The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a superstar among Android phones. It is fast, powerful and has amazing graphics. In all of the senior cellphones we’ve covered, we’ve never delved into smartphones of this caliber. Mainly, because many of them are so complicated. So, we’re looking at the Galaxy S4 in a different way: Is it a gadget seniors would want to use? We think many people would say ‘yes’.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is indeed a powerhouse; it can do it all. Which, in today’s world, is what people want. Text messaging, social networking, email, web browsing, watching videos, taking photos and movies … the Galaxy S4 does it all and does it well.
This phone has a good speaker and a loud speakerphone with personalized sound profiles. The display is crisp with incredible colors. By default, the on-screen keyboard leaves a little to be desired in terms of key size. (There are other keyboards that can be downloaded on Google Play that will increase key size.) The rear-facing camera takes amazing photos and videos. The front-facing camera works well in with Skype and other video chat programs. And, if you like games, the display and speed will impress you. The phone has a good battery life, even if streaming media.
Overall, the experience of using this phone is exhilarating; it’s fast and fun.
Samsung Galaxy S4 video
All the bells and whistles … and chaos
The sad part is that with everything that the Samsung Galaxy S4 can do, it is not very easy to navigate. There are menus, settings and options for everything you can imagine. There are features available that are very cool, but most people will never use most of them. The sheer number of screens you can go to and settings you can change is mind boggling.
It is flat out complicated.
So, why would you choose the Samsung Galaxy S4 as a senior?
Samsung Easy Mode
Some people who have a Galaxy S4 might think we’re crazy for even suggesting that it is fit as a senior cellphone. It is a little crazy, but it is an option due to one ingenious addition by Samsung: Easy Mode.
Easy Mode literally transforms the user interface on the phone into one that is easy to navigate and use. In 3 seconds, you can go from cluttered and complicated to ridiculously easy.
Once you turn on Easy Mode, you have 3 screens on your phone: contacts, tools and programs. Contacts can be added in a few clicks from your address book. Tools can be added or personalized. Programs can be added to the screen in 2 clicks.
This mode lives up to its name. It is incredibly simple to use. Easy Mode makes having a phone this powerful a joy.
Things to note
One thing you will want to know about this phone is it isn’t easy to hold. Like many new smartphones today, even though this phone is light and thin, it is slick and can easily slide from your grasp. If you opt to get this phone, you should probably look into getting a case that is easy to grip. You can find several options at most phone stores.
Also, many phones touted as being ‘senior-friendly’ have emergency features, such as an SOS button. This phone does not have that. (Although, as is people say today, “There’s an app for that.”)
Cellphone specifications
- Dimensions: 5.4 by 2.75 by .31 inches
- Weight: 4.6 ounces
- Display: 1,920-by-1,08, 5-inch Super AMOLED HD
- Operating System: Android 4.2.2
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Quad-CoreProcessor Speed: 1.9 GHz
- Camera Resolution: 13 MP Rear; 2 MP Front-Facing
- Available Integrated Storage: 16 GB microSD
- Network: GSM, UMTS, LTEBands: 850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100, 1700
- GPS
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
With all due respect, absolutely not. The buttons are too small, there are screens that have to swiptoe right, there are “invisible” buttons on the bottom left and right edge of the phone in black, and to get a phone call, you have to touch and swipe right at the same time to ch. I spend over an hour just trying to get my uncles shaky hands to touch the bottom middle button to turn on the phone, and then he couldn’t figure out the hold and swipe right motion in the small 1 inch section when someone calls. It’s useless to older people who are hard of seeing and can’t swipe right a one inch section. Oh and texts? Laughable. Don’t even try. Someone needs to invent a true phone for people in assisted living.