Samsung Galaxy S4
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until April 2016 · Buy-by April 2014
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~2-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy S4 should be supported until around April 2016. Buying it today still gets you about -10.1 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
A landmark best-seller that pushed full HD AMOLED to the masses, now a relic well past support.
Pros
- Removable battery and microSD slot
- Light, pocketable 130g body
- Sharp full HD AMOLED for its time
Cons
- Support ended around 2016, no patches since
- Plastic build and dated Android 5 ceiling
- Only 2GB RAM, sluggish with modern apps
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.0-inch Super AMOLED, 1080 x 1920 (FHD), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (US) / Exynos 5410 Octa (intl) |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 13MP |
| front | 2MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 2,600 mAh |
| Charging | 5W wired (microUSB 2.0) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 136.6 × 69.8 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 130 g |
| Materials | Plastic body with removable back cover |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 4.2.2 with TouchWiz at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm jack |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy S4 get updates?
Updates ended around 2016 with Android 5 Lollipop as its final major version. It has had no security support for many years.
Does the Galaxy S4 have a removable battery?
Yes. The plastic back pops off, letting you swap the 2600mAh battery and add a microSD card.
Is the Galaxy S4 still worth owning in 2026?
Mostly as a nostalgic collectible. Its outdated software and missing patches make it impractical as a daily phone.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.