Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5s: Help me decide!

rawrblaah

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Hi everybody!

I'm due for an upgrade on the Verizon network in January. I have multiple questions that I feel still need answering. I'm currently using an iPhone 4 with iOS 7.

Questions:
1. Which do you think is a faster phone? iPhone 5S or GS4? I'm all about speed and being able to get things done quick.
2. Could you possible dual-boot on the GS4? I love iOS 7 but would love to switch to Android when I want for the customization.
3. Does the GS4 have good Otterbox case colors?
4. Does the GS4 have good cases in general?
5. Does the GS4 bog down from having too many apps opened in the background? I don't have this problem with my iPhone.
6. Can I use my Macbook Air to update the GS4 with music from iTunes?
7. What is the multitasking like on the GS4? I heard you can run 2 apps on the same screen. True or False?

If somebody could help me with answering these questions, it might help me decided better on which phone I would proceed in getting.

Thanks everybody for all your help!
 
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UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Hi everybody!

I'm due for an upgrade on the Verizon network in January. I have multiple questions that I feel still need answering. I'm currently using an iPhone 4 with iOS 7.

Questions:
1. Which do you think is a faster phone? iPhone 5S or GS4? I'm all about speed and being able to get things done quick.
2. Could you possible dual-boot on the GS4? I love iOS 7 but would love to switch to Android when I want for the customization.
3. Does the GS4 have good Otterbox case colors?
4. Does the GS4 have good cases in general?
5. Does the GS4 bog down from having too many apps opened in the background? I don't have this problem with my iPhone.
6. Can I use my Macbook Air to update the GS4 with music from iTunes?
7. What is the multitasking like on the GS4? I heard you can run 2 apps on the same screen. True or False?

If somebody could help me with answering these questions, it might help me decided better on which phone I would proceed in getting.

Thanks everybody for all your help!
Welcome to Android Central :)
1. 5S
2. I think there was a project by Modaco that allowed you to switch between ROMs but I believe it was for the International S4
3. Yup
4. Yup :)
5. It's faster than the iPhone 4 for sure
6. I don't think it works with iTunes
7. Better than on iPhone and yes you can but only with certain apps
 

rawrblaah

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Welcome to Android Central :)
1. 5S
2. I think there was a project by Modaco that allowed you to switch between ROMs but I believe it was for the International S4
3. Yup
4. Yup :)
5. It's faster than the iPhone 4 for sure
6. I don't think it works with iTunes
7. Better than on iPhone and yes you can but only with certain apps

Do you think the the Modaco would work on a US version?

Also, are there any YouTube vids showing the dual multitasking screen experience?
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Do you think the the Modaco would work on a US version?

Also, are there any YouTube vids showing the dual multitasking screen experience?
I'm not sure how much they kept working on it but last time I saw it, it was still in Beta for the Int'l version. Probably not available to US and you'd have to pay for it even if it was.
There's a ton. Here's one :)
Multi-window on the Samsung Galaxy S4 - YouTube
 

robjulo

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

#6 - when I had my GS4 I used doubletwist to sync with Itunes and thought it worked very well.
#7 - multi-tasking can be much better on the GS4 (and Android in general) as Apple still has significant restrictions on what can really multi-task
 

rawrblaah

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

If I got this phone, I would probably multitask text messaging and Facebook at the same time. Is that possible?
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

If I got this phone, I would probably multitask text messaging and Facebook at the same time. Is that possible?
I have a custom ROM on my S4 so I can't check right now but I'm 99% sure FB is supported so yes :)
If not there are TouchWiz based ROMs that allow you to use any app in Multi-Window. Once used the camera app to record something while I played Asphalt 8 :D
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Is the face recognition unlock decent?
It works most of the time but it isn't as effective as TouchID and for some reason every time I used it, my brightness would go up to 100% :mad:
PIN is good enough for me
 

Hghlndr

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Hey as for your mac connection question: consider AirDroid. Seamless integration, transfer files back and forth, no problem. This will not sync your files, though, you can transfer iTunes, etc. Works great between my macbook pro and S4.
Finally, as for multi tasking / multifunction, yes the S4 can do this, and as has been suggested, only a few apps have this ability
"built in"; though if you long press on the home button you are able to toggle back and forth between opened apps. Works fine for me! Your mileage may vary! ;-) Good luck!

Posted via Android Central App
 

SalixIncendium

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Hi everybody!

I'm due for an upgrade on the Verizon network in January. I have multiple questions that I feel still need answering. I'm currently using an iPhone 4 with iOS 7.

Questions:
1. Which do you think is a faster phone? iPhone 5S or GS4? I'm all about speed and being able to get things done quick.

In side-by-side comparisons I've seen on YouTube, it was close to a draw, though the 5s edged out the S4 in some functions.

2. Could you possible dual-boot on the GS4? I love iOS 7 but would love to switch to Android when I want for the customization.

There are apps that will give you an iOS 7 theme, however, there is no actual dual boot to iOS.

3. Does the GS4 have good Otterbox case colors?

Yes. My daughter's is hot pink, and she had lots of colors to choose from.

4. Does the GS4 have good cases in general?

Since it is a popular device, the selection is quite diverse.

5. Does the GS4 bog down from having too many apps opened in the background? I don't have this problem with my iPhone.

Not from what I've seen on my daughter's S4, but I'm sure "too many" might cause a bit of lag. If you're used to the iPhone 4, either phone is like butter.

6. Can I use my Macbook Air to update the GS4 with music from iTunes?

Not that I'm aware of unless there is is an app I'm not privy to.

7. What is the multitasking like on the GS4? I heard you can run 2 apps on the same screen. True or False?

True.

If somebody could help me with answering these questions, it might help me decided better on which phone I would proceed in getting.

Thanks everybody for all your help!

See my answers in line above.

My daughter had the choice of a 5S and an S4. She originally got the iPhone because all teh kewlkids had one. She realized after seeing the capabilities of my S3 that she had an inferior product. She tried both phones out extensively and realized that the personalization the S4 was capable of far outweighed the need for Facetime.

Don't get me wrong. Both phones are great flagships. If you like the simplicity of the iPhone, stick with it. If you are looking for something that has a bigger display, more free apps that you can personalize, the S4 is your phone.
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Have you considered any other phones or are these the two you are 100% sure of? The Nexus 5 would be a good option and it's a lot cheaper. If you want something small so that the change in size isn't too drastic the Moto X is also a really good phone

Posted via Android Central App
 

tpence2177

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Have you considered any other phones or are these the two you are 100% sure of? The Nexus 5 would be a good option and it's a lot cheaper. If you want something small so that the change in size isn't too drastic the Moto X is also a really good phone

Posted via Android Central App

Nexus 5 would require a carrier swap though....

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Nexus 5 would require a carrier swap though....

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

True. Forgot about that :D
There's still the Moto X. Probably the iPhone of the Android world if you're interested in that, only you get the customizability and features of Android :)

Posted via Android Central App
 
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garublador

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

1. The 5S is theoretically faster, but whether or not you'll notice depends on what you do with your phone. My guess is you'd need to have them side by side to see any difference with most normal stuff people use smart phones for (texting, social media, small games, etc.)
5. The only time I've seen my S4 slow down at all is if it's installing updates to apps while I'm trying to do something. Just opening apps in the background doesn't slow things down.
6. I use iSyncr to sync my S4 with iTunes. It does it automatically over WiFi.
 

rawrblaah

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

1. Which do you think is a faster phone? iPhone 5S or GS4? I'm all about speed and being able to get things done quick.

In side-by-side comparisons I've seen on YouTube, it was close to a draw, though the 5s edged out the S4 in some functions.

What were the slight differences? This isn't a make or break, just something to consider.
 

rawrblaah

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Have you considered any other phones or are these the two you are 100% sure of? The Nexus 5 would be a good option and it's a lot cheaper. If you want something small so that the change in size isn't too drastic the Moto X is also a really good phone

Posted via Android Central App

I've considered other smartphone devices. I've had 2 Motorola brand phones in the past that ended up bogging down to the point where I would have rather used my old Blackberry Pearl. So the Moto X is out of the choice. However, the Nexus 5 I haven't looked at. I will take a look though!:)
 

UJ95x

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Re: Help me decide! GS4 or 5S?

Anybody know of any phones that are coming out around January and February time?

No news so far but the HTC One Two will probably be out around March. GS5 around April
Also, the Moto X is different than any of the older Moto phones. Got the Kit Kat update OTA faster than the Nexus 4. Nexus 5 isnt on Verizon so unless you switch carriers its not an option :(

Posted via Android Central App