he Galaxy S4 can be a game changer for Samsung'

The Galaxy S4 can be a game changer for Samsung'

Samsung last night delivered its most threatening answer to the iPhone yet with its latest smart phone complete with a gallery of never-before-seen technology.

In a much-hyped public event, the technology giant introduced the Galaxy S4 with an array of new features, including knowing when the user is looking at the screen.

Experts described the launch as a 'major milestone' for Samsung, and predict the S4 could even outsell the iPhone.

Scroll down for video demo

Swiping technology: Many of the new phone's features react to your finger, whether it's touching the screen or not

Display: People interact with the Samsung Galaxy S4, during the unveiling event at New York's Radio City Music Hall

Versatility: Samsung prides the Galaxy S4 on being a 'life companion' that will 'improve the way most people live every day'

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Users can control some other applications by making gestures in the air above the phone. 

In the browser, you can command the screen to scroll up by swiping from top to bottom a few inches from the phone.

Pride: JK Shin, Samsung's president and head of IT and mobile communications, shows off the Galaxy S4 in each of its two colors

A new way to browse: The Galaxy S4 has different options for navigation. If the phone senses someone is looking at the screen, the user can tilt it forward or backwards to scroll up and down a Web page

Touchless: Samsung has also made efforts to combat the issue of messy fingerprints, with a screen that now senses fingers hovering just above the screen, and applications that react

Giving it a whirl: Guests at Radio City Music hall try out the new Samsung Galaxy S4 after the live unveiling event

Unveiling: Shin presents the new Samsung Galaxy S4

Pricing mystery: Samsung did not say what the phone will cost, but it can be expected to start at $200 with a two-year contract in the U.S.

The Camera application can now use both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, and can insert a picture of the photographer even as he or she is capturing the scene in front of them.

It also has an erase feature, which allows the phone to take several pictures of a subject, then create a composite of the images to remove an unwanted photobomber.

SAMSUNG'S GALAXY S4 - WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

'Perhaps not the out-and-out game changer some were expecting, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is, on first impressions at least, certainly a new dominant force on the Android smartphone scene.'

Luke Johnson, Trusted Reviews

'It's a bit of a shame that Samsung announced the phone without giving a price or release date, but at this point, with Samsung the global sales and innovation leader in smartphones, it can do pretty much whatever it wants.'

Jordan Crook, TechCrunch

'Is it a major step up from the Samsung Galaxy S3? Probably not for many. But there's certainly enough that's new to promote it above being the Samsung Galaxy S3S.'

Rik Henderson, Pocket Lint

'Viewing angles are great, colours pop on the Super AMOLED display, and the bezels on the device have been slimmed to the point where the screen feels even larger and more immersive.'

David Pierce, The Verge

'The company isn't quite at the level where fans will wait in line for the phone, but the Samsung fanboys are starting to grow as vocal - if not more so - than the Apple faithful. 

'At this point, the Galaxy S4 is a runaway train, something Samsung couldn't stop even if it tried. The rest of the industry better watch out.'

Roger Cheng, CNet

In the U.S., the S4 will be sold by all four national carriers - Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA - as well as by smaller ones US Cellular and Cricket.

Samsung did not say what the phone will cost, but it can be expected to start at $200 with a two-year contract in the U.S.

JK Shin, the executive in charge of Samsung's mobile communications division, promised the money would be well spent for a 'life companion' that will 'improve the way most people live every day.'

A tale of two smartphones

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4

Height: 136.6 mm (5.38 inches)

Width: 69 mm (2.72 inches)

Depth: 7.9 mm (0.31 inches)

Weight: 130 grams (4.59 ounces)

Touchscreen: 5in

Pixel density: 441 per inch

Display: 1920-by-1080 pixels

Network speeds: 3G and 4G LTE Lite

Camera: 13 megapixel in back-facing camera, 2 megapixel in front-facing

Voice recognition: Can translate nine languages and utilizes voice-activated tools that can dictate, reply, forward or save text messages 

Built-in apps: Video chat; internet browser; Gmail; Google Talk, Google Play Store; infrared LED; Google Maps; YouTube

Processor: 1.9GHz quad-core processor or 1.6GHz octa-core processor

Internal memory: 16GB; 32GB; or 64GB

Other memory: Data stored in Samsung's HomeSync - a household cloud service

Battery: 2,600 mAh

Operating system: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

APPLE IPHONE 5

Height: 123.8 mm (4.87 inches)

Width: 58.6 mm (2.31 inches)

Depth: 7.6 mm (0.3 inches)

Weight: 112 grams (3.95 ounces)

Touchscreen: 4in

Pixel density: 326 per inch

Display: 1136x640 pixels

Network speeds: 3G and mobile 4G

Camera: 8 megapixel in back-facing camera 1.2 in front-facing

Voice recognition: Siri upgraded to allow spoken recommendations for films or restaurants. Possible to update Facebook status by voice command

Built-in apps: FaceTime; video editing; Safari internet browser; email; Apple maps; no YouTube as standard

Processor: A6 chip said to be twice as quick as A5.

Internal memory: 16GB; 32GB; or 64GB

Other memory: Purchases stored in Apple’s iCloud servers

Battery: 1,400 mAh

Operating system: Apple iOS 6

Smart: The screen reacts to movement, and a video will automatically pause if you're not looking at the phone

Advancement: Presenting the phone on Thursday, Mr Shin said the device will serve as a life companion to help its owner lead 'a richer and simpler life'