Copy of Samsung Galaxy S4. How to distinguish the original Samsung Galaxy S4 from a fake Technical characteristics of the Samsung galaxy s4 smartphone - Chinese copy

The topic of this article is a hackneyed one, but nevertheless, I would still like to touch upon it again, summarizing the available information. The fact is that Chinese counterfeits of popular expensive smartphones are increasingly flooding the market. Some fakes are distinguished by high quality workmanship, almost complete identity in appearance, and can only be identified by small details.

The market for counterfeits is online stores. The price for them is traditionally much lower - not a thousand rubles, but 2 or more times. This is the first thing that should immediately alert you.

Physical differences

Screen edging. The original Galaxy S4 has a display that doesn't have much bezel around it. Clones often have a large space between the display and the actual edge of the smartphone.

Gaps in the housing

Home button below the screen.

The original Galaxy S4 has a pristine white chrome piece of plastic in the shape of the Home button, and it's right in the middle of the space below the display. Clones often have a Home button just slightly below the screen and sometimes the button even has a different appearance. Clones have problems with button placement. In the original version it is placed exactly in the center of the bottom of the phone; in clones the shift is 1-2mm.
Color of plastic on the front panel. For a real Galaxy S4, the white color may have several bluish tint in certain lighting, while the copy shows some kind of cold blue color, closer to gray-blue. Also pay attention to the size and matching of the eyes for the frontal camera, light sensors and indicators - they should be different sizes. For the Chinese they are often the same.
Opening the back panel. First of all, pay attention to the nameplate and the print quality and size of the Samsung logo on it. Pay attention to the location of the connectors and screws.

Pay attention to screws, plugs, stickers

Compare the nameplates carefully

Left - original, right - fake

Let's compare batteries:

On the right is a fake

Hardware filling

Chinese clones are made on the basis of other chipsets and processors and have a more primitive screen matrix and camera. The original device uses a quad-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T, 1900 MHz (in older Exynos 5 Octa 5410 models). The PowerVR SGX 544MP3 chip (Adreno 320 in GT-I9505) is used as a video accelerator. The amount of RAM is 2 GB. Clones most often use cheap MTK or Richtek chips, less often Exynos.

You can study the hardware and detect it using test utilities CPU-Z, GPU-Z and AnTuTu Benchmark. The first two allow you to view the model of the processor and graphics core, respectively, and the last one allows you to test performance. The performance of a real device is more than 28,000 points, the Chinese usually have less.

MTK processor and reduced amount of RAM visible in CPU-Z

Dial *#0*#. If you get to the service menu, then it is either a very good fake (or an original device manufactured for another region) or an original.
You can also install programs Genuine Galaxy - Phone Info or Phone INFO ★Samsung★, which will show all the information about the body stuffing and even tell you whether it is genuine or not.
Functions often do not work on clones NFC, gesture or eye control. Don't forget to check!
As for the camera, the quality of the pictures is much lower, there is not a large range of settings, and, often, you cannot choose the quality and resolution of the photo.

Software

Of course, the clone runs on a very similar customized Android, but the version is not the same. The original comes with Android 4.2.2 ( Jelly Bean), while in the Build number information you can see a mismatch between the number and the name of the OS version. In addition, the original device comes with a proprietary shell TouchWiz 5.0 (Nature UX), which is “visible to the eye.”

On the right is a very high-quality fake with a substitution of the IMEI and serial number of the device. The only difference is the OS version - 4.2.9

And here the OS version is correct, but the Build number gives a fake:

Build number contains Gingerbread, which corresponds to Android 2.3 OS. At the same time, the above version of the OS is correct. Not a bad fake.

And here we see the fake Baseband version (version of the communication module):

Well, the guys didn't bother and instead of an inscription like I9505XXUFNA1, we see the ugly name of the processor :)

Note : also, an indirect way of verification can be comparison IMEI And Serial number devices. At least the IMEI on the box, in the firmware and on the nameplates must match. Dial *#06# and you will see the IMEI on the screen. You can check the authenticity of the IMEI on the website http://www.imei.info/ or by calling Samsung technical support.

Even if the IMEI turns out to be genuine (Samsung released a device of the same model with the same IMEI for a particular region), this does not mean that the device is genuine. The fact is that the Chinese have learned to flash real, but stolen IMEI and serial numbers into their firmware. So such a check cannot be considered complete.

There are many varieties of copies of Samsung phones made by Chinese craftsmen. These included models with a dual-core processor; there were also phones running Java, known for the fact that the cash balance on these phones was constantly decreasing thanks to skillful firmware.
This copy is one of the best, the characteristics stated by the seller on AliExpress are impressive. But more about them later, first about the appearance and packaging.
The packaging of the Chinese Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 is impeccable. In a branded box, the same as the original, made to look like wood, a charger, headphones, a stylus, two batteries, a protective film, and instructions in English are neatly laid out. The seller also provided an additional case.

The phone itself is made with high quality, the back cover can be removed and put on tightly, there are no squeaks during operation. The thickness of the smartphone is 7.9 mm, dimensions 136.6 X 69.8 mm. Feels good in the hand.

The diagonal size of the phone is 4.8 inches. A real Korean Samsung Galaxy S4 has 5 inches. The screen of the Chinese smartphone makes a good impression - the brightness is good, the viewing angle is almost 90 degrees. The seller's stated screen resolution is 1900 by 1020.

Other characteristics that were on the seller's website:

Operating system Android 4.2.2

Network support 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: WCDMA 850/2100MHZ

Processor MTK6589 Quad

Memory 16GB ROM + 2GB RAM

Dual cameras, front camera: 2.0MP, rear camera: 12MP with autofocus and flash.

Battery - 3000 mAh (2 pcs included)

Number of SIM cards - 1 (micro-SIM)

According to the AnTuTu Benchmark performance test, which was preinstalled initially, the smartphone showed 10340. When trying to view other characteristics, the program generated an error. It was not possible to verify the full actual characteristics of the device with this test, as with others. The Chinese did their best - the Android firmware blocked the AnTuTu Benchmark and Basemark OS II programs, and CPU-Z produced the following results, shown in the photo below:

Processor - eight-core Exynos 5 Octa 5410, screen resolution 1080x1920, Android 4.2.2, PowerVR SGX 544MP video chip, RAM 1860 MB, internal memory 1.27 GB.
Online verification of CPU-Z showed an unknown ARM Cortex-A7 processor, screen resolution 800 by 480, RAM 469 MB, internal memory - 1.3 GB, video accelerator Mail-400 MP.

The latter characteristics are more similar to the truth, the resolution of the cameras could not be determined, the quality of photo and video shooting can be assessed from the photographs and video below.

The Chinese copy of the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-i9500 smartphone is equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS navigator, FM radio. There is a gravity sensor, a light sensor, and there are also gesture controls, just like in the real Galaxy S4.

In general, in terms of appearance, build quality and screen, the phone makes a good impression considering the price on Aliexpress of 4,000 rubles.

Having been fired up by the idea of buying a brand new fashionable smartphone, for example Samsung S4, many people wonder what is better, buying an original or a fake from a well-known brand? Currently, Chinese manufacturers have increased the pace of production and improved the quality of portable equipment so much that well-known brands can no longer keep up with them. Moreover, the price is attractive. This happened with another Chinese copy of the latest smartphone model from Samsung - the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is distinguished by good build quality, a sufficient set of functions, performance and an affordable price. If a copy of S4 is in some way inferior to the original, then its low price compensates for this, because buy a copy of Samsung Galaxy S4 It can be three times cheaper.

Technical characteristics of the Samsung galaxy s4 smartphone - Chinese copy

1) 3G and GSM network, Band (WCDMA): 2100/850MHZ (HSDPA); Band (GSM): 850/900/1800/1900MHZ

2) Two SIM cards

3) 5.0 inch HD capacitive IPS, multi-touch (5-point) touch screen, screen resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD 720)

4) Support GPS+AGPS, WiFi function, WIFI: 802.11b/g wireless internet

5) Android 4.2.1 version

6) CPU: MT6589 1.2GHz Quad Core, ROM: 4GB, RAM: 1GB

7) 12 megapixel photo, autofocus with flash, 3 megapixel front camera

8) Gravity sensor support

9) Support Bluetooth, FM radio

10) Support MP3 and MP4 player, support 1080p HD video broadcast

11) Multimedia Format:

A) Image format: JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG

B) Video format: MP4, AVI, 3GP, MKV

C) Music format: AAC, AMR, MP3, OGG, WAV

D) MS Office format: Word, Excel, PPT

E) E-book Format: TXT

E) live wallpaper support: Yes

D) Games: Android APK and Java

12) Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS

13) Connectivity: GPRS/WAP, 2 x SIM slot, TF card slot, Micro USB host, 3.5mm audio output, Microphone, Loudspeaker

15) Support TF card up to 64G

16) support information storage function

17) Software support: Gmail, Documents To Go, Search, Browser, Talk, wireless input devices, Flash Player wireless update, Backup and Restore, Google

18) Other functions: Clock, Calendar, Calculator, E-book, Alarm clock, Cell broadcast, To do, Notebook

19) Battery: 3.7V/2600mAh battery

20) standby time: 120-180h, talk time: 120-150 minutes

23) Dimensions: 140 * 72 * 8.8mm

The package includes: USB cable, user manual, USB charger, headphones, two Li-Ion batteries, leather case.

To personally verify this, the testing laboratory of the Tekhnoobzor website purchased such a phone for testing and comparison. A copy of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is externally indistinguishable from the original. The presence of backlashes or gaps between parts of the body is completely absent. The 5" touch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels supports 16 million colors and 5 simultaneous touches. The color rendition and image clarity of the IPS matrix are at a decent level.

There is a 3-megapixel webcam on the front, and a 12-megapixel camera on the back cover, which has an LED flash (also a flashlight), takes photos and videos.

The smartphone is powered by a 4-core Cortex A7 processor based on the MTK 6589 platform. The Android 4.2.1 operating system operates with 1 GB of RAM. The manufacturer has allocated 8 gigabytes of memory, but you can easily increase the volume to 64 Gb. A standard microSDHS card of the 10th speed class suited it perfectly.

Test in AnTutu scored based on the results 12554 points. This is not much inferior to the original, and most likely you will hardly notice any loss in performance. But the sound, or rather the volume, really let us down. In such a large case it was possible to fit something more powerful. In terms of volume, it is inferior even to many ordinary mobile phones, so it is better to listen to music through headphones, or in nature in silence.

True, the headphones turned out to be of extremely high quality. Beautifully detailed highs and nice bass. They have a call answer button, since they are also a headset.

The battery, despite its impressive size, holds a charge poorly. After just 2 hours of playing in 3D mode, the charge drops by a quarter. And with standard use of all functions, the battery will last for 2-3 days. This is quite small, since when testing other Chinese smartphones with similar technical parameters, we came across copies with at least 4 days of operation.

The battery charges in about 5 hours using a regular 5 volt 1 ampere charger.

To summarize, we can say that no one can tell by appearance whether it is a copy or an original, and the phone’s hardware shows no less good operating speed. And if you are not a fan of “white” devices, then there is absolutely no point in overpaying the extra $300.

For modern people, a smartphone is not just a convenient gadget that can be used to contact family and friends, but also an indicator of status and a tool for work. When choosing a smartphone, you need to pay attention to its functionality and technical characteristics. As for choosing a manufacturer, the gadget market offers both original models from well-known companies and their Chinese copies, which practically do not differ in the range of functions they perform and their external design.

The Chinese-made Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 model is not inferior in technical characteristics to the original phone from the Korean company Samsung. Some find the Chinese version even more attractive due to its reasonable price aspect. In all other respects, the Chinese Galaxy communicator is a complete copy of the flagship.

Advantages of the phone

First of all, it is worth noting that the smartphone runs on a 4-core MTK 6589 Quad-Core 1.2 GHz processor. High speed of command execution is realized thanks to the Android operating system version 4.2.2. and video accelerator Power VR SGX544 Open GL ES2.0.
The smartphone’s 2GB RAM allows the system to quickly respond to user requests, and the 8GB built-in memory easily copes with the “trunk” function, where content of any size can be stored. The gadget also supports Micro SD cards, the volume of which does not exceed 64 GB.
Since one of the important functional elements of a smartphone is its screen and battery, the Chinese Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 can safely boast of both. A 5-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels supports 16 million colors.
Another advantage of the screen is the modern Gorilla Glass coating, which meets 3rd generation standards and resists mechanical scratches and fingerprints from touches. A 2600 mAh battery allows you to stay connected for 72 hours in standby mode, and in active talk mode the smartphone can work up to 15 hours.
A copy from China of the Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 can please all lovers of photos and videos with two cameras - the front photo camera is 12.8 megapixels with a maximum resolution of 3264x2448 pixels and has smile autofocus functions, an LED flash and a stabilizer. It is worth noting that photographs taken on a smartphone are not inferior to professional ones in terms of processing quality. The second front camera for video is capable of taking up to 30 frames per second at a maximum resolution of 1280x720 pixels, and the recorded video will be in HD format.
The built-in voice control function opens up new capabilities of the gadget for its owner using the necessary sensors, namely an accelerometer, barometer and others. The list of built-in office programs that allow you to use the gadget as a working tool includes a file manager, Google maps, GoogleTalk, a planner and currency converter, and much more.

In addition to this set of applications, the smartphone can also be an excellent platform for powerful 3D games.

Video review

Dear friends! Recently, my friends from China sent me an interesting gift, or rather, I ordered it myself. Then the idea for writing a review article was born. To avoid comments, I’ll say right away that I bought it on Aliexpress. This inexpensive version of a famous world brand is not much inferior to the original. But that's just my opinion. Let's talk about it in more detail.

Number models: s4 Brand: Missing Unlocked: Yes Display Color: Color Design: Rectangular monoblock Number of cores: 4 Quad Core Signal parameters: GSM/WCDMA Screen resolution: 1280×720 Screen type: Capacitive Screen matrix type: IPS Screen size: 5.0 inches Number of SIM cards: 1 SIM Card RAM: 1G Processor: MTK6589 with 1.6GHz core frequency Talk time: 6-8 hours Built-in memory: 4G Color: White / Black Operating system: Android 4.2 Functional features: GPS Navigation, Email, FM radio, MP3 Playback, touchscreen, QWERTY layout, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Memory Card slots, Video player, gravity sensor, front + rear cameras, messages Condition: New Battery charge (mAh): 2600 mAh Language support: Russian
Dimensions: 137mm*70mm*8mm Camera: 9mp Weight: 155g

After the description, you can immediately move on to the tests. In terms of its characteristics, it is identical to the original, yes, it may be hard to believe, but the quality is not much worse than the branded analogue. For example, 4 cores with frequencies of 1.6 GHz fully satisfy the gadget’s need for running the most demanding applications. The only drawback of the Chinese Samsung s4, like the original one, is the RAM capacity of 1 GB. Well, with such characteristics, it’s asking to improve this parameter to 2 GB. The 9MP camera takes good photos, just look at them. But the colors could be brighter, although this may be because I'm comparing with 13MP cameras. The phone has two versions, I think the white one is better, but for comparison I’ll give you both.

Copy of Samsung Galaxy S4 It differs from the original only in the absence of an inscription; otherwise, the Chinese version cannot be distinguished with the naked eye. Moreover, the 5-inch diagonal once again confirms the premium status of the device, giving the owner a pleasant feeling from using this device. The phone is very thin, only 8 mm.

You have to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages yourself. But I will give exactly what I personally liked. The first is its appearance, thinness, lightness, ease of use, support for the Russian language and domestic communication standards. The second is cost. This model cost less than $200 at the time of my purchase. Where else can you buy such a gadget for such a low price? Considering that now the original costs 700-800 dollars.

The seller who sold me the Chinese copy was not chosen by chance. I chose the highest rating first to be on the safe side. And then I read what was included. They sent me 2 batteries of 2600 mAh each, headphones, a charger, a cable for connecting to a computer, an 8GB card and a phone case. I think it’s not a sin to pay so much money for this, considering that other stores save on ingredients. They may even sell you without them. Another plus is that delivery by Singapore Post is included. The phone took me exactly 20 days.

For dessert, I offer a comparison of the phone with an iPhone.