The time leading up to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S10 was plagued with leaks, leaving little mystery around the phone and its features.
However, Samsung has officially announced its newest range of phones. Here's everything you should know about the smartphone giant's 2019 flagship devices.
1. The Specs for Galaxy S10 Phones
The 2019 launch of the Galaxy S series flagships is the first time that Samsung has launched four devices, instead of two, as part of its flagship range.
As you'd expect, Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, as per the usual tradition. However, the company has also launched the Samsung Galaxy S10e. This is a smaller, entry-level device with lower specs that the S10 and S10+. In addition to this, the Galaxy S10 5G is also making an appearance.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S10 is the middle-tier flagship released in the S10 range. It includes most of the premium features expected from the S range with a smaller battery and display than the S10+.
Here's a summary of the Samsung Galaxy S10's features:
Display: 6.1-inch 3040 x 1440 QHD+ display with dynamic AMOLED HDR+
Battery: 3400mAh
RAM: 6GB/8GB
Storage: 128GB/512GB
Main camera: Triple-lens 12MP + 12MP + 16MP camera
Front-facing camera: 10MP
Samsung Galaxy S10+ Specifications
The Galaxy S10+ includes the features of the S10, but with a few extra bells and whistles. Among them are a larger display, more storage, and a bigger battery.
You can see a summary of the Galaxy S10+'s features below:
Display: 6.3-inch 3040 x 1440 QHD+ display with dynamic AMOLED HDR+
Battery: 4100 mAh
RAM: 6GB/8GB
Storage: 128GB/512GB/1TB
Main camera: Triple-lens 12MP + 12MP + 16MP camera
Front-facing camera: Dual 10MP + 8MP camera
Samsung Galaxy S10e Specifications
The Galaxy A series is Samsung's established mid-range, affordable class of phones. However, the company has changed this up with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S10e.
Have a look at the Galaxy S10e's rundown:
Display: 5.8-inch 2280 x 1080 QHD+ display with dynamic AMOLED HDR+
Battery: 3100mAh
RAM: 6GB/8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Main camera: Dual 12MP + 16MP camera
Front-facing camera: 10MP
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is the highest-tier Galaxy S10 device, thanks to the quadruple camera and its 5G functionality. Notably, it's Samsung's first smartphone with 5G functionality.
Below is a summary of what the Galaxy S10 5G offers:
Display: 6.7-inch 3040 x 1440 QHD+ display with dynamic AMOLED HDR+
Battery: 4500mAh
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB (with no microSD slot)
Main camera: Quadruple 12MP + 12MP + 16MP + 3D Depth lens camera
Front-facing camera: Dual 10MP + 3D Depth camera
2. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ Have Triple-Lens Cameras
Samsung has included a triple camera in its S10 and S10+ smartphones. The main camera includes a 12MP telephoto lens, a 12MP wide-angle lens, and a 16MP ultrawide lens. That ultrawide lens allows you to zoom to a 123-degree angle.
This means that you can take close-up, bokeh-effect photos along with ultrawide panoramic shots. In addition, the Galaxy S10 camera includes AI tools, such as scene recognition that can recognize faces, vehicles, animals, and other objects.
3. The Galaxy S10 5G Has a Total of Six Lenses
While the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G emphasizes its 5G capability in its name, this isn't the only feature that separates it from other devices in the S10 range.
The S10 5G includes a total of six lenses: a quadruple-lens rear camera and a dual-lens front-facing camera. It's also the only phone in the series to include a 3D Depth lens, which Samsung says improves the quality of blurred-background images.
Here are the lenses that the quadruple main camera device includes:
- 12 MP telephoto lens
- 12 MP wide-angle lens
- 16MP ultrawide lens
- 3D Depth lens
The dual front-facing camera on the S10 5G is different from the dual camera featured on the S10+. The S10 5G's selfie camera includes a 12MP lens along with a 3D Depth lens.
What Is the 3D Depth Lens?
The 3D Depth lenses featured on the S10 5G use special infrared light signals to measure and capture depth in images. While this improves background blurring, it has another exciting use---using the Live Focus mode in videos.
Samsung says of the feature:
"This innovative camera allows the device to accurately capture depth by measuring the length of time it takes for an infrared light signal to bounce off the photograph's subject. The camera uses the resulting depth information to improve the quality of portrait-style images, and to power exciting new features like Video Live focus and Quick Measure."
4. The Galaxy S10 Has an In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
Samsung fans have clamored for the company to incorporate a fingerprint scanner under its smartphone displays since the launch of the Galaxy S8. With the S10 range, Samsung has achieved this with the use of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor in the S10, S10+, and S10 5G devices.
This sensor is an advanced on-screen fingerprint scanner that includes the ability to perform a 3D scan of your fingerprint. According to Samsung, this enhances the security of the scan when unlocking your device with your finger. The sensor is better able to detect fake fingerprints---both 2D and 3D.
The use of ultrasonic rather than optical technology also means that the scanner will work better in wet conditions, according to the company.
5. Only the Galaxy S10 5G Has 5G Functionality
Only the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G includes 5G functionality, as its name implies. The other devices in the range don't include this feature.
In the US, the Galaxy S10 5G will initially be a Verizon exclusive.
In Europe, the operators who have partnered with Samsung to provide the device include Deutsche Telekom, EE, Orange, Sunrise, Swisscom, TIM, Telefonica, and Vodafone. 5G functionality will be available in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
6. All Galaxy S10 Phones Have Reverse Wireless Charging
Wireless charging has become a standard for most premium smartphones, but Samsung has now introduced reverse wireless charging functionality to the S10 range. If you own the Galaxy S10, S10+, S10 5G, or S10e, you'll have the ability able to charge other devices by placing them on the back of the smartphone. Samsung dubs this functionality Wireless PowerShare charging.
This feature will work to power the Galaxy Buds, the wireless earphones announced alongside the launch of the smartphones.
7. The Galaxy S10 Phones Are Launching in March
The Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ will launch on March 8, 2019, in selected regions. Initial launch markets include the United States, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S10e, S10 and S10+ open on February 21. Unfortunately, the availability of the S10 5G isn't known at this time.
8. The Galaxy S10 Phones Are Expensive
With the iPhone X line normalizing smartphones costing over $1,000, Samsung hasn't shied away from a high price tag for the Galaxy S10 range.
The Galaxy S10e, the entry-level device in the new S10 range, will cost $749.99.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S10 price starts at $899.99; the S10+ starts at $999.99. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G price has yet to be announced at the time of publishing.
Is the Galaxy S10 Range for You?
Samsung's launch gave us four new S10 devices. While this can be exciting, it can also be an information overload. How do you decide whether the S10 range is for you? Or how to decide between devices?
Luckily, we have a guide on how to choose the best device for you. Check out our list of essential features for smartphones.