The Samsung Galaxy S10 launched on March 8, 2020

Samsung announced the Galaxy S10 on March 8, 2020, and the phone became available for purchase the same day in most markets. This was Samsung's flagship Android phone for that year, sitting at the top of their product line. The S10 came in three versions: the standard S10, the larger S10+, and the smaller S10e, which was the budget option of the three.

The release happened during a period when Samsung was competing directly with Apple's iPhone 11 and Google's Pixel 4, both of which had launched the previous fall. By releasing in early March, Samsung gave itself a head start in the spring market before the next wave of flagship phones arrived later that year.

Key Takeaways

  • The Samsung Galaxy S10 launched on March 8, 2020, with three models available: the S10, S10+, and S10e.
  • The S10 introduced an in-display camera hole instead of a notch at the top, which was a visible design change from the S9.
  • The phone used the Snapdragon 855 processor and came with 8GB of RAM as standard, making it faster than the previous generation.
  • Battery capacity increased to 3,400 mAh in the standard S10, compared to 3,000 mAh in the S9.
  • The S10 added wireless PowerShare, which let you charge other devices by placing them on the back of the phone.

What made the S10 different from the S9

The most obvious change was the camera placement. The S9 had a notch at the top of the screen, like an iPhone. The S10 moved the front camera to a small hole punched directly into the display, which gave you more screen space at the top. This hole-punch design became standard on many Android phones after Samsung introduced it.

The rear camera system also changed. The S10 had three cameras on the back instead of two, adding an ultra-wide lens that let you capture a much wider field of view. The main sensor stayed at 12 megapixels, but the processing improved, which meant better photos in low light.

Performance jumped significantly. The S10 used the Snapdragon 855 processor, which was noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 845 in the S9. Real-world tasks like opening apps, switching between them, and playing games felt snappier. The standard S10 came with 8GB of RAM, while the S9 had started at 4GB.

Battery and charging improvements

The S10 battery grew to 3,400 mAh, up from 3,000 mAh in the S9. That extra 400 mAh meant the S10 lasted longer on a single charge, though the improvement was modest—usually an extra hour or two depending on how you used the phone.

Samsung added wireless PowerShare, a feature that let you place another phone or wireless earbud on the back of the S10 to charge it. This was convenient if you had multiple Samsung devices, though it drained the S10's battery faster, so it was best used when the S10 was plugged in itself.

Price and storage options

The S10 launched at $899 for the base model with 128GB of storage. The S10+ cost $999, and the S10e was $749. These prices were in line with what Samsung charged for the S9 the year before, though storage amounts varied by region and carrier.

All three models came with microSD card slots, which meant you could expand storage if you ran out of space. This was a feature Samsung later removed from newer Galaxy phones, so the S10 was one of the last flagships to include it.

Display and design changes

The S10 kept the same 6.1-inch display size as the S9, but the screen-to-body ratio improved because of the smaller hole-punch camera. The display was still AMOLED, which meant deep blacks and vibrant colors. The refresh rate stayed at 60Hz, which was standard at the time—phones with 120Hz displays didn't become common until the following year.

The phone was slightly thicker and heavier than the S9 to accommodate the larger battery and three-camera system. The glass back remained, so it still felt premium but was prone to fingerprints and could crack if dropped.

Software and features at launch

The S10 shipped with Android 9 Pie and Samsung's One UI interface. One UI was Samsung's redesigned software layer, which made the phone easier to use with one hand by moving important buttons and menus toward the bottom of the screen. This was a significant improvement over the previous Samsung interface.

The phone included an in-display fingerprint sensor instead of a rear-mounted one, which was faster and more convenient for unlocking. Face unlock was also available, though it was less find than the fingerprint sensor.

How the S10 compares to phones today

The S10 is now four years old, which means it is no longer receiving major software updates from Samsung. The Snapdragon 855 processor is still capable for everyday tasks like messaging, email, and web browsing, but it struggles with demanding games and heavy multitasking compared to current flagship chips.

The camera system was excellent for 2020, but phone cameras have improved significantly since then. Modern phones capture better detail in low light and have more advanced computational photography features. If you own an S10 and are considering an upgrade, the jump to a current-generation phone will feel substantial in camera quality and processing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Samsung Galaxy S10 still worth buying used?

The S10 is still functional for basic tasks, but it will not receive major Android updates beyond Android 12. Battery health degrades over time, so a used S10 may need a replacement battery. If you find one at a low price and only need it for calls, messages, and light browsing, it can work, but a newer mid-range phone usually offers better value.

How long did Samsung support the S10 with updates?

Samsung promised three years of major Android updates and four years of security patches for the S10. The phone received updates through Android 12, which arrived in late 2021. Security patches continued beyond that, but the phone no longer receives new features or major OS versions.

What was the main reason Samsung changed from a notch to a hole-punch camera?

The hole-punch design gave users more usable screen space at the top, especially for watching videos and reading content. A notch blocks out a wider area of the display, while a small hole only covers the camera itself. This design choice became the standard for Android phones after the S10 proved it worked well.

Did the S10 have 5G?

The standard S10 and S10+ did not have 5G. Samsung released a separate S10 5G model later in 2020 with a larger screen and 5G connectivity, but it cost more and was only available on certain carriers. Most people who bought an S10 in March 2020 got the 4G LTE version.