By I-Hsien Sherwood (i.sherwood@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Feb 25, 2013 05:18 PM EST

The Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone will be unveiled on March 14, the company announced.

The flagship phone is the much-anticipated successor to the wildly popular Samsung Galaxy S III, the first phone to outsell the Apple iPhone worldwide, though its sales still trail in the United States.

"Samsung confirmed the plans at Mobile World Congress, the massive tech show currently under way in Barcelona, Spain," writes CNN. "Samsung unveiled a new tablet there but, taking a page from Apple's playbook, opted not to roll out its flagship phone during the crowded event where many rival products are clamoring for attention."

Little is known about the Galaxy S IV, except that it will need impressive specs and design to outmaneuver the next generation of the iPhone, which will be dubbed either the 5S or the 6.

In addition plenty of other competitors have emerged from the field. While Apple is typically considered the gold standard, many phone manufacturers see Samsung as the player to beat, so the S IV will need to top Sony's waterproof Xperia Z, BlackBerry's Z10 and Q10 and HTC'S revamped One.

Samsung followed up its announcement with a tweet.

Samsung is touting its launch event in New York, which is quickly becoming the place to be when unveiling new phones. HTC recently unveiled its new HTC One in simultaneous events in London and New York.

"One likely reason why Samsung chose New York for its launch is because, as Reuters notes, it is 'Apple's turf' and rivalry between the two is becoming increasingly intense," writes TechCrunch. " Launching in New York instead of at this week's Mobile World Congress also has the added benefit of ensuring that the latest Galaxy S debut will not be lost amid a sea of noise from competitors."

Check back for the latest Galaxy S IV specs once they're available.