Interest in Samsung Galaxy S4 It keeps growing, and when technical clues appear, it's crucial to analyze them closely to understand what's behind each figure. Benchmarks don't just provide numbers: advance architecture, possible configurations and even the energy efficiency approach that the manufacturer is seeking.
Now, finally, the new rumors about the future are beginning to be filtered with a dropper Samsung Galaxy S4. In this case, what we have found is a benchmark test performed at GT-I9400, which corresponds to the fourth Samsung Galaxy S. It lets us drop some information about its graphics card, and it seems that it confirms a very interesting detail about its processor, such as that it would carry two, one more powerful, and another secondary, less powerful, which is I would use to reduce battery consumption.
Specifically, the benchmark that has been performed on this device has been a Nenamark2. This has allowed us to obtain two precise data, from which we can deduce a few more things. On the one hand, we know that the graphics chip It will be a Mali 400, which was expected. However, the details about the processor are much more interesting, as they confirm some of the rumored information about it.
To begin with, the test indicates that you have reached a clock rate of 1,2 GHz. Well, this data, if true, would be really bad, since it is a very low figure for a device destined to be at the top of the market. However, it fits perfectly with the theory that the new Galaxy S4 will come with eight process cores, on two different processors. On the one hand we would have the quad-core Exynos with Cortex A15 architecture, which would reach a clock frequency of 1,8 GHz, and on the other hand we would have the quad-core Exynos with Cortex A7 architecture, which would reach a clock frequency of 1,2, 2 GHz. This last processor would be the one that the device was using in the Nenamark15 test carried out. The objective would be that it be used when trying to obtain the greatest autonomy, spending less battery. The Cortex AXNUMX would be used in times of high technical demand, such as when playing high-quality video games.
What Nenamark2 measures and why GPU data may vary
Nenamark2 stresses the graphics section with 2D/3D scenes and reports fps and resolution. In early leaks a GPU may appear as Mali 400 for two reasons: either it is a prototype with reference hardware, or the driver ID does not reflect the final silicon. Two approaches coexisted in commercial S4 units: a version with Adreno 320 (Snapdragon) and version with PowerVR SGX544MP3 (Exynos 5 Octa). That the listing shows Mali at this stage suggests a preliminary test profile and does not contradict the fact that the final product opts for other more powerful GPUs.
Big.Little CPU and smart power management
The reading of 1,2 GHz fits with the philosophy big.LITTLE: quad-core Cortex-A7 efficient for light tasks and four Cortex-A15 High performance for heavy loads. This design allows switching between clusters and maintaining autonomy without sacrificing power when needed. In the variant 5 Exynos Octa The A15s are around 1,6-1,8 GHz and the A7s around 1,2 GHz; in the alternative with Snapdragon 600, Samsung turned to cores Krait 300 at high frequencies and an Adreno 320 GPU, offering very even performance between versions.
Synthetic performance: CPU, GPU, and browser
Beyond Nenamark2, the test benches that best contextualize the S4 are AnTuTu y Quadrant for overall performance and CPU, BenchmarkPi y Linpack for calculation, and Geekbench to compare between platforms. In these tests, the S4 is placed at the CPU peak, surpassing contemporary Android rivals and marking distances in both single-threaded and multi-threaded computing.
When analyzing GPU with tests such as 3DMark, GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt 1080p off-screen y Epic Citadel (Unreal Engine), a nuanced picture is observed: the S4 achieves very high figures, with the Exynos version often slightly ahead, but in certain scenarios a competitor like the HTC One, despite also being equipped with Adreno 320, can overtake it by fine tuning memory frequency and thermal management. In any case, we are talking about small differences close to 60 fps limit in demos like Epic Citadel.
In web browsing, with SunSpider (JavaScript) The S4 records times excellent Whereas in Vellamo (HTML5) Your score may be lower depending on the browser used (stock browser vs. Chrome). This is a reminder that the with and the JavaScript engine affect as much as the hardware.
Real-life use: gaming and daily fluency
In demanding and well-optimized titles, the S4's performance profiles are Champagnes and Cavas, with stable rates and no noticeable stuttering. In less optimized or very intensive games, the versions with Adreno and PowerVR maintain high levels, and only previous-generation devices show loss of fluidity punctual. This supports a key idea: benchmarks provide guidance, but the real experience It depends on the hardware-software combination.
List of benchmark apps and possible optimizations
Independent research has documented that the S4 with Exynos can activate more aggressive policies of frequency when it detects popular benchmark apps (e.g. GLBenchmark, AnTuTu, Linpack or Quadrant). In these scenarios the GPU can go up to around 480 MHz to its maximum of 532 MHz, and the CPU maintains sustained peaks close to 1,2 GHz in the efficient cluster, with internal references such as "BenchmarkBooster". This behavior, beyond ethical debates, underlines that we must interpret the numbers with context.
Comparison between versions of the S4
Samsung's goal was to offer equivalent performance so much with Snapdragon 600 (Krait 300 and Adreno 320) as with 5 Exynos Octa (A15/A7 and PowerVR SGX544MP3). In composite sets such as AnTuTu y Quadrant, both iterations of the S4 take turns taking first place with small differences; in Geekbench, the margin against devices on other platforms is also notable. This parity makes it easier for developers to expect a uniform power level regardless of version.
About the trade name and calendar
What is still in doubt is the name with which this smartphone will land. And it is that, although the Galaxy S4In South Korea, four is the number of bad luck, and it seems that the possibility that it has a different name is being considered. We will see what happens in a few months, since there should not be much more than a few months left for the official announcement of the launch of this mobile.
We have read it in SamMobile.
The filtration of Nenamark2 fits with an ambitious S4: architecture big.LITTLE, two hardware variants with almost twin power, results of Leading CPUs and a GPU which alternates in first place depending on the test. Adding to the context of possible optimizations in benchmarks and real performance in games, the reading is clear: the S4 aims for the top of the range with room to squeeze its hardware without giving up the efficiency.
