It is March 2019, and Samsung has just celebrated a decade of the ‘S’ series with a technical tour de force. The Galaxy S10 is the first phone to feature the ‘Infinity-O’ display, using a high-precision laser to cut a ‘hole-punch’ for the camera directly into the screen, avoiding the need for a notch. At 157g, it is a stunningly light and premium combination of glass and metal that feels like the most modern device in the UK. It is a dense, high-performance machine that introduced several world-first technologies to the palm of your hand.
The technical headline is the ‘Dynamic AMOLED’ display. This 6.1-inch Quad HD+ panel (3040 x 1440) is the first mobile screen to support HDR10+, offering a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and colour accuracy that is virtually indistinguishable from perfect. It also houses the world’s first ‘Ultrasonic’ fingerprint sensor, which uses sound waves to map the ridges of your finger in 3D, making it more secure and reliable than optical sensors. Under the hood, the UK model is powered by the 8nm Exynos 9820 processor and a massive 8GB of RAM, ensuring that the new ‘One UI’ interface is fluid and intuitive.
Imaging has been expanded to a triple-camera array: a 12-megapixel Dual Aperture main lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto, and a new 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 123-degree field of view. This gives the UK user a ‘pro’ kit in their pocket, capable of capturing everything from expansive landscapes to detailed portraits. It also introduces ‘Wireless PowerShare,’ a technical marvel that allows you to charge your Galaxy Buds or a friend’s iPhone by simply placing them on the back of the S10. Connectivity is future-proofed with Wi-Fi 6 and 2.0Gbps LTE. The 3,400 mAh battery is solid, and the device retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, a technical rarity in 2019. The Galaxy S10 is the ultimate decathlete of the smartphone world; it is a polished, feature-packed masterpiece.