The hype train for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is in full gear as U.S. carriers prepare to launch the new smartphone, and now everyone is wondering exactly when, where, and for how much they can buy the Galaxy S4.
AT&T made news last week by announcing that it would begin accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 on April 16, but it also raised some eyebrows when it revealed that the Samsung smartphone would cost $249.99 with a two-year contract.
"Continuing our legacy as the first carrier to launch Samsung's Galaxy series, we are excited to announce AT&T customers will be able to begin pre-ordering the Galaxy S4 beginning April 16 for $249.99 with a two-year commitment," read AT&T's original announcement. "We are proud to offer this iconic device and continue to offer our customers the best smartphone line-up, with a variety of devices for every lifestyle and budget."
Now, though, the carrier has clarified its statement. While the 32GB Galaxy S4 will sell for $250, the 16GB model will retail at the oh-so-important price point of $199.99. This puts the Galaxy S4 at the same price level as other competitors, namely the HTC One, which will launch shortly before Samsung unleashes its new device.
That's not very good news for the HTC One, but Galaxy S4 owners won't be getting quite the same deal. The $200 version of the HTC One comes packing 32GB of space, not just 16GB. Whether that storage space advantage will sway those sitting on the fence is questionable, but perhaps the savings, combined with an earlier launch, will move some fence-sitters into HTC's camp. It's hard to imagine anyone set on purchasing a Galaxy S4 changing their mind because of this one shortcoming, though, so HTC has its work cut out for it.
Unfortunately, there's still no word on a Galaxy S4 release date.
