Samsung Galaxy S4 Vs. iPhone Analysts: Misek And White Aren't Scared By Samsung's Latest

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has finally been revealed with much fanfare this week, and many believe that the device could usurp the iPhone's (dwindling) dominance of the high-end cell phone market. But how do Apple analysts feel about the rival device?

For the most part, analysts believe that the Galaxy S4 is a very good phone, but does not do enough to change the market significantly for Apple. Jefferies' Peter Misek believes that the S4 will be a success but the features that make it unique, such as the face and gesture recognition, can be replicated by other companies.

"We believe the S4 will certainly sell well and it is incrementally negative for Apple; however, the device is not revolutionary, in our view. Aside from the large screen size, which we believe gives Samsung a large advantage over Apple, we believe many of the features can easily be replicated," Misek said.

Brian White of Topeka's had a much more blunt outlook on the Galaxy S4, noting that while it may be the fresh new device on the market, Apple is the king of the high-end smartphone market.

"The S 4 is faster but still heavier, fatter and less refined than the iPhone 5... We are amazed by how analysts and the media have turned on Apple during the recent stock downdraft with statements that Samsung is "out-innovating" Apple. One would believe that Samsung is crushing Apple in the mobile phone market. We believe this is complete nonsense...." he confidently noted. 

The deciding factor for many comes down to the new features that the S4 brings to the table. While the abilities of the S4 make it unique, some, such as Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, do not find any of them powerful enough to challenge Apple's place in the market.

Munster explained, "We believe some of the software features are unique, including the tilt to scroll, video pausing based on facial recognition, and hand gesture based interactions, but view these software improvements as minor compared with what Siri was to the iPhone 4S or even Google Now to Android..."

It will be interesting to see when Samsung releases the Galaxy S4 how Apple and consumers respond to the new device, and if its unique features and specs are able to take a significant portion of Apple's share of the high-end smartphone market. While Apple's iPhone is not going anywhere soon, it seems as though competition is beginning to open up around the device, and the iPhone could lose it's lofty status as the poster child device on the scene.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will begin launching in April, and will be carried by six carriers here in the United States, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, and Cricket.