Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of the fourth generation of Galaxy S smartphones, the Galaxy S4, in Bahrain. The company expects to extend its lead in the smartphone market.

The flagship smartphone was launched last week at a Press conference held at the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The 3G version is available in all major retail outlets in Bahrain for BD265 and the 4G-LTE version will be announced later, Samsung Gulf Electronics head of telecommunications group Hayssam Yassine told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

According to Yassine, the company has a market share of over 45 per cent in the GCC market and expects "high double digit growth" with the new launch of the new device.

"With the Galaxy S4, Samsung is continuing to enhance the way that people live by offering the best-in-class hardware and the most advanced software to provide a true life companion for consumers in the region," he added.

A smartphone expert present at the launch told the GDN that aside from a host of new features, the handset is bigger as well as better than its predecessor.

"The surface of the S4 is larger, though the device is slightly thinner than the S3. The display is a vivid, HD-capable 5-inch Super Amoled screen that adds 0.2 inches of diagonal space and, at 1080-by-1920 resolution, quite a few more pixels," the expert added.

"The beauty of the smartphone is the highly crafted design encompassing a larger screen size and battery, minimised bezel; all housed in a light - 130g - and slim - 7.9mm - shape. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see," Yassine said.

"The Galaxy S4 has the world's first full HD super Amoled display. Its 5-inch large screen has 441ppi. It also utilises Corning's new Gorilla Glass 3," stated the official.

"Equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera, the Galaxy S 4 also has a 'dual camera' function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras," he added.

Yassine said the company will launch a ruggedised version of the handset later this year which will have better dust, water and impact protection capabilities.-TradeArabia News Service