Rumours are swirling that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be packed with more nips, tucks and improved features than Pete Burns and Lindsay Lohan's joint birthday party. Could the S4 boast a bendy 1080p screen, a 13-megapixel camera, or even an eight-core processor?
The hotly anticipated S4 will be the sequel to the Samsung Galaxy S3. The S3 sports a 4.8-inch screen, a substantial step up from its equally popular predecessor the Galaxy S2, which had a 4.3-inch display. In another big jump, the S4 is rumoured to be inflated to 5-inches.
That sizable screen should be full high definition, as Samsung is set to reveal a 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen in the new year.
And the screen could be notable for more than just its size, if The Wall Street Journal is to be believed. The Gotham chip wrapper reports that Samsung is close to revealing its first flexible smart phone, made from plastic displays rather than glass to eliminate shattered screens and broken phones.
Of course, the components have to flex as well, so it remains to be seen how bendy a bendy S4 could actually be.
Eight is the magic number
It's a safe bet the S4 will have at least quad-core grunt behind it, but could there be even more processing power on the cards? In February, Samsung is set to show off an eight-core processor using ARM's big.LITTLE technology. The octo-core chip is a 28nm processor with four 1.8GHz Cortex-A15 cores and four further Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.2GHz.
Sadly, while we could see an eight-core phone soon, the technology is probably not advanced enough to make it into the S4.
Meanwhile, GSMArena reports that the rumour mill is spinning in overdrive with talk of a beefed-up 13-megapixel camera too. As the S2 and S3 both have 8-megapixel snappers, a photographic fillip would be fine by us.
Wherefore the S4?
The S4 could make an appearance at CES, the annual technology extravaganza in January, or the phone-focused Mobile World Congress in February, where most of the year's phones are unveiled. We'll be at both events, as always, serving up you the first glimpse of the most exciting new gadgets.
But last year, following the iPhone's lead, the S3 had its own event away from the trade show scrum. Samsung knows the flagship Galaxy phone is big enough to escape the herd and stand on its own, so my money's on another separate Samsung event. I've been wrong before though, as my bookmaker loves to remind me. And my divorce lawyer. And anyone who invested in my idea to make apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook.
What would you like to see in the S4? Or does the S3 need no improvement? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 36
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anonymous 22 November, 2012 18:22
This should be good :) I am the owner of a HTC One X and although its a fantastic phone, I sometimes regret not getting the S3. However, I won't be swapping yet, most probably next summer and I highly doubt the S4 (if there is one!) will be released as early as January. iPhone tends to get released September time while the S3 was released end of May, so I expect the S4 will be released end of May next year. January and Febuary is too early, so I don't know why you think it will be then.
anonymous 22 November, 2012 19:12
4 core , 8 core, what does it matter, we have reached a point where-by hardware performance is exceeding the OS / Feature demands and needs.
Cramming in more CPU power at the moment only serves one purpose, to drain the battery quicker!
That won't make any difference though, customers are suckers for improved specs these days and its certainly something Samsung likes to do, show off greater and greater specs as a selling point.
NFC anyone, that's been really useful for the last few Years right :-)
Still it's a nice position to be in, rather than the other way around, needing more power.
It would be nice if companies like Samsung would actually spend some time innovating new features that demand and utilise all this power, rather than waiting for someone else like Google, Apple or other companies to come up with new developments, then they wouldn't be constantly seen as just a clone manufacturer.
anonymous 22 November, 2012 19:38
I don't mind about the specs going to insane levels but stop increasing screen size. I really hope the s4 is either the same as the s3 or slightly smaller
Jamie Ingram 22 November, 2012 19:52
Oh stop wish listing!! People always make these wild predictions and about 1% of it is accurate, that's the bit about it being a phone.
Gary 22 November, 2012 20:16
Samsung never disappoint when it comes to choice. If you don't like the size of the S3, then get the S3 mini. They have a wide variety of sizes, specs and prices. This is why they have been so successful and are now the largest supplier of mobiles in the world.
Jonathan Aze 22 November, 2012 21:52
@Gary, I just have a few problems with what you're saying. If you find the screen of the S3 too large, the S3 mini is not a satasfactory sustitute. Its processor is nowhere near as powerful, the camera is worse, and the screen resolution is much lower than the proper S3 ( even if you factor in the smaller screen, the PPI is still nowhere near), infact, the only thing they have in common is the name. In reality what Sumsung does lower the specs on thier phones and then charge slightly less. If you want a well-built 4 inch phone with a very fast processor and a high-res screen, samsung doesn't make any phone like this, in fact, the only phone that fits the bill is - horror! - an iphone.
Meleagru 23 November, 2012 00:37
I'm not sure we'll be seeing bendable screens that soon. A boost in camera, most likely, a better processor, definitely, 5 inch screen might just be the new standard next year.
The one thing I still wish they would dedicate more energy towards is battery life. Making it through one day just doesn't cut it sometimes. A faster recharge time, hot-swappable battery, more available ways of recharging, like a solar panel on the back, kinetic energy, anything really to give people like me a higher sense of freedom.
The company that solves the battery puzzle will nature oodles and oodles of cash.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 01:21
Actually the purpose of a 8 core processor with 4 cores running at 1.8ghz and 4 running at 1.2 ghz is this.For the vast majority of time the demand will be fairly modest so the only cores running will be the low power 1.2 ghz cores. When processing demand is high, a game for example, the high performance cores will kick in. This feature is actually designed to save battery while being able to supply the high performance needed for some apps on demand. It is actually quite brilliant.
CaptainPicard 23 November, 2012 09:45
Samsung should stick to its core essentials, something that makes it different to the other Android manufacturers and Apple, it should continue to include an SD slot and removable battery. And it should also wait a year before releasing its new flagship-look at HTC and Sony that release a flagship phone every 7 months, they are not doing so well. It can also learn from the mistakes of its rivals by releasing well after Mobile World Congress 2013.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 10:12
Omg, some really ill informed commenters on here bar the last one, that is why you stick with the iPhone, because that is all you know. @ Jonathan aze, apple innovating? Most of what you use today from Apple is shamelessly copied and stolen from other OEMS which they claim as their own. Never before have I heard such gibberish, most of the article is ill informed too.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 11:28
the size of the phone is getting to big. the s2 is perfect in my opinion, the only reason i upgraded to the new iphone instead of the s3 is because of its size.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 11:39
I think the current era of smartphone has reached its peak - there just isn't really much more that can be done apart from basically spec increases, and a lot of the stuff beyond that just seems a bit gimmicky. And I am really curious what the next truly revolutionary step will be - somehow I doubt it will be bendy phones though.
Original iPhone to iPhone 3GS to Galaxy S2 to Galaxy S3 were all big steps in my opinion. And then the Nexus 4 launching with its low price point was also a bit of a milestone - probably showing the market has reached saturation.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 11:53
To the anonymous poster above me,
Far far far far from it mate. If you don't work in the industry you don't know. Haptic touchscreens, although already present in some vague form are the next big thing, where the screen raises or you can feel what you search. There's a lot of potential for expandable screens till the end of the decade. Fortunately people with your mentality aren't in charge or we'd have never evolved beyond horse carriages.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 12:01
The perfect phone 5 Inch screen with hardly any bezel would be no bigger than my HTC Desire S which fits in the pocket perfect. Screen resolution 720p looks great to me and would not use as much power, 1080p is just for bragging rights. 8 Megapixel camera dont need any bigger more is not always better, would like real time HDR video filming in low light and taking still shots in low light without changing settings just point and click. Of course a large as possible battery so that you can use it for a full day no matter what you throw at it. Every new phone they just try to blow the specs away of the competition, why not make a perfect phone that just works perfectly for what people really want.
Phil_SA 23 November, 2012 13:59
I just wish they can keep the size at bay! there comes a point when too big gets too big!
anonymous 23 November, 2012 14:14
Its only 0.2 inches bigger than the S3 - thats less than the size of a pencil, owners of 4.7+ inch phones will hardly notice the difference. Looking at the S3 there is space in between the button and the screen that could be used.
anonymous 23 November, 2012 19:17
@ anonymous 23 November 2012 11:53
Perhaps you missed the part where the poster said 'current era'? What you're talking about isn't current era, it sounds more like next gen?
I hope the 'people in charge' have better reading and comprehension skills than you....
anonymous 24 November, 2012 04:18
I'm sorry but someone said "upgraded" to the new iphone?one cannot "upgrade" from an s2 to an iphone 5.you are going backwards in every department.
samuelc 24 November, 2012 09:19
It's quite depressing hearing the rumours that a circulating about this phone.
Even though they are rumours, which generally means a lot people can be wildly imaginative with their guesses, these specs sound very boring. It's disheartening that we seemed to have passed the phase where we'd be wowed at a new feature on a phone like a video camera, none of these rumours bring in new features, just small modifications on ones we already have.
For starters, half of these rumours were said about the S3
anonymous 24 November, 2012 13:03
5 ich screen and 8 cores in a processor bloody brilliant
flyingacedude 25 November, 2012 11:07
Bendy screen - This won't happen, if Samsung where going to release a device with a bendy screen it would be a separate device (much like the Galaxy Beam) from the S series as its not a risk worth taking with your flagship range of phones.
8 cores - I imagine this is unnecessary, but that's not to say I can't see them doing it.
Basically, it'll be more of the same. Higher resolution screen, more RAM, better camera, thinner, lighter, better battery life.
anonymous 25 November, 2012 18:44
I really wish they would stop making the screens bigger. S2 screen size is, imo, ideal. If I wanted a 5+ inch screen "demitablet" I'd get a Note.
That being said the S4 will still most likely be what I get when my contract is up for renewal next August.
anonymous 26 November, 2012 13:35
A nice big 5" screen at 1080p, 8 core processor, 15 megapixels, bring it on. Big specs rule.
If they want to save money they can leave out the phone function 'cos it's really dated now and peeps just want to text, check their status on Facetwit and tweak their phone settings.
anonymous 26 November, 2012 21:51
@anonymong yeah because everyone is the same I am the only fool who uses his s3 for phone calls! Phone will always have a phone built in I think that's why they call these devices mobile phones.
stupid comment Lmfao
Late8 27 November, 2012 09:44
The S3 already has a bendy screen - plastic fantastic build quality.
anonymous 27 November, 2012 10:49
LMAO about your bookmaker telling you you're wrong -- hate it when that happens, although it could be a good thing when you've paid too much tax! Such humour is probably why I visit this site everyday, who cares about the mobiles :-)
anonymous 27 November, 2012 13:23
When will Samsung give us a smartphone that will feel like iphone? I mean feels more weigth in hand and not like plastic. Glass phone with metal frame / rim. The world is waiting for that.
The world will bow for this.
anonymous 27 November, 2012 15:55
@anonymous 13:23 yeah so when you drop it's totally f.u.c.k.e.d, yes that's what I want!
Jonathan Aze 27 November, 2012 21:51
@anonymous 23 November, 2012 10:12
ok i'm a bit late replying to this but there's a few points i'd like to get accross.
I don't own anything made by apple, I don't particually like apple, I never said in my comment that they were innovating, I am unlikely ever to buy and apple product. I was simply making a piont to Gary that his comment wasn't strictly correct, and instead made him look incredibly ill informed and fanboyish.
anonymous 28 November, 2012 10:04
YES! The only thing the S4 needs is a more premium feel than the S3. A bigger screen, better processor, 1080p screen aren't necessary...I would be more interested in longer battery life and perhaps a better camera.
anonymous 29 November, 2012 05:33
I don't want more core's, that just used more battery and instead of more megapixels how about a better lens. Having more megapixels with most cameras means you just have a bigger version of your fudgy looking low light shot!
anonymous 30 November, 2012 16:48
So good specs so far. Would 0.2 inch diifer much? The s3 is fine. What samsung really needs is to improve it's build quality. Screen and sides are absolutely cool but i'd really like a premium feeling backcover thats why samsung should make it out of aluminum instead of polycarbonate. This would really increase samsung's sales, i'd bet but i love the fact that i can replace my s3's backcover with the lowest most reasonable cost. One thing apple is superior at for sure, build quality and company history
anonymous 2 December, 2012 04:20
I would love a bendable phone. 12 mega pixels in the camera... Awesome. The dual quad core processor is a great bonus. I just wish sprint would get their act together and provide 4G service to my area. Two years and counting.
anonymous 3 December, 2012 14:37
The phone needs much battery life and better not cheap feel for the phone
I am not talking about the performance cause it is good
But that the plastic feels cheap
anonymous 18 January, 2013 12:11
Well poeple said what's the point in using a quad core the 4 cores are nether gonna get used but samsung being samsung didnt like that so thats why they brang out the multi feature app where you can have facebook on 1 half of the screen whilst scrolling the internet on the other half that using more power in the CPU meening all cores are being processed. And some1 commented on here saying a 8 core chip will demolish battery life not nessiceraly they will save power by quite a bit
anonymous 18 January, 2013 20:49
The more power the better, then we can all choose to run Ubuntu phone on our devices, opening up the market to other Linux developers, such limited choices at the moment, you either go with Apple ( conformist ), Google ( Linux core but google empire built in), or god forbid Symbian ( what's that all about? )....