Samsung has confirmed that it will unveil the next generation of its flagship Galaxy smartphone, the S10, on February 20.
But how much is there left to reveal? Leaks and rumours seem to have nailed down pretty much everything in terms of specs. Here’s a list of what we already know about the Galaxy S10 through reliable leakers.
DISPLAY AND SIZES: Normal, plus and light
It appears that Samsung is planning three – not just two – new phones in the S series: the S10 and the S10+, as well as a new flat version, which has been named by reliable leaker Ice Universe as the S10 Lite. Others have said it could also be branded as the S10E.
The phones will again feature a Super AMOLED display, which will range between 5.8 and 6.4 inches in size. The regular S10 is expected to have a 6.1-inch display, the bigger phone will be 6.4 inches and the smaller Lite will be 5.8 inches.
The website Gizmodo has reported that there could also be another, fourth size available with a 6.7-inch display and 5G connectivity.
The S10 Lite is also rumoured to feature flat edges, unlike the other models, which will feature Samsung’s trademark “infinity display” with the screen curving off the sides.
The next generation in the S series is also expected to bring a fingerprint scanner under the screen – another way of getting rid of the bezels entirely.
CAMERAS: All hail the hole punch
According to various leaks and reports, the new Galaxy phones are exremely likely to feature the new “hole punch” style of selfie camera that is taking new smartphone screens by storm.
The last hurdle in the way of a bezel-less phone, other manufacturers have integrated the selfie camera in a “notch” at the top of the display.
But the next wave of smartphones is set to be shaped by a new display technology that allows manufacturers to embed a small hole for the selfie camera inside the screen, making for a small black dot in the display.
Photos shared online show the S10 is shaping up to be basically a slab of pure screen with a small black dot in the corner.
The S10 will have one front camera as well as three cameras on the back. Samsung’s larger S10+ phone will feature a dual selfie camera, which will likely also mean a slightly larger black hole in an otherwise pristine AMOLED screen.
This dual-lens feature, familiar from phones like the Google Pixel 3, brings the benefit of better selfie shots with a strong feeling of depth, as well as the option to fit more people into a group selfie with a wide-angle lens.
The S10 Lite is widely rumoured to feature two rear cameras as well as a hole-punch selfie camera.
STORAGE: An entire terabyte?
The storage capacities will start at 128 GB for the S10 Lite – but the S10 will also come in a 512 GB version and the S10+ is even expected to be available with 1 TB of storage.
The 1 TB memory drive has been officially announced by Samsung as an “industry first” that offers “storage capacity comparable to a premium notebook PC” on your mobile device.
RAM: 8 or 12 GB?
The non-budget Galaxy S10 phones are expected to feature upwards of 8GB of RAM. Leaked information from Ice Universe suggests the bigger S10+, traditionally the model to come with better specs, will feature 12GB of RAM.
BATTERY: Easy does it
Samsung has been more conservative with its batteries since the Note 7 debacle, and this probably won’t change soon. The Galaxy S10+ will likely have a decently sized 4000mAh battery, with a more stingy 3,000 mAh reported to feature in the cheaper S10 Lite model.
However reliable leaker Ice Universe says the “Galaxy S10 features excellent battery optimization and a more advanced cooling structure.”
In addition to keeping its wireless charging, the new S10 generation will also be able to wirelessly charge other devices, Gizmodo reports. This feature first came to fame last last year through Huawei on the Mate 20 Pro.
PRICING: Up to 1,800 dollars?
The following Galaxy S10 prices have been reported as confirmed by Samsung: The cheapest version, the S10 Lite, will start at 128 GB and cost 669 pound sterling (879 dollars) in the UK, Gizmodo says, and 779 euros in the Eurozone, according to a report in Italy.
From there, you can purchase the S10 either with 128 or 512 GB, which will cost 799 or 999 pounds respectively, and 929 or 1,179 euros.
But the one we’ve all been waiting for is the S10 Plus: for 128 and 512 GB you’ll fork over 899/1,099 pounds and 1,049/1,299 euros respectively – but the big one is of course that 1 TB model, which will cost you more than a pretty penny at 1,099 pounds/1,599 euros.
Gizmodo also said the mystery fourth model, which is said to have 5G connectivity and should therefore not be available quite yet, will cost 1,399 pounds (1,826 dollars) with 1 TB of storage.
In any case, all will be certain on February 20 with Samsung’s Unpacked event, livestreamed online. – dpa
