Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One: A clash of two Android titans

Which phone will reign supreme? The HTC One or Galaxy S4?

If you're in the market for a new smartphone this year, chances are good you're seriously considering the two best Android handsets: the Samsung Galaxy S4 and theHTC One.

So which device should you go with? It's a tough choice. But fear not: CNET is here to help. Sit back as we stack up all the abilities these excellent phones have in common and the key differences that separate the two.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the GS4 is its massive 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display. It also features a sharp 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 441ppi (pixels per inch).

The GS4's screen packs a wallop to be sure, with deep blacks and saturated hues, plus sharp detail across the board. However, display geeks will mourn that Samsung's AMOLED uses a PenTile subpixel layout and that green shades are still a touch oversaturated. A new automatic adjustment mode helps, if you dig it up from the Galaxy S4's formidable settings list.

The screen is also both dimmer and more reflective than other phones, though the Galaxy S4's display marks a significant improvement in both of these weak spots over the Galaxy S3.

Introducing Samsung's Galaxy S4

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HTC gave the One a 4.7-inch LCD screen that's slightly smaller than the Galaxy S4's but also boasts the same 1,920x1,080 HD resolution. As a result, the HTC One's display has a higher pixel density of 468ppi. The One's screen is bright and beautiful, colors are accurate, and text looks crisp.

Assessment

Both phones have advantages on the specs fight: the Galaxy S4 is a tad larger (if that's your thing), whereas the One's slightly smaller 1080p screen offers slightly greater pixel density. Typically, OLED screens offer more-vibrant colors, deeper black levels, and wider viewing angles versus LCD screens, and Samsung is at the forefront of OLED research.

The GS4 has the edge here when it comes to pleasing colors, and you're able to decrease its screen's color saturation in the settings for better accuracy, as you can dowith Samsung's Galaxy Note 2. However, the One takes the prize for its absolute brightness quotient and its less distracting reflectiveness.