Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S4.

The S4 is lighter, thinner and stronger than the previous generation, features a faster processor, a slightly larger and super high-resolution screen, and an enhanced version of Google's Android OS with eye-tracking technology built into the handset.

The device was launched at a lavish, unusual and occasionally bizarre 'Broadway'-style press event at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the South Korean tech giant hailed their new gadget as a breakthrough smartphone.

The S4 replaces the Galaxy S3, the best-selling Android smartphone of 2012.

Among its new feature include Smart Scroll, with which the phone is able to tell when you're looking at the screen and need to scroll text or pause video, and perform those functions automatically.

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  • The Galaxy S4 Lockscreen

    The lockscreen on the Galaxy S4. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • The Galaxy S4 Homescreen

    The homescreen of the Galaxy S4. Here you can see that Samsung has reduced the "bezel" of the display, meaning that the glass stops closer to the horizontal edges of the phone. This allowed the screen to balloon to 5.0 inches from 4.8 inches without the device getting too much larger. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 Back

    The back of the Galaxy S4, with the 13 megapixel camera and flash. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3

    A Galaxy S4 on the left in white, and a Galaxy S3 in blue on the right. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3

    Another look; the Galaxy S4 is slightly larger than the Galaxy S3. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3

    Another view. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5

    Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5

    The display on the Galaxy S4 is now a full inch larger (in diagonal) than the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 has a 4.0-inch display, while the Galaxy S4 has a 5.0-inch display. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • S Health

    The Galaxy S4 has a new app called S Health, which acts as a health diary for the owner. The phone can track your steps and you can input each meal, and the phone will calculate your calorie intake. Optional accessories -- like a fitness wristband, digital scale and sleep belt -- can also measure your blood pressure, weight and glucose levels for a total health diary. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • S Health

    Logging my morning coffee with the S Health app. No calories! Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 Side View

    The Galaxy S4 from the side. The S4 is 7.9 mm thick, or 0.3 mm thicker than the iPhone 5. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 Camera

    The 13 megapixel camera ships with a load of new features, including an option to simultaneously snap a photo of yourself with the front camera overlaid onto your subject taken with the rear camera. You can choose what shape your floating head appears as; here, I am inside a heart with GigaOM's Kevin Tofel. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 Camera

    The software of the Galaxy S4 camera has been overhauled to mimic the Samsung digital cameras shooting modes (on bottom). One new mode is called Eraser, in which the camera can detect an unwanted photobomber in the background by his or her movement and then automatically delete that person from that photo using other shots. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • S Translator

    Another new feature is S Translator, which can translate between 10 different languages. You can either input text via the keyboard or speak what you want translated into the microphone. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S Translator

    A big <em>ni hao</em> to all of my Chinese readers. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Hover View

    Borrowing form the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy S4 can now detect when your finger is hovering over certain content and provide a preview of that content. Here, my finger hovers over an email and a preview of that email pops up on screen. Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

  • Galaxy S4 Remote Control

    The Galaxy S4 contains an IR sensor to control the basic functions of your television. It also contains a channel grid so that you can tune to channels on your TV.<a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/02/22/htc-one-ir-blaster-sdk/" target="_blank">A similar feature was introduced on the HTC One earlier this year</a>.

  • Samsung's Galaxy S4

    Image credit: HuffPost/Jason Gilbert

The Galaxy S4 will launch in the UK on 26 April.

It features:

  • 13 megapixel rear camera
  • 16GB/32GB/64GB storage, 2GB RAM
  • infrared gesture sensor, to let users interact with the phone without touching the screen
  • Upgraded, removable 2,600 mAh battery
  • Five inch, 441 pixels-per-inch Super AMOLED screen
  • 'Dual Camera' photo mode, taking pictures with both cameras simultaneously
  • Two colours - "Black Mist" and "White Frost"
  • Both 4G LTE and 3G versions
  • Integrated IR-blaster (to use as a TV remote)
READ MORE: A Full List Of S4's Hardware And Software Features


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  • South Korean Economy - Presidential Election Campaign Issue

    SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 11: The Samsung logo is displayed at the company's headquarters on December 11, 2012 in Seoul, South Korea. One of the main South Korean presidential election campaign issues is the economy, as the chaebol, South Korea's business conglomerate, dominates the country's wealth while the economic life of middle class people has not been improving. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)


Globally the S3 sold more than 40 million units in the first year of its release, and has positioned Samsung as Apple's biggest rival in the smartphone space.

Analysts said that Samsung needed to differentiate its devices more from the wider Android marketplace, and start to drive up profitability by integrating its own services more closely with the phone.

Simon Stanford, CVP of IM division, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland said in a statement:

"At Samsung, we are restless about innovation, and are constantly striving to create unique experiences for our customers that will transform their lives. The Galaxy S 4 does just that.

We have listened to what consumers around the world want and taken the intuitive technology from the Galaxy S III a step further. Combining this with superior hardware has led us to develop the Galaxy S 4, the ultimate smartphone inspired by our customers."

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, added in a separate statement:

"Taking over Times Square and unveiling its new flagship phone in the heart of New York shows that Samsung isn’t afraid to take the fight to Apple’s back yard, and rightly so. Splashing the cash on advertising and creating a buzz, Samsung struck at the core of Apple’s own hugely successful marketing strategy.

“Luckily the handset itself has more than lived up to the massive hype. Building on the success of the hugely popular S3, the fourth handset in the Galaxy range enjoys great additions... while retaining the sleek, arresting looks of previous efforts."

T3 had an early hands-on in New York - take a look below.