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tjl3

macrumors 6502a
Mar 8, 2012
595
4
That is no true at all. The outside looks different. The bezel is smaller. You can tell.
You are going to try to tell me people can see the difference in this?

Yes

The average consumer will not be able to tell the difference. Would you even be able to tell if someone were handling it? Side by side maybe, but apart people who don't follow smartphone tech won't.

And if on first look you can tell that this is a GS4, I applaud you:

Samsung-Galaxy-S-4.jpg
 

bmac4

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
Yes



And if on first look you can tell that this is a GS4, I applaud you:

Image

I just went and ask my sister who knows nothing about tech or smart phones. Ask her if they were different phones and she said yes. Also ask which one is newer she said the S4. No name attacked to the picture showed her the picture I just posted. You have no idea what you are talking about.
 
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Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
I just went and ask my sister who knows nothing about tech or smart phones. Ask her if they were different phones and she said yes. Also ask which one is newer she said the S4. No name attacked to the picture showed her the picture I just posted. You have no idea what you are talking about.

But there were only two phones in that picture , so your sister had a 50/50 chance of randomly picking the right one. Did you ask her why she thought which was newer?

Anyhow, I'm not sure how relevant the incremental design changes are to how well a phone sells. People buying iPhones would usually take the time to find out the differences between a 4 and a 4S, or a 5 and a 5S, even if they look the same on the outside. Just as people buying a Galaxy might research the differences between a S3 and a S4, including the design changes. Nobody is going to just look at an iPhone 5S and say, "that looks exactly like the 5, so I'm not going to buy it." They are going to ask, "how is it different from the 5?" If peoplle don't ask these kinds of questions before they buy a phone, well... They deserve whatever they end up with!
 

tjl3

macrumors 6502a
Mar 8, 2012
595
4
I just went and ask my sister who knows nothing about tech or smart phones. Ask her if they were different phones and she said yes. Also ask which one is newer she said the S4. No name attacked to the picture showed her the picture I just posted. You have no idea what you are talking about.

Congrats, because your sister can tell the difference between two different computer rendered images, means that the general public will be able to identify the S4 on the spot...

I didn't say there weren't any differences, I only said there were imperceivable differences unless you put the two side by side.

Common sense would suggest that anyone can see the difference in camera alignment and larger screen, at least, on the S4. Common sense would also tell a person that the phone w/ a bigger screen is more likely newer. Why don't you ask her if she'd be able to tell the difference between the two if they weren't side by side...

Edit: If the iP5 were upgraded (physically) like this, it would be a travesty. Believe me, you'd be here bitching and moaning instead of putting it up side by side.
 

bmac4

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
But there were only two phones in that picture , so your sister had a 50/50 chance of randomly picking the right one. Did you ask her why she thought which was newer?

Anyhow, I'm not sure how relevant the incremental design changes are to how well a phone sells. People buying iPhones would usually take the time to find out the differences between a 4 and a 4S, or a 5 and a 5S, even if they look the same on the outside. Just as people buying a Galaxy might research the differences between a S3 and a S4, including the design changes. Nobody is going to just look at an iPhone 5S and say, "that looks exactly like the 5, so I'm not going to buy it." They are going to ask, "how is it different from the 5?" If peoplle don't ask these kinds of questions before they buy a phone, well... They deserve whatever they end up with!

No I showed her the picture and said is this the same phone not? She said no. I was told in this forum that people could not tell the difference. I said that is not true.
 

appletoandroid

macrumors member
Jan 25, 2013
64
0
Congrats, because your sister can tell the difference between two different computer rendered images, means that the general public will be able to identify the S4 on the spot...

I didn't say there weren't any differences, I only said there were imperceivable differences unless you put the two side by side.

Common sense would suggest that anyone can see the difference in camera alignment and larger screen, at least, on the S4. Common sense would also tell a person that the phone w/ a bigger screen is more likely newer. Why don't you ask her if she'd be able to tell the difference between the two if they weren't side by side...

Edit: If the iP5 were upgraded (physically) like this, it would be a travesty. Believe me, you'd be here bitching and moaning instead of putting it up side by side.

fanboy much? clearly the S3 and S4 are different. I agree you have no clue what you're talking about because the difference is much greater than the 4S-5. The new Samsung design is refreshing to me. Take your FUD elsewhere. Be gone!
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
No I showed her the picture and said is this the same phone not? She said no. I was told in this forum that people could not tell the difference. I said that is not true.

No, what people said was people wouldn't be able to tell the difference UNLESS THEY SAW THE PHONES SIDE BY SIDE. You showed your sister a picture of the phones side by side. Of course she could tell they were different.
 

bmac4

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
No, what people said was people wouldn't be able to tell the difference UNLESS THEY SAW THE PHONES SIDE BY SIDE. You showed your sister a picture of the phones side by side. Of course she could tell they were different.

OK then if you want to go with it not being side by side. Let's look at the iPhone. If you just have someone an iPhone 5 that was not a tech person would they be able to tell you that is was an iPhone 5? I highly doubt it. You can think what you want, but the S4 is a much better improvement then the iPhone 5 was over their respective previous generation phone. Other than the size the iPhone really change nothing, and the screwed that up and made it looked weird because they did not make it wider.
 

Ungibbed

macrumors 6502a
Dec 13, 2010
771
200
USA
I just think Apple should make the original designed phone better with half the improvements that they give the s model. They already have the bigger processor why did they not use it in the iPhone 5? I just feel like they hold back on stuff so they can put it in the S model.

Just like Nintendo releases different colored handhelds and other goodies despite the fact you may already own one. Nintendo makes huge profit from what I call "vanity upgrades" just so you can have the same handheld but in a different color.

Apple I feel releases whats just "good enough" for a product update and then what the update really should have been goes in the iPhone S models.

Parted ways with my 4S for now as I am trying to get together the cash for the official T-Mobile iPhone 5 (sure it may not be a true 5S, but being stuck on EDGE on the go just sucks) Using my Galaxy Nexus for the moment and forgot how nice having AWS 4G was like... Pandora is my friend again!

----------

fanboy much? clearly the S3 and S4 are different. I agree you have no clue what you're talking about because the difference is much greater than the 4S-5. The new Samsung design is refreshing to me. Take your FUD elsewhere. Be gone!

I can agree the S4 is a huge update to the S3 despite the similar looks which gives it that iPhone 4S to 5 comparison.

The internals of the S4 are pretty amazing from the white paper but I wish you had the option of getting such phones in a true "Nexus" form with no carrier bloat and first in line for the updates. My Galaxy Nexus is pretty darned old by today's standards but still holds up well since there is much less taking up the CPU.
 

animalx

macrumors 6502
Apr 1, 2013
474
330
Yes



And if on first look you can tell that this is a GS4, I applaud you:

Image

I can't tell them apart unless they are side by side. If you show me a picture of just one of them by itself then I won't know which one it is.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
OK then if you want to go with it not being side by side. Let's look at the iPhone. If you just have someone an iPhone 5 that was not a tech person would they be able to tell you that is was an iPhone 5? I highly doubt it. You can think what you want, but the S4 is a much better improvement then the iPhone 5 was over their respective previous generation phone. Other than the size the iPhone really change nothing, and the screwed that up and made it looked weird because they did not make it wider.

Sure, I agree that a non-tech person couldn't tell the difference between an iPhone 5 and 4, any more than they could tell the difference between different models of Galaxy phones.

But what does that have to do with if the S4 is a bigger improvement over S3 than iPhone 5 is over the 4S? The way a phone looks on the outside is only one factor out of many in how a phone functions. I had the 4S before I had the 5, and ok, the screen size is a bit weird, but I love how the 5 is thinner and considerably lighter than the 4S. I haven't actually used any of the Galaxy phones, so I don't know how the S4 and S3 compare to each other. You could very well be right that the S4 represents a bigger improvement, but just telling (and showing) me that they LOOK different doesn't convince me of that. I mean, if they look different but weigh the same, I wouldn't be impressed. If they look different but has the same processor inside, I wouldn't call that an improvement.

Or for instance, the iPad 3 and 4. They look almost the same, but 4 has a faster processor and a lightning connector. I think that's an improvement. It wasn't an improvement that made me want to upgrade from my 3, but I wouldn't complain that Apple ONLY changed the inside and didn't update the design. In fact, if it looked the same but weighed less, I probably would have upgraded.

The point I'm trying to make is you seem to be placing more emphasis on looks than I do. I just don't care much about how my devices look -- I care about how they function.
 

bmac4

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
Sure, I agree that a non-tech person couldn't tell the difference between an iPhone 5 and 4, any more than they could tell the difference between different models of Galaxy phones.

But what does that have to do with if the S4 is a bigger improvement over S3 than iPhone 5 is over the 4S? The way a phone looks on the outside is only one factor out of many in how a phone functions. I had the 4S before I had the 5, and ok, the screen size is a bit weird, but I love how the 5 is thinner and considerably lighter than the 4S. I haven't actually used any of the Galaxy phones, so I don't know how the S4 and S3 compare to each other. You could very well be right that the S4 represents a bigger improvement, but just telling (and showing) me that they LOOK different doesn't convince me of that. I mean, if they look different but weigh the same, I wouldn't be impressed. If they look different but has the same processor inside, I wouldn't call that an improvement.

Or for instance, the iPad 3 and 4. They look almost the same, but 4 has a faster processor and a lightning connector. I think that's an improvement. It wasn't an improvement that made me want to upgrade from my 3, but I wouldn't complain that Apple ONLY changed the inside and didn't update the design. In fact, if it looked the same but weighed less, I probably would have upgraded.

The point I'm trying to make is you seem to be placing more emphasis on looks than I do. I just don't care much about how my devices look -- I care about how they function.

Ok I understand what you are saying, but I you just giving me examples or do you really not know what improvements were done to the S4? I will list some off if you need them, but it kind of sounds like you are just saying what if.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
Ok I understand what you are saying, but I you just giving me examples or do you really not know what improvements were done to the S4? I will list some off if you need them, but it kind of sounds like you are just saying what if.

I'm just saying what if. :)
 

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
11,844
1,579
I just went and ask my sister who knows nothing about tech or smart phones. Ask her if they were different phones and she said yes. Also ask which one is newer she said the S4. No name attacked to the picture showed her the picture I just posted. You have no idea what you are talking about.

No offence but this personal anecdote means nothing
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
Oh on so you know the differences between the to. .

Actually, I don't. Like I said, I've never used Galaxy devices, so even if you told me the differences, I wouldn't really understand them. Or in other words, just reading a list of differences won't help me judge whether iPhone 4S to 5 was or was not a bigger improvement than Galaxy S3 to S4. I think only people who have used both Galaxy and iPhone are qualified to form opinions on that.

I just wanted to point out that arguing about how different the phone models LOOK isn't the best way to decide which phone line improved more.

So if you'd like to list all the feature differences, please go ahead. There probably are other forum members who are interested in that discussion. Just don't do it for MY sake, that's all.
 

Irishman

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2006
3,449
859
fanboy much? clearly the S3 and S4 are different. I agree you have no clue what you're talking about because the difference is much greater than the 4S-5. The new Samsung design is refreshing to me. Take your FUD elsewhere. Be gone!

I love how trotting the "fanboy" label allows you to disregard anything he says that you don't agree with.

Own that! It's yours. ;)

----------

I sense this thread is starting to devolve into idiocy.

It really has become "my anecdote beats your anecdote"!!
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
I know, but I was just pointing out that these phones do look different. I know it really means nothing.

They look different enough. There are threads upon threads defending Apples design not changing that much between devices. Usually they start off with "what do you expect a round phone?" Or some nonsense like that.

All manufactures keep the same basic design and improve upon it. Apple is the worst offender of using identical designs if you consider that a problem, I don't.

Apple makes a fortune selling you the same parts they did on previous versions. I think its safe to say the next iPhone will look the same as the 5 and offer no "extra" hardware (like additional sensors, NFC, whatever). Expect some of the original hardware to be upgraded and expect some new software that will probably be exclusive to the new model.

I feel in my opinion the S4 is a bigger upgrade the the 5 was. But again that's my opinion.

The reason I don't have a 5 is because its too similar to my 4S. I used a buddies 5 for 30-45 minutes one day and within the first 5 minutes I was bored. It's just like my 4S with an extra row of icons, there was nothing to "play" with that I can't do already.
 

Irishman

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2006
3,449
859
OK then if you want to go with it not being side by side. Let's look at the iPhone. If you just have someone an iPhone 5 that was not a tech person would they be able to tell you that is was an iPhone 5? I highly doubt it. You can think what you want, but the S4 is a much better improvement then the iPhone 5 was over their respective previous generation phone. Other than the size the iPhone really change nothing, and the screwed that up and made it looked weird because they did not make it wider.

Really? You want to go THERE??!?!?

The iPhone 4s had a 3.5" screen with 3G.
The iPhone 5 has a 4" screen with 4G LTE.

That alone is a bigger difference than the GS3 to the GS4.
 

sentinelsx

macrumors 68010
Feb 28, 2011
2,004
0
Yes



And if on first look you can tell that this is a GS4, I applaud you:

Image

I can, you know why?

Because i was annoyed by how low the capacitive and home buttons were on the bezel on the GS3, looked horrible to me. Strange no one else ever notices that.

On the GS4 they are centered, and look much MUCH better.

So yeah some of us can tell the difference.
 

bmac4

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
Actually, I don't. Like I said, I've never used Galaxy devices, so even if you told me the differences, I wouldn't really understand them. Or in other words, just reading a list of differences won't help me judge whether iPhone 4S to 5 was or was not a bigger improvement than Galaxy S3 to S4. I think only people who have used both Galaxy and iPhone are qualified to form opinions on that.

I just wanted to point out that arguing about how different the phone models LOOK isn't the best way to decide which phone line improved more.

So if you'd like to list all the feature differences, please go ahead. There probably are other forum members who are interested in that discussion. Just don't do it for MY sake, that's all.

OK that is fine I want list anything. I will just say the S4 is much faster and has a better 1080p screen. I would say either way you go iOS or android you will see great improvement in design over the last.

What I am trying to point out is that while the S3 may not look that much different than the S4 at least it is a new design. Samsung brings new designs each year. My problem with Apple is the S model is simply a spec bump.

----------

Really? You want to go THERE??!?!?

The iPhone 4s had a 3.5" screen with 3G.
The iPhone 5 has a 4" screen with 4G LTE.

That alone is a bigger difference than the GS3 to the GS4.

Oh because Apple is late to the LTE party we can call that a huge leap. Also that screen upgrade was just stupid. It makes the iPhone 5 look weird. They should have made it wider. Those don't seem to me like very good upgrades.

The S3 to the S4 added a much better screen a wider and longer screen. Faster processor. To me it was a much bigger increase.

And no going to from 3.5 to 4 inch screen and adding LTE is not that big of a deal.
 

sentinelsx

macrumors 68010
Feb 28, 2011
2,004
0
OK that is fine I want list anything. I will just say the S4 is much faster and has a better 1080p screen. I would say either way you go iOS or android you will see great improvement in design over the last.

What I am trying to point out is that while the S3 may not look that much different than the S4 at least it is a new design. Samsung brings new designs each year. My problem with Apple is the S model is simply a spec bump.

----------



Oh because Apple is late to the LTE party we can call that a huge leap. Also that screen upgrade was just stupid. It makes the iPhone 5 look weird. They should have made it wider. Those don't seem to me like very good upgrades.

The S3 to the S4 added a much better screen a wider and longer screen. Faster processor. To me it was a much bigger increase.

And no going to from 3.5 to 4 inch screen and adding LTE is not that big of a deal.

Making the screen wider would not let it stay at 16:9, which is used by all other phones too.

And i would say those are pretty big deals. LTE is crazy fast, like 3G is to 2G, and the bigger screen helps, although personally i wanted bigger, it is too small for my taste.

The S4's biggest leap IMO is the screen. Because of pentile, the more the pixels, the better it will get. LCDs look pretty good on 640p or 720p already, 1080 is just further sharpness. For a pentile AMOLED, more pixels means the sub pixels are now effectively at 720p meaning better text clarity (big deal for me) and less artifacts.

Samsung already has had LTE long ago, and the processor improvement happens to all phones. The bigger battery is welcome too though, means standby will be much better, so will the call time, and screen times will hopefully improve.

And as i stated earlier a couple of posts above, those buttons at the bottom are finally centered, something that pissed me off quite bit on my S3.

I think Apple is more suited to bring "one huge addition" each year, be it a much better camera (4S), or amazing processor and LTE (5), or something else. This is because Samsung already put everything on their first 2-3 generations and can only add so much, while Apple is adding it one at a time and that sort of generates more excitement for next upgrade.

It is just a matter of preference for which model is better. I don't even care for the progression, i will happily switch to whichever device in current gen is better for me, as i also tend to mostly use cross platform services to lessen the hurt from switching around. I am a big believer in hardware makers being just makers and allowing cross platform services from third party developers (or the maker itself), because i hate being locked in.

But so far the thread just seems to be the age old Samsung Vs. Apple battle again with both sides trying to validate their hero.
 
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