Skip to main content

Samsung Galaxy S4 rumored for an April release, but the S4 name may be in jeopardy

Samsung Galaxy S4 conceptRumors of a ridiculously named Apple iPhone have taken a backseat today, as the Samsung Galaxy S4 is back, and it’s back with a vengeance. Samsung-focused blog SamMobile claims to have the scoop on a few features and the release date of the highly-anticipated follow-up to the Galaxy S3.

The phone will have the model number of GT-i9500, but is currently known by its codename of Altius. The Galaxy S4 name, although widely used in the press, hasn’t been confirmed, supposedly due to the number four being bad luck in Korea. The battery is said to have a capacity of 2600mAh and a wireless charging dock will be sold separately, while the phone will come in either black or white. SamMobile says this information is, “100-percent confirmed.”

We’re also expecting the Galaxy S4 to have a 4.99-inch, 1080p touchscreen, just like the one pictured during CES, plus the Exynos 5 Octa processor which also made its first appearance at the Las Vegas show. Previous rumors have added the phone will have a 13-megapixel camera, 2GB of RAM and a version of Android Jelly Bean.

Mid-April launch?

Apparently, the Galaxy S4 will go on sale during week 16 of 2013, which equates to being somewhere between April 15 and April 19. An Unpacked event will be held to reveal the phone, which would logically come about a month before the phone goes on sale; so around March. The Galaxy S3’s Unpacked event was held on May 3 2012 in London and the phone subsequently went on sale across Europe on May 29. The Galaxy S2 was 13-months old when its successor was unveiled.

Returning to the Galaxy S4’s naming issue for a moment, the number four is considered unlucky in Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and other Asian countries primarily because it’s pronounced in a similar way to the word death. So, do those suffering from tetraphobia at Samsung wield enough power to veto the S4’s name?

A look back at Samsung’s model numbers from the past does reveal a distinct lack of any starting with the number four, despite many starting with a three, five, six, seven, eight and nine. So what will it be instead? According to a post made on a blog about the Chinese language, the number four isn’t as regularly skipped in Korea as it is in China, and is often replaced by the letter F. So perhaps we could be welcoming the Galaxy SF rather than the S4 later this year?

This leaves us with the mid-April release date. We’re still expecting Samsung to stick to an annual update schedule, and doubt it’ll hold an Unpacked event so soon after Mobile World Congress closes. If anything, that mid-April date sounds about right for the launch event rather than the phone going on sale. Despite SamMobile’s confidence, we’re still putting all this down as speculation.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals: Save big on unlocked models
The back of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus.

While the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 are Samsung’s more recently released smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is still a worthy consideration. The S22 has made for some of the best phone deals available over the years, and now that it’s a couple of generations old you can find some pretty impressive Samsung Galaxy S22 deals out there. We’ve rounded up all of the best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals below, and they offer several ways to save from several different outlets. If you’re in search of the latest and greatest you can also check out the current Samsung Galaxy S23 deals, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals. And if you’d like to check out phones by Apple that are comparable to the S22 you can check out iPhone 14 deals and even refurbished iPhone deals.
Samsung Galaxy S22 deals at Samsung

Samsung isn’t currently carrying very many older models of the Samsung Galaxy S phone. You’ll find some newer models like the recently released Samsung Galaxy S24 there, but if you’re looking for something from the S22 model lineup there are a few options at Samsung. New models of the S22+ and S22 Ultra are available, thought you'll need to buy Samsung Certified Renewed if you're looking for a Galaxy S22. Pricing for these starts at $679 with up to $300 in savings available via instant trade-in credit.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Leaked render of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

In the half-decade we've had folding phones, they have operated at opposite ends of the spectrum. One side wants to maximize power and productivity with tablet-like foldables, while the other wants to make your phone as minimalistic as possible. Samsung caters to both of these groups with its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series, and it’s had five years of experience in that department.

We’re still a few months away from both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, but the rumor mill is steadily churning. Here’s what we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 so far.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: release date

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Ring: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Three sizes of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, sitting on top of a white display case.

The smart ring market has been dominated by the Oura Ring so far, but that is about to change with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The ring was teased at Samsung's Unpacked event in January and then again at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February.

The Galaxy Ring is expected to come with various health sensors to help you track your physical fitness and daily activities — all with the backing of Samsung Health. It's one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, and this is everything we know about it (so far).
Samsung Galaxy Ring: release date

Read more