Analyst: Galaxy S4 Inferior to iPhone 5

[Michael Essany]

The honeymoon is already over for Samsung's Galaxy S4 with one leading analyst, who deems the new flagship smartphone "inferior" to Apple's current-generation iPhone 5.

Analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets said Friday that the Galaxy S4 is "less refined" than the iPhone 5 and should not be viewed or promoted as a proverbial "game changer." While admitting that the S4 is an improvement over the S3, White expects Apple's forthcoming iPhone 5S to "handily outsell" the refreshed Samsung device.

"We are amazed by how analysts and the media have turned on Apple during the recent stock downdrafts with statements that Samsung is 'out-innovating' Apple," White observed this morning. "One would believe that Samsung is crushing Apple in the mobile phone market. We believe this is complete nonsense."

Despite confessing that the S4 has a pixel density of 441 per inch (which is superior to the screen resolution of the iPhone 5's display), White says the S4 is "heavier" and "fatter" than the iPhone 5. He also derides the S4's plastic casing, saying it's "no match" for the iPhone 5's aluminum unibody enclosure.

Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray largely appears to be on the same page as White.

"While the S4 is likely to be the iPhone's biggest competitor this year at the high-end of the market, we remain confident in our iPhone estimate for this year of 177.5 million, which includes a cheaper phone in the September quarter," Munster says. "We view the S4 as unlikely to meaningfully impact iPhone share of the high-end over the full year, but do expect it to take share from other Android phones."

Sources: Fortune, BGR

[Albut]

Wonder what the real reason is for declaring an overall inferior phone better?

[Norb]

And despite many stocks going down today, Apple is up a few points. I find it funny how much people just follow the news like sheep.

[LithePanther]

Wonder what the real reason is for declaring an overall inferior phone better?

Are you going with Apple declared superior but inferior or Samsung declared superior but inferior?

[Lohand]

Brian White? Come ooon! Why isn't he required to disclose how many APPL shares he owns or have suggested to clients?

His words are meaningless...

[unison999]

How much is Apple paying or how much is he invested in Apple with other people's money for him to say this?
"Despite confessing that the S4 has a pixel density of 441 per inch (which is superior to the screen resolution of the iPhone 5's display), White says the S4 is "heavier" and "fatter" than the iPhone 5."
"He also derides the S4's plastic casing, saying it's "no match" for the iPhone 5's aluminum unibody enclosure."
Seriously?? This is his excuse for Apple being more superior? Never mind just about every other criteria the S4 is better, he picks these two as the weak points that makes Apple better overall? Whomever have him to handle their stock need to switch quick!!!

[Lohand]

Are you going with Apple declared superior but inferior or Samsung declared superior but inferior?

Easy, HTC ONE all the way! Because it is what the iPhone 6 should be!
If it had an Apple logo and an iOS 7 update that Ape'd BlinkFeed™, it would sell like hot cakes!
Oh and these APPL share holding "analysts" would be wetting themselves. Sayin...

[Norb]

Easy, HTC ONE all the way! Because it is what the iPhone 6 should be!
If it had an Apple logo and an iOS 7 update that Ape'd BlinkFeed™, it would sell like hot cakes!
Oh and these APPL share holding "analysts" would be wetting themselves. Sayin...

I'm not an Android guy but I gotta say the HTC One is by far my favorite Android device. My big question is why even compare Apple and Android phones, if anything the S4 should have been compared to the HTC One (and the S4 probably would still lose).

[ProfessorJack]

Inferior phone what with a quad 1.9. It' won't be to long before its as fast as a mac book pro never mind a iPhone 5s or even the iPhone 6

[fatherq]

"While the S4 is likely to be the iPhone's biggest competitor this year at the high-end of the market"

the above statement is somewhat funny here. iPhone 5 can only compete with S3, NOT S4. wake up wake up!

[hackerd00d]

can it be jailbroke? just kidden, some one give me a s4 and ill test it for them

[ProfessorJack]

"While the S4 is likely to be the iPhone's biggest competitor this year at the high-end of the market"

the above statement is somewhat funny here. iPhone 5 can only compete with S3, NOT S4. wake up wake up!

Agree

the s4 is on another planet

[8lias]

If you compare hardware from one to another, there's always debatable difference. I don't buy a phone based on the hardware alone. I buy them with user experience in mind, the software, the integration with other products and accessories, the eco-system, the reliability, the ease of tech support, the customer service. I don't buy it to show off the hardware, I buy it to enjoy it on a daily base. I buy it for the fun factor. Service and user experience are always going to be the key factor in any gadgets.

[slim.jim]

Inferior phone what with a quad 1.9. It' won't be to long before its as fast as a mac book pro never mind a iPhone 5s or even the iPhone 6

As fast as a MacBook Pro, hahaha! You need to learn about processor architectures.

[AUZambo]

This is like comparing BMW to Mercedes. They both make damn fine cars. Why do we feel compelled to declare one better than the other? It's simply a matter of preference, and I wish people would quit trying to make it more than that.

[Simon]

Prediction: Both will sell extremely well. Everybody wins.

[XweAponX]

Samsung really did something with the IIIs, it's a marvel no doubt. But they simply got lucky. But after looking at a number of Samsung devices, there is an inherent cheapness- it's like having a fast PC with all the side panels removed, the performance is there, but it looks like poop. The IIIs look good but they come apart way too easily. I wouldn't mind having one though.

[V3RT]

this is like comparing bmw to mercedes. They both make damn fine cars. Why do we feel compelled to declare one better than the other? It's simply a matter of preference, and i wish people would quit trying to make it more than that.

amen!!

[kokhean]

Prediction: Both will sell extremely well. Everybody wins.

(Y)

[zelphr]

Why not a single **** was given on the launch of Samsung Galaxy SIV and why it will still sell 27.4 millions in 1 quarter Sleepy Muses: A Lazy analysis on why not a single **** was given on the launch of Samsung Galaxy SIV and Why it will still sell 27.4millions in 1 quarter.