Rumors and speculation about Samsung’s Galaxy S10 family of Android flagships have run rampant almost since the launch of the Galaxy S9 but a recent report may finally clear up some of the confusion.
Among the biggest revelations to come from the unnamed source of the info, who attributes the details to a Samsung representative is that the South Korean tech giant only plans to release a total of three devices in the lineup. Previous reports had indicated that as many as five might be released.
Coming in just behind that, the source is adamant that Samsung will not be marketing the smallest of the three handsets as a “Lite” model. That’s not to say a model that’s lite in nature won’t arrive, just Samsung won’t be calling it that.
At a minimum, most reports have suggested that three devices and an additional 5G variant would hit stores following the expected announcement just ahead of MWC 2019. The new tip has clarified that there will be only three devices in total and that those will go on sale on March 8, after being unveiled on February 20.
Clarifying wild speculation
Leaks up until this point have gotten wildly out of hand but at least some of the more outlandish claims appear to have been verified by the latest information. To begin with, the priciest configuration of the Samsung Galaxy S10, dubbed the Galaxy S10+, will reportedly ship with a massive 12GB RAM and 1TB storage onboard. That lines up nicely with prior rumors for the 6.4-inch handset, as do its three rear-facing primary cameras and the dual selfie-shooter.
Smaller models, both simply dubbed the Galaxy S10, will feature a single selfie camera but the larger Galaxy S10 will measure in at 6.1-inches and will include the same triple cameras as the premium variant. The smallest model will measure at 5.8-inches and comes with only a dual-sensor array for the main shooter.
For colors, buyers will be able to choose between a fairly standard black and a pearl white hue or a “Sea Green” option. Several models will also be on offer in specialized aesthetic schemes.
While the latest details appear to get rid of at least two versions of the Samsung Galaxy S10, not all of the pertinent information has been revealed. The current expectation is that either a Snapdragon 855 or in-house Exynos 9820 SoC will be in use depending on the region the Galaxy S10 is purchased in.
The smallest of Samsung’s flagship was also hinted at as featuring a flat display instead of the traditional ‘edge’ panel and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. None of this insider’s clarification seems to have addressed those matters at all.
Where’s the 5G?
The most burning question about Samsung’s upcoming flagships was also left for the company’s February Unpacked event. Namely, the tipster make no mention of a 5G version at all. That such a device is in the works and on the way has been confirmed by multiple sources, including US carriers — likely due to the Snapdragon 855 being the only current chipset of the two expected that supports 5G networking.
That could be bad news for users hoping to take advantage of early next-gen networks but may also mean that all of the Snapdragon variants will ship with that capability built-in. Conversely, Samsung may plan on only including the feature in its most expensive Galaxy S10+ smartphone.