Following a string of compelling Android phone launches (I, II, III), much of the tech press is...

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Herr Hansa Comments (2922)
 
Smartphones are quasi-luxury products for the average individual. Value can be maintained in luxury markets when changes are subtle and evolutionary, though that helps current owners more than future owners. The desire to have the latest, in a form of personal one-up-manship creates a desire for something notably different. I think in failing to make the S4 different enough, Samsung reaffirms the cache of ownership for S III users, but fails to entice new users. I suspect a discounted S III will become heavy competition for potential S4 purchase decisions.

Samsung has a great marketing team, and are using a very clever ad campaign, which is highly effective. The way the S4 is presented to the public will play a very large part in whether or not sales volumes are significant. While the tech blogs poo-poo the specs as expected, they often get the predictions horribly wrong. Most non-technical people are not buying smartphones based upon slight differences in specifications, though the "Full HD" screen may lure in some buyers. HTC would do well here to run a heavy media campaign, but without that Samsung can only harm themselves with ineffective marketing and a poor switch to ad campaigns. Perceptions play a much larger part in sales of consumer goods than any specifications could ever trump.
15 Mar, 07:43 PM Reply Like

Yokyok Comments (275)
 
samsung's momentum will not end any time soon.

htc lg and google/nexus all have great phones but the masses are afraid to try them because they're not informed enough to know whether they're good or not... they go for the safe choice that they see everywhere.. and that will be galaxy

and not all the reviewers are as negative as those cited above:

Hands-On: Samsung Galaxy S 4
Samsung's new Galaxy smartphone makes minor improvements to the hardware but massive innovations with the software. There's no doubt it will be another winner for Samsung.
http://bit.ly/YxdjUv
15 Mar, 08:25 PM Reply Like

docgastro Comments (5)
 
Assessment by tech blogs may be true (I have yet to hold the device), but they do not represent the mainstream phone buyers. Samsung will again sell millions and that is fact. It will be available on all the carriers and there will be no supply issues. Even though the HTC One appears to be a better phone, I do not think they have production capacity of Samsung and people often buy something available from competition.

Time will tell...
16 Mar, 12:46 PM Reply Like