PriceBoth of these handsets are flagship devices so neither is what we would call a bargain, and in fact both occupy the very top of the market. If you want either a Galaxy S4 or an iPhone 5s on contract you will have to fork out $199 with any of the major carriers and then of course the monthly data tariff. Unlocked though Apple´s market cache makes the iPhone a more expensive option, with the base 16B model costing $649 and each subsequent jump in storage costing $100 more. The GS4 is hardly cheap either, but we shopped around a little and found one for a little as $550, although we have no doubt that the Samsung will depreciate far quicker than the iPhone.Carrier AvailabilityBoth devices are readily available on all the major carriers.Operating SystemPart of the reason why Apple and Samsung are such rivals is because the Korean company builds the Galaxy on the Android mobile platform, where as Apple uses its own in-house iOS. Both of these are the market leaders and a fandom has built up around both that borders on the obsessive for some tech fans. That means if you are an Android fan you will never own an iPhone, and likewise if you are an iOS fan you will never own an Android. For the rest of us, it really comes down to what we want in a mobile OS.The simple truth is that Android in its latest 4.4 KitKat guise and Apple´s iOS 7 are both amazing platforms in their own rights, but that does mean they are similar. Apple notoriously runs a completely closed system, which basically means you can do nothing to your device after market unless you want to void the warranty by Jail-breaking the iPhone. For a great many, the easy to use and closed system of iOS is a great way to have high end and simple mobile functionality without having to worry about security issues. Android on the other hand is completely open, meaning developers and you can do whatever is deemed fit to do, including hacking the device, having the control over its files and system, and so on. Android is the open response to Apple´s restrictive platform, but does come with more security risks and lower quality control.While Android has become less fragmented, the truth is the platform is still a little all over the place. If you are already on Android then the Galaxy S4 will be a stunning way to experience the platform at its best, but if you are not familiar with Android we would probably still recommend the iPhone. Apple also has the formidable App Store, which simply runs rings around the improving but sometimes frustrating Google Play Store. The iPhone now also comes with Apple´s iWorks suite of apps free, meaning productivity through Numbers, Pages, and Keynote is possible at no extra cost.DesignIf you are paying hundreds of dollars for a product you at the very least want it to look good and feel premium. Both the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5s deliver the former, but only one of these devices nails the latter. The S4 looks perfectly passable in photos or even in hand, it is an imposing handset that looks slick with its thin bezels and large dimensions. However, Samsung makes the mistake of building the GS4 out of fairly low grade polycarbonate plastic, and it really shows when the device is placed against more premium offerings. We love some plastic phones, like Nokia´s Lumia range, but the GS4 loses that air of flagship quality thanks to its poor construction materials. The iPhone 5s on the other hand is a vision in high end design and ergonomics, boasting an aluminum unibody, the handset delivers that sense of prestige that we expect at this level. We could argue that the iPhone design is getting a little tired, but at this moment it blows the Galaxy S4 out of the water.DisplayThe Galaxy S4 has one of the best screens we have ever seen on a smartphone, and we would probably put it as the fourth best on the market. The only devices that we think have better panels are the Galaxy Note 3, the LG G2, and unfortunately for Samsung the iPhone 5s. The Retina Display on Apple´s device is a stunning panel that delivers some of the sweetest color reproduction we have seen, and the clarity and detail is to die for. However, while the iPhone has the better display, the GS4 has the better screen. Let us explain.The Retina Display is a triumph, but Apple´s stubborn persistence in keeping the iPhone at 4.3-inches kills it as a true panel for media consumption. Sure you can watch movies and be blown away, but why would you want a smaller screen if you can get a bigger one? Luckily Apple answers that by making the iPhone 5s amazing in other aspects, but the screen size is almost a deal breaker for us, and we imagine it will be for many others too.The screen on the Galaxy S4 is a stunner too, again delivering amazing detail and clarity, although the warm colors get washed out sometimes. It is also very, very bright, and at 5-inches it is much better for sitting down and watching a TV show or Movie.PerformanceThis is the one area where it becomes clear that the iPhone 5s was released six months after the Galaxy S4. The Samsung handset has a very good Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.9GHz quad-core processor, but it is not as good as Apple´s innovative and blistering A7 64-bit chip. Indeed, the S4´s chipset is even old for flagship Androids (newer devices are running the Snapdragon 800), but nevertheless it remains a potent processor, and one that day to day will run without a hiccup. Gaming and multitasking are easy thanks to the quick chip, but we know that there is more power available now and Samsung will up the ante again when the Galaxy S5 is released. The A7 power station in the iPhone 5s is the first 64-bit smartphone chipset and it is blazingly quick, able to gobble up any kind of intensive task you throw at it, including delivering arguably the best gaming performance in the mobile sector. The A7 also wins points for its innovation, and if you want proof you will see Samsung scramble to put a similar chip into the Galaxy S5.CameraWe are so impressed with the camera quality on both of these handsets that picking an out and out winner is tough. On one hand you have Samsung upping the Megapixel count with a 13MP lens, and on the other Apple with its less-is- more 8MP lens. Of course, on paper the Galaxy S4 should have this sewn up, but the truth is the smaller pixel count means little and both of these snappers are equal in delivering very good shots that pick up detail and accurate color. It is also worth noting that both the iPhone 5s and the GS4 have enough features and quality UI to give standalone point and shoot cameras a run for their money. However, while both cameras are fantastic, they are not as good as some of the market leading efforts from Nokia.StorageSamsung is the clear winner here. The iPhone 5s comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions, but none have expandable storage. You have to pay a very high premium for storage on an iPhone ($100 for each step) and that 16GB base model is just not enough. 16GB is also available as the base for the Galaxy S4, while a 32GB is also possible, but the clinching factor is that the Galaxy has expandable storage up to 64GB.BatteryAgain the Samsung wins because the Galaxy S4 has a very competent power pack that lives up to the higher end smartphones on the market. Unfortunately the iPhone 5s is a little less consistent and drains fast under heavy usage, but does improve when not being used.SummaryBoth of these handsets are extremely good and whichever you buy will deliver some of the best smartphone features currently available. The Galaxy S4 does everything very well, but sadly we did not get that something special from the device, while the iPhone 5s delivers that in spades. We are not sure the Galaxy S4 is even the best Samsung device (we prefer the Note 3), while it is definitely not the best Android smartphone. The iPhone 5s however is one of the very best devices on the market, and that´s why if you can stretch your budget and make do with less screen real estate, you should go for it.(tgreview.com) ANN.Az