Samsung Galaxy S10
The Samsung Galaxy S10 launched February 20, 2019 for $899 (S10), $999 (S10+), and $749 (S10e) as Samsung’s 10th anniversary flagship series. The S10+ featured a 6.4” edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED display with “Infinity-O” hole-punch front camera, in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, reverse wireless charging, and triple rear cameras.
Hole-Punch Display Innovation
The S10’s hole-punch camera (top-right corner) eliminated the notch plaguing iPhone X-11 and competing Android flagships. Samsung’s solution preserved maximum screen real estate while avoiding pop-up camera mechanisms (OnePlus 7 Pro) or thick top bezels. Competitors quickly copied hole-punch designs.
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
The S10’s Qualcomm 3D Sonic ultrasonic fingerprint reader embedded beneath the display marked the first mainstream ultrasonic sensor (rivals used slower optical sensors). The sensor created 3D depth maps of fingerprints for enhanced security, though real-world performance lagged traditional capacitive sensors’ speed.
Reverse Wireless Charging
“Wireless PowerShare” let the S10 charge other Qi devices by placing them on the S10’s back—useful for topping up Galaxy Buds or friends’ phones. The feature drained battery quickly and charged slowly (4.5W), limiting practical utility, but demonstrated Samsung’s innovation lead over Apple.
S10 5G & Early 5G Adoption
Galaxy S10 5G (April 2019, $1,299) became one of the first 5G smartphones in the U.S., supporting Verizon’s mmWave network. The larger 6.7” display and quad cameras justified the premium, though limited 5G coverage made it a futuristic bet.
Peak Samsung Hardware
The S10 represented peak Samsung hardware: headphone jack, microSD slot, high-resolution displays, and feature abundance before Apple-ification simplified designs. The S10 sold 16+ million units in Q1 2019 alone, though iPhone XR outsold it globally. Reviews called it the best Android phone of 2019.
Sources:
- Samsung Galaxy S10 announcement, February 20, 2019
- IDC Q1 2019 smartphone shipment data
- The Verge Galaxy S10+ review, March 2019