The 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with only 8.82GB of free space available; the rest is taken up with the Android OS and proprietary, unremovable apps.
Last year, there was an uproar when everyone seemed to realize at the same time that Windows Surface tablets were shipping with most of their internal memory already used for the operating system. It's not a new phenomenon, but it's still an annoying one, and it affects every tech device that comes with any preinstalled software.
It's more noticeable on low-storage devices, though, and it's something to keep in mind when choosing a phone or tablet, especially those that don't offer removable storage.
It's less of a problem with a phone like the Galaxy S4, which has an SD card slot able to accommodate up to another 64GB. Of course, the card isn't included, but it is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your storage capacity.
Phones like the iPhone 5 or HTC One, however, don't offer that option, so it's a bigger consideration. You're stuck with 16GB if that's what you can afford upfront.
Part of the issue is Samsung branded apps, or apps required by carriers that most people never use, or ore made obsolete by better and more user-friendly free apps. Who uses Verizon Navigator when Google Maps does the same thing for free?
In any case, watch your storage and keep an SD card handy.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 1.6GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor or a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor (depending on country), 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch 1920x1080 Full HD AMOLED display at 441 ppi, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video, a 2-megapixel front facing camera, internal storage between 16 and 64GB, an SD card slot that can accommodate an additional 64GB, a polycarbonate body, Smart Pause and floating touch tech and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
Check back for the latest info on the Galaxy S4 as it becomes available.
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