The first image of what is claimed to be Samsung Electronics’ next flagship smartphone emerged on the Internet on Friday. The Galaxy S IV smartphone resembles the predecessor and is expected to be formally announced on March 4, 2013.

An insider from Samsung Electronics reportedly sent an image of a press photo of the Samsung Galaxy S IV to Sam Mobile web-site. The picture has been taken from a monitor using a quality camera, hence, the photo itself seems to be rather detailed. As it appears, Samsung Galaxy S4 will be strikingly similar to the Galaxy S3, but will lack hardware “home” button on the lower side of the smartphone. It also looks like the next Galaxy will be flatter than the predecessor. Everything else, including positioning sensors, dynamic and camera is similar to the Galaxy S III.

Previously, Samsung changed design of flagship Galaxy S models significantly from generation to generation. Therefore, it will be a surprise to see that Galaxy S IV is nearly similar to Galaxy S III. Moreover, considering design similarities, it is hard to expect the new smartphone to feature bendable/unbreakable screen, which was anticipated late last year. On the other hand, extra-durable display cannot be ruled out completely.

The web-site also shares possible launch date of the Samsung Galaxy S IV based on another photo sent in by a reader: March 4, 2013. Since the rumours about Samsung’s intention to roll-out its next-gen flagship are pretty widespread these days, the March announcement seems to make sense.

Back in November it was reported that Samsung Display, a producer of display panels that belongs to Samsung, is in the last phase of development of flexible displays for mobile devices, which are expected to be released in the first half of next year. Bendable displays are virtually unbreakable and naturally provide a lot of opportunities when it comes to creation of innovation shapes of smartphone.

Samsung has already demonstrated rather weird product prototypes with flexible displays at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but those featured 4.5” screens. This does not mean that that the actual devices on their base will be as odd as technology showcases. The main advantage which they will likely provide will be added crash-worthiness as well as improved usability. While the screens themselves will be able to bend, other electronics components inside smartphones, such as printed-circuit boards or chips, will not be flexible and can be broken.

In December a rumour emerged that Samsung Electronics’ next-generation Galaxy S IV flagship smartphone will not only feature traditional software and hardware innovations, but will also take advantage of the company’s bendable screen technology, which will make its display unbreakable. Such Google Android-powered smartphone may reinvent mobile phones as we know them today.

Tags: Samsung, Galaxy, Android, AMOLED