EARLY VERDICT
The Galaxy S10 is a fitting 10th-anniversary phone for Samsung and its storied S series. It delivers on change with a novel-looking Infinity-O screen so large it displaces the front camera, and a triple-lens rear camera that takes ultra-wide photos. Its on-screen fingerprint sensor tech should serve you well, while it’s Wireless PowerShares could serve your friends well. That’s a lot of change – just know that it comes at a high price.
FOR
- High screen-to-body ratio
- In-screen fingerprint sensor
- Wireless PowerShare perk
AGAINST
- Stunning price hike
- Bixby button still exists
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has been engineered to be a conversation-changer, a phone that’s intended to turn everyone’s yearly question of “Do I really need to upgrade?” into a more exclamatory “Do I really need to upgrade!”
Our time so far with the Galaxy S10 proves that it does make this case, with some clear caveats.
Update: We’ve been using our Samsung Galaxy S10 review unit for several days, so keep an eye out for our full review, coming soon! In the meantime, we’ve updated this hands-on look with more information on our latest findings.
It’s the 6.1-inch Infinity Display that really sells this phone. It introduces a nearly-edge-to-edge look that stretches top to bottom, with pixels spilling over the curved edges at the sides – there’s no room for big bezels on Samsung’s 2019 flagship smartphone.
Its new Infinity-O screen – also a feature of the Galaxy S10 Plus and cheaper Galaxy S10e – is so large it actually displaces the front camera, consigning it to a small ‘punch-hole’ in the screen. All of the important sensors are neatly tucked behind this vibrant and bright Super AMOLED display.
Also behind the glass is the new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. You won’t find a fingerprint pad on the back anymore, or anywhere visible on the phone. Samsung put its sensor – now invisible – on the front, where we feel it belongs.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 officially makes punch-hole displays a trend after the idea debuted on the Honor View 20, and on-screen fingerprint sensors more mainstream after they appeared on the OnePlus 6T, Huawei Mate 20 Pro and a few Vivo phones.
It’s all in the cause of achieving that impressive 93.1% screen-to-body ratio on the front of the phone. And, frankly, we like it a bit better than a traditional notch. It won’t bug you after a couple of hours with the Samsung Galaxy S10.
Maximization is also the idea behind the Galaxy S10’s rear-facing triple-lens camera. Samsung’s camera array has lenses to take normal, telephoto and new ultra-wide photos. The ultra-wide camera is all about capturing more of what’s in front of you without having to back up.
Watch our Samsung Galaxy S10 preview video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDX5eyzOHZs
Sure, LG phones have touted ultra-wide camera lenses for years, most recently the LG V40, but Samsung’s cameras have been more consistent in low-light conditions. The feature is finally in a flagship-level phone you want.
The Galaxy S10 also has features everyone can get. It’s Wireless PowerShare feature lets you use the back of the S10 to Qi charge another phone or the new Galaxy Buds, cloning the reverse wireless charging idea in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, a phone that’s not widely available in certain territories, including the US.
The Galaxy S10 is an amalgam of other handsets’ single hallmark features packed into one phone, while Samsung pioneers as many technical features as it can cram in – faster Wi-Fi 6 and HDR10+ are both firsts for smartphones. And that’s what Samsung does best really.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 marks a decade of Galaxy S phones, and while there’s been little innovation in recent years from the most popular smartphone brands, including Samsung (Bixby and AR EMoji don’t cut it), the S10 has enough newness to tempt you to upgrade.
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