Samsung is launching four models of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10. Discover when these smartphones will be released and how they differ from each other.
The Galaxy S10 (standard model), Galaxy S10+ (deluxe model), and Galaxy S10e (entry-level model) are expected to arrive in stores on March 8. Samsung will also be releasing its first 5G-ready phone, the Galaxy S10 5G, but it won’t be available until the second quarter of 2019.
So, if you are in the market for a new Galaxy S phone, you have several choices. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when deciding which model would work best for you.
What the Galaxy S10 Models Have in Common
All four of the Galaxy S10 models ship with the Google Android Pie (version 9.0) operating system. The hardware powering this software is either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor (United States and China) or Exynos 9820 (Europe and India). Other features that the S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G share include:
Edge-to-edge display. One of the first things people notice about the Galaxy S10 phones is their edge-to-edge displays. To maximize the size of the phones’ screens, Samsung trimmed the bezels and eliminated the selfie camera notch at the top. All the phones have Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O displays. Samsung touts that this type of screen reduces harmful blue light without changing the onscreen colors when the phones are being used in the dark.
Dedicated neural processing unit (NPU). For the first time, the Galaxy S phones have a dedicated NPU for artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. As a result, AI tasks are expected to run seven times faster in the Galaxy S10 models compared to their predecessors. The NPU uses machine learning, which enables the devices to recognize patterns, learn from experience, and make predictions.
Bixby. While the Bixby virtual assistant is not new to the Galaxy S10 models, it does have a few more tricks up its sleeve. For starters, the virtual assistant now includes Bixby Routines, which learn your habits in order to predict your needs and provide personalized recommendations. In addition, Bixby can connect to Galaxy Buds, Samsung’s new wireless earbuds. Because of this connection, you can make calls and send texts from your earbuds using voice commands. Bixby also connects with Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch Active smartwatch.
Wireless PowerShare. The new Wireless PowerShare feature lets you use a Galaxy S10 phone to charge other devices, such as Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch Active, and smartphones that support WPC Qi wireless charging. All you need to do is plug in the S10 phone, lay the phone down backside up, and place the other device on top of the phone.
Headphone jack. Unlike Apple’s iPhone XS series, all four models of the Galaxy S10 have a headphone jack in case you do not want to use Galaxy Buds or some other type of wireless headphone. This seemingly insignificant feature is a big deal to many smartphone users.
How the Galaxy S10 Models Differ
There are many ways in which the four Galaxy S10 models differ from each other. Perhaps the most obvious difference is that the S10 5G is 5G ready, while the S10, S10+, and S10e do not support this new wireless networking technology. Other notable differences include:
Display size and type. Not surprisingly, the higher-end Galaxy S10 phone models have larger screens and better resolutions than the lower-end models. For example, the S10e has a 5.8-inch Full HD+ display, whereas the S10+ has a 6.4-inch QHD+ display, as Table 1 shows. QHD+ displays are longer than typical phone screens, which gives the appearance of a widescreen.
Table 1: Comparison of Features in the Galaxy S10 Models
| S10e | S10 | S10+ | S10 5G | |
| Display size | 5.8-inch flat display | 6.1-inch curved edge display | 6.4-inch curved edge display | 6.7-inch curved edge display |
| Display resolution | Full HD+ | Quad HD+ | Quad HD+ | Quad HD+ |
| Display pixels per inch (PPI) | 438 | 550 | 522 | 505 |
| Fingerprint scanner | Capacitive scanner on the power button | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display |
| RAM options | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB | 256 GB |
| MicroSD card slot | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fingerprint scanner | Capacitive scanner on the power button | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display | Ultrasonic scanner built into the display |
| Front cameras | Selfie | Selfie | Selfie and RGB depth-sensing | Selfie and 3D depth-sensing |
| Rear cameras | Wide angle and ultra-wide | Wide angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto | Wide angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto | Wide angle, ultra-wide, telephoto, and 3D depth-sensing |
| Dual SIM option | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Battery size | 3,100 mAh | 3,400 mAh | 4,100 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Base price | Starts at $750 | Starts at $900 | Starts at $1,000 | — |
Fingerprint scanner. Samsung has replaced Galaxy S9’s iris scanner with a fingerprint scanner in Galaxy S10. While the S10e has a conventional capacitive fingerprint sensor on its power button, the other three S10 models feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that is built into the display. The ultrasonic scanner captures 3D images of fingerprints, making it much harder for thieves to deceive this authentication system using a 2D picture.
Memory and storage. The memory and storage options for each of the S10 models vary, as Table 1 shows. The S10, S10+, and S10e have a MicroSD card slot, so they can support up to an additional 512 GB of storage.
Cameras. Samsung is known for its smartphone cameras, and the Galaxy S10 models do not disappoint. The number of cameras found in each model ranges from three in the S10e to six in the S10 5G. Table 1 lists each model’s cameras.
The Bottom Line
The Galaxy S series has been around for nearly a decade, so the phones have many features and capabilities to offer. However, the phones are not cheap. The pricing starts at $750 for the S10e, $900 for the S10, and $1,000 for the S10+. (Samsung had not yet released the price for the S10 5G at the time of this writing.)
If you are interested in a 5G-ready phone, you will probably want to wait until the Galaxy S10 5G is released. The S10 5G will work with 4G LTE networks as well, according to experts. If the 5G feature does not interest you, you still have the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e from which to choose. If you have questions about any of these models, contact us.
