Samsung Announces Galaxy S4 Android Flagship

As expected, Samsung has announced its latest Galaxy flagship in the Galaxy S4 during a presentation focused on the software built into the device rather than the phone itself, to mixed reviews.

To begin, the phone takes the design cues found in the Galaxy S III and makes them slightly larger to accommodate the larger 5-inch AMOLED display at 1080p resolution with a pixel density of 440 ppi, identical to current 1080p flagships from HTC.

The rest of the specifications consist of  Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung’s customary TouchWiz user interface and will feature different processors based on global region. In the U.S. the Galaxy S 4 will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor (quad-core 1.9GHz 800 series S4), while markets outside the U.S. will see the Exynos 5 octa-core (8 core) processor.

The Galaxy S 4 will also support global LTE networks via multiple radio variants in each market with global LTE roaming also promised during this evening’s presentation and has subsequently confirmed a dual-mode TDD-FDD LTE version of the phone for launch later this year.

Other key specifications include a 13-megapixel main camera that shoots 1080p HD video and a 2-megapixel user-facing camera that shoots the same level of video with new features for both cameras such as Dual Shot and Dual Recording; each feature lets the S 4 shoot either still pictures or video using both the main camera and secondary camera at the same time. The cameras can also be used to create GIFs, multiple frame image bursts and still images with background audio.

The device will be sold in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variants, and it also supports microSD cards up to 64GB. It features 2GB of RAM, as is becoming common for Android flagships.

It also includes a litany of radios, including 802.11a/b/c/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC, IrDa for home appliances, Bluetooth, and GPS along with a digital compass, accelerometer, and a barometer to detect humidity and ambient air pressure along with support for external sensors used mainly in healthcare for vital sign monitoring and ties into Samsung’s new initiative for the Galaxy S 4.

Another key addition to the S 4 is the new series of contactless display gestures Samsung calls Air Gestures, which can be used to change audio tracks, advance photos, or switch between browser tabs by waving a hand across the front of the S 4.

It should be noted that the functionality was pioneered by the former Sony Ericsson in its Xperia line in 2011. The S 4 also includes the Air View features found on the Note II, but now works without an S Pen stylus, which previously required the magnetized tip to detect movement. Air View now lets S 4 owners see previews of alerts by simply hovering a finger over the display when the alert is received.

The phone will begin shipping in late April, with all four major carriers committing to the launch of the phone and each carrier has yet to announce their respective pricing and launch details. Below, the complete specifications.