Samsung to address Galaxy S4’s storage shortage following Watchdog exposé (video)

17 May 2013

Following an appearance on BBC One’s Watchdog, Samsung claims it’s working on improving the internal storage available to users on its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is so far only available as a 16GB model in the UK and Ireland, but what’s actually available to users is significantly less than this. In fact, the feature-packed smartphone leaves users with about 9GB of storage.

Some S4 owners contacted the consumers affairs show Watchdog about the issue of ‘bloatware’ clogging up their storage capacity and Samsung responded it would review its customer communications on this issue. Samsung also pointed to the phone’s micro-SD slot that can expand storage up to 64GB. However, unlike previous Galaxy devices, apps can’t be stored to the micro SD, only files, like images and video.

 

Samsung has since said it is now looking into how it can make more storage available to S4 users. “We are reviewing the possibility to secure more memory space through further software optimisation,” a spokesperson told CNET UK.

Meanwhile, at Google I/O, the Android-maker announced a new version of the Galaxy S4 that will come with stock Android software. If leaving out Samsung’s TouchWiz UI frees up a significant amount of space for users, Google could have a highly competitive device on its hands.

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com