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Samsung's Galaxy S10 To Come In Three Sizes, With An In-Display Fingerprint Sensor (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the different-strokes-for-different-folks dept.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Samsung will launch the Galaxy S10 in three different sizes: 5.8 inches, 6.1 inches, and 6.4 inches. They are nearly the same sizes that Kuo expects Apple's next series of iPhones to come in. The Verge reports: The larger two S10 models will include in-display fingerprint sensors, Kuo says, while the smaller model will include a fingerprint sensor on the side. That suggests the smaller model will be Samsung's entry-level offering, while the larger two will potentially have higher-end specs and features. Another recent rumor says the S10 might include five cameras, adding an additional wide angle option to the back and another lens to the front for capturing portrait effects. It's very likely plans will change between now and when the Galaxy S10 launches, which should be early next year. The next flagship smartphone to come from the South Korean company will be the Galaxy Note 9. It's expected to make its appearance at an event on August 9th.

58 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. finger print by jemmyw · · Score: 1

    I'm not particularily excited by a new phone, but I have been waiting for the finger print sensors to return to the front. I've got an S7 which is fine but is starting to get a few niggly little issues, I'm sure it'll be fine for another year.

    1. Re:finger print by Daralantan · · Score: 1

      I always found the fingerprint on the back to be more comfortable and easy to use.... but having it on the side(s?) sounds possibly useful.

  2. One Size by dohzer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only size that matters to me is that of the unremovable bloatware. Looks like I'm sticking with a Google Pixel.

    1. Re:One Size by Stormwatch · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Look into Motorola, they're also good at sticking to near-pure Android with no bullshit.

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
    2. Re:One Size by jimbo · · Score: 1

      Good point. I have a Samsung S6 that no longer gets OS updats and when it did the major upgrades were always 6-9 month late.

      Thinking either an iPhone next gen or Pixel 3 next time. My wife's iPhone 5s runs really well with iOS 12 beta so in terms of long term support that's a huge plus. However the Pixel 3 will still be supported for minimum 3 years and I'm thinking it'll be cheaper and the rumored 5.3" screen is about the max size I'll accept.

    3. Re:One Size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I second Motorola. I got an X4 to replace my bootlooped 5X. It's nearly the same, but it comes with an SD card slot. Not that it works like I expected, but it is a nice addition. I also love the double chop to turn on the flashlight and double twist to open the camera. I'm surprised no one else has picked those up yet. Unfortunately, it has the fingerprint reader on the wrong side. In-screen fingerprint readers are a waste of time. They belong on the back. A better innovation would be to eliminate the front-facing camera, put a small "selfie screen" on the back, and then just one camera on the back and an "all screen" front. Even if you never take selfies (like me) the extra screen would be nice for quick notifications when your phone is face down.

      Oh, and supposedly Motorola phones come with all of the hardware glitchiness that you've come to expect from Nexus and Pixel phones, so you won't feel left out there.

    4. Re:One Size by dohzer · · Score: 1

      I'll give them a look. Thanks!

    5. Re:One Size by dohzer · · Score: 1

      The fingerprint scanner on the Pixel is one of my favourite features. It's so simple and natural.

    6. Re:One Size by dohzer · · Score: 1

      I was actually surprised at how little size difference I noticed going from an S6 to a Pixel XL. I was expecting not to like it, but now I'm not sure how I'd feel about downsizing.

    7. Re:One Size by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Actually recent Samsung phones have had very minimal bloat, and they let you disable stuff you don't want. It's not perfect but it's not like the old days either.

      They might do a pure Android edition too.

      I guess it depends if you can live with the limitations of the Pixel - no SD cards, no wireless charging, not waterproof, limited selection of cases etc.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    8. Re:One Size by swillden · · Score: 1

      It's nearly the same, but it comes with an SD card slot. Not that it works like I expected, but it is a nice addition.

      What do you mean here? How would you expect it to work, and in what way does it not?

      I also love the double chop to turn on the flashlight and double twist to open the camera. I'm surprised no one else has picked those up yet.

      A few devices use gestures for various things. Double-clicking the power button opens the camera on Pixels, for example.

      Unfortunately, it has the fingerprint reader on the wrong side. In-screen fingerprint readers are a waste of time. They belong on the back.

      Although it would increase cost, I'd like both. A reader on the back for most use, plus an in-screen reader for when the phone is resting on a desk or table.

      Even if you never take selfies (like me) the extra screen would be nice for quick notifications when your phone is face down.

      Why would your phone be face down? And putting notifications on a rear-facing screen would make it easier for the world to see them. The rear-facing screen would be another screen to break. I'd rather keep the selfie camera but move it under the screen; I understand there are some companies working on under-screen camera designs.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    9. Re:One Size by Rip!ey · · Score: 1

      Good point. I have a Samsung S6 that no longer gets OS updats and when it did the major upgrades were always 6-9 month late.

      No Oreo cookies for you. Go chew on some yummy (or not so yummy) Nougat instead. The current security patch for a S6 is still 01.03.18 though.

      My S6 is starting to get clunky in use. I can handle the lack of Major updates if it means holding off the deteriorating performance (new battery btw). It's been three years now. It would work just fine as a phone for another two.

      Cheaper (and no-name) phones have fared far worse for updates.

    10. Re:One Size by kronix1986 · · Score: 1

      You should like Samsung's unlocked phones then. TouchWiz was redesigned in 2017 and is now called Samsung Experience, and is by far the best custom Android skin. Having used Samsung Experience 8.5 and 9.0 on my Note8 since last September, I'm shocked how fast and lean it still is.

      "But why would you sully the greatness that is Android with a custom sk-"

      Google now change Android's UX conventions every year, culminating in the mess that is Android P, whose phones will feature no less than 5 generations of icon, menu and app design. Samsung are at least consistent, and provide tons of features not found in stock Android (e.g. a healthy themes store full of free content, customisable Always on Display, secure folders, Kid Mode, edge lighting, a far superior Bluetooth stack, dual messenger app accounts, etc. etc.).

      They also courageously equip their phones with features not found on Pixels/iPhones, such as a 3.5mm jack and an SD card slot.

    11. Re:One Size by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      I wish I coumd say the same for my Galaxy Tab S. After quitting Verizon after 3 years and running pure wifi, video broke and jumps around, regardless of app (save video through Chrome, but that's almost useless because every sitr forces you to dump into their app even if "desktop site" is on, and all apps apparently use the same underlying video OS service, which is what is broken.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    12. Re:One Size by dohzer · · Score: 1

      I was originally all for wireless charging, but I found it really didn't cut the mustard when I was after the fastest charge possible.

  3. 5 cameras! by rune2 · · Score: 1

    Obligatory.... https://www.theonion.com/fuck-...

  4. And they are all hot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The most explosive devices in the market from Samsung, a company on fire, that is hell-bent on re-kindling customers' interest and searing the competition.

    1. Re:And they are all hot by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

      ^^^ This. I kind of thought the "exploding phone" bit would have killed the Galaxy brand, and they'd be hawking the "Quasar" or whatnot by now. Who knew they were still making them?

  5. how about.. by kiviQr · · Score: 2

    ..less expensive, smaller screen so it is considered a phone not a tablet, decent battery that lasts at least 3 days, audio jack, external card?

    1. Re:how about.. by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Ask Nokia for that.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:how about.. by mukinrestak · · Score: 1

      And bring back the IR emitter while we're at it.

    3. Re:how about.. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      ..less expensive, smaller screen so it is considered a phone not a tablet, decent battery that lasts at least 3 days, audio jack, external card?

      Not sure if by "external card" you mean "can add an SD card" or "can change the SD card while the phone remains running" but I would point you towards this.

    4. Re:how about.. by geekmux · · Score: 1

      And bring back the IR emitter while we're at it.

      I'm assuming you were joking when asking for a feature that you would struggle to find something to talk to. Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi, and cloud options make obsolete data transfer options, obsolete.

    5. Re:how about.. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Not sure if by "external card" you mean "can add an SD card" or "can change the SD card while the phone remains running" but I would point you towards this.

      Why not just point towards the Galaxy S9?

    6. Re:how about.. by Rip!ey · · Score: 2

      And bring back the IR emitter while we're at it.

      I'm assuming you were joking when asking for a feature that you would struggle to find something to talk to...

      ... like the hundreds of thousands of televisions that a mobile phone is perfectly capable of being a remote for?

      Maybe they should remove the stereo jack as well. Maybe they have.

    7. Re:how about.. by greythax · · Score: 1

      I for one am looking forward to the new Note. I'm 6' 3" and over 40. The bigger screen size is much more comfortable for both typing and reading. My thumbs take up a quarter of the screen for my s7. Though I wouldn't mind a price drop.

    8. Re:how about.. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Why not just point towards the Galaxy S9?

      Because a Galaxy S9 is not "less expensive, smaller screen so it is considered a phone not a tablet", whereas the phone I linked is half the price of an S9 and more than an inch smaller in screen, but still Sony's flagship phone performance-wise?

      Thanks for playing, Sherlock.

    9. Re:how about.. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Wow you really suck at communicating. Ironically that would make you more like Sherlock who was also notoriously bad at making a point.

    10. Re:how about.. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Wow you really suck at communicating.

      The original poster rejects the Galaxy S10, specifically calling out the screen size, price, and battery life, and you think they should buy the previous version of the exact same phone, which features the exact same size screen, will debut in the same pricing segment, and barring a major internal redesign, will have roughly the same battery life.

      I can only assume you either:
      1) Didn't read the OP's wish list for the phone they want, or
      2) Blindly questioned my suggestion, without looking at the specs to consider the reason I chose it. Maybe playing some Samsung loyalty angle? I dunno.

      In either case, I don't see me as being the one with a "communication issue".

      To use a car analogy:

      Original Poster: "What is with this focus on huge trucks every year? I want a vehicle that's under $25 grand, has good cargo room, and gas mileage."

      My response: "Have you checked out the Hyundia Elantra hatchbacks? They have a pretty surprising amount of room and they start at $20k.

      Your response to me: "Why don't you recommend a 2017 Ford Explorer?"

      Me: "Because that doesn't meet the OP's checklist at all???"

      You: "You sure suck at communicating".

    11. Re:how about.. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Except that wasn't your response. Your response quoted a subset of the original message and didn't reply to all of it. Had you not quoted the text or had you quoted the entire requirement list your reply would have been in a very different context.

      The end result is someone didn't understand the conversation. Regardless of how you defend it, someone didn't understand. You failed to communicate properly.

    12. Re:how about.. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Except that wasn't your response. Your response quoted a subset of the original message and didn't reply to all of it. Had you not quoted the text or had you quoted the entire requirement list your reply would have been in a very different context.

      I'm sorry, my original reply does, in fact, quote the entirety of the original requirement list. Did I bullet-point every bit and give my reasoning? No. Because if you follow my link it is apparent why I point out this handset. The price difference is readily apparent, the screen size it right at the top in 18 point type, trumpeting this is one of those (now rare) Android phones with a screen under 5" in size. A scanning of the features list will tell someone versed in phones this is not a cheap low-performance handset.

      As far as battery power, that's a bit harder to gauge. I don't own a Xperia XZ1 Compact, I have the previous year's model, which was done as a more mid-range phone than this one. I get almost five days on one charge, and this newer one is supposed to be a little better in endurance (talk/music/video playback) than that, although the standby time is allegedly less. Battery is hard to recommend as it depends on the user's individual habits and what apps they run. Get rid of Facebook completely from the device (and any messaging apps that run in the background all the time), and you'll be surprised how much longer your phone lasts.

      I didn't mention the current model because it's gotten bigger in ways that don't benefit the user much. An 18:9 screen will be wasted space on most modern media and the extra thickness does not come with a comparable increase in battery capacity. Jumping to a 1080p screen has hurt battery longevity as well. In addition, there's no headphone jack in this newest iteration, something the OP specifically wanted.

      I see nothing written by you justifying your choice of the Galaxy S9. Pot calling Kettle what?

      The end result is someone didn't understand the conversation. Regardless of how you defend it, someone didn't understand. You failed to communicate properly.

      My reply was directed to the OP, and he would understand as we was being directly replied to. It's not my job to make a digest of the entire thread in my individual post for future readers. If you want to be in the conversation, make the fucking effort to read the context for yourself. Quoting every previous post ad nauseam is how we end up with those joke "corporate email chain" stories where a one sentence reply becomes a 3 Mbyte message on server.

  6. I dont care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And neither should most people.

    For 99% of the population, this new phone does EXACTLY what your old phone did, in almost EXACTLY the same way.

    Oh, your old phone is slow?

    Get a new battery. Yeah, seriously.

    iPhones aren't the only phones that throttle the hell out of themselves when they dont get enough voltage.

    My S7 edge works freaking great with a new battery and Android Oreo. I think I'll keep it for a couple more years.

    1. Re:I dont care by adjustinthings · · Score: 1

      Where did you get the battery replaced? How much $? Is it still waterproof??

  7. Plans Chnage? by Luthair · · Score: 1

    I'd be curious to hear from someone developing products, but I have to imagine at this point Samsung already knows exactly what the S10 will launch as. 6-months doesn't seem like a whole lot of time to create an assembly line, produce tooling, training, secure supply chain, and start stockpiling phones for launch.

  8. Crapware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Until I can buy one without all the Samsung crapware installed, I'll stick with stock Android on a Google device. Sure, I'll pay more, but I won't have to get popups from some fucking mandatory NFL app. And Google already has all my data. That ship has sailed. But Samsung getting all my data? Go fuck yourself.

  9. Here's more info by AbRASiON · · Score: 3, Informative

    Samsungs Galaxy S10, to come in 3 sizes, all of which will be curved.

    If you'd like a non curved display? We don't care.
    We don't offer it, go away. All flagship phones must be curved.

    Like putting plastic / glass screen protectors on? Screw you.
    Like not accidentally 'palming' your phone when it's in your hand? LOL like we care.

    I've whined for 2.5 years about it now, they lost me. The lack of a tactile home button already sucks, very much. However this forced curved thing? Nope. No more sales from me.

    Screw em.

    1. Re:Here's more info by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      However this forced curved thing? Nope. No more sales from me.

      It's targeted at Millennials who don't remember CRTs and think all that distortion at the edges looks cool. Don't even get me started on phones with a "notch".

      As for dedicated OS navigation buttons going the way of the dodo, blame Google for that. They were the one who started pushing button-less, nearly-all-screen slabs as the future of smartphone design. Pretty much, that's been Google's design language since their inception: hide the shit out of everything = clean, modern design. UIs have sucked ever since.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    2. Re:Here's more info by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Why can't you put a screen protector on it? They are flexible enough to curve around the display.

      The palming issue affects most phones now that ultra thin bezels are the norm, and was solved years ago with software. Same as palm rejection for large touchpads on laptops.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Here's more info by Daralantan · · Score: 1

      I seem to recall this bragging years ago about how the curved screens could enable people to view and read notifications from the side when the phone is face down.

      Samsung's curved screens, however, seem to do.........nothing?

    4. Re:Here's more info by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Like putting plastic / glass screen protectors on? Screw you.

      *Looks at the screen protector on my curved glass Galaxy S9* ... I don't understand.

      I've whined for 2.5 years about it now, they lost me.

      They don't care. A lot of people specifically on Slashdot don't realise: The companies don't care. YOU are not their market. You are a single customer, a small minority. Not even a vocal minority but one that hides in ecochambers of online forums pontificating about a "better" phone that won't sit well with the millions of customers out there.

      I'm just happy they haven't completely fallen for the stupid that is notches, missing headphone jacks, locked in data ports, no SD cards, etc.

    5. Re:Here's more info by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      Samsungs Galaxy S10, to come in 3 sizes, all of which will be curved.

      "We play both kinds of music; country and western!"

    6. Re:Here's more info by Isaac-Lew · · Score: 1
      The smallest screen is rumored to be flat:

      "The “Beyond 0” apparently will be a 5.8-inch handset with a flat-screen and a single-lens camera."

      Source: https://bgr.com/2018/06/25/gal...

    7. Re:Here's more info by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Samsungs Galaxy S10, to come in 3 sizes, all of which will be curved.

      "Mmmm, whatcha got there?" she askes seductively.

      "It's 5.8 inches and curved!"

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  10. In-Display camera by backslashdot · · Score: 1

    Why not an In-Display camera too? OLEDs are transparent enough.. just google OLED tv.

    1. Re:In-Display camera by pnutjam · · Score: 1

      Too big-brotherish, reminds people of 1984 and the fact they are being spied on.

      --
      Cheap storage VM.
  11. The 3 sizes are... by Darkling-MHCN · · Score: 1

    So the three sizes are big, a bit bigger, and a bit bigger again.

    I don't know why they bother.

    Is it just me or is there anyone else out there wondering why in this day and age it's impossible to buy a small phone?

    1. Re:The 3 sizes are... by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Is it just me or is there anyone else out there wondering why in this day and age it's impossible to buy a small phone?

      Apple still offers the iPhone SE, and there are likely quite a few more models available on the Android platform. Guess the question is what prevents you from buying one?

      Believe me I share you frustration with oversized phones and pointless featurecreep creating the need for larger form factors (who needs five freakin' cameras?!?), but there are alternatives available.

    2. Re:The 3 sizes are... by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      Is it just me or is there anyone else out there wondering why in this day and age it's impossible to buy a small phone?

      Higher Numbers = Better Than
      A phone with a 5.8" screen is therefore better than a phone with 4.7" one.

  12. Phone? by bjwest · · Score: 1

    At what point do these things become tablets? The largest is .6 inches smaller than their Tab A 7, which is sitting right next to me right now. No way is that a comfortable size for a phone unless you're Shack with an 8 inch thumb span. I have an LG V20 with a 5.7 inch screen, and I think it's about as large as I'd care to go. Maybe the 5.8 with a smaller bezel. The 6.1 inch with no bezel may be about the same size, but don't care for a no bezel phone that can't be put in a protective case. The 6.4 is just too big.

    --

    --- Keep the choice with the user..
    1. Re:Phone? by samwichse · · Score: 1

      Since Samsung + Apple switched to a taller aspect ratio, there's been a screen-inches inflation if you actually look at the area.

  13. I honestly don't see the attraction by DrXym · · Score: 1
    Samsung S series phones are extremely expensive, fragile, laden down with crapware and have poor support. Why would anyone subject themselves to a phone like this? If you're going to waste that amount of money on a soon-to-be-last-gen phone you may as well buy an iPhone - at least there is no crapware on it and the support is better.

    Better yet, buy a mid range phone. There is a vast choice of Android devices some of which are very good indeed and carry all the features most people need anyway.

    1. Re:I honestly don't see the attraction by samwichse · · Score: 1

      Buy an unlocked, non-carrier Samsung some time.

      It's still loaded with unremovable bloatware. Mostly Samsung duplicates of all the Google apps.

      Ugh.

    2. Re:I honestly don't see the attraction by DrXym · · Score: 1

      Not all of the providers fill phones with crapware or bootloaders that cannot be unlocked. Research first and there are lots of choices.

  14. small? by sad_ · · Score: 1

    5.8 is not small, it's still too big!

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
    1. Re:small? by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      Add a couple more inches and a keyboard, and you could innovate a whole new kind of device. I think I'll call it "Lap Top".

      Incidentally, today I got my new Nokia 8110 4G, which is a kind of "dumb"phone with great networking, including a Wifi hotspot, which you usually only find on "smart"phones. I want to keep the smarts on a computer I can control, and the phone should be more like a modem. (I need a traditional phone, and I don't want to pay for a separate data plan on a mobile dongle, as I don't use cell data that often.)

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  15. Re:Wow is there nothing Samsung... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

    ...failed at implementing.

  16. Re:Wow is there nothing Samsung... by infuriatedweasel · · Score: 1

    They are so good at copying Apple, that they copy them before Apple invents the technology. Apple will invent the in-display fingerprint reader in about two years, and Samsung has already copied them. It's shameless!

  17. Thee sizes S10: XL, XL and XXL by GodWasAnAlien · · Score: 1

    Smart phone display size chart:

    XXS: 3.5 (I-Phone 1-4)
    XS: 4 (iPhone 5)
    S: 4.5 (IPhone 6-8)
    M: 5 (Nexus 5, Pixel 2)
    L: 5.5 (iPhone 8plus, Pixel XL, Galaxy Note II)
    XL: 6 (iPhone X, Pixel 2 XL)
    XXL: 6.5 (Samsung S10)
    Tablet: 7 (Nexus 7, Galaxy Note 7)