For a while, Nexus 4 flexed just the right muscles to possibly defeat the leading Android handset when it was released on November 2012 - Samsung's Galaxy S3.

But the Google smartphone, made by LG, quickly fettered out not because it was incapable of challenging the bestselling Samsung device but because chronic supply stock outs prevented many from actually owning the phone.

Now that the Galaxy S4 is coming out, experts believe it will be an instant hit, possibly neutralising every competition around, including the affordable and powerful Nexus 4.

This time around, the Google phone does not need to be scarce to be battered by the new Samsung flagship and here are the reasons.

Software edge

Nexus 4 was a lure for its native Android and hardcore fans welcomed the idea of unnecessary skin bloats from device manufacturers such as TouchWiz by Samsung and Sense by HTC.

But with the introduction of Premium Suite, Samsung proved that it is able to match what the Google platform can mostly deliver. Multi-view and high-end camera features blew away many in the Android crowd and sadly they are not available to Nexus 4 owners even with modifications out there.

Now that the Premium Suite is further enhanced, as seen in the newly-released Galaxy Note 8.0, Nexus 4 will find it hard to match what Samsung will possibly serve on the table. Stock is now always the best, in this case, and Google knows that.

Build

Google and LG would not admit but the Nexus 4 design is Apple-inspired but the iPhone soft-clone was far from perfect with users' complaints of screen and back breakages.

The S3 was not exactly solid too but Samsung sold more than 40 million units on a blueprint that largely used plastic materials. Numerous reports have hinted that Samsung is using the same template with the necessary upgrades.

What will come out is the eye-candy Galaxy S4 body - sleek, light and sexy - that is far from perfect but is able to magnet consumers in large numbers.

Display and camera

Nexus 4 is 720p and Galaxy S4 will be 1080p. No confirmation yet from Samsung but it makes no sense not to deploy that attribute with the fresh take of the quad-core Galaxy S. Samsung has earlier declared that it wants S4 users to enjoy full media experience with the 5-inch Full HD screen display of the new handset.

Even without the Super AMOLED, Samsung has largely ensured that the Galaxy S3 will easily rout its rivals out there. It goes without saying that Nexus 4 is on Samsung's battle plan when it designed the S4 for its 2013 battle plan.

That same screen delight on the S4 also serves as its viewfinder for a rear camera that would pack at least 13MP of sensor. Paired with Samsung's potent camera skills, Google will have to wait for the Nexus 5 release before it can even hope of measuring up with the super camera phone from South Korea.

Supply chain and network support

Nexus 4 was dispatched like a contraband as if you need to get it at your own hazard. Consequently, the gadget debuted with little or no marketing and network, which for some is okay but for many is monumental inconvenience. Now the phone is widely regarded as the hit that never was.

Samsung is far too different. The company reached a neck-to-neck rivalry with Apple because it painstakingly invested on global partnership, making sure that Galaxy smartphones will reach consumers with minimal glitch. The same ease of distribution will surely mark the Galaxy S4 release with consumers assured that connectivity will not be a problem the moment they unpack the handset regardless of their connection.

More storage space and longer operating hours

It seems that Google deliberately designed the Nexus 4 with limits - limited supply, limited network connection and not much space for storage. The handset is available at maximum of 16GB internal memory with no slot for expansion and the battery is stuck inside with no prospect of replacement when the juice runs out.

Samsung, reports said, will sell the Galaxy S4 in various storage configurations and 64GB is the highest mark. For those too fast in chewing up files and installing too many apps, more room is given via the microSD slot, which welcomes up to 64GB of external memory card.

Like its predecessors, the S4 will come with a removable battery cover. This is useful for road warriors and heavy users. With a full-charged spare battery, they can easily slide in when power is running low.

In short, the Galaxy S4 offers the option of uninterrupted smartphone usage while the Nexus 4 forces its users to depend on circumvents that will address the handset's enforced limitations.

Come its launch time, it seems quite clear that the S4 is out to get the Nexus 4 and it will win handily.