The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 has been officially unveiled at the Samsung Unpacked 2013 event in New York.
Much debated and leaked through various online sources, Samsung has now confirmed the full specs and design of its newest flagship, which will be the world’s first eight-core handset.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Features
Boasting a reduced bezel 5-inch Full 1,920 x 1080p HD resolution, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has an image density of 441ppi on its Super AMOLED display, rather than the rumoured PHOLED screen. That image density far surpasses even the Retina display of the iPhone 5.
Running Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the first smartphone to offer an eight-core processor. In fact, the handset will ship in the UK with a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 5 with 2GB of RAM, whilst a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip will feature for other international markets.
Measuring in at just 7.9mm thick, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is actually thinner than the 8.3mm measurements of the Samsung Galaxy S3, and weighs just 130g. The back panel is still made of plastic, in a new polycarbonate material, but now includes a textured effect to add to the handset’s premium look. The phone is still the same height and looks very similar to its predecessor, meaning the leaked cases that suggested a chunkier, thicker design weren’t accurate in the slightest.
It is official that Pebble Blue will not feature on the Samsung Galaxy S4 though. Instead the handset will launch in Black Mist and White Frost.
Samsung has definitely put a lot of effort into the camera of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The South Korean manufacturer has paired a 13-megapixel camera in the rear with a 2-megapixel snapper up front, attempting to bring images sharp, clear and “full of life”. The pair also offer a whole host of new features: dual Camera shooting allow the user to shoot with both cameras simultaneously; Eraser Shot offers the option to remove unwanted moving content from still images; whilst the Story Album function adds image details and locations to the shots and can print or deliver finished albums.
Both Smart Scroll and Smart Pause functions do appear in the Samsung Galaxy S4. Smart Pause halts the content when the user looks away from the screen for more than a second, automatically resuming when the user returns their gaze. Smart Scroll adjusts the screen location, moving up and down with the user’s gaze, as long as they are paying attention to the screen.
The new Air View function allows the user to hover a finger over emails, messages or other such content to see a preview of that item, without actually having to touch the screen. Air Gesture provides a similar service, allowing a hovered fingered swipe to move through content without contact with the display.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 offers a removable 2,600mAh battery, with a microSD card expansion slot to expand the internal storage options of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, as well as providing Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, BlueTooth 4.0 and IR LED connectivity.
Other new features include Group Play, which allows Samsung Galaxy S4 owners to connect their devices without mobile signal, using Samsung’s own Wi-Fi technology.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Release Date and Price
Samsung has revealed that the official Samsung Galaxy S4 UK release date will be on April 26, with a price tag currently to be confirmed.
We’re sure that UK network providers will be quick to offer their own tariffs and deals for the flagship handset, which we’ll update you with as soon as we have any details.
Are you impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S4? Does it offer everything you expected it to? Give us your thoughts on the matter via the TrustedReviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
