Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S4

WhistleOut Staff Writer

Updated 09 July 2025

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Since its release in April 2014, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has been surpassed by newer models of the Galaxy S series. The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the Galaxy S5's release.

You can upgrade to a newer Galaxy phone, or you may still be able to find refurbished models of this device through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.

The Galaxy S5 is set to hit shelves on April 11. At the same time the Galaxy S4 is bound to take a dive in price, so it's important to know which phone is the best option. Is it worth forking out the extra cash for the newer of the two, or are they similar enough that the S4 will handle your needs at a lower price?

The short summary is: the Galaxy S5 is worth the extra cash if you're after the best experience available. The all-important “BUT” is that it’s probably not worth it if you already have the S4, or if you're not too fussed on having the best phone on the market.

	Galaxy S5	Galaxy S4
Display	5.1 inch 1080p (432ppi)	5 inch 1080p (441ppi)
Display tech	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED
Android version	4.4 KitKat	4.2.2, 4.3, 4.4.2 (depending on region)
Camera	16MP	13MP
CPU	Quad-core 2.5GHz	Quad-core 1.9GHz
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	16GB/32GB	16GB/32GB
MicroSD	Yes	Yes
USB	3.0	2.0
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n/ac	802.11 b/g/n/ac
Battery	2800mAh	2600mAh
4G LTE	Cat4	Cat3
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 320
Dimensions	142mm x 72.5mm x 8.1mm	136.6mm x 69.8mm x 7.9mm
Weight	145g	130g
Water resistant?	Yes, IP67 certified	No

The important differences

There aren’t too many huge differences between the Galaxy S5 and the S4. This year seems to be a very straightforward upgrade with minor improvements to CPU speed, graphics processing, camera, and battery size. The Galaxy S4, surprisingly, is the lighter and thinner of the two.

The primary reason we’re excited about the S5 is its water resistance. With a rating of IP67 it’s as water-resistant as last year’s durable Galaxy S4 Active. IP67 means that it can be submerged in 1m (3 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes. You can’t go swimming with it, but it’s not going to see much damage from an encounter with the kitchen sink.

The S5 also ships with Cat4 4G support. Cat4 (Category 4) 4G is a faster form of 4G than the current standard, called Cat3. Most carriers still don’t have Cat4 support or, if they do, it’s not available across their entire 4G network. Eventually, this is bound to change over the next 2 years, but it’s not going to be a big factor at launch.

The Galaxy S5 is sure to be a great phone, just like the S4 was before it. The changes introduced with the S5 are an acceptable step forward between the two generations, but not really enough to warrant an upgrade from last year’s model. Unless you really, really want a water-resistant phone.

If you have neither, then it's up to you which one you go for. The S5 will give you the best, latest Android phone on the market. The Galaxy S4 will provide you with a great smartphone, but with less future-proofed set of hardware for a lower price. Just make sure you wait till the price goes down before buying one.