Samsung has officially confirmed its latest Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the successor to the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE and Samsung Galaxy S3.
Samsung President JK Shin took to the stage in New York to confirm the phone, which includes a 13-megapixel camera, 5-inch full HD screen and whopping 8-core processor with 2GB RAM.
It looks very similar to its predecessor, but is just 7.9mm deep and available in black and white. Running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the user experience has been upgraded, the Pure Black menu bar has gone to ensure information blends in and Air View enables you to preview a picture by hovering over it and Samsung Smart Pause lets you control the screen using your eyes.
When paired with your cars Bluetooth S-Voice Drive kicks in with voice control and a driving mode. Dual Camera lets you shoot using both cameras at the same time, so you can (in effect) be in your own photo or video and Air Gesture lets you change a track by waving your hand.
Two versions of the phone will be available. A 3G and 4G version (the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE), which will work across multiple frequencies.
Check out our Samsung Galaxy S4 hands-on to find out more.
What features does the Samsung Galaxy S4 have?
| Samsung Galaxy S4 specifications | |
|---|---|
| Operating system: | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Touchwiz |
| Screen: | 5-inch Super AMOLED, 1920×1080, 441 ppi |
| Processor: | 1.6GHz Octa-Core processor |
| RAM: | 2GB RAM |
| Camera: | 13-megapixel (rear), 2-megapixel (front) |
| Storage: | 32GB or 64GB micro SD slot (up to 64GB) |
| Connectivity: | 4G and 3G versions, Bluetooth 4.0, IR LED, MHL 2.0, N WiFi, NFC |
| Battery: | 2600mAh |
| Dimensions/weight: | 136.6x 69.8x 7.6mm/130g |
| Colours: | Black Mist, White Frost |
Where does it sit in Samsung’s line-up?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s flagship smartphone, replacing the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE. It is positioned in a separate category to the Samsung Galaxy Note products, such as the Note 2 LTE. Check out our Samsung Galaxy phones explainer to find out more about the range.
What are the alternatives?
In the Android market the S4’s rivals are the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z, both of which have recently launched. Of course, Samsung and Apple are big rivals, so the Samsung Galaxy S4 will want to entice people away from iOS and the Apple iPhone 5.
When does the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will launch on April 26th.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy S4 cost?
Three, EE and Vodafone have all confirmed they will be selling the phone, but there’s no news yet on UK pricing. Check out our Samsung Galaxy S4 prices to find out more.
What do we think?
We haven’t had a chance to try the phone out properly yet, but from what we’re seen we are a little underwhelmed, which is always a danger when a phone is hyped so much. The design plays it safe – which isn’t a surprise considering the success of its predecessor – and although Samsung has clearly added some groundbreaking features, how useful will they actually be? Or will they prove to be essential? The eight-core processor sounds great but in reality is a little ridiculous – dual-core processors are fine for the majority of peoples needs, although the 5-inch screen looks fantastic. We’ll reserve final judgement until we get the phone in our hands and explore it thoroughly, but Galaxy S3 owners shouldn’t feel too many pangs of jealousy.
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