The Galaxy S4 launch four days ago thrilled many Android fans. Now the rumour mill has stopped for the Samsung Galaxy S4. It is time for hands-on reviews and first impressions. If you're a prospective gadget shopper, you can now compare the S4 specs with other super smartphones.

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The Samsung Galaxy S3 was the most coveted Android phone in 2012, selling over 40 million units. Could the Galaxy S4 be on a track to greater sales heights? We've rounded up initial hands-on reviews and leave the rest to you. Should you include the S4 in your 2013 gadget shopping list?

When it comes to design innovation, "it's hard to take the S IV seriously next to a gorgeous piece of hardware like the HTC One," reports Brent Rose of Gizmodo.com. Brent tested the celebrated Smart Scroll feature but was not satisfied, as it seemed problematic during actual use. On the good side, Rose lauded the S4's "hefty 2600mAh battery" and IR blaster for remote control operations.

If Gizmodo did not sound too impressed, CNET warned, "temper your expectations," noting the Galaxy S4 is "the Gap clothing of smartphones."

The folks at TrustedReviews.com are "not convinced [the Galaxy S4] is an essential upgrade" for current S3 users. Andrew Williams writes many of the S4 features are likely to be added eventually to the S3. But if a gadget shopper needs only one reason to upgrade, the larger, sharper screen display could be it.

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Three of the most drummed up features during the Galaxy S4 launch were: the Smart Scroll, Smart Pause and Air Gesture. The Smart Scroll lets users tilt their phone to read more. The Smart Pause stops a video from playing when the user looks away. The Air Gesture lets users control their phone by hovering a finger. (Galaxy Note 2 users do this, too, except they hover their S-Pen instead.) The S Health feature should be a welcome addition to health buffs. And the 13 MP camera should provide a new level of mobile photography fun for hobbyists. (Follow this link for the HTC One Zoe Camera and Galaxy S4's Sound & Shot and Cinema Photo features.)

Many tech reviews may sound too lukewarm, but these first impressions could change once benchmark tests are done. Meantime, you will include the Galaxy S4 in your 2013 gadget plans if a. you're a solid Samsung Android fan, b. you're looking for your first high-end smartphone (make sure to compare prices), and c. you really want to try out Samsung's innovative ideas.

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