are typically weak.
Note: The slideshow below is of the T-Mobile Galaxy S4, which is physically identical to the Verizon S4.
Of the 16GB internal storage, only 8.67GB is available to users out of the box. Verizon went a bit overboard with the pre-loads on its S4. There are seven Verizon branded apps, ranging from the useful Visual Voicemail app to the useless Verizon Tones app, and nine third-party apps. None of these can be uninstalled, which is a big letdown considering carriers like Sprint at least let you remove some of the bloat. There's a microSD card slot under the back cover that worked fine with our 32 and 64GB SanDisk cards.
Pricing and Conclusions
You can get the 16GB S4 on Verizon for $199.99 with a two-year contract, which is the same price as the LG G2, HTC One, and iPhone 5s. With it come your standard Verizon options for voice, text, and data plans, which tend to be on the expensive side compared with other carriers. Plans start at $40/month for unlimited talk and text, but data must be bought separately on via Shareable Data plans. Those start at 500MB/$40, with 2GB/$60 in the middle, and top out at $80 for 6GB. AT&T plans are a bit more complicated, but one smartphone and 2GB of data will add up to $90 per month versus the $100 per month Verizon charges.
We give a slight edge to the S4 over both the HTC One and LG G2, both of which are fine phones in their own right. The One will appeal to users who put a premium on design, while the G2 is the first device to feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 800 processor and might appeal to those who want the latest tech in their pockets. Still, the dizzying array of features, superb call quality, and excellent performance keep the S4 at the top of the pack, even half a year after its release. For those looking for a more refined device and the best selection of apps, the iPhone 5s is an excellent choice that shows some real potential with its forward-looking features. Also for Direct Access To Great Brand Name Products&Services like This Visit our New Website at http://ebuys-onlineproducts-services.weebly.com
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