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Samsung Galaxy S Series

Samsung Galaxy S Series Phones

With what started as a premium touch-screen enabled Samsung Galaxy S in 2010, Samsung Galaxy S series has come a long way to the flagship phone Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in 2021. 11 years down the line since the first Galaxy S phone was released and it has been quite a journey for Samsung and it’s users.

Let’s glance through the most popular Galaxy S series, Galaxy A Series, Galaxy M Series, and Galaxy J Series phones and see how they have advanced over the years with technological advancements. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Most popular Samsung Galaxy S smartphones 

Samsung Galaxy S

The Samsung Galaxy S is the 1st generation Galaxy S smartphone released in June 2010. The Galaxy S has over 20 variants with modifications in button layouts, cameras, screens, or the Android OS. 

The phone was initially launched as a single SIM variant while the dual SIM Galaxy S was introduced in 2012. It possessed the fastest ever graphical processing in any smartphone at the time of release.

Samsung sold more than 24 million units of Galaxy S as of 2013 which makes a premiere Samsung Galaxy S smartphone. 

Specifications

Android version: Android 2.1 Eclair, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Android 7.1 Nougat

System on chip: Samsung Exynos 3 (Hummingbird)

RAM: 512 MB

Storage: 8 GB / 16 GB

Removable storage: 64 GB (SD card)

Display: 4” Super AMOLED

Rear camera: 5 MP

Front camera: VGA (in some models)

Battery: 1500 mAh removable Li-ion

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Samsung Galaxy S2

Samsung Galaxy S2 is the second smartphone of the Samsung Galaxy S series. The phone was released in May 2011. Any guesses why the Samsung Galaxy S2 makes it to our list of the most popular Galaxy phones? Well, Samsung received more than 3 million pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S2 units worldwide. 

When released, the phone was one of the thinnest in the market with 8.49 mm thickness. The smartphone sported a 1.2 Ghz dual-core Exynos system on chip processor. The Samsung Galaxy S2 was a huge success, evident by the pre-order numbers and more than 40 million units sold worldwide, far ahead of its predecessor Samsung Galaxy S. 

Here’s a sneak peek into the specifications of Samsung Galaxy S2.

Specifications

Android version: Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, Android 11 

System on chip: Samsung Exynos 4 Dual-core

RAM: 1 GB

Storage: 16 / 32 GB

Removable storage: 128 GB (SD card)

Display: 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus

Rear camera: 8 MP

Front camera: 2 MP

Battery: 1650 / 1800 mAh user removable Li-ion

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Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S3 was the successor of Samsung Galaxy S2 in the Galaxy S series. Lots of new and cool features were introduced in the Galaxy S3 which made it stand out from the other S phones. 

Users could use two apps simultaneously (from Android 4.1 Premium Suite Upgrade), Ambient light (automatically adjust the screen brightness relative to the lighting conditions), Smart stay (smart way to prevent phone screen from turning off as long as the user looks at the phone), color effects for camera, motion gestures, S voice (personal assistant), S beam (for NFC file transfer), and front LED light for notifications were just a few prominent features of the upgraded Samsung Galaxy S2. 

Interestingly, Samsung Galaxy S3 was the first Samsung mobile phone with the wireless charging support. It also came with an upgraded resolution for the front camera from 480p to 720p. 

Take a look at the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S3. 

Specifications

Android version: Android 4.0 Icecream Sandwich, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, Android 4.4 KitKat

System on chip: Samsung Exynos 4 Quad

RAM: 1 GB (international version), 2 GB (LTE, selected markets)

Storage: 16 / 32 / 64 GB (expandable)

Display: 4.8” HD Super AMOLED

Rear camera: 8 MP

Front camera: 1.9 MP

Battery: 2100 mAh, Li-ion

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Samsung Galaxy S4

Just like its Predecessor Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy S4 was launched with similar design but upgraded hardware and software features in March 2013. Following are the notable features of the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone.

  1. IR blaster to use phone as a universal remote control
  2. Barometer to measure altitude level
  3. Ambient temperature and humidity percentage measurement sensor
  4. One-handed mode
  5. Air View and Air Gesture features
  6. Adapt to optimal display and sound
  7. Capture photos and record videos simultaneously with rear and front cameras
  8. Smart Program and Smart Rotation features

Believe it or not, besides the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phone, Samsung Galaxy S4 is the only Samsung phone that comes with hygrometer and thermometer sensors. 

What makes this phone so popular? A whopping 80 million units of Samsung Galaxy S4 were sold which makes it the best-selling Android smartphone of all time. 

Let me walk you through the specifications of Samsung Galaxy S4.

Specifications

Android version: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, Android 11

System on chip: Samsung Exynos 5 Octa / Qualcomm Snapdragon 600

RAM: 2 GB (international version), 2 GB (LTE, selected markets)

Storage: 16 / 32 / 64 GB (expandable)

Display: 5” Super AMOLED

Rear camera: 13 MP

Front camera: 2 MP

Battery: 2600 mAh, user removable Li-ion

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Samsung Galaxy S5

Next on our list of Galaxy S series phones is the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone. It was launched 11 months after the launch of Samsung Galaxy S3 in February 2014. Samsung carried on the legacy of adding new features by upgrading the Galaxy S3 with these cool features in Galaxy S4. 

  1. Fingerprint scanner
  2. IP67 water resistance
  3. Low light photography
  4. 4K video recording 
  5. Heart rate monitor
  6. Download booster
  7. Restrict battery usage
  8. Capacitive touch screen for use with gloves

Despite being packed with these new features, Samsung Galaxy S5 lacked some features from the Galaxy S4, such as thermometer, hygrometer, and Story Album. 

Also, Galaxy S5 marked the end of the user replaceable battery and a micro-SIM card slot in the Galaxy S series. Samsung phones in the Galaxy series manufactured after Galaxy S5 sported a non-replaceable battery and a nano-SIM card slot. 

Let’s dive into the specifications of the Galaxy S5 smartphone.

Specifications

Android version: Android 4.4.2 KitKat, Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

System on chip: Samsung Exynos 5 Octa / Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 805

RAM: 2 / 3 GB

Storage: 16 / 32 / 64 GB (expandable)

Display: 5.1” Super AMOLED

Rear camera: 16 MP

Front camera: 2.03 MP

Battery: 2800 mAh, user removable Li-ion

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Samsung Galaxy S6

The Samsung Galaxy S56 is in itself a series of smartphones. The series comprises Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy S6 Active. The first Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge was released in March 2015 while the Galaxy S6 Edge+ was launched in August 2015. 

The features added in this series include the following.

  1. Quick charging
  2. VR compatibility with Galaxy Gear VR
  3. Smart feature
  4. Interface customization with themes

Nonetheless, various features from the predecessor Samsung Galaxy S5 were removed. Motion gestures, water resistance, micro-SD card slot, Smart Rotation, and one-handed mode were among the many features removed in the Galaxy S6 series. 

Moreover, the batteries in the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge were made non-replaceable and smaller than the Galaxy S5 counterpart to fit in a built-in battery.

Here are the specifications of the Galaxy S6 series. 

Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S6Samsung Galaxy S6 EdgeSamsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Android versionAndroid Lollipop / Android Marshmallow / Android NougatAndroid Lollipop / Android Marshmallow / Android NougatAndroid Lollipop / Android Marshmallow / Android Nougat
System on chipSamsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420
RAM3 GB3 GB4 GB
Storage32 / 64 / 128 GB32 / 64 / 128 GB32 / 64 / 128 GB
Display5.1” Super AMOLED5.1” Super AMOLED5.7” Super AMOLED
Rear camera16 MP16 MP16 MP
Front camera5 MP5 MP5 MP
Battery2550 mAh2600 mAh3000 mAh

Note that the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active came with a 3500 mAh non-replaceable battery. 

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Samsung Galaxy S7

Just like the Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with a series of phones –  Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7 Active. Galaxy S7 was launched with additional features like Dual Pixel camera, always-on display, IP68 water resistance, improved low-light photography, micro-SD card slot which Galaxy S6 lacked. 

Let’s glance through the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S7 phones. 

Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S7Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Android versionAndroid 6.0.1 Marshmallow, Android 7.0 NougatAndroid 6.0.1 Marshmallow, Android 7.0 Nougat
System on chipSamsung Exynos 8890 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Samsung Exynos 8890 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
RAM4 GB4 GB
Storage32 / 64 / 128 GB (expandable)32 / 64 / 128 GB (expandable)
Display5.1” Super AMOLED5.5” Super AMOLED
Rear camera16 MP16 MP
Front camera5 MP5 MP
Battery3000 mAh3600 mAh (non-replaceable)

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Samsung Galaxy S8

The Samsung Galaxy S8 series comprises Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8+ phones. The Galaxy S8 phones were released in March 2017. Following are the notable features of Galaxy S8 smartphones. 

  1. Bixby virtual assistant
  2. Iris and face recognition
  3. MicroUSB port replaced by USB-C port
  4. Home and capacitive buttons replaced by on-screen keys

One of the major upgrades in the Galaxy S8 phones was that of the aspect ratio. The Samsung Galaxy S8 phones were taller than the Galaxy S7 phones. 

The overall sales of Galaxy S8 outnumbered the Galaxy S7 by 30%. The design of the Samsung Galaxy S8 received praise from users and critics alike. 

Take a look at the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S8. 

Specifications

Android version: Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 9.0

System on chip: Exynos 8895

RAM: 4 / 6 GB

Storage: 64 / 128 GB 

Removable storage: upto 256 GB (microSD card)

Display: 5.8” Super AMOLED (Galaxy S8), 6.2” Super AMOLED (Galaxy S8+)

Rear camera: 12 MP

Front camera: 8 MP

Battery:  Non-removable 3000 mAh (Galaxy S8), 3500 mAh (Galaxy S8+), 4000 mAh (Galaxy S8 Active)

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Samsung Galaxy S9

Next on our list of Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones is the Samsung Galaxy S9 unveiled in February 2018. Samsung Galaxy S9 was the first phone since Nokia N86 released in 2009 to sport a variable aperture camera. The phone allows the users to switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures. 

As a matter of fact, Samsung Galaxy S9 is Samsung’s first flagship phone to support 2160p recording at 60fps and super-slow motion at 960fps. 

The table below shows the specifications of Samsung Galaxy S9.

 Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S9Samsung Galaxy S9 +
Android versionSamsung Experience 9.0 on top of Android 8.0 OreoSamsung Experience 9.0 on top of Android 8.0 Oreo
System on chipSamsung Exynos 9810Samsung Exynos 9810
RAM4 GB6 GB
Storage64 / 128 / 256 GB64 / 128 / 256 GB
Removable storageExpandable upto 400 GBExpandable upto 400 GB
Display5.8” 1440p Super AMOLED6.2” 1440p Super AMOLED
Rear camera12 MPDual 12 MP + 12 MP
Front camera8 MP8 MP
BatteryNon-removable 3000 mAh (with 15W charging speed)Non-removable 3600 mAh (with 15W charging speed)

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Samsung Galaxy S10

We’re moving towards the final three phones of the Samsung Galaxy S series. Next on our list is the Samsung Galaxy S10 which in itself is a series of smartphones. 

It comprises Samsung Galaxy S10e, Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung Galaxy S10+ and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite. The Galaxy S10 Lite was released in January 2020 while the other variants were released in February 2019. 

The mid-range Galaxy S10 Lite was released with the same performance and camera while compromising on a few other features. 

Look at the table below for the specifications. 

Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S10Samsung Galaxy S10eSamsung Galaxy S10+Samsung Galaxy S10 5GSamsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Android versionAndroid 9.0 Pie / Android 11.0Android 9.0 Pie / Android 11.0Android 9.0 Pie / Android 11.0Android 9.0 Pie / Android 11.0Android 9.0 Pie / Android 11.0
System on chipSamsung Exynos 9820 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 855Samsung Exynos 9820 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 855Samsung Exynos 9820 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 855Samsung Exynos 9820 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 855Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM8 GB6 / 8 GB8 / 12 GB8 GB6 / 8 GB
Storage128 / 512 GB (expandable)128 / 256 GB (expandable)128 / 512 GB / 1 TB (expandable)256 / 512 GB (non-expandable)128 GB (expandable)
Display6.1” Dynamic AMOLED5.8” Super AMOLED6.4” Dynamic AMOLED6.7” Dynamic AMOLED6.7” Dynamic AMOLED
Rear camera12 MP + 12 MP + 16 MP12 MP + 16 MP12 MP + 12 MP + 16 MP12 MP + 12 MP + 0.3 MP48 MP + 12MP + 5 MP
Front camera10 MP10 MP10 MP + 8 MP10 MP + 3D depth camera32 MP
Battery3400 mAh (non-replaceable)3100 mAh (non-replaceable)4100 mAh (non-replaceable)4500 mAh (non-replaceable)4500 mAh (non-replaceable)

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Samsung Galaxy S20

Similar to the Galaxy S10, Samsung announced a series of Samsung Galaxy S20 phones in February 2020, a month after the Galaxy S10 Lite was released.

In the first launch in February 2020, Samsung Galaxy Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+ and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra were launched. Eight months later in October 2020, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, the mid-range variant of Galaxy S10 was released.  

Carrying forward the legacy of improving in video recording, the S20 series phones became the first Samsung phones with 8K video recording capability. 

Check the specifications below.

Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S20Samsung Galaxy S20 PlusSamsung Galaxy S20 UltraSamsung Galaxy S20 FE
Android versionAndroid 10 / Android 11.0Android 10 / Android 11.0Android 10 / Android 11.0Android 10 / Android 11.0
System on chipSamsung Exynos 990 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 865Samsung Exynos 990 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 865Samsung Exynos 990 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 865Samsung Exynos 990 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
RAM8 / 12 GB8 / 12 GB12 / 16 GB6 / 8 GB
Storage128 GB128 / 256 GB128 / 256 / 512 GB128 / 256 GB
Display6.2″ Dynamic AMOLED6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED6.5″ Super AMOLED
Rear camera12 MP + 64 MP 12 MP 12 MP + 64 MP 12 MP + 0.3 MP 3D depth camera108 MP + 48 MP + 12 MP + 0.3 MP 3D depth camera12 MP + 12 MP + 8 MP
Front camera10 MP10 MP40 MP32 MP
Battery4000 mAh 4500 mAh (non-replaceable)5000 mAh (non-replaceable)4500 mAh (non-replaceable)

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Samsung Galaxy S21

The latest entrant to the Galaxy S series is the Samsung Galaxy S21. It is one of the best 5G  smartphones available in the market. 

The Galaxy S21 lineup was unveiled at the Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in January 2021. How does it differ from its predecessor Samsung Galaxy S20? Well, the Galaxy S21+ comes with a larger display, better battery performance, and a glass back instead of plastic. 

Galaxy S21 Ultra comes packed with a lot more amazing features but the most prominent one being its advanced 108 MP camera setup with laser auto-focus and 1440p display. 

These specifications of the Galaxy S21 will stun you.

Specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S21Samsung Galaxy S21+Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Android versionOne UI 3.1 / Android 11One UI 3.1 / Android 11One UI 3.1 / Android 11
System on chipSamsung Exynos 2100 (International) / Qualcomm Snapdragon 888Samsung Exynos 2100 (International) / Qualcomm Snapdragon 888Samsung Exynos 2100 (International) / Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM8 GB8 GB12 / 16 GB
Storage128 / 256 GB128 / 256 GB128 / 256 / 512 GB
Display6.2” Dynamic AMOLED6.7” Dynamic AMOLED6.8” Dynamic AMOLED
Rear camera12 / 64 / 12 MP12 / 64 / 12 MP108 / 10 / 10 / 12 MP
Front camera10 MP Dual Pixel PDAF10 MP Dual Pixel PDAF40 MP
Battery4000 mAh Li-Po4800 mAh Li-Po5000 mAh Li-Po

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Samsung Galaxy S series: A revolution in mobile phones

At the time of publishing this article, these are all the Samsung Galaxy S phones released to date. From Samsung Galaxy S to the high-end Samsung Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S series has come a long way. The way people use smartphones have changed over the years and the smartphone technology is only going to get better. If you are a crazy fan of Samsung Galaxy S series, hold your breath and wait for the newer models to release. I’m sure the Samsung Galaxy S series new models are going to be breathtakingly advanced and feature-packed.

I hope this article brought some value to your Android usage. Which Samsung Galaxy S series phone do you use? And what features you wish you had in your Galaxy S phone? Let me know in the comments section below. Take care and stay safe. Until next time, cheers!

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