South Korea tech giant Samsung may have confirmed the imminent release of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 as it appeared on Samsung's official website, albeit for a rather brief time.

Reports claimed that Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will be unveiled this week. The handset is a perfect low cost alternative for those who do not want to splash out on its latest flagship Galaxy S4.

The new rumour contradicts earlier reports that Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will go on sale around May, which is also confirmed by an executive from Samsung.

Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics Lee Keon Hyok talked to BusinessWeek and said that, "the Galaxy S 4 doesn't come out until late April. It's fast, has a big, bright screen, and will probably be another huge hit for Samsung, as will the S4 mini that will go on sale soon after".

The leaked specifications of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini showed that the smartphone may be at par with iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3.

If the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will be released in June, it will battle head on with Apple's iPhone, which is set to be released around the same time. There are rumours claiming that Apple is planning to launch its flagship phone this summer. It seems that Samsung wants to take a bite on Apple's sales.

Earlier leaks claimed that the device would be launching in multiple versions with a 4.3in display and up to quad-core processor depending on model: a dual-SIM version, which will likely not launch in the UK, would feature a dual-core processor, while a single-sim version supporting either 3G HSPA+ or 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity would include a quad-core chip. All versions, however, would include the same 4.3in Super AMOLED qHD display with a pixel density of 256 pixels per inch (PPI).

While Samsung is disclosing its plans to launch a Galaxy S4 Mini, SamMobile claims to have word that it will be announcing the device later this week - with a view to releasing the device towards the end of May or the start of June. According to the site's anonymous source, the handset will be available in two colours at launch: Black Mist and White Frost.