Samsung Galaxy S4: 10 Things We Want

For Samsung to repeat its spectacular Galaxy S III success with the Galaxy S4, the S4 will have to have more than compelling marketing. It needs to rock. While Samsung can get a certain distance by plastering the world with blue posters, the Galaxy S4 needs to offer some killer features that convince existing Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 owners, especially, to find reasons to switch.

My list of desires is pretty common-sensical stuff; if the Galaxy S4 has any big surprises, I'm willing to be surprised. One thing you won't see below is the much-rumored eye-tracking software, because it feels to me like a silly gimmick. Samsung has been loading these kinds of alternative control schemes into the Galaxy S line for a while, things like tilt-to-scroll, and most people I know don't take advantage of them.

Rather, for me it's all about scoring on the basics and consolidating Samsung's strengths. The company makes great screens, so the new phone should have a great screen. The company has a broad range of TVs, cameras, and other CE products, so the new phone should interact with those effortlessly. And, of course, it should run Android speedily with long battery life.

Take a look at my list of desired Galaxy S4 features and add your own in the comments at the end of this story. Then come back on Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Eastern to see if your Galaxy dreams come true.

For more on the Galaxy S4, see our guide to the current Galaxy universe, the results of a new study on the best LTE networks for the Galaxy S4 or the latest Galaxy S4 rumors out of China.

1. Ante Up

I'll lump all the penny-ante items in here: a 1080p display, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and a fast processor. These are all big trends of 2013, and they won't move the needle. They're just what Samsung will need to not get laughed out of Radio City Music Hall when faced with competition like the HTC One, at right.

2. S Voice and Google Now Merger

Google Now is potentially the best thing to come to the Android platform in a year or two. Samsung needs to work with Google's predictive-search function, not against it. Extend Google Now with S Voice (shown here) or get out of the way.

3. Better TV Experience

Samsung is the only major smartphone maker that also builds TVs, giving it unique access to the living room. It's been working with Peel to create an enhanced remote-control experience on its tablets (shown here), and it's been plugging along with unifying its smartphone and TV interfaces. Samsung needs to make a real breakthrough here: for instance, a unified program guide that combines DVRed and streaming content, or a truly effortless way to stream content on a TV.

4. Camera Quality, Not Megapixels

I'm actually disheartened by the rumors of a 13-megapixel camera on the Galaxy S4, because it's almost impossible to make a good 13-megapixel camera for a phone. The sensors are just too small, and anyway, who wants to have to process 13-megapixel images? Nokia and HTC have the right idea here: what we really want is a perfect 5-megapixel image that's noiseless and looks great in low light, not a grainy, noisy 13-megapixel shot. (That's a Galaxy S III shot at right.)

5. Dual-Window Multitasking

The multitasking mode on the Galaxy Note series really improves productivity, and gives phone makers a compelling reason to have these steadily expanding screens. LG's latest phones can run three apps on the screen at once (shown at right). Samsung shouldn't bring everything over from the Galaxy Note, but multasking is a good feature to share.

6. SD Card Slot, Removable Battery

One of the things people love about Samsung, and one of the ways it differentiates itself from Apple, is that it isn't afraid of removable parts. Many people love their Samsung phones because they can carry a spare battery or upgrade the memory, and Samsung shouldn't break from that. Of course, balancing user extensability with solid build quality will be a struggle, but that's how you stay No. 1.

7. As Many Bands as Possible

The profusion of frequency bands and mobile technologies we're seeing across the world is getting ridiculous. There's also a lot of buzz around unlocking cell phones here in the U.S. Is it too much to dream of a single device that somehow can be moved across all the major U.S. carriers? (Yes.) But still: imagine the public buzz and economy of scale that could be achieved by a single every-band, CDMA/HSPA/LTE phone. (Sigh.)

8. Solid Quality Build

Samsung's phones have a tendency to feel a bit cheap because the company uses thin, flexible plastic casings. Motorola, HTC, and Apple have all gone for more exotic, premium materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, and glass (as in the iPhone 5 shown here), which make their devices feel like they're worth the $650 you'll pay for them off contract. If Samsung's sticking with plastic, maybe it can go with a classy polycarbonate like Nokia uses.

9. Less Bezel, Narrower Device.

The big difference between Samsung's Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lines is that the Galaxy S is designed for one-handed use, while the Galaxy Note is more of a two-handed device. (That's one of the usability cues created by the Note's S Pen.) Samsung is making the S4's screen bigger - 5 inches, to be exact. So the company needs to take cues from HTC's Droid DNA (shown versus a Galaxy S III here) and LG's Optimus G Pro and make sure the phone doesn't get too wide. It's all about having the most screen you can comfortably hold in one hand, no matter how big the hand.

10. Battery Life

As phones get bigger and we use them more, the top complaint I hear from readers is about battery life. Motorola socked a giant battery into its Razr Maxx. LG says it has new battery technology that can materially improve battery life, shown here in the Optimus F7 phone at right. What can Samsung offer to promise all-day battery life on a large-screen LTE smartphone: a low-power processor? A new, lower-power screen technology? Smart power-management software? I'd love to see.

11. PCMag Poll

App loading...