Galaxy S4 vs. S5

[philosofool]

I'm finally getting a smartphone. I know, it took me long enough. But I work in front of a computer most of the day and I don't have a busy social life (I have a family and I really like them, but they are easy to coordinate with, and my wife has a smartphone). Anyway, I've decided, I think, to get a Galaxy S4 or S5.

It saves me hundreds of dollars to buy the phone out of pocket and avoid a contract, but that means I need to shell out either $250 or $500 dollars upfront (cricket wireless has good deals on both right now).

So, what's the advantage of the S5 that makes it worth $250 extra or not? I will probably not be a heavy user of the phone at first (checking fantasy baseball scores, sending photos to my wife and mother, being annoyed by work email when I want to go out for a beer and relax, etc.) but I can see how I might end up using it more as time goes on. In order for the S5 to be worth it, I figure it needs to have about twice the life span (3-4 years instead of 18-24 months) or the daily value of using it needs to be greater--it needs to provide me with some marked improvement.

So, which should I get?

 

[sweenish]

I would never encourage buying a two year old smartphone, myself.

However, many people still recommend the G2, so the era of hardware being "good enough" is definitely upon us.

But, I still don't recommend the S4. It was Samsung and Touchwiz at the epitome of their bloat. The S4 was a powerful phone, but it was so bogged by their software that you wouldn't know it.

Basically, of the two, S5. You could probably do better buying your phone elsewhere and then taking it to Cricket as opposed to buying it from them. Other members will be able to help out better.

 

[pauldun170]

As a current user of a Galaxy S4 on lolipop, I don't see an S5 worth the additional cost especially not double the cost.
If your ONLY options are these 2 phones, do not...I repeat DO NOT spend $500 on a Galaxy S5.
The S4 is still a great phone, especially with a clean, fresh install of Lolipop.

 

[lxskllr]

I own a S5, and have never touched a working S4, but for that price difference, I'd definitely go for the S4. Everything I've read about them says the S5 was only an incremental upgrade, and I expect more than that for $250.

 

[ImDonly1]

No idea why you are planning on buying the phone from cricket. Their prices for those phones are terrible.

You can just buy att versions of those phones and it would be half price. Slick deals recently had/has the s5 for $315, the lg g2 for $200, or the nexus 5 for $150.

http://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/t/7865557

http://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/t/7866421

You can buy used on swappa.com

http://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/t/7875035
The nexus 5 is for freedom pop. I think you would have to flash the stock ROM to have it work on att. You can get $15 off the price with coupon code COUPONS15OFF100 makes the nexus 5 $135.

 

[Oyeve]

I had both. Gave the s4 to my son when I got the s5. Sold the s5 and went back to my note 3.didnt like the s5 at all. So, get the s4 and save $. The s4 is a great phone.

 

[Artdeco]

Neither (no issues with the make and models, just the prices) as stated previously, go to Swappa.com and browse around.

The G2 is a great deal right now, just don't buy from the carrier.

 

[WelshBloke]

I had both. Gave the s4 to my son when I got the s5. Sold the s5 and went back to my note 3.didnt like the s5 at all. So, get the s4 and save $. The s4 is a great phone.

S5 has a better screen, a better SoC, better software, it's waterproof, has a better camera...

The bezels very slightly bigger and there's a flap on the bottom.

You decide.

 

[Skurge]

The battery life on the S4 is nowhere near as good as the S5.