Samsung has largely given up on trying to keep a lid on Galaxy S10 leaks, assuming the company isn’t responsible for many of them in the first place. The latest premature information about the upcoming Android flagship lineup comes from international retailer Mobile Fun and is based on third-party protective cases for the Galaxy S10 series manufactured by a company called Olixar.
The newly unveiled gadgets confirm numerous previous rumors about the high-end product family, including its selection of ports and physical buttons. There are virtually no surprises on that front as all Galaxy S10 models will be pretty much identical to the last two generations of Samsung’s flagships. In other words, expect a USB Type-C connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, a compact power button on the right, volume rocker on the left, and a dedicated Bixby key sitting immediately below audio controls.
The only possible change in this regard comes in the form of volume controls on the Galaxy S10+ as that particular model appears to be featuring separate volume-up and volume-down keys, whereas the other two variants sport a seesaw-shaped button. Key placement is also similar to last year’s models, though the largest variant once again goes against the grain by having the power key positioned slightly higher. This design choice is a curious one seeing how the phablet already appears to be massive and the new power button position is bound to make reaching it even more difficult.
All of the devices are ditching the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor that’s been a staple of all Samsung-made handsets in the premium price bracket since 2017. In its place comes an in-display reader integrated inside the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, whereas the “entry-level” Galaxy S10e will feature a scanner that will double as a power key à la contemporary Sony Xperia handsets. The newly leaked Olixar Sentinel case supports that possibility as it’s the only gadget which doesn’t cover the power key slot.
In terms of mobile photography, the Galaxy S10e should debut with a horizontally arranged dual-camera setup on the back, whereas the other two models are expected to sport one extra rear-facing lens, according to a broad range of previous reports, sightings, and the cases at hand.
The dimensions of Olixar’s latest cases indicate the Galaxy S10e will use a 5.8-inch display which will be entirely flat, a first for a Samsung-made flagship since the Galaxy S7 released three years ago. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ should in turn have 6.1- and 6.4-inch screens, respectively.
Coming soon
The screen protectors accompanying the cases also dismiss the possibility of display notches being part of any single package Samsung intends to announce this month; virtually all industry insiders agree the company will instead be turning to its new Infinity-O panels, Super AMOLED modules with holes for front-facing cameras. The Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 will feature one such sensor, whereas the Galaxy S10+ will have two of them, according to a plethora of sources.
Samsung‘s next high-end range of Android phablets is scheduled to be officially announced on February 20 and should become available for purchase in the first half of March.