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The Galaxy S10 is great, but not revolutionary

AndroidPIT samsung galaxy s10 plus front camera g3gt
© nextpit

Samsung has just introduced its new flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e. And yes, the new S10 devices have virtually everything we need but... do we have to settle for just that? Does Samsung really have nothing different to offer us this year?

A good device but... rather bland

First of all, I want to make one thing clear: the S10 is likely the best smartphone on the market. Its three models come with the best current processors, the Exynos 9820 (European version) or the Snapdragon 855 (in its Chinese and American version), as well as enough RAM to cover everything you need, going up to 12 GB on the most expensive S10+ model. The storage capacity also ranges from 128 GB up to 1TB on the Plus!

In addition, Samsung has included the triple rear camera on a flagship for the first time, along with a double selfie camera on the S10+. If the Galaxy S9 offered one of the best cameras on the market, with optical stabilization and variable aperture, its successor is expected to surpass it by far.

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Galaxy S10: featuring a triple camera, following the trend introduced by the Huawei P20. / © NextPit

Not only that: the Korean manufacturer still thinks the notch is a passing fad, and has not included it on any of their new flagships. On the other hand, we have good news for those partial to the mini-jack connection (including myself), since the S10 has resisted the annoying trend and still sports a good old-fashioned headphone jack.

I don't want to discuss the specs too much, as you can read all about them in our respective reviews of the S10 and S10+. However, while the list of technical specifications is exceptional, it's not surprising; it looks like an update to the S9. We're talking about the flagship of the world's #1 manufacturer, which is why I expected more innovation, some new feature that surprised me. On the contrary, the presentation has left me quite disinterested...

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Our first hands-on contact with the S10. / © NextPit

Leaks are the enemy

It is true that nowadays it is difficult to surprise the public, and it is largely due to leaks. And yes, we digital media are largely to blame. Months and months of rumors, possible renders and images, that little by little reveal future devices until we know almost everything about them weeks before the official unveiling.

Although we still have these events marked on the calendar, all this makes the wow effect disappear. When it comes time to raise the curtain, the emotion has diminished... Every day we find it harder to be surprised, and that is a general problem in our society.

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Yes, there is an in-display fingerprint reader. / © NextPit

Innovation is in the hands of other manufacturers

Some might say that Samsung doesn't need to surprise consumers for its flagships to be successful. Many users will continue buying high-end Samsung smartphones because of the popularity of the brand and thanks to solid specs. In addition, the manufacturer itself confirmed that its strategy is to introduce its innovations on mid-range devices (quadruple camera on the A9, punch-hole on the A8s), and later launch them on flagships.

If I take a step back and think for a moment, the only manufacturers that have managed to surprise me lately have been OPPO, Vivo and co, with the introduction of retractable or sliding cameras. Brands that bet on innovation as a marketing tool, combined with affordable prices, are, in my opinion, totally revolutionary (as is the case with the Pocophone F1).

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When will something like this happen again? / © NextPit

The folding smartphone is overshadowing the S10

Some of you may think: "Lack of innovation? Haven't you seen the folding smartphone they just introduced?" And yes, you're right. I'm fascinated by the new foldable, but I don't consider it a real purchase option yet. Its selling price is very high and its manufacturing limited, so it is not yet a product for the masses. I see it more as a demonstration of strength from the Korean brand, which wanted to present the first foldable smartphone before the other big industry names (technically, Royole's FlexPai was really the first of them all).

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Samsung didn't put all the meat on the grill for the S10, focusing on its Galaxy Fold. In a saturated market, it's necessary to completely overhaul the product - to offer something brand new, and that's what should happen with the introduction of foldable smartphones. In addition, the Galaxy Fold has the advantage of not being a victim of leaks. They have been scarce in comparison to those about the Galaxy S10.

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The Galaxy S8 was a big step forward.../ © NextPit

If we look back, the Galaxy S8, with a novel design at the time and a much more optimized screen utilization than its predecessor, was the latest model in the S range that introduced a remarkable change worthy of the revolutionary label. The S9 was still a great smartphone but looked more like an update to its predecessor. The same seems to be happening with the S10.

Don't ask about the price

Numbers speak for themselves. The smartphone market is in recession and large manufacturers have lower revenue forecasts for 2019. Consumers are taking longer and longer to renew their devices, but manufacturers can't afford a drop in profits. What is one of the possible solutions?

Obviously raise the price of smartphones, especially flagships. Lately, we have seen some devices border on $1,000 or even surpass that mark, as is the case of the S10+. Paying $1,500 for a smartphone is crazy, unless it's for a revolutionary device, and it's radically different from everything else, isn't it?

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Have you already started saving for your new Galaxy S10? / © NextPit

What do you think? Were you disappointed by the presentation of Samsung's new Galaxy S range? Did you expect more or was your attention focused on the folding smartphone? Let us know in the comments.

The current best Samsung phones to buy

  Editor's choice S23 with a bigger display 2023 flagship 2023 foldable flagship 2022 fodlable flagship 2023 compact foldable 2022 compact foldable Affordable flagship The popular mid-ranger
Product
Image Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23+ Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Product Image Samsung Galaxy A54 Product Image
Review
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23+
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Not yet tested
Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Review: Samsung Galaxy A54
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  • 5
    JeffD Feb 25, 2019 Link to comment

    Did Samsung even call this revolutionary? Regardless, it's a subjective declaration. Coming from the GS8, I'm calling it a significant upgrade. The battery life alone had me. The camera promises to be best in class, which is a bonus to me. They've checked most of the boxes for what people want in a phone and yet, articles like this still pop up. Had Samsung made a slide up camera, we'd be reading about how gimmicky that is, but that's innovation from a smaller "competitor".

    The afternoon to minimize what the Fold is, doesn't make that minimization true. Even in short supply and high cost, that device is the spark of something new. That is where the company is focusing their revolution. The Galaxy series is perfecting an evolutionary advancement and that's ok...as long as I can leave the house without carrying a charger.


  • 24
    Deactivated Account Feb 24, 2019 Link to comment

    Great article totally agree. Glad to see someone that see it the way I do. To pay over and over for basically the same device with a bit of a facelift is a waste to say the least. If I pay for something I want to see a good reason why I should buy the latest. Due to the fact that the s8, s9 and s10 looking almost the same I don't see the need. The increase in processing speed doesn't matter to me as I don't play mobile games I have a gaming pc for that, cameras don't impress me either as I don't take photo's that much. If the software were innovative and better maybe then I would consider but the bloatware samsung pushes on their devices have made me to dislike their devices years ago.


  • 10
    David Turner Feb 23, 2019 Link to comment

    Having purchased an S9+ last year, I was going to pass on the S10. T-Mobile is offering a $390 trade-in credit for pre-ordering the S9, but that still put an S10+ at $600 or more, which I felt was still a bit steep. Then I checked the Samsung website and discovered that they're offering a $550 pre-order credit for the same phone, putting the starting price of an S10+ at only $450. This was a much more attractive offer, and I ended up pre-ordering an S10+ with 512GB for $700. As an added bonus, also included with the pre-order is a free pair of Samsung Buds Bluetooth headphones ($130 MSRP).


  • 15
    Bruce Lee Feb 23, 2019 Link to comment

    You are expecting too much. Innovations are dead. Actually, there's nothing left to innovate. Not Samsung's problem. But the entire industry as a whole.


  • 6
    Eduardo Feb 23, 2019 Link to comment

    What is revolutionary about this review? you write the same reviews since the galaxy s8. if people do not change, why should cell phones change?


  • 4
    Hai Karate Feb 23, 2019 Link to comment

    What could a manufacturer possibly add to their product that would not be immediately dismissed as a "gimmick" or "bloatware" by those that would call themselves "tech journalists" these days? So many writers all over the Internet treading the same ground and calling for new features, yet with nary an iota of substance to their demands.

    Eduardo


  • 25
    Deactivated Account Feb 21, 2019 Link to comment

    Revolution need not be just a radical change through forceful assertion, innovation or discovery. Sometimes sticking to our values and standing for the right cause is revolutionary in itself. Like inclusion of a headphone jack. Just kidding.... 😀.
    I am not very positive about that hole in the display, which I feel leads to a fatter notification bar and is a tiny bit obtrusive. Nonetheless, the rest of the smartphone is good, and probably it is going to be my next smartphone😉.

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