Samsung Galaxy S4 Specs Revealed, What they Mean for Mobile Gamers.

The Samsung Galaxy S4’s specs have been revealed. What do they mean for mobile gamers?

With the Galaxy S4, Samsung has officially revealed its latest flagship Android device for all to see, hoping to continue its wild success in the crowded smartphone market. Samsung did not hold back in delivering a powerhouse that can be appreciated by average consumers and power-users alike. Packing all new features like S-Translator, Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, and Air View, Samsung is bringing the fight to other Android manufacturers in more ways than just new software.

The Galaxy S4 is slimmer than its predecessor- the Galaxy SIII- despite packing a lot of hardware and having a larger, 5-inch, 1080p, super AMOLED screen that pushes a whopping 441ppi! The battery has also been upgraded from the previous 2,100mAh battery, to a brand new 2,600mAh battery. Many users will find these upgrades welcome, but Samsung did not stop there; the S4 is also bearing a brand new, 13.0 megapixel camera and Exynos 5 octa-core processor! Full specifications are listed below:

• Operating System: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• Processor: 1.9GHz quad-core processor / 1.6GHz octa-core processor (will differ region to region)
• Graphics: PowerVR SGX 544MP3
• RAM: 2GB
• Display: 5 inch Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display, 441 ppi
• Sensors: Accelerometer, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Gesture
• Rear Camera: 13 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
• Front Camera: 2 Mega pixel camera, Full HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
• Internal Storage: 16/32/64 GB User memory + microSD slot (expandable up to 64GB)
• Battery: Removable, 2,600 mAh
• Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80), GPS / GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth® 4.0 (LE), IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
• Network: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; 3G (HSPA+ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz; 4G (LTE Cat 3 100/50Mbps)
• Dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm
• Weight: 130g

All these improvements look great on paper, but what do they mean for the average consumer and, most importantly, the mobile gamer?

Over the years, mobile gaming has been growing by leaps and bounds. Long gone are the days of greyscale Snake and Tetris. Mobile platforms are now graced by full 3D MMORPGs, online first-person shooters, and PlayStation 2-era ports like Rockstar’s infamous Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Mobile games have become full, robust, and complete adventures where users can be fully immersed in worlds previously only available to console, PC, and handheld gamers.

With the Galaxy S4, owners will be able to take full advantage of whatever mobile developers throw at them for the foreseeable future. The Galaxy S4 comes in two varieties, with either an Exynos 5 1.6 GHz octa-core or Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.9 GHz quad-core processor. Both processors are considered next generation chips, capable for processing even the most graphics-intensive games with ease and power efficiency. It is worth noting that the octa-core processor does not mean that eight cores are firing at once- the phone utilizes only one of its two sets of four cores at a time, one for intensive processes, the other for conserving power. As such, the quad-core Snapdragon will likely be the better performer, at the cost of battery life. These processors will be accompanied by 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, meaning users will likely have super quick load times.

Samsung’s new 5.0” 1080p Super AMOLED display in the Galaxy S4 will allow one of the clearest gaming experiences on a phone to date, while also allowing room for on-screen buttons to be present, but out of the way of the content on the screen. The downside to this is that AMOLED screens, while vibrant and colorful, are also known for their burn-in. The internal storage ranges from 16 to 64 GB, allowing plenty of room for games, games which are often found to surpass the 1GB mark as mobile gaming tries to more closely mirror console gaming experiences.

Boasting all new hardware, the Galaxy S4 is a great step in the right direction for mobile gaming and consumers alike. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available starting in late April, and we will be anxiously awaiting its release until then.