USA TODAY International Edition
Samsung goes all out for 10th anniversary Galaxy
When the iPhone turned 10 in 2016, Apple went all out giving the phone a massive redesign. As one might expect, with the Galaxy S line hitting the same milestone this year, Samsung similarly spared no expense.
Samsung is introducing several Galaxy S10 models Wednesday: a more compact, $749.99 S10e with a 5.8-inch display, an $899.99 6.1-inch S10 and a $999.99 6.4-inch S10+.
In addition to those three main S10 models, which will be available for preorder Feb. 21 and go on sale March 8, Samsung is adding a souped-up, 6.7inch Galaxy S10 5G.
The 5G model will launch initially as a Verizon exclusive during the first half of 2019, before rolling out later to AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.
All four phones run Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor and are packed with the latest specs, including a minimum of 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. A microSD card is available on the three non-5G models to add additional storage.
Unlike recent iPhones and Android devices that cut out the top of the display for the front camera (also known as a “notch”), Samsung is taking a different approach on the S10, introducing what it calls an “Infinity-O” display.
This screen cuts out a hole for the front camera in the upper right corner to allow the display to maximize the entire front of the phone.
The S10e has two rear cameras, an ultra wide-angle and more standard wide lens, with an improved front 10-megapixel sensor. The S10 and S10+ have an additional zoom sensor on the back. The 5G adds a depth sensor on the back, bringing the number of lenses to four.
The S10+ and 5G model also will each have a second depth camera on the front for improved portrait selfies, and in the case of the 5G model, improved augmented reality possibilities.
Similar to Google’s Pixel line, Samsung also is upping its software on the S10’s camera. The camera can automatically switch between the lenses, swapping between the sensors depending on the shot you are looking to capture and how zoomed in you are. A new “shot suggestions” mode will guide you to make sure your phone is properly aligned and the subjects are in focus.
Video recording also will be getting some upgrades with a “super steady mode” to keep your videos stabilized.
All phones are water resistant and pack now-standard Galaxy features such as Samsung Pay for making mobile payments. Stereo speakers remain on all the phones and, in a win for those who still use wired headphones, so does a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.
Pink, black, white, and blue will be the options in the U.S. – a green option will be offered internationally. Glass covers the back of the phones, though those who get the 512 GB or 1 TB S10+ will have an option for a more durable black or white model made out of ceramic.
Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant similar to Siri or Alexa, also is still here but for those who don’t use the feature, Samsung says a forthcoming software update will allow you to change the dedicated side “Bixby button” so that it summons a favorite app instead of the voice assistant.