Color has a way of changing how we feel about A Phone, even when nothing else about the device changes. The Samsung Galaxy S4 in Red Aurora is proof of that, because underneath the glossy crimson shell sits the exact same hardware that shipped in white and black: the same 5 inch Super AMOLED panel, the same 13 megapixel camera, the same Snapdragon 600 processor. What makes the Red Aurora version interesting is not what it adds in power, since it adds none, but what it adds in attitude, and whether that bright finish is enough to justify picking one up in 2026. This review is the record of two weeks spent with the I337 model on an AT&T network.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the handset reviewed here was a used unit purchased with my own money.
The Red Aurora finish is unmistakable. It is a deep, glossy crimson that shifts between bright red and dark burgundy depending on the light, and it makes the S4 look far more expensive than its 2013 origins suggest. The rest of this review covers the design, the display, the camera, the performance, and whether this specific colorway is worth tracking down today.
Design and Build
Hold the Red Aurora S4 and the first impression is color, pure and simple. Samsung finished the removable back panel in a high gloss red that catches the eye from across a room, and the color wraps around the camera bezel and the edges of the frame. It is the boldest finish Samsung offered on the S4, and it gives the phone a personality that the neutral colors never had.
Underneath the paint, the construction is unchanged from the rest of the S4 line. The body is plastic, light at 130 grams, and the back cover pops off to reveal the removable 2600 mAh battery, the microSD slot, and the SIM tray. The glossy red finish does show fingerprints and smudges quickly, which is the tradeoff for looking this striking, but a quick wipe restores the showroom shine.
Build quality is what you expect from a 2013 flagship. The plastic creaks slightly under pressure, and the glossy finish scratches a little easier than matte finishes, but the phone survived everyday pocket use without drama. For a device now more than a decade old, the Red Aurora still looks sharp when kept in a case.
Key Features
The S4 I337 model brought a 5 inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera, and the Snapdragon 600 processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The 16GB of internal storage expands through the microSD slot, and the phone launched with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean layered with Samsung's TouchWiz interface.
Samsung packed the S4 with experimental software features that were remarkable for the time, including Smart Stay, which kept the screen on while you looked at it, and Air View, which let you preview content by hovering a finger over the display. In 2026 most of those features feel like curiosities, but the display itself remains a highlight, with deep blacks and punchy colors that still impress.
Because the Red Aurora is a color variant rather than a special edition with upgraded hardware, the feature set is identical to the standard AT&T S4, which matters when you compare it to other options on the used market.
Real-World Performance
In daily use the Red Aurora S4 performs exactly like the phone it is, which is to say it handles light tasks gracefully and stumbles on modern demands. Calls are clear, texts work without issue, and the phone browses the web, checks email, and plays YouTube videos without complaint. The 5 inch AMOLED display is the star of the experience, making videos and photos look vibrant even by modern standards.
The camera tells a familiar story. In bright daylight the 13 megapixel sensor captures sharp, colorful images with good detail, and the HDR mode helps in high contrast scenes. When the light drops, the image quality falls apart, with visible noise, soft focus, and a sluggish shutter that makes blur easy. The front camera is adequate for video calls but nothing more, and there is no night mode or computational photography to save the day.
The biggest limitation is the software. The S4 is stuck on Android 4.2.2 with the final version of TouchWiz Samsung ever released for it, and the phone receives no updates of any kind. Many current apps refuse to install because they demand newer versions of Android, and the ones that do run often feel sluggish because they expect far more modern hardware. There is also no security support, which matters if you want to use the phone for anything sensitive.
Battery life was the pleasant surprise of the test. The 2600 mAh cell easily covered a full day of moderate use, and because it is removable, I swapped in a spare battery on heavy days without ever hunting for a charger. Standby drain is low, and the Snapdragon 600 still copes with everyday multitasking, so the phone remains usable as long as you stay within its software limits.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Distinctive Red Aurora finish
- Vibrant 5 inch Super AMOLED display
- Removable battery and microSD storage
- Decent daylight camera for its age
- Lightweight and comfortable to hold
- Inexpensive on the used market
Cons:
- No software updates or security patches
- Glossy red finish shows fingerprints easily
- Weak low light camera performance
- Many modern apps will not install
- Old TouchWiz software is heavy
How It Compares
The Red Aurora S4 is really competing against two things: the standard white and black S4s it shares hardware with, and the modern budget phones that now cost very little more. The table below lays out the comparison.
| Feature | Red Aurora S4 | Standard S4 | Modern Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Glossy red | White or black | Various |
| Display | 5 inch AMOLED | 5 inch AMOLED | 6.5 inch LCD |
| Camera | 13 megapixel | 13 megapixel | 48 megapixel |
| Software support | None | None | Active |
| Removable battery | Yes | Yes | No |
| Styling appeal | High | Moderate | Moderate |
Against the standard S4, the Red Aurora is purely a style choice, since the hardware is identical. Against a modern budget phone, the S4 wins on display vividness, repairability, and pocket size, but loses badly on software, camera versatility, and support. The red finish makes the S4 feel special, but it cannot fix the age of the platform underneath.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Red Aurora S4 if you want a colorful, inexpensive handset for calls, messaging, and light media, or if you are collecting the memorable colorways of the early smartphone era. It is also a fine choice for a child or a relative who needs a simple device and does not depend on the latest apps, as long as they stay away from sensitive online tasks.
Skip it if you need modern app support, a camera that works at night, or ongoing security updates, because all three are missing. If the striking red finish and the removable battery appeal to you, you can check the current price of the Red Aurora Galaxy S4 on Amazon when you are ready to look.
How We Test
I carried the Red Aurora S4 as a daily phone for two weeks, covering calls, texts, browsing, and photography in daylight and at night. I tested battery life with the standard cell and a spare, ran a set of modern apps to see which would install, and spent time comparing the finish against a standard S4 to judge whether the color added real value.
I relied on real world use rather than benchmarks, because usability is the only thing that matters with a decade old phone. For a thorough run through of the specifications and the differences between the international and AT&T models, GSMArena has a detailed Galaxy S4 spec sheet that is worth checking against any used unit you are considering. The Red Aurora Galaxy S4 listing on Amazon shows current pricing and availability.
Questions People Ask About the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora
Is the Red Aurora Galaxy S4 the same as the standard model?
The Red Aurora is a color variant of the AT&T Galaxy S4 I337, so the screen, camera, and processor are identical to the white and black versions.
Does the Galaxy S4 I337 support all AT&T networks?
The phone supports the 3G and 4G LTE bands that AT&T used when it launched in 2013, but it does not support modern 5G networks.
How much storage does the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora have?
The I337 model ships with 16GB of internal storage, and you can add more through the microSD card slot located under the removable back cover.
Is the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora a good phone for kids?
As an inexpensive used handset it works well for calls, messaging, and light apps, but the old operating system limits what current app stores will install.
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