Is Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 a souped-up Galaxy S III? [Video chat]

After seeing Samsung’s new phone, you have to wonder why it called the device the Galaxy S 4 and not just the Galaxy S IIIS.

Much like Apple’s iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S, Samsung’s new flagship phone is being pitched to consumers more for its software improvements than for any changes in the hardware.

The phone does have a larger and higher quality screen, faster processor and better cameras, but Samsung dedicated most of its launch event to discussing the latest features it added to the phone’s software. Among them are the capability to record video using both of the phone’s cameras at the same time, as well as the ability to detect users’ eye movements to scroll Web pages automatically.

LIVE DISCUSSION: Join us at 11 a.m. as we chat about the GS4

Many of the features look great, but they won’t be exclusive to the new smartphone.

Samsung’s Nick DiCarlo, the company’s vice president of portfolio planning, spoke with PCMag and said “anything that we can do that’s not dependent on hardware like infrared, we’ll definitely bring to all the flagship devices.”

Some of the new camera features won’t come to the GS3 since the GS4 has an improved 13-megapixel sensor, but everything else that Samsung unveiled Thursday night might be headed for the older phone.

For GS3 users, this is great news, but for consumers looking to buy a new phone, it might be hard for them to tell the difference between the GS3 and GS4.

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