The timeline of Samsung’s Galaxy flagship telephones

Samsung has reigned over the world of Android flagship smartphones for a very long time now. And yearly, the tech big reminds us why, packing essentially the most progressive tech into a number of the most beautiful handsets.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 collection is the newest in a protracted line of units, which started 14 years in the past with the modest Galaxy S. Since then, we have seen smaller bezels, larger screens, professional-standard pictures and a Galaxy Note-inspired stylus — lots has modified.

Every now and then, it is good to check out how far issues have come. Make a journey with me down reminiscence lane and see how Samsung Galaxy’s top-tier smartphones have developed because the early days to the place they’re as we speak.

1 Samsung Galaxy S

Kicking issues off in a giant manner

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First launched in June 2010, the Samsung Galaxy S ran on Android 2.1 and had an 800 x 480 Tremendous AMOLED show. It additionally had a single-core 1GHz processor and 0.5GB of RAM. The rear digicam was 5-megapixels, whereas the entrance was simply 0.3-megapixels. The factor that basically stood out about it was Samsung’s customization of Android. Though we might seen a few of TouchWiz on different units, it felt prefer it labored on the Galaxy S.

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2 Samsung Galaxy S II

All about widgets

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The Samsung Galaxy S II, was launched in April 2011 and sported an identical 800 x 480 display to its predecessor. The processor obtained a bump as much as dual-core and 1.2GHz, and there was 0.75GB of RAM. The rear digicam was 8-megapixels this time, with a 2-megapixel front-facing cam. Samsung embraced widgets with the Galaxy S II, one thing that rivals HTC was actually pushing on the time.

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3 Samsung Galaxy S III

The beginnings of HD

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The Samsung Galaxy S III got here out in Could 2012 and was the primary in Samsung’s line to have an HD display, although a decision of 1280 x 720 was maybe disappointingly revolutionary on the time. The S III additionally sported Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Internally, there was a 1.4GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM, though Samsung caught with an 8-megapixel rear digicam.

It was barely extra sculpted than the earlier cellphone, the start of Samsung’s design refinements to its flagship cellphone line.

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4 Samsung Galaxy S4

Greater, higher display

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Launched in April 2013 and ditching the Roman numeral naming conference, the Galaxy S4 launched a bigger 5-inch Full HD show. It additionally upped the processing energy inside to a 1.9GHz quad-core chip, with 2GB of RAM. The rear digicam improved too, as much as 13-megapixels.

The improved design sense that labored its manner into the S III actually got here by right here: the Galaxy S4 was an important cellphone, it simply seemed and felt proper.

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5 Samsung Galaxy S5

The cameras maintain climbing

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Arriving in April 2014, the Samsung Galaxy S5 additionally had a Full HD display, this time in an excellent bigger 5.1-inch dimension (an LTE-A mannequin finally upped the decision to 2560 x 1440). There was a 2.5GHz quad-core processor on board, with 2GB of RAM. And the rear digicam was as soon as once more improved, to a 16-megapixel module.

Essentially the most fascinating factor concerning the Galaxy S5 was its textured, sticky again. Samsung was nonetheless utilizing detachable plastic again panels on the time.

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6 Samsung Galaxy S6

Getting severe about selfies

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April 2015’s Galaxy S line was the primary to supply two separate units on the similar time. The extra normal Galaxy S6 featured a flat, 5.1-inch, 2560 x 1440 Quad HD Tremendous AMOLED show, whereas Samsung moved to embrace curved edges on its different telephones, ensuing within the Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Edge Plus. Splitting up the road was a defining second for the Galaxy S collection, one thing that continued for a few years.

The S6 ran on a Samsung-made Exynos octa-core processor, had 3GB of RAM and a 16-megapixel rear digicam able to recording Extremely HD footage. A 5-megapixel digicam was adopted for the entrance.

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7 Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Embracing mushy curves

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Like its stablemate additionally launched in April 2015, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge had a 5.1-inch Quad HD display, octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16-megapixel rear digicam, and 5-megapixel front-facing digicam. The place it differed is that the edges of its show have been curved and wrapped across the sides of the cellphone to provide the phantasm of no bezel — a radical different on the time. It was additionally joined by Galaxy S6 Edge+ mannequin.

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8 Samsung Galaxy S7

The daybreak of contactless funds

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The Samsung Galaxy S7 was introduced in February 2016 and got here with a 5.1-inch QHD show (2560 x 1440). Just like the S6 earlier than it, it was a flat-screen different to the curved Galaxy S7 Edge. It added a dual-pixel 12-megapixel digicam for higher low mild pictures and a quicker octa-core processor.

Samsung Pay — now known as Samsung Wallet — was enabled on the cellphone, which might work by each NFC and magnetic strip methods.

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9 Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

A flagship on each degree

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The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge completely illustrated Samsung’s mastery over show expertise. It had an excellent 5.5-inch twin edge QHD show and all the identical up to date internals as the conventional Galaxy S7. Compared to the S6 Edge, the S7 Edge was a bit rounder, however general, it was a significant enchancment and a real flagship cellphone in each respect.

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10 Samsung Galaxy S8

Say hey to the edge-to-edge show

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 was the primary to introduce the Infinity Show, which was how Samsung branded its new edge-to-edge show with just about no bezels. The front-mounted dwelling button was moved to the again too, albeit in a barely awkward place.

Whereas there was additionally a second variant in the S8 Plus, which got here with an even bigger display and battery, the usual Galaxy S8 made curved edges normal, transferring away from a flat display Samsung had stored in rotation till then.

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11 Samsung Galaxy S9

A solution to Apple’s Memoji

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On the floor, the Samsung Galaxy S9 seemed similar to the S8 from 2017. The cellphone nonetheless had the identical curved edge design, 5.8-inch OLED display dimension, and was, as soon as once more, waterproof. As a substitute, Samsung selected to distinguish the Galaxy S9 with new software program options like AR emoji, which permits the cellphone to create a 3D avatar by scanning your face and creating a spread of customized emoji for you. These might be utilized in WhatsApp or Fb Messenger, for instance, quite than simply fundamental emoji.

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ additionally launched alongside the S9, providing a twin aperture primary digicam that was a step up from the earlier yr.

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12 Samsung Galaxy S10

Pattern-setting throughout the board

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The Samsung Galaxy S10 launched alongside the larger S10+, the more affordable S10e and a 5G capable model. The 2019 flagship from Samsung featured a whole lot of the identical design sides we grew to know and love. Samsung additionally included some trendsetting new options just like the UltraSonic fingerprint sensor, triple-camera system, good auto-camera solutions, reverse wi-fi charging, and a hole-punch selfie digicam. It was, in some ways, the flagship smartphone to beat on the time.

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13 Samsung Galaxy S20

Gone are the bezels

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Samsung’s flagship cellphone for 2020 was the Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and S20 Extremely (under). The usual handset took the Infinity Show idea additional — virtually eliminating the bezel solely. It additionally switched the hole-punch front camera to the middle. The display sizes of the S20 and S20+ have been 6.2 and 6.7-inches respectively, with Quad HD+ (3200 x 1440) resolutions. Additionally they had in-display fingerprint scanners, like their S10 predecessors.

Maybe the most important generational leap got here with the bump to a 120Hz refresh fee show, triple-lens cameras, and the S20+’s Time-of-Flight sensor. Each telephones have been 5G-enabled, although Samsung offered a 4G model of the S20, too.

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14 Samsung Galaxy S20 Extremely

Huge display magnificence

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The introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was actually the introduction of a brand new class of hyper-premium flagship smartphone. It had a mammoth display — 6.9-inches, Quad HD+ (3200 x 1440) and 120Hz — however is probably going to be greatest remembered for its large digicam bump. In addition to a Time-of-Flight sensor, the Extremely sported 108-megapixel primary, 48-megapixel 10x telephoto, and 12-megapixel ultrawide cameras. It was additionally able to as much as 100x “House Zoom” for some beautiful long-range pictures.

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15 Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

An reasonably priced different

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The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Version) was launched as a extra reasonably priced choice, however in contrast to the Galaxy S10e, it did not really feel compromised. Priced decrease than the opposite S20 fashions, it matched their energy — with Snapdragon 865 globally — and had an important show and digicam system.

The construct was barely cheaper, and it had a flat show, nevertheless it supplied nice worth for the cash. The FE line has continued to sit down on this place as a mid-year replace with flagship specs.

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16 Samsung Galaxy S21

A contemporary tackle design

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 and bigger Galaxy S21+ took the flagship cellphone vary in a barely completely different route. Whereas the worth tags have been a little bit decrease than the launch worth of the S20 fashions in 2020, there have been a few strikes — decreasing the show to 1080p and transferring to a plastic again — that justified the worth discount. The S21 additionally returned to a flat show, just like the Galaxy S7. However they have been nonetheless highly effective flagship degree units, with a triple digicam association and adaptive refresh rate show that, whereas solely 1080p, nonetheless hit 120Hz. By reorganizing the road on this manner, the S21 Extremely grew to become the clear Samsung flagship in 2021.

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17 Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely

With the digicam at its core

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Whereas many of the consideration was on the massive digicam unit on the again of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung spent a shocking period of time advertising the Extremely’s Phantom Black end. With the S21 fashions transferring down in positioning barely, there was renewed concentrate on what the S21 Extremely supplied.

New show tech and a rethinking of the cameras on the again made for a extra enticing package deal, with Samsung seeking to reassert itself because the flagship cellphone to lust after — and now the one mannequin with a curved show.

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18 Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Cheaper worth however nonetheless very succesful

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A bit later to the celebration than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE launched in January 2022, simply earlier than the Galaxy S22 vary launched. Providing lots of the similar design traits because the Galaxy S21 vary, the primary distinction on the S21 FE was the color-matched rear digicam. Dimension-wise, it sat between the S21 and S21+ and it supplied lots of the similar options too, together with a 120Hz show, although it was not as succesful because the S21.

Just like the S20 FE, the S21 FE hit a candy spot when it comes to worth and options, with primarily only a downgrade in digicam to permit for a less expensive worth.

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19 Samsung Galaxy S22

Not precisely game-changing

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Samsung’s Galaxy S22 felt like an iterative replace to the Galaxy S21. Once more, there have been two fashions — the S22 with a 6.1-inch show and the Galaxy S22+ with a 6.6-inch show. Exterior these dimension variations, these telephones have been principally the identical, providing the identical design and construct, the identical colours, the identical energy and {hardware}. There was a distinction within the battery capability, after all. Each these telephones additionally shared options with the Galaxy S22 Extremely, which returned as Samsung’s 2022 flagship.

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20 Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely

New S Pen help

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Updating the flagship of the vary, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra supported the S Pen and housed it internally, making it a alternative of kinds for the Galaxy Notice collection. The design shifted barely to accommodate the S Pen, however this system nonetheless packed in Samsung’s high digicam loadout from the earlier Extremely telephones. It had a 108MP primary digicam, a 6.8-inch show, and a giant battery — and the newest {hardware} obtainable on the time in 2022.

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