iFixit Classifies Samsung Galaxy S4 as an Easy-to-Repair Phone
Unlike the HTC which has been classified by iFixit as a weak phone in terms of repairability, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S4 got good scores from the same repair site.
The S4, which is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 600 process that clocks at 1.9 GHz and features a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution display, got a repairability score of 8 out of 10 from iFixit.
The teardown site noted that the S4 has similar, if not almost identical construction to the S3 which makes it a pretty fixable device because of its easily replaceable battery and straightforward disassembly.
iFixit also pointed to several S4 components that contribute to its high repairability score such as the Synpatics S5000B touch-screen controller that works even with gloves and the 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with an LED flash and back-illuminated sensor that gives the phone owner the ability to record full 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second.
The site also cited the S4's motion capture capabilities that permit users to manipulate the gadget's screen even without touching it.
"The placement of the IR sensors on either side of the earpiece speaker explains how Samsung's new Air View/Air Gesture feature operates. By comparing IR light reflected from your hand into each of the sensors, the phone can track sideways motion as you gesture without touching the screen," iFixit said.
The iFixit team found 11 integrated circuits on the S4's motherboard and that the phone was held together by 11 screws using the standard Philips component.
Some kinks that the team discovered were many smaller components, even if these were modular, are stuck in their spot through the use of an adhesive, while the glass is fused to the display and the display frame which makes it more expensive to replace if the screen is shattered.
The site added, "Samsung is doing the right thing for their customer and the environment," with reference to the S4's replaceable battery.