The Samsung Galaxy S III was the hit phone of 2012, and it continues to be one of the most popular handsets of the first half of 2013. Samsung is riding this wave with the Galaxy S4 .

Fabulous 5-inch screen; Packed with high-end features; LTE and 802.11ac Wi-Fi support; HDMI-out via Micro-USB with MHL support; Surprisingly good battery life

Expensive; Many of the proximity- and gesture-based features feel gimmicky; Limited internal storage (16GB) on review unit

Nearly half a year after its initial release, the Samsung Galaxy S4 ($199.99/16GB with 2-year contract) remains a top option on every carrier it's available on. The blinding number of features and impressive performance keep the S4 at the front of the pack.

Dizzying number of features; Incredibly fast; Ships with Android 4.2.2; Relatively small for its display size; Spectacular call quality

Limited storage on 16GB model; Low-light camera performance could be better

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is now two and a half years old, and not only was it replaced by the Korean firm's 2014 flagship offering, the Galaxy S5 , but the Samsung Galaxy S6 has also been on the market since March this year. That means that the Galaxy S4 is now feeling a little long in the tooth.

The simple truth is that the Galaxy S4 and high-end rivals the HTC One and iPhone 5 are all excellent, highly recommended phones. The One and iPhone 5 have stronger design points of view with focused, flagship features. The HTC One is about Blinkfeed, Watch, and Zoe.

A blinding number of features; Incredibly fast; Ships with Android 4.2.2; Relatively small for its display size

Plastic body; Low light photo performance isn't so hot

Samsung has been on a winning streak lately, producing some top-notch handsets and winning acclaim around the world. The newest model in the four year strong Galaxy range has certainly been hyped up, and this handset now grabs almost as much attention as Apple's coveted iPhone.

Very fast performer; Two days battery life possible from a 4G phone is excellent; Fast virtual keyboard; Works as a remote control

Unique camera modes aren't easy to use; Finger-less touch modes need a lot of work; Still a very plastic phone; Can't change the bottom icon dock

It is an amazing phone with creative software and hardware advancements. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is beautifully crafted in perfect shape and big screen. This is a good buy for people eyeing high-end smartphone with all latest advancements.

this handset is an upgrade from my operator. i did have the s2 for 18 mths, and i loved that handset, this is a lot better. picture quality is amazing (13mp cam) the net connectiont is a lot quicker even on 3g. its slightly more wider (due to the larger screen) but overall a spot on handset!!

The Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones is a juggernaut; like the iPhone, the next generation will sell well based simply on brand loyalty, trust and familiarity. Even so, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a lot to offer, and though I wasn't overwhelmed with love for the Galaxy S III, the S4 is seriously...

Huge display in a not so huge phone; excellent camera; removable battery; entertaining new features

Feature overload; only 9 gigs of internal storage on 16 gig model; still slippery

updated by Evan Kypreos - 29/04/2014 The Samsung Galaxy S4 was released as a high-end powerhouse back in 2013, but has since been superseded by the superb Galaxy S5 , which was followed itself by the Galaxy S6 .

Stunning 5-inch Full HD screen; Vast array of features; Powerful quad-core processor

Plastic design; A little bit expensive; Limited storage space

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the ultimate kitchen-sink Android phone for 2013, and MetroPCS brings it with low monthly rates. (4.5 out of 5) Editor's Choice Pros A blinding number of features Incredibly fast Spectacular call quality Cons Plastic body Low-light photo performance could be better...

A blinding number of features; Incredibly fast; Spectacular call quality

Plastic body; Low-light photo performance could be better; Expensive; up front