iFixit tears into the Samsung Galaxy S4
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It's simple to crack open the Samsung Galaxy S4 and peer inside.
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While we've been starting to test the camera capabilities of the brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 review unit we just got our hands on (don't miss our super shootout which puts the S4 up against the HTC One, iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia 920), the folks at iFixit.com have been tearing theirs apart.
The iFixit crew cracked open the S4 to see what its inner workings tell us about the latest flagship phone from Samsung, and how easily it may be repaired. The S4 came through iFixit's teardown with flying colors, receiving an 8 out of 10 repairability score for its replaceable battery and straightforward disassembly.
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The removable battery is a boon to customers and the environment.
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The rear-facing camera boasts 13 megapixels.
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The 2-megapixel front-facing camera is utilized by the S4's new Dual Shot mode that lets users insert a smaller-sized image or video into the primary image.
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Amongst iFixit's findings:
- As expected, the device is quite similar to the previous model, the Galaxy S3.
- You can trick the S4's Smart Pause feature. This new function detects if you've taken your face away from the screen during video playback, and if so, pauses the action for you. The iFixit team found a photo of your face will also do the trick.
- A removable battery ups the S4's repairability factor.
- Samsung has opted for a rear-facing camera boasting 13 megapixels. It also sports the now-standard LED flash, a back-illuminated sensor, and the ability to record full 1080p HD video at 30 fps.
- The daughterboard is home to a full-featured micro USB port. With MHL and USB OTG support, users can use this port for HDMI output and USB peripherals in addition to charging and transferring data.
- The touchscreen controller, a Synaptics S5000B, is hiding behind the screen. This chip is responsible for the S4's super-sensitive touchscreen, which even works with gloves.
You can check out the full teardown on iFixit's website. We'll share our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Connect soon, until then, see our first hands-on review of the device.
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