Samsung Unpacked: Galaxy S10 Leaks, Galaxy F Release Date, Other Hardware
But there might still be some surprises left.
Samsung’s yearly refresh of its flagship Galaxy S smartphones is less than a month away, so by now the internet is obviously pretty well aware of what to expect. Back-to-back leaks have sketched a clear picture of the S10 and S10 Plus, which will launch during a pair of Unpacked events happening on February 20 in San Francisco and London.
The most recent leak comes from German tech blog AllAboutSamsung that says they’ve acquired early models of the S10 and S10 Plus. In a series of photos the publication reveals the duo’s stunning screen updates, camera array, and what hardware features to expect. The S10 is expected to cost roughly $1,028 and the larger model will probably start at around $1,158, according to a report by Gizmodo UK.
One major remaining reveal? We don’t know a ton yet about the phones’ internal specs. Most rumors anticipate that all of the S10 models will come with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor. On paper, this chipset should provide pretty good performance but a leaked performance score has called into question just how snappy the S10 series will be. Fortunately for Samsung, the new S10 series won’t be their only shot at an early 2019 product launch that makes waves.
Leaked images of alleged S10 and S10 Plus models.
Samsung could unveil up to five new devices at the February 20 Unpacked, including its long-awaited Galaxy F foldable phone, a 5G model that’s been dubbed the S10 X, and a cheaper variant named the S10 Lite.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus: Displays
These latest leaks pertain only to the S10 and S10 Plus, but their screens will likely be the same across all of this year’s S10 models. Samsung’s “Infinity O” display is its answer to notch complaints, and it’s supposed to give Galaxy S users more screen real estate than ever.
This new pin-hole screen design houses the phones’ front-facing cameras in a small cutout in the upper right corner. The 6.1-inch OLED S10 has a single lens, while the 6.4-inch OLED S10 Plus has an oval hole to fit two cameras up front.
Looking at the phone’s edges, its bezels and chin seem slightly slimmer than last year’s S9 series. The pair might be the closest Samsung has gotten to a totally bezel-less display.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus: Cameras and Fingerprint Reader
Flipping the phone around reveal two impressive camera arrays. Both phones have a horizontal strip housing three rear-sensors and a flash. Specs on these cameras have yet to be revealed, but an extra lens means more dynamic photography capabilities. This bolsters the impression left by some images leaker Evan Blass tweeted by mobile earlier in January that depicted the same camera setup.
But what’s glaringly absent is the back fingerprint scanner that Samsung traditionally placed underneath its camera array. That’s because the S10 models will likely opt for an in-screen fingerprint reader, facial recognition, or both. This way you won’t have to worry about accidentally smudging your cameras with your index finger.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus: Other Hardware
Finally, some close-up shots of the phones’ chins reveal what we’ve come to expect from the Galaxy S-series. There’s the familiar USB-C charging port, a SIM card port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung remains one of the few major smartphone makers to continue including the aux port.
Samsung Galaxy What’s Left?
One reason why the S10 and S10 Plus rollout may prove a bit underwhelming is that they’re expected to be accompanied by three additional models. The 5.8-inch S10 Lite is supposed to start at around $900 and serve as the cheapest of the S10 models, though it will come with one fewer rear camera and notable speed downgrades.
But the biggest expected showstopper at the February Unpacked event will probably be its Galaxy F table-smartphone hybrid (assuming it drops). The device was teased during the company’s developer conference in November as having the ability to fold its 7.3-inch tablet screen screen into a 4.6-inch handset. Back then, it still seemed more likely that the Galaxy F would launch in an event of its own but, as expected foldable phone launches begin to fill the calendar, it’s starting to look more likely it will at least make an appearance. The [Wall Street Journal](https://www.inverse.com/article/52404-galaxy-f-smasung-foldable-phone-announcement) also reported some remarks by an insider that the Galaxy F launch was on the docket.
As for a possible surprise, there is a chance the rumored 6.7-inch, 5G-enabled S10 X phablet will round out the new lineup. Korean tech news site Electronic News reported that it could pack a 5,000 mAh battery, 10GB of RAM, four rear cameras, and two front lenses. But there hasn’t been much in the way of hard evidence that this device will make a showing on February 20.
