eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Samsung celebrated 10 years of its Galaxy S smartphone line on Feb. 20 by announcing its latest four-model Galaxy S10 lineup, which includes three 4G phones and a coming 5G model that will be released as 5G deployments continue to spread.
The new models, which were unveiled at a glitzy Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event in San Francisco that was live-streamed around the world, introduce a new budget version in the S10 lineup—the Galaxy S10e—as well as a standard Galaxy S10 phone, a larger S10+ handset and the upcoming Galaxy S10 5G. Both the S10 and the S10+ are larger and more feature-packed than the S9 and S9+ models they are replacing.
“Since its launch ten years ago, the Galaxy S series has stood for premium innovation—offering consumers an incredible experience, and the ability to find the device that’s right for them,” DJ Koh, president and CEO of the IT and mobile communications division of Samsung Electronics, said in a statement. “Galaxy S10 builds on that incredible legacy, and delivers breakthrough display, camera, and performance innovations. With four premium devices, each built for a unique consumer in mind, Samsung is leveraging a decade of industry leadership to usher in a new era of smartphone technology.”
The Samsung Galaxy S10+
The base Galaxy S10+ features a 6.4-inch Wide Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, which is larger than the 6.2-inch display in the previous S9+ phone, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 octa-core processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The S10+ is also available in premium versions with a ceramic front and rear cover with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage or with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of onboard storage. The earlier S9+ included 6GB of RAM and started at 64GB of RAM.
Also featured in the new S10+ is a new three-lens rear main camera set, featuring a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 12MP dual pixel wide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens; a pair of 10MP and 8MP front auto-focus cameras; a 4,100mAh battery; and an under-screen, embedded ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for security.
The new Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner applies a machine learning-based algorithm to provide anti-spoofing by being able to read 3D fingerprints through ultrasonic sound waves. The scanner reads the contours of a user’s thumbprint for greater security. It can’t be operated with a copy of the fingerprint, but just with the original print.
A microSD slot that accepts flash cards up to 512GB is also standard for expanded storage. The S10+ has protective Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on its back.
The Samsung Galaxy S10
The base Galaxy S10 includes a 6.1-inch Wide Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, which is larger than the 5.8-inch display in the previous S9 phone; a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 octa-core processor; 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage; and a 3,400mAh battery. The earlier Galaxy S9 had 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.
The S10 also includes the new three-lens rear main camera set, featuring a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 12MP dual pixel wide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens; as well as a single 10MP front auto-focus camera and an under-screen, embedded ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for security. A microSD slot that accepts flash cards up to 512GB is also standard for expanded storage.
The S10 has protective Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on its back.
The Galaxy S10 is also available in a version with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage
The Samsung Galaxy S10e
The new model in the S10 line, the S10e, is being touted as a lower-priced version with a wider, flat screen for users who want to use their smartphone as an entertainment hub in addition to its standard uses.
The S10e features a 5.8-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display and starts with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It includes the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 octa-core processor as its two siblings, as well as a 3,100mAh battery, dual 16MP and 12MP rear main cameras, and a dual-pixel 10MP front camera.
The S10e is also being offered in a version with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. A microSD slot that accepts flash cards up to 512GB is also standard for expanded storage. The S10e includes a capacitive fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for user security. The Galaxy S10e features protective Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on its front and back.
All three models—the S10+, S10 and S10e—also feature fast wireless charging capabilities and for the first time from Samsung allow users to charge their other devices using a preset amount of the battery power in their new handsets. The trio also includes Samsung Knox security protections. In addition, they all include IP68 dust and water resistance.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
The coming Galaxy S10 5G will include a 6.7-inch Infinity-O display, a 4,500mAh battery, a 3D depth camera and enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities when it is released later this year. The Galaxy S10 5G will be available through Verizon Wireless exclusively for a limited time in the first half of 2019, and then will be launched by AT&T, Spectrum Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile and Xfinity Mobile during the summer.
Preorders for the Galaxy S10+, S10 and S10e will begin Feb. 21 with prices starting at $900 for the Galaxy S10, $1,000 for the Galaxy S10+ and $750 for the Galaxy S10e for carrier-provided or unlocked versions.
The handsets will be available in stores and online starting March 8 through AT&T, Spectrum Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity Mobile. Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app will also carry the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e.
Buyers who preorder a Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S10+ between Feb. 21 and March 7 will receive free Galaxy Buds ($129.99 value). Consumers who trade in an eligible device on Samsung.com or the Shop Samsung app can also get up to $550.18 for their old phone, according to Samsung. The promotions will last for a limited time and only while supplies last.
Also unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event was Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold smartphone, which includes a screen that when unfolded gives the user a 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display to see more and do more, essentially turning the handset from a phone into a small tablet.
