Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Everything to know about the Galaxy S10, S10e and S10+ smartphones

Release date, price and specs already leaked ahead of live event, including details about the breakthrough camera, screen and bitcoin wallet

Anthony Cuthbertson
Wednesday 20 February 2019 18:30 GMT
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Samsung Galaxy S10: Five best features to expect in the new smartphone

With just hours to go until the official launch of the Galaxy S10 range of smartphones, countless leaks mean almost everything is already known about Samsung's next flagship smartphone.

Just as 2017 signified the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, 2019 marks 10 years since the first ever Samsung Galaxy smartphone – and the South Korean tech giant has something special planned for the birthday edition of its most popular device.

Samsung is yet to give any official details, though opened up reservations for the phone on its website last week. Here's everything we know so far.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Camera

One of the stand-out features of the Galaxy S10 is expected to be the camera, with the most recent leak suggesting it will borrow an effect usually found in traditional DSLR cameras.

A trademark for something called Artistic Live Focus describes how the smartphone camera will enable a bokeh blur on images – a visual effect usually created by the camera lens in order to blur parts of the image.

The feature will instead use software for "creating digital animation and special effects of images", the trademark states.

The device could also come with up to five camera lenses – three on the back and two on the front – in order to support such features.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Size and specs

Three different size variants of the Galaxy S10 are likely to be launched, with each potentially coming with varying specs and camera set ups.

The standard Galaxy S10 will be complimented by a cheaper and smaller Galaxy S10 Lite, as well as a larger and more expensive Galaxy S10+.

The regular Galaxy S10 version will feature a 6.1-inch screen, while the Galaxy S10 Lite will have a 5.8-inch screen and the Galaxy S10+ is expected to have a 6.4-inch screen.

Another interesting feature is the potential inclusion of reverse wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Bitcoin wallet

Leaked images in January appeared to reveal the surprise inclusion of an in-built cryptocurrency wallet.

Ethereum is mentioned within the wallet app, though it will be possible to store other cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and bitcoin cash within the wallet, according to SamMobile.

Samsung Galaxy S10 rumours suggest there will be some exciting new features for the phone

If the leak is genuine, Samsung will join HTC, Sirin Labs and several other startups in introducing a phone with cryptocurrency support.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Screen

One of the biggest challenges facing Samsung for this anniversary edition of its flagship phone is how to avoid copying one of the iPhone's most controversial features – the notch.

Apple first introduced the notch design at the top of the screen on the iPhone X in 2017, in order to accommodate front-facing technologies like cameras and sensors into an all-screen device.

Renders of the Samsung Galaxy S10 suggest an 'Infinity-O' display that negates the need for a screen notch

Samsung took the opportunity to mock the unconventional design in a series of adverts, while other smartphone makers decided to follow Apple's lead.

In order to deliver a corner-to-corner screen without making use of a notch, Samsung may instead use a hole punch-style design.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Release date and price

Initial speculation surrounding the Galaxy S10 release date suggested the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona on 25 February would be the likely launch date, but a leak claims it could come even sooner.

Samsung has since announced an Unpacked event for 20 February, which is widely anticipated to be the official unveiling of the Galaxy S10 range of smartphones.

The Galaxy S10 range of smartphones are set to be unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event on 20 February, 2019

The smartphone will then be released on 8 March 2019.

Prices are expected to range from £699 for the cheapest 128 GB S10e version, to £1,399 for the most expensive 1TB S10+ version.

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