Electronics maker Samsung unveiled their latest smartphone, the Galaxy S4, at a launch event in Johannesburg, South Africa last night. The event was attended by approx. 2500 guests, as well as media representatives from across Africa.
“With the Galaxy S4, Samsung is again going to enhance the way we live. All the innovative features of Galaxy S4 were developed based on the insights and needs we found from our consumers all around the world. Following the successful Galaxy S series, this phone is yet another great proof point of people-inspired innovation.

At Samsung we’ll never stop pursuing innovation conceived by people so we can inspire them in return,” said Craige Fleischer, Director of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics South Africa during the press conference.

Features

The device adds a number of innovative feature that hasn’t been made available on any other Galaxy device, such as Smart Pause, Smart Scroll and Samsung Adapt Display, as well as updated features such as S Voice Drive, Air View and Air Gesture.

The device features the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display, 5-inch large screen, bigger  2,600 mAh battery, 13 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, and a 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor / 1.6 GHz Octa-Core Processor.

In what is also a world first from a device manufacturer level, Samsung will be providing Pan-African users with a two year warranty, which they call ADH – Accidental Damage from Handling. Essentially what it means, is if users damage the screen or suffer water damage, Samsung will replace or repair the Galaxy S4 at no cost to the user.

Warranty

“This warranty is yet another way Samsung is showing its commitment to customer service by introducing it as standard on the Galaxy S4 and will be extended to other Samsung devices in the months to come, ” says George Ferreira, VP and COO of Samsung Electronics Africa.

“The ADH will be incorporated into the existing 24-month standard factory warranty on the Galaxy S4. This warranty will cover only screen and liquid damages, and customers will be limited to two incidents per 24-month period that can be two screen, two liquid, or one incident of each,” Samsung explained.

ADH will be available in South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana, Uganda, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivorie, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Botswana, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

The device will be available in South Africa on 27 April for R8499 ($940), while the LTE version will arrive six weeks later and retail for R8899 ($988).