- By Prateek Levi
- Mon, 20 Jan 2025 01:36 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Samsung Galaxy S Series Mobile Phones: Just like any great thing that has ever been built, like the Taj Mahal or Rome, it takes time to cultivate something that is worthy of being great. None of these structures were built in a day, and similarly, it took Samsung years to stand where it stands today.
With that said, there is almost no time left for the Galaxy Unpacked event to unfold, and all eyes are on the S Series flagship as Samsung goes ahead with this new year.
But was it always the way it is right now? The larger-than-life displays with advanced features it has gained from the modern era? I think not, so let's dive into how Samsung reached the point where it really is and look at the evolution of the Galaxy S series flagship, which is soon to come out for all of us.
Samsung Galaxy S (2010)
First in line is the Galaxy S (2010) launched in June 2010, this is where it all began, the first time Samsung made it clear that Samsung has a best seller in its deck of cards. With this Samsung was able to sell more than 20 million units, which marked its place as the progenitor of the flagship series we are all a fan of right now.
Image Credits: Samsung
Let's talk specs, now that we are accustomed to looking at hi-tech features in our smartphones, the features in this model might not look as impressive but trust me it was a beast when it came out at that point in time. The device came equipped with a large 4-inch Super AMOLED display, one of the largest at the time. Powered by Samsung's own 1GHz Hummingbird chipset, it made its first appearance with the Galaxy S. Although its plastic build couldn't match the premium metal design of the Samsung Wave, it established the core foundation for nearly every subsequent Galaxy smartphone.
The Galaxy S wasn't flawless and had its share of issues and quirks, but it remains one of the most significant phones in Samsung's history and undoubtedly one of the top devices of 2010. Many, including ourselves, regard it as the best Android phone of that year.
Samsung Galaxy SII
The second phone in the flagship S Series definitely had some big boots to fill in, but it was able to match the expectations. As a matter of fact, it took Samsung only about 55 days to sell more than 3 million units worldwide, and over the period of 5 months, around 10 million units of the Galaxy S II were shipped worldwide. On top of that, the phone was declared "Smartphone Of The Year" at MWC 2012.
Image Credits: Samsung
What wasn’t to love about this device? Upon its release, it was the world’s slimmest phone, at just 0.33” (8.49mm), and featured much faster hardware along with a significantly better Super AMOLED display than its predecessor. However, one of the main criticisms of the Galaxy S II was its design – somewhat lackluster and uninspired. Fortunately, this was addressed in the next iteration of the Galaxy S series.
Samsung Galaxy S III
When the Galaxy S II launched, it had a tough task of making its mark, but the Galaxy S III had even bigger shoes to fill. By 2012, expectations for Samsung’s third flagship were through the roof. Fans anticipated a powerhouse phone with top-tier hardware and a bold new design. Well, it certainly delivered on the hardware front. Spoiler alert: the design wasn’t quite as impressive.
Image Credits: Samsung
While the Galaxy S III didn’t exactly break new ground with its plastic, "nature-inspired" look, it wasn’t bad for the time. But many had hoped for something more premium, like a ceramic body, which didn’t materialize. Regardless, the phone stood out for its performance, boasting a gorgeous display and a smooth, refined TouchWiz UI that set the stage for an exceptional user experience.
Samsung Galaxy S4
Fast forward to 2013, and the Galaxy S4 was the next evolution in the series. Imagine the Galaxy S III, but slimmer, faster, and better in almost every way. The S4 came with a bigger display, a more powerful processor, an improved camera, and a feature-packed TouchWiz UI, all packed into a more compact body. Though it wasn’t a game-changing upgrade for Galaxy S III owners, it was certainly a standout for newcomers.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Then came the Galaxy S5 in 2014. Samsung decided to spice things up by adding water and dust resistance to the flagship, borrowing features from the S4 Active. The design, with its “glam” rear cover, wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it still got attention. The S5 stuck to the winning formula of previous models but added some genuinely useful features, including improved hardware and software. Still, it was often critiqued for its uninspiring design.
Samsung Galaxy S6
With the Galaxy S6 in 2015, Samsung finally stepped up its design game. The S6 featured a stunning glass and metal body, paired with a sharp Quad HD display that blew most phones out of the water at the time. However, it wasn’t all perfect: Samsung removed some popular features like the removable battery and microSD card, which didn’t sit well with some users. But the S6 was a clear step forward in terms of performance, with a smoother user experience and toned-down TouchWiz. The S6 Edge, with its curved display, also added a touch of innovation.
Samsung Galaxy S7
In 2016, the Galaxy S7 series continued the trend, building on the S6's strengths with new improvements, especially in camera technology. The S7 introduced Dual Pixel autofocus for incredibly fast focus and excelled in low-light photography. Plus, the S7 brought back water resistance and microSD support, making it a more complete package. The S7 Edge, with its larger curved display, became a fan favorite.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 in 2017 was another step forward, with slimmer bezels and the introduction of Bixby, Samsung’s own digital assistant, which didn’t quite take off. The S8 also featured a fingerprint sensor on the back, a change from its predecessor, making it easier to reach.
Samsung Galaxy S9
In 2018, the Galaxy S9 made its debut with improved camera features, including dual aperture for better low-light shots. While it wasn’t a massive leap in design, it brought solid performance and a better user experience. Samsung addressed the fingerprint sensor issue from the S8, placing it below the camera for better accessibility.
Samsung Galaxy S10
In 2019, Samsung introduced three models: the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10 Plus. The punch-hole display design helped slim down bezels, and the phones offered an impressive camera setup. The S10e was aimed at those who wanted a more compact phone, while the S10 and S10 Plus provided more features, including a triple-camera system.
The Galaxy S20 Series Launched
The Galaxy S20 series, released in 2020, focused heavily on improved cameras and 5G connectivity. The S20 Ultra was the standout with its 108-megapixel main camera, offering exceptional zoom capabilities. While the S20 series pushed the boundaries of mobile photography, it marked the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, a controversial move for some.
Image Credits: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S21
2021 saw the launch of the Galaxy S21 series, featuring the Snapdragon 888 chip and a 120Hz refresh rate. While the S21 Ultra had a more advanced camera setup, all three models supported 5G and delivered excellent performance. Samsung also made the decision to remove the charger from the box, a bold move that reflected the company’s changing approach.
Image Credits: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S22
In 2022, the Galaxy S22 series arrived with a new design, including a more squared-off look for the S22 Ultra, which incorporated the S Pen from the now-discontinued Galaxy Note series. This year, the S22 was actually smaller than its predecessor, marking a shift away from the trend of ever-larger screens.
Image Credits: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S23 series, released in early 2023, brought notable upgrades with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, improved camera features, and longer battery life. While US prices remained steady, international customers faced a price hike. Regardless, the S23 series was widely praised as one of Samsung's most refined launches yet.
Image Credits: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S24
Then finally came the Galaxy S24, the flagship smartphone of the S Series that took hold over the entire market. It is what we are familiar with when we look at the flagship S Series smartphones. It came in three variants the Galaxy S24, S24+ and the premium Galaxy S24 Ultra which sported a different design than the rest of the devices in the series.
Image Credits: Samsung
The premium model boasted features such as an octa-core processor, featuring Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset by Qualcomm with CPU speeds of 3.39GHz, 3.1GHz, 2.9GHz, and 2.2GHz. It boasts a large 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 (Quad HD+), providing vibrant colors and a smooth visual experience, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. The display also supports 16 million colors and features rounded corners, with a full rectangular size of 172.5mm. For those who enjoy the precision of a stylus, the device also includes S Pen support.
In terms of cameras, the rear setup included a 200MP primary sensor, a 50MP secondary sensor, a 12MP wide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens. These lenses offered impressive features such as optical zoom (3x and 5x) and optical-quality zoom (2x and 10x), enhanced by the Adaptive Pixel sensor, along with digital zoom capabilities up to 100x. The front camera is a 12MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and autofocus as well, ensuring great selfies. All the features we love and know about.
Now all eyes are on the Samsung Unpacked event which will most likely feature the Galaxy S25 the successor of all the smartphones mentioned above, it will carry the legacy Samsung has cultivated over the years through the evolution of its flagship S Series Smartphones. Now as the time draws closer it will be exciting for fans, enthusiasts and even the common buyers to look at what Samsung has to offer this time starting its journey in the new year.