We just couldn't leave this
face-off of superscreens alone, and went back for another bite at the cherry. Admittedly, we found out the
Galaxy S had a browser-specific brightness setting that we hadn't maxed out before setting off our camera hounds, so we've gone and remedied earlier comparison shots with the gallery below, and just as a bonus, we've now also run a HD video clip on both phones. This was to see how the Hummingbird and A4 SOCs, considered
close siblings, handled some taxing video work and also to again compare performance deep down on the pixel level. What we can tell you now is that both handsets chewed through the
1080p HD clip with ease and that both gave results we have no hesitation in describing as sublime. Click past the break for the up close and personal video comparison action.
N.B. -- We ran a 1080p clip on both phones' respective YouTube apps over WiFi. Although we're certain from the quality of the video that it was at least 720p, we can't say for sure that it was the full 1080 enchilada.
posted June 26th 2010 3:10PM
Both of these phones combined could not beat the EVO.
@benchase7 Cool story, bro.
@benchase7
Hmm.. Which phone has the best processor/video power? Best screen? Best battery life? Yea.. definitely not the Evo. Try again.
@tranquilnight Neither does the iPhone...
What was your point again?
@pintonion
Point (which is fucking obvious btw) is they both RAPE the EVO in those categories.
@tranquilnight Ya seriously. The EVO was exciting when it came out, but I'm glad I didn't jump on that train. On the hardware front, it's already set to be obsolete (man that was fast) in every spec. On the software front, even its die-hard fans will mutter in their little XDA caverns that out-of-the-box it's a frustrating experience, and it'll take custom kernels to make it really good.
Take a spec comparison between the Galaxy S Pro and the EVO 4G and see plain as day that the only reason the EVO would ever come out on top in the long run is if the hacker community stays religiously committed only to HTC.
@josah
when the EVO 2 comes out with even better specs we will buy that just like you all are buying the fourth iphone in 3 years right?
@josah
No, not really. Evo fans are damn happy with their phones. There are issues here and there, but that's to be expected with everyone - even iphone.. or in this case, especially Iphone.
The vast majority of Evo fans won't think "I wanna return my phone for a GS" because despite other phones coming out, it's still a major powerhouse. So, nice try, hater.
@josah Where is all this crap about Evo fans coming from. I have yet to run across this fanboyism. I see Android fans but not Evo fans. I think the fanboyism only exists in the minds of folk that may have been a little jealous of the specs. Remember folk your Android phone is not gonna stay on top for long. Jump in when the specs reach a point you want and then be happy about what you'll be looking at in two years when that contract is up.
iphone video quality winner of course but samsung got richier colors
The Samsung has got to be the best phone to watch movies on, and it might even have the best display. But it just doesn't matter one bit, because the iPhone is a hyped design icon, and the Samsung isn't.
@TMC
And when I am enjoying viewing a movie on my Galaxy S, why does it matter that one [inferior] phone is an icon and another one is not?
@lilo
Well wone sells well, the other doesn't. Apple has already proved 4 times that specs aren't the deal maker. And by the looks of all those crazy people at the stores right now, they are doing it a 5th time.
This is such a garbage comparison Engadget. How can you ever deny you are EXTREMELY biased towards Apple when you make posts like this?
First of all, you NEVER did a comparison like this when the iPhone had the lower resolution.
Second of all, you are playing a cropped video on the iPhone and an uncropped video on the Samsung.
Third of all, you zoom passed the human capability of sight to show that the pixels are smaller for the iPhone. What the hell does that prove?
This comparison tells us nothing on video playback. You should be ashamed.
@muyoso
+1
@muyoso When the iPhone had a lower resolution, it was obvious to everyone that it had a much worse overall screen. Why waste time comparing it?
I'll take the one without the yellow tint and I can hold how I want.
Oh ffs, like said before me, this is plain bs. Yes, the pixel density is higher on the iPhone. Whether you show one 1 or 100 macro pictures of it, the result is the same. I'd rather sit at a normal distance from my phone and have half an inch more screen than hold my pathatic 3.5 inch screen straight infront of my face and admire the pixels.
And another thing, where were these kind of pictures when all the smartphones got 800x480 panels, and the iphone 3GS was using the 480x320 screens? I guess it wasn't such a big deal then? I hope Apple loves you guys back...
As awesome as the "Retina Display" is, admittedly this is a pretty stupid comparison, as nobody's going to be staring at a screen that closely. Of course, I can't comment on the other screen as I haven't seen one in person.
Just out of interest, what's the name of this video/movie? I've seen it used in a few different places but I've never been able to find out it's name :(
Oowwh C'mon Engadget give it rest; this iRetina thing. For most people it doesn't matter, the Apple drones will go Apply route anyway, and Android drones will go the Android way. In the end it is just splitting hair business, infinitesimal difference if you ask me. Nothing earth shattering here.
The only question you should be asking is why Apple is still not supporting 16:9(1.778 Widescreen) format while all other smartphone in the world supports it. Just look at your own picture above, the iPhone4 is displaying just part of the whole picture.
@Infinity That won't happend xDDD
Imagine a black gap when you open an app, or worse, a streched image... iBlakGap so you can say your phone is bigger than your apps (??) Like using an iphone app on the ipad, I've tried and really SUCKS...
I'm not saying the iphone is a bad phone, it works but iphone 4 has only 2 usefull hardware features: A camera that works and more battery life.
The glass is as breakable as before... Scratch it? I've a 3g and it has only 1 scratch in 2 years of carring in my pocket with my keys and everything, the back is super-scratched and it seems no big improvements in 4.
The screen? not usefull, imagine that... if somebody uses each pixel you'll need to put the iphone in your nose to see it... and be carefull when you hold it xD.
The reception? improved? only if you hold your phone the right way...
Front facing camera only usable with wifi... really a feature? I can't see it to be really difficult to make videoconference over wifi, it's like putting any videoconference program ported to the iphone, not really a challenge...
So, iOS works nice, most of the features works pretty good, really nice QA and i'm a C++ programmer... It's really cool that they can't put shitty java or action script in the phone... But iphone 4 as a piece of hardware ain't that great, a lot of existing phones in the market are the same or better, and it's just time before android "functionally" steps over iOS.
Anyway anything of that really matter... The real genius: Steve Jobs and the marketing team... They can sell a piece of shit wraped in toilet paper and people will pay for it :clap: :clap: :clap:.
Sorry for my english.
Oh and you guys keep bitching on the podcast that posts on the iPhone turn into madness in the comments because of the fanboys, trolls and flamers, but the only fanboys are you guys, and thats what makes alot of loyal viewers mad. Thats what causing the mayhem.
Fandroids come out in droves when their phones look bad.
@rmbrown09
And Iphone fanboys don't do the same? How many times have we heard them bitching about how they have a million different apps, or how a jailbreak fixes everything, or how it sold more and so on? It's amazing how Apple people think Android people are defensive when it's a fact they were the first generation of people with smartphone arrogance.
Why isn't more being made about the [normal distance] effective usability of a 3.5" display vs. a 4" display? Or the ~1.5 vs. ~1.6 screen ratio for playing back 16:9 HD video source?
Since Apple stuck with the same scale as the 3GS to reduce the complexity of app and OS management, they really didn't made any more screen real estate available (an iPhone 4 specific version of an app *could* provide more usable application space by shrinking down the interface, but I'm not sure how much smaller text and controls can be and still be usable).
I really would have LOVED to have seen a 4" iPhone with the same resolution. We'll still wind up with one to replace the womans's 3G, but I'm likely going to go to a larger display Android based phone.
i'll choose the iPhone 4! thank you very much!
That's great and all but does the Samsung's antenna work?
@Prince David
It does.
but, well,Motorola DroidX(OMFG, jealus of usa for once! ), Samsung Captiva, HTC Desire, Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Legend, Xperia X10 mini.
Thats the good choices for android users, me myself have used both the 4G, test for company :D but well, it was still an iphone, but the display was good, but wasnt much like wow anymore, like I had with iphone 3G when it came.
Android(open handset foundation) is working towards getting more common UI, and that they wont make too much changes to the appearance, and that they wont have to make too much costum for each model.
This is however stated to not be fully done before 2.5! 2.3 will have the UI changes.
As for video, do you watch video on you phone?, I bring up youtube, thats all, and thats for clips, and good god the Android wins BIG TIME!
I really cant say I look back, before you state iphone 4 is best, test them both and see what fits you best.
Iphone 4 is a very good phone, but its also very limited, even for many average users, even my girlfriend that needs tech help with the smallest thing manages with a android she got with her plan, and does almost more stuff to her android than me.
Alltho, if I would give her a phone not knowing how she wud fare with android, I would actually buy a iphone.
All I know is that Android is gonna overrun Iphone at this rate, Iphone "4G" is not a bad phone, but again, it doesnt do anything really more usefull than a year old phone. HD2 flashed to android for example.
Lets be frank here, both phones are probably either nr1 or nr2 on the market and have their strengths and weaknesses, i purchased the samsung Galaxy S and the screen is amazing, I believe its the best out there, but I feel the iphone is more pocket friendly and has lots of other great capabilities too, like its cool antenna and 3d games etc,etc. With flash coming galaxy S with is power GX540 we will see crazy performances, and engadget stop being douche and saying which is better, because I think no matter what phone out of those 2 you have ull 100% happy. BTW for people who don't, i swear i can watch a movie under fairly strong sunlight using this screen
@rescawen
The Galaxy plays back all sorts of video files natively that pretty much no other phone does. Like xVid, DiVx and such.
Also has an audio equalizer. This is really one hell of a multi-media phone.
Good to know when watch with my portable microscope. This is just dumb.
the video part with the samsung is blurring out all the time have you noticed?
probably due to the zoom that's been used to enhance the effect compariing with the iphone and the camera auto-focusing
disappointing review
The iphone screen is too small. It does not matter what the resolution is...for me it is just too small. Give me at least a 4.3" screen and hopefully a 8" roll out screen someday.
You know, I'm surprised nobody's brought up the big issue with the HD test on these phones: network quality. I imagine the ultimate goal for us handheld users is streaming video, right?
Has anyone here ever compared genuine 720p encoded video with, say, the 720p setting on YouTube? Fun reality: streaming video will never look as good as its resolution is capable of. So regardless of the pixel density, the video sharpness will 99.9% of the time look identical on almost any handheld device with a resolution of at least 800x480. Probably even lower resolutions, depending on the quality of your wireless service.
What good is pixel density when all it shows is crisp, clean, clear compression artifacts? Stick with caring about color quality and dimensions (size, ratio), with some room on the side for energy efficiency.
The eye can not focus the picture of you go that near to the screen...stupid test...make it again, 10-30 cm away from the phone
Galaxy is an epic colorless poop phone, with big ass pixels all over the place. My old Nokia 6280 do a better job..... 4 realz boys.
look this video, Samsung Super Amoled screen look better !
watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMsl7ceJuK4
@negative
Nice video, at 3:12 you can definitely see the difference in color between the 2 screens and at 2:50 how the samoled has much better viewing angles.
@corduroy And there is no challenge when is comes to viewing black. The start up screen of the Galaxy S alone is amazing. White Galaxy S Logo while the rest of the screen stay completely black.
Trula amazing.
Obviously the iPhone wins... But the people here are idiots and down rank any comment that supports the iPhone.. Nerds.
HAHAHAHAHHA....ANOTHER BITE AT THE CHERRY...
What I find to be really insane about all of this is that why didn't Engadget put up comparison images like this of the Droid and iPhone 3G? Or the Incredible and the iPhone 3G. Only now when Apple finally has a pixel density upper hand after all these years of having one of the crappiest displays on the market, then does Engadget pull out the "microscope".
@Bobbo It's not only that. Look at how they do any Android IPhone comparison. They always compare in a subset of features that the iPhone will have something to show. They never dig into all of Andtouds features where the iPhone has nothing at all. You can't Di that the other way around either.
@Bobbo This is so true.
@Bobbo +1
iPhone4 Retina display Vs Samsung Galaxy S Super Amoled
watch here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMsl7ceJuK4
@negative
SGS DESTROYS the iPhone 4. That is a REAL and FAIR comparison. Wow.. Engadget is reallly biased towards Apple.
@negative Interesting. Looks like SAMOLED is kicking that ass in that video. I notice how its brighter and in that photo you can see the colors much better. I also find it interesting that in Engadget's first pic the Galaxy is brighter and its quite noticeable. Buy then later in it looks darker on the pic where they try to show the brightness turned up. Was this both the browser and phone brightness they were talking about. There are a nightly lot of suspect things here Engadget.
@negative Note to self: never post videos on Engadget that are not in english. What the reviewer in that video says is that
a) the Samsung feels less fluid.
b) the colors are over saturated and cartoon like.
@AceMcLoud
Haha glad I couldn't understand him. Galaxy S looked very smooth.