Just days before it's officially unveiled, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has appeared in new leaked photos, looking a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 -- for now at least.
Leaked shots at forum 52Samsung show a device apparently called the GT-I9502 -- but if this is the S4, don't expect it to look like that when it hits shops. This curve-cornered model, which looks like the Galaxy Note 2 except for the flash, is likely to be a dummy casing, disguising the final look of the new phone.
We're expecting a squarer look to the S4 rather than the curvey corners, as well as a slim bezel.
Dummy casings are just one of the ways phone companies disguise the look of their hotly anticipated new devices. During development of the Galaxy S3, security was so tight that engineers felt they were living a secret agent-style double life. Even those in charge of procuring materials to build the phone weren't allowed to see a picture and had to source components based on a verbal description.
The leaked photos are paired with purported benchmark tests showing off the speed of the S4. Like previous alleged benchmarks, the results tip a powerful quad-core 1.8GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and a high-definition screen.
We'll see the S4 in all its glory late on Thursday. CNET will be at the New York launch, so stick around for the first news, previews and videos.
What do you want to see in the S4? Do you think it's time Samsung refreshed the design? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 15
Add your comment
markiwyn 11 March, 2013 11:47
Now here's the news. Leak shows S4 but it not the S4.
Is it me or is this not news, or at least not interesting news.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 11:51
This is just a fake Chinese copy. We will have to wait for the unveil, which should be on Thursday.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 12:00
Even if this fake S4, what would you expect from Samsung with its traditional ugly designs.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 12:04
anonymous 11 March, 2013 12:00
That's so true. Samsung Galaxy range is packed with technology but let down by dull design and cheap feeling plastic chassis.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 12:09
That UGLY back! The front is not so bad. And let's not forget that shiny cheap looking plastic...ugh
Damien2501 11 March, 2013 12:33
This is one of the dozens of ugly pictures claiming to be the Galaxy S4 I've seen over the past few weeks - they all turned out to be false. And this is not as ugly the iPhone.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 13:16
On AnTuTu benchmark test it shows at the top.
Bassam Al-Mawry 11 March, 2013 13:26
Cheap news, waste of readers time... Cnet is not as good as it used to be.
leoevs44 11 March, 2013 13:29
Agree with Damien2501 not as ugly as the iphone which is like a small brick with a tiny screen in the middle, it seems the only thing people can say about the Galaxy range is ugly and cheap plastic, jealousy is a nasty thing......
Emmanuel Pacamalan 11 March, 2013 14:12
Same comments were made about the "ugly" design of the Galaxy S3 yet it still sold a lot. Chances are, the same thing will happen with the GS4
Damien2501 11 March, 2013 14:52
I know leoevs44, honestly, its made my job if trolling a lot easier if all people can come up with is "Its cheap plastic".
Late8 11 March, 2013 15:31
The HTC and Nexus 4 feel so much better than the S3 - if the S4 is a s cheap and plasticity looking then im not going to bother.
anonymous 11 March, 2013 17:30
I don,t know but I cant wait to see the design of the 4S
anonymous 12 March, 2013 08:16
This picture is true. It's ugly
anonymous 14 March, 2013 18:02
I said before this is disappointing if true. Pretty boring and... well, fugly, if this really is the SIV (which, thankfully, we don't know for sure it is - all fingers crossed it isn't). I really expect much better for a "flagship" effort.