Here it is, folks. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is now officially official after being announced in New York City. The Galaxy S 4 is the latest device in Samsung's flagship Galaxy S lineup, and because it's such a major product for the company, it's been packed with some pretty high-end features. On the face of the Galaxy S 4 is a 5-inch 1920x1080 Super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3, which was recently announced by Corning and features improved scratch resistance over its predecessors. Also on the Galaxy S 4's face is a 2-megapixel camera and a physical home button. Samsung has also placed a 13-megapixel camera with flash on the Galaxy S 4's backside.
Stuffed inside the Galaxy S 4 is either a 1.9GHz quad-core processor or 1.6GHz octa-core processor. The processor that's included will vary by market. Samsung has also included 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB/64GB of internal storage, microSD card slot and 2,600mAh battery, all of which fits inside a body that measures 7.9mm thick and weighs 130g. As far as radio support goes, the Galaxy S 4 includes 850/900/1900/2100 MHz 3G support, including 42Mbps HSPA+ connectivity. There's also up to 6 different 4G LTE band sets for the Galaxy S 4, which will once again vary by market.
On the software side of things, the Galaxy S 4 will come to market with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean running beneath Samsung's TouchWiz UI. Unsurprisingly, Samsung will also be including several new features with its TouchWiz overlay. The Dual Camera functionality will allow users to capture images using the front and rear cameras simultaneously, and the Dual Video Call feature will allow use of both the front and rear cameras during video chats as well. Galaxy S 4 users will also have 12 different shooting modes to choose from when capturing photos with the device's cameras, and the Story Album can collect images and sort them into albums using certain criteria. Users can even have a physical photo album with their images created thanks to Samsung's partnership with Blurb.
Samsung has also expanded its "Smart" set of features that debuted last year with Smart Stay on the Galaxy S III. The Galaxy S 4 will come to market with Smart Pause, which will pause a video when the phone detects that the user is no longer looking at the screen. Smart Scroll will scroll the content of the browser or emails by monitoring a user's face looking at the screen as well as his or her wrist movement. Samsung has also ported its Air View feature from the Galaxy Note series to the Galaxy S 4, allowing users to preview the content of emails, photos and videos by hovering their finger over the display. Along with Air View, the Air Gesture functionality allows users to change a music track, scroll around a page or accept a call by waving their hands in front of the device's display.
Also a part of tonight's announcement is Samsung's new WatchON feature, which can turn the Galaxy S 4 into an IR remote to control home entertainment equipment. The list of new functionality doesn't stop there, though, as Samsung also introduced a slate of S-branded features like S Voice Drive for voice control functionality while behind the wheel of a car, S Translator for translating either a voice or text and S Health, which utilizes the Galaxy S 4's sensors to monitor a user's health. Rounding out the list of features is Samsung Optical Reader for scanning text and business cards and Group Play, which can beam content like music, photos/videos and games to others without needing a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.
Got all that? Alright. Now it's time for the most important piece of information, which is when you'll actually be able to buy a Galaxy S 4 of your very own. The Galaxy S 4 will be rolling out to a number of carriers around the globe starting in Q2 2013. Here in the U.S., the device will be available on AT&T, Cricket, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon. Samsung will be offering the Galaxy S 4 in either Black Mist or White Frost at launch, but the company promises that more color options will be coming later this year.
After months of leaks, rumors and speculation, it's nice to finally have Samsung officially introduce us to the Galaxy S 4 and reveal exactly what makes the thing tick. While the design of the new phone is somewhat similar to the look of the Galaxy S III, that's not entirely a surprise since Samsung has said that it put a lot of work into creating the Galaxy S III. Considering that and the fact that the sales of the Galaxy S III are over 30 million units, the company likely didn't feel an overwhelming urge to completely redesign the Galaxy S 4. The good news is that the Galaxy S 4 has a spec sheet that's improved over the Galaxy S III and instantly makes the S 4 one of the best-specced Android handsets around.
So now that it's officially official, what do you all think of the Samsung Galaxy S 4? Are you happy that the design is Galaxy S III-like? For those of you that are still on the fence or just want to know more about the Galaxy S 4, our fearless leader Aaron Baker has put together some photos and video of the device in action. Be sure to check 'em out and then share your thoughts on Samsung newest flagship!
Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S 4 -
A Life Companion for a richer, simpler and fuller life
GALAXY S 4 gets you closer to what matters in life, bringing your world together
New York, USA, March 14, 2013 — Samsung Electronics announced today the fourth generation GALAXY S, the GALAXY S 4, designed to get you closer to what matters in life and bring your world together.
Understanding what matters most to us in our lives, the Samsung GALAXY S 4 was developed to redefine the way we live and to maximize our fulfillment of life. This sleek and innovative smartphone makes every moment of life very meaningful; it understands the value of relationships, enabling true connections with friends and family. It believes in the importance of an effortless user experience, making your life easy and hassle-free; and, it empowers your life, helping take care of your well-being.
The beauty of the phone is the highly crafted design encompassing a larger screen size and battery, minimized bezel; all housed in a light (130g) and slim (7.9mm) shape. The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see. It has come up with simply unreal beauty. At launch, two color options will be available - Black Mist and White Frost; with a variety of additional color options to follow later this year.
“With the GALAXY S 4, Samsung is again going to enhance the way we live,” said JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung. “All the innovative features of GALAXY S 4 were developed based on the insights and needs we found from our consumers all around the world. Following the successful GALAXY S series, this phone is yet another great proof point of people-inspired innovation. At Samsung we’ll never stop pursuing innovation conceived by people, so we can inspire them in return.”
Meaningful Moments - Gives Greater Enjoyment
A rich life is one that’s filled with meaningful moments and the GALAXY S 4 captures and shares those special moments. The GALAXY S 4 has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display to showcase images at their very best. Its 5-inch large screen has 441ppi for stunning viewing quality. The Samsung GALAXY S 4 also utilizes Corning’s new Gorilla® Glass 3*, making it a durable travel companion for all of life’s adventures.
Equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera, the GALAXY S 4 also boasts a ‘Dual Camera’ function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras. When capturing moments, users can choose from a variety of frame effects which blend the two pictures naturally and also adjust the size of the small picture inside the big one. Users can select 8 different ways to combine the two photos taken by the front camera and the rear camera. At the same time, the ‘Dual Video Call’ function enables you to make and receive a video call with friends and family while showing what you are looking at during the call.
The camera functionality extends beyond Dual Camera, as the device is also equipped with 12 outstanding shooting modes including ‘Drama Shot’, which allows you to see all the action in one continuous time-lapse, and‘Sound & Shot’, which uniquely stores sound and voice together as the picture is taken so those special moments are captured in the truest form imaginable, exactly as they happened.
These meaningful moments can also now automatically be stored in a photo album, with the new ‘Story Album’ function. Photos taken by the GALAXY S 4 are automatically gathered and sorted out according to your timeline, geo-tagging information, or a specific event to create a photo album. These unique story albums can be ordered and delivered as an offline photo album through a new partnership with Blurb*, so you can keep those precious moments safe to look at and share time and time again.
True Connections – Brings People Together
Samsung GALAXY S 4 enables true connections with the people in our lives. It is more than a personal device that can be enjoyed by one user - it makes the most of our relationships allowing us to easily share and experience many of life’s pleasures together with family and friends, wherever you are.
With its ‘Group Play’ function, users can enjoy music, photos, documents and games with those around them without even requiring a Wi-Fi AP or cellular signal. This innovative feature enables users to connect directly with others to share, play and co-create content and entertainment instantly. Its ‘Share Music’ option allows users to have the same song playing on multiple phones in sync to create the best party atmosphere.
The GALAXY S 4 brings all people closer together by breaking down language barriers. It makes international travel a joy, with ‘S Translator’ which provides instant translation, using text or voice translation on applications including email, text message and ChatON. This instant translation is possible both from speech to text and text to speech and ensures that you can rely on the correct information whilst abroad.
The GALAXY S 4 supports HSPA+42 Mbps and 4G LTE which means wherever you are in the world, you can rely on perfect connectivity. Especially, the LTE version supports up to 6 different band sets which allows it to function in most LTE coverage areas as well as enabling global LTE roaming. Furthermore, TDD/FDD LTE Dual Mode version will be introduced later this year.
Effortless Experience - Makes Things More Convenient
In today’s world, we are all looking for smart ways to make life easier and less stressful. The GALAXY S 4 ensures that tasks are effortless with innovative features that detect your face, voice and motions to enable screen control with no need for finger touch activation.
‘Samsung Smart Pause’ enables you to control the screen by where you look. When you are watching a video, the video pauses when you look away then it starts right up again when you are back. ‘Samsung Smart Scroll’allows you to scroll the browser or emails up and down without touching the screen. It recognizes your face looking at the screen and movement of your wrist and then scroll the pages up or down accordingly.
‘Air View’ allows users to hover with their fingers to preview the content of an email, S Planner, image gallery or video without having to open it. You can even see a magnified view on the internet browser, or a phone number saved in the speed dial on the keypad. With ‘Air Gesture’, you can change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of your hand.
With ‘S VoiceTM Drive’ you can activate commands via voice control for optimization when driving. Once connected with a car Bluetooth, the phone automatically turns into driving mode converting text to speech so you can easily and safely check messages with no need to look at the screen.
‘Samsung Optical Reader’ makes life yet more effortless, by automatically recognizing text, a business card or QR code information, and providing useful functions such as translation, call, text message and search.
At home, using ‘Samsung WatchON’, the GALAXY S 4 will transform into an IR remote to control your home entertainment system including TV, set-top box, DVD player and even air conditioner. In addition, you can enjoy various content including live TV, cable TV and VOD based on the rich information provided by EPG (Electronic Program Guide).
Empowered Living - Takes Care Of Your Health and Quality of Life
The GALAXY S 4 empowers your life by keeping you up-to-date with health and wellbeing information using the new ‘S Health’ software. The combination of sensors built within the device systematically and automatically monitors your health, surroundings and so much more to help improve your quality of life. Also, users can easily check their health conditions using food diary, exercise diary and sleep monitor to stay fit and healthy. (Certain functions are enabled by specific accessories.)
To further protect your wellbeing, ‘Samsung Adapt Display’ provides an optimal viewing experience, customized for each type of application, and ‘Samsung Adapt Sound’ offers an optimal level and type of sound, personalized for each user, to make the most out of life.
Samsung GALAXY S 4 will be available from Q2 globally including US, partnering with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, as well as US Cellular and Cricket. In Europe, Samsung GALAXY S 4 is partnering with global mobile operators such as Deutsche Telecom, EE, H3G, Orange, Telenor, Telia Sonera, Telefonica, and Vodafone.
