All about Samsung Galaxy S4

[RampantAndroid]

Every new major phone gets the dreaded "OMG! My screen broke for no reason! I swear i didnt drop it!" routine. I bet 9/10 time the user either dropped it or banged it in the pocket. I have had pretty much every major device and I treat my stuff like its made of titanium and I have never ever broke a device. The screens may get scratched up but never broken. An I dont use cases or screen protctors.

I've been VERY lucky with phones:
iPhone 4 from 5 feet up while walking. I'm so coordinated that I also kicked it. The case shattered into pieces and the phone skidded 15 feet. People in the mall thought I was drunk, but the phone lived without a single scratch.

S3: fell on corner. Plastic mucked up badly, phone works. S3 glass however is SEVERLY scratched from going in/out of my pocket (my jeans have little metal rivets or whatever all jeans have. Scratched the glass in no time. Gorilla glass is nonsense.)

That said, the S3 IS a very fragile phone. No clue on the S4.

 

[Aganazer]

S3 glass however is SEVERLY scratched from going in/out of my pocket (my jeans have little metal rivets or whatever all jeans have. Scratched the glass in no time. Gorilla glass is nonsense.)

Phone in the left pocket, keys in the right. Rivets are only on the right.

 

[Germanic]

I have a 8 month old son who thinks my S4 is a frisbee. I have yet to have any damage and he's thrown it off the couch onto the hardwood floor at least 5 times.

Reminds of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4f9gQ7b6Gg

 

[alangrift]

I've been VERY lucky with phones:
iPhone 4 from 5 feet up while walking. I'm so coordinated that I also kicked it. The case shattered into pieces and the phone skidded 15 feet. People in the mall thought I was drunk, but the phone lived without a single scratch.

S3: fell on corner. Plastic mucked up badly, phone works. S3 glass however is SEVERLY scratched from going in/out of my pocket (my jeans have little metal rivets or whatever all jeans have. Scratched the glass in no time. Gorilla glass is nonsense.)

That said, the S3 IS a very fragile phone. No clue on the S4.

My S3 glass is cracked through the middle, the screen is fine. It only dropped onto the garden floor from 2 feet. I remember my iPhone 3GS was amazingly sturdy.

 

[rcpratt]

My S3 glass is cracked through the middle, the screen is fine. It only dropped onto the garden floor from 2 feet. I remember my iPhone 3GS was amazingly sturdy.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that a 4.8" screen is less resilient than a 3.5" screen.

 

[Dunkman04]

keep us updated.

They replaced it in my local Verizon store no questions asked (11 days after purchase). The local rep had to call someone before he could do that, and apparently that guy had heard about it happening enough to immediately recommend replacing it as soon as he heard it had a line down the screen. I took that to mean they know it isn't caused by any kind of accidental damage and it is at least somewhat common.

 

[waggy]

My s3 i had dropped a bunch of times (i am a clutz). i dropped it plenty of times and it was fine. sure it had scratches on the side etc.

then one day i was getting up from weeding teh garden and i droped it maybe a foot off the ground and it broke the screen.

so far i have dropped my S4 2-3 times. i really need to order a good case.

 

[dlock13]

Is it a good idea to purchase an S4 still?

 

[bradly1101]

My s3 i had dropped a bunch of times (i am a clutz). i dropped it plenty of times and it was fine. sure it had scratches on the side etc.

then one day i was getting up from weeding teh garden and i droped it maybe a foot off the ground and it broke the screen.

so far i have dropped my S4 2-3 times. i really need to order a good case.

I could tell from the feel of my S3 (identical outside design as far as I can tell) that I would too easily drop it which is why I got that very protective, easy to grab onto and hold case. It's this one, the ridges make it so easy to grab. I don't see one for the S4, but you get the idea.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008RJ...sr=8-1&pi=SL75

 

[bradly1101]

This thread is too long to find it but someone here said the S4 is built much better than an S3. I'm not sure this is correct.

They appear identical except for screen size (the S2 too) and other than a few features I'd never use, I think they're designed and built identically (aside from the S4's apparent AMOLED) problem.

 

[momeNt]

I have a 8 month old son who thinks my S4 is a frisbee. I have yet to have any damage and he's thrown it off the couch onto the hardwood floor at least 5 times.

The phone will only break if you don't drop it. Yours is consistently dropped so you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[trmiv]

I have a 8 month old son who thinks my S4 is a frisbee. I have yet to have any damage and he's thrown it off the couch onto the hardwood floor at least 5 times.

This is why I'm going to switch to something like an Otterbox Commuter or Cygnett Workmate when my daughter gets a little older. She's only 6 weeks now, so she isn't at the handsy stage yet, but it's coming! She did manage to kick my S4 off my lap onto the hardwood the other day, but I had my UAG case on it.

 

[billbobaggins87]

http://www.elementcase.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-s/161.


ive been following this company due to the build of their iphone cases. i will most likely be picking up one of these soon.

 

[rcpratt]

This thread is too long to find it but someone here said the S4 is built much better than an S3. I'm not sure this is correct.

They appear identical except for screen size (the S2 too) and other than a few features I'd never use, I think they're designed and built identically (aside from the S4's apparent AMOLED) problem.

The bodies of the phones are clearly NOT identical...

 

[bradly1101]

The bodies of the phones are clearly NOT identical...

I admit I've never seen an S4 up close. I thought they looked alike though.

Those Element cases look great for this. The carbon fiber back must provide a lot of stiffness.

 

[trmiv]

http://www.elementcase.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-s/161.


ive been following this company due to the build of their iphone cases. i will most likely be picking up one of these soon.

Nice case. But wow, $79?

 

[RampantAndroid]

Phone in the left pocket, keys in the right. Rivets are only on the right.

Whhhhooooooooaaaaaa. Note to self: be more observant.

My S3 glass is cracked through the middle, the screen is fine. It only dropped onto the garden floor from 2 feet. I remember my iPhone 3GS was amazingly sturdy.

Yeah, the 3G and 3GS were pretty well constructed. The only issue I had with the 3GS physically...was that one time the screen fell out the front of the phone. (not all the way out, but I could get my pinky under the screen on the bottom.) Didn't drop it or anything. Apple replaced it...and my 3GS went through 4 replacements. There's a reason I buy apple care...

 

[billbobaggins87]

Nice case. But wow, $79?

ya. If i had a iphone it would be hard to not pick up one of their more expensive cases. Just a pitty they didn't release anything like the ronin for the s4

 

[Apex]

I've been VERY lucky with phones:
iPhone 4 from 5 feet up while walking. I'm so coordinated that I also kicked it. The case shattered into pieces and the phone skidded 15 feet. People in the mall thought I was drunk, but the phone lived without a single scratch.

S3: fell on corner. Plastic mucked up badly, phone works. S3 glass however is SEVERLY scratched from going in/out of my pocket (my jeans have little metal rivets or whatever all jeans have. Scratched the glass in no time. Gorilla glass is nonsense.)

That said, the S3 IS a very fragile phone. No clue on the S4.

The S4 is not as bad as one might think in the durability department.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...phone-5-in-our-brutal-destruction-test-video/

 

[RampantAndroid]

The S4 is not as bad as one might think in the durability department.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...phone-5-in-our-brutal-destruction-test-video/

The drop test...was far from scientific. Like every other drop test I see on youtube. Notice something? The drop on it's face killed the S4, just like the iPhone 5. Try dropping them so they both land on the same places. That is, stress them in the same way.

 

[Germanic]

The drop test...was far from scientific. Like every other drop test I see on youtube. Notice something? The drop on it's face killed the S4, just like the iPhone 5. Try dropping them so they both land on the same places. That is, stress them in the same way.

Watch this video if you want to see scientific drop tests of the Samsung Galaxy S4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4f9gQ7b6Gg

 

[Oyeve]

Watch this video if you want to see scientific drop tests of the Samsung Galaxy S4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4f9gQ7b6Gg

Nice!

 

[Aganazer]

I wish the case companies would do their own drop tests showing how effective their case is. IMO is a foregone conclusion that I will be using a case, but I really have no idea how much benefit I am getting from it.

 

[alangrift]

I wish the case companies would do their own drop tests showing how effective their case is. IMO is a foregone conclusion that I will be using a case, but I really have no idea how much benefit I am getting from it.

You should youtube search regarding some of the cases. There is probably some guy out there that has drop tested it.

 

[Skurge]

Galaxy phones are pretty durable and now with Samsung Warranty covering a broken screen or water damage. I don't think I'm ever getting my phone a case.