The Samsung Galaxy S series launched in March 2010 as Samsung’s flagship Android smartphones, becoming the primary competitor to iPhone and establishing Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer. Over 13 generations through 2023, Galaxy S phones set industry trends and pushed Android hardware boundaries.
The Android Flagship
The original Galaxy S (2010) helped establish Android as a viable iPhone alternative with a 4” Super AMOLED display when most competitors used LCD. Galaxy S2 (2011) and S3 (2012) refined the formula, with S3 selling over 70 million units—proving Android flagships could match iPhone sales.
Galaxy S4 (2013) introduced Smart Scroll and air gestures, though gimmicky features often overshadowed solid hardware. S5 (2014) added waterproofing and fingerprint sensor. The series hit its design stride with S6/S6 Edge (2015), adopting premium metal-and-glass construction and curved-edge displays that became Samsung’s signature aesthetic.
Feature Innovator
Samsung often introduced features years before Apple: OLED displays (2010 vs 2017), wireless charging (2015 vs 2017), dual cameras (2016 vs 2016), under-display fingerprint readers (2019 vs never), and 120Hz displays (2020 vs 2021). This allowed Samsung to position Galaxy S as the “innovation leader” while iPhone refined proven technologies.
Galaxy S8 (2017) killed physical home buttons, introduced Infinity Display, and launched Bixby voice assistant (quickly overshadowed by Google Assistant). S10 (2019) brought ultrasonic fingerprint sensors and hole-punch cameras. S20 (2020) jumped numbering to match year, confusing consumers but signaling fresh start.
Boom and Decline
Galaxy S series peaked around S7/S8/S9 era (2016-2018) before declining sales forced Samsung to trim lineup. S21 (2021) dropped microSD slots and included chargers, copying iPhone’s controversial decisions. S22 (2022) and S23 (2023) maintained quality but faced market saturation—consumers kept phones longer, and Chinese brands offered similar specs for less.
Despite challenges, Galaxy S remained the default Android flagship recommendation through 2023, with Samsung shipping 20-30 million S-series units annually.
Sources: The Verge Galaxy S history, CNET sales data, Android Authority Galaxy evolution