Was the Galaxy S4 Using Performance Enhancers, or Just Optimized for You?

Hardcore techies are calling foul on Samsung's Galaxy S4 benchmark performance, saying the S4's performance measurements are skewed, but Samsung has responded, saying that the results demonstrate how their phone is optimized for customers.

Controversy broke out about the processor benchmarks for the Samsung Galaxy S4, after a graphics forum user called foul and a study was published by AnandTech saying that the device's performance measurements are not reflective of the product that consumers get. Benchmarking refers to using programs that measure how well electronic devices run graphics, as well as the speed on the processor and other important measurements defining a device's capabilities.

The dispute comes over the international and South Korean version of the Galaxy S4, which uses an Exynos 5 Octa processor, and a PowerVR SGX 544MP3 GPU. The U.S. version of the Galaxy S4 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, which was not implicated in the controversy.

The meat of the issue is that AnandTech, according to the Telegraph, said that benchmarking programs like GLBenchmark 2.5.1, Quadrant, and AnTuTu had measured graphics processing speeds of 533MHz. While the GPU is capable of running up to 533MHz, the post alleged that "Samsung was only exposing its 533MHz GPU clock to certain benchmarks - all other apps/games were limited to 480MHz."

The Samsung-watchers were saying that the S4's processor was intentionally run at a higher clock speed on test programs, even though the lower speed, 480MHz, is standard for programs that consumers use, like games and apps. Other, more technical tweaks were alleged too. AnandTech explained that this means, "That you should be careful about comparing Exynos 5 Octa based Galaxy S4s using any of the affected benchmarks to other devices and drawing conclusions based on that. This seems to be purely an optimization to produce repeatable (and high) results in CPU tests, and deliver the highest possible GPU performance benchmarks."

Basically, they're saying that benchmarks for the S4's performance show the device running, according to the BBC, about 11 percent faster than the programs would show on normal settings: Samsung is cheating by enhancing its flagship's performance.

But Wednesday morning, Samsung responded to the claims, saying that the differences in performance and clock speed are a result of Samsung's design, rather than an attempt at fudging the numbers.

"Under ordinary conditions, the Galaxy S4 has been designed to allow a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz," in a statement. "However, the maximum GPU frequency is lowered to 480MHz for certain gaming apps that may cause an overload, when they are used for a prolonged period of time in full-screen mode." So Samsung says that the lower GPU clock speed is actually an optimization for the real-world conditions that consumers are likely to put their device through.

"Meanwhile, a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz is applicable for running apps that are usually used in full-screen mode, such as the S Browser, Gallery, Camera, Video Player and certain benchmarking apps, which also demand substantial performance," the company's statement continued. "The maximum GPU frequencies for the Galaxy S4 have been varied to provide optimal user experience for our customers, and were not intended to improve certain benchmark results."

If you own a non-Qualcomm Samsung Galaxy S4, tell us in the comments: What do you think? Do you feel like you've been sold on better graphics and processor performance than you are getting? Or is there no noticeable difference?