Starting in 2010 with the Samsung Galaxy S, the company has released new models each year and shows no sign of stopping. A decade later, Samsung announced the S20 series of smartphones alongside the Galaxy Z Flip. Here’s a look at the notable Samsung Galaxy S smartphone releases.
6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S22)6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S22 Plus)6.8-inch Edge Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S22 Ultra)
Front camera:
10 MP (S22)10 MP (S21 Plus)40 MP (S21 Ultra)
Rear camera:
Tri-lens: 12 MP ultra wide, 50 MP wide-angle, 10 MP telephoto (S22/S22 Plus)Quad-lens: 12 MP ultra wide, 108 MP wide-angle, 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 10 MP telephoto with 10x optical zoom (S22 Ultra)
Initial Android version: 12 Final Android version: Undetermined Release date: February 25, 2022 The S22 line keeps the four-lens setup for the Ultra version, although the standard S22 and S22 Plus see some big upgrades in their wide-angle options over the S21. The telephoto lens has seen a dip in resolution, however, dropping to 10 MP from the S21’s 64 MP. The screens of the S22 and S22 Plus are also ever so slightly smaller than their predecessors’, but improvements include image stabilization and better low-light photos.
6.2-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S21)6.7-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S21 Plus)6.8-inch Edge Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (S21 Ultra)
Front camera:
10 MP (S21)10 MP (S21 Plus)40 MP (S21 Ultra)
Rear camera:
Tri-lens: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP Wide-Angle, 64 MP Telephoto (S21)Tri-lens: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP Wide-Angle, 64 MP Telephoto (S21 Plus)Quad-lens: 12 MP Ultra Wide, 108 MP Wide-Angle, 10 MP Telephoto, 10 MP Telephoto (S21 Ultra)
Initial Android version: 11 Final Android version: Undetermined Release date: January 2021 The Samsung Galaxy S21 series expands on the already impressive specs and features of the S20. It includes four rear camera lenses, all-day battery life, night mode shooting, and 8K quality video. It’s 5G-ready and features the same great Dynamic AMOLED 2X display found on the S20 series.
6.2-inch AMOLED 2X (S20)6.7-inch AMOLED 2X (S20 Plus)6.9-inch AMOLED 2X (S20 Ultra)
Front camera:
10 MP (S20)10 MP (S20 Plus)40 MP (S20 Ultra)
Rear camera:
Tri-lens: 12 MP, 12 MP, 64 MP (S20)Quad-lens: 12 MP, 12 MP, 64 MP, DepthVision (S20 Plus)Quad-lens: 12 MP, 108 MP, 48 MP, DepthVision (S20 Ultra)
Initial Android version: 10 Final Android version: Undetermined Release date: February 2020 The Samsung Galaxy S20 series includes the phablet-like S20 Ultra, which sports a 6.9-inch screen, bringing it into the Galaxy Note realm. All three smartphones support 5G as it rolls out across the United States. The S20 phones have impressive camera specs as well. The DepthVision Camera on the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra can automatically measure depth and distance from the subject, thus adding some professional flair to photos. The S10 and S10+ also have an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded in the glass. Just place your thumb anywhere on the screen to unlock it. Another exciting feature is that the S10 can act as a wireless charger for other compatible phones and accessories, such as the wireless Samsung Buds. The S10 comes in 128 GB or 512 GB storage configurations with 8 GB RAM, while the S10+ also offers a 1 TB option with 12 GB RAM. The primary camera on S10 and S10+ has three lenses to take regular, telephoto, and ultra-wide shots. Finally, the S10e has a 5.8-inch screen and comes with the same memory and RAM configurations as the S10. It has only two rear cameras, not three, and lacks the on-screen fingerprint sensor. The front cameras are also the same, but the selfie camera on the S9+ has a dual-lens. There’s a new video feature called “super slow-mo” that shoots at up to 960 frames per second. Overall performance gets an enhancement from Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. Like the S8 and S8+, the S9 and S9+ are water and dust resistant and have microSD card slots and headphone jacks. Both smartphones also support fast wireless charging. The fingerprint sensor on each smartphone is centered underneath the camera lens, which makes more sense than the S8’s sensor, which is next to the camera lens. Like on recent iPhones, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have stereo speakers, one in the earpiece and another at the bottom. The Samsung Experience user interface, which is the successor to TouchWiz, adds a few changes to the Android operating system. Finally, these smartphones have a new 3D Emoji feature, Samsung’s take on the iPhone X Animoji feature.
Display: Quad HD+ Super AMOLED screens with a 2960 x 1440 resolution with curved edge screens Rear Camera:12 MP Front Camera: 8 MP Initial Android version: Android 7.0 Nougat
There are a few differences between the two smartphones. The S8+ phablet has a 6.2-inch screen compared with the S8’s 5.8-inch display. It also has a higher PPI (pixels per inch): 570 vs. 529. Both launched in April 2017. The two smartphones more closely resemble the Galaxy S7 Edge than the S7, with screens that wrap around the sides. More than a dozen Edge software-customizable panels are available and multiple widgets (including a calculator, calendar, and note-taking app). Other notable features that both smartphones have:
An iris scanner for unlocking the device. Bluetooth 5 support lets you send audio to multiple devices at once. The always-on display shows the time, date, and unread notifications even when in standby mode. Samsung’s virtual assistant Bixby, responds to voice commands. A MicroSD slot that accepts cards up to 256 GB. Water and dust resistance. USB-C charging port.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phablet was notorious for its exploding battery, which got it banned by airlines and eventually recalled. The Galaxy S7 has a safer battery. Like the S6, the S7 has a metal and glass backing, though it’s prone to smudging. It has a micro-USB charging port, not the newer Type-C port, so that you can use your old chargers. The S7 debuted the always-on display, which shows the clock, a calendar, or an image as well as the phone’s battery levels even when the device is in standby mode. Samsung also released the Galaxy 7 Edge model, which has an enhanced Edge panel that can display up to 10 shortcuts to apps, contacts, and actions, such as creating a new text message or launching the camera. It also took what many saw as a few steps backward with a non-removable battery and no microSD slot. The S6 is also not water-resistant like its predecessor. Its rear camera protrudes slightly, though its forward-facing camera gets upgraded from 2 to 5 megapixels. The S6’s display is the same size as the S5. However, it has a higher resolution and pixel density resulting in a better experience. New features include:
The fingerprint scanner moved to the home button. Tap the Home button twice to launch the camera without unlocking the device. Optical image stabilization in the camera. Compatible with Samsung Pay, the mobile payment app.
Samsung introduced the Edge series alongside the Galaxy S6 with the S6 Edge and Edge+ smartphones, which featured displays that wrapped around one side and showed notifications and other information. It has a similar look to the S4, with the same plastic construction, but has a dimpled back that keeps fingerprints from building up. Notable features include:
Fingerprint scanner stores profiles for three fingers.Ultra HD aka 4K video.USB 3.0 compatibility for faster charging and data transfer.Ultra power saving mode disables most connections and changes the display to grayscale.Heart-rate tracker. Integrated with the camera flash module on the back of the phone. Press your finger to get a reading.Kids mode. A sandboxed experience with only approved apps.
There were also a few variations of the S5, including two rugged models: the Samsung S5 Active (AT&T) and Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport (Sprint). The Galaxy S5 Mini is a scaled-down budget model with less advanced specs and a smaller 4.5-inch 720p screen. The S4 debuted Samsung’s multi-window split-screen mode, enabling users to view one or more compatible apps at the same time. It also introduced lock screen widgets, where users could see certain notifications and other information without unlocking the device. Like S3, the S4 has a plastic body that’s less prone to breaking. It isn’t as attractive as the metal and glass bodies featured on competing smartphones. It also retains the MicroSD slot and removable battery. The S3 had a plastic body, a dual-core processor, and came with S Voice, the precursor to Samsung’s Bixby virtual assistant. It also featured a removable battery and a microSD slot.
