Samsung Galaxy S10+: S marks the spot
Samsung pulled out all the stops with the Galaxy S10 and why wouldn’t it as it’s the tenth anniversary of the Galaxy S series.
Unlike yesteryear, it didn’t stop at unveiling two smartphones – for the first time, it introduced a third model that’s affordable without shaving off too many features.
So this year you have the Galaxy S10, the larger S10+ and the more affordable S10e. The review focuses on the Galaxy S10+ which comes in two sizes – 128GB and 512GB – but we’ll point out the differences between the three models where relevant.
The biggest change in the Galaxy S10+ is the most obvious – the screen – which now takes up almost the entire front of the phone, making this the most gorgeous Galaxy smartphone yet.
In order to do this Samsung had to house the sensors and cameras in a laser-cut pinhole – as the Galaxy S10+ is the only model with twin selfie cameras, the pinhole is slightly wider on this model.
Though larger I prefer the pinhole because it’s not as noticeable as a notch, but it still takes getting used to. Also, the ubiquitous LED light is gone to make way for the sleeker design.
But there is more to the screen – it’s Samsung’s first Dynamic Amoled display and the brightest yet, and looks great even under our harsh sun.
No more blues
You probably have heard of the dreaded bluelight, which is emitted by screens, including the one on smartphones. Too much of it, especially at night, can mess up your body clock, making it harder to sleep.
Most phones today have a bluelight filter but turning it on gives the screen a yellowish hue which affects colour accuracy.
This problem is gone with the Galaxy S10+ – the bluelight filter turns the screen a tad yellow but the colour shift is so subtle, I am not even aware it’s on.
As always, the Galaxy S10+ gets the biggest screen – 6.4in – and it’s the same size as last year’s Note 9, but amazingly the phone is noticeably smaller and lighter than the Note 9. Do note that the Galaxy S10+ in ceramic colours weighs almost as much as the Note 9.
The Galaxy S10 gets a 6.1in screen and the S10e has a 5.8in but unlike the other two, its display is flat and not curved.
Go wide
The Galaxy S10+ has three main cameras – two of which you are probably familiar with as they are similar to the ones on the Note 9. They are both 12-megapixels but one has a 2x optical zoom and the other has a wide angle lens.
The grand addition on the Galaxy S10 and S10+ is the 16-megapixel sensor with the ultra-wide angle lens which has the same field of view as the human eye, which in case you are wondering, is 123°.
So what you see is what you get when you shoot using the ultra-wide sensor, and this has made shooting photos really fun.
The Galaxy S10+ is the only one that has twin selfie cameras – in addition to the 10-megapixel camera, it has an RGB depth sensor that allows you to add a few different Bokeh effects to your selfies though they felt a little samey to me.
Video recording has also been souped up with Super Steady recording – this allows you to record incredibly steady videos even when, say, you are walking.
Take charge
New on the Galaxy is the “reverse wireless charging” feature that allows the Galaxy S10+ to charge other accessories and even phones that meet the Qi wireless standard (and most do).
All you have to do is turn on the feature and place another device on the back of the Galaxy S10+. We tried charging another Samsung smartphone and it worked just fine.
So the next time a friend’s phone runs low on battery, you can be the saviour.
The Galaxy S10+ also packs a huge battery – 4,100mAh – that’s even a little larger than the Note 9’s. I didn’t have any issues making the smartphone go for at least 1.5 days even when I used it extensively.
The Galaxy S10 and S10e have a 3,400mAh and 3,100mAh battery, respectively.
There is also Samsung’s digital assistant Bixby – it’s more polished than ever and, surprisingly, has no problem capturing what I say accurately though it doesn’t always understand me.
Samsung is also finally offering the ability to remap the Bixby button via an update – you can map either a single press or double press to launch an app or execute a command.
Making waves
Only the Galaxy S10+ and S10 get an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that uses sound waves to read a 3D contour of your fingerprint rather than just capturing a 2D image like the in-screen optical sensor used in most other phones.
Once setup up it works great, hardly taking anytime to authenticate my fingerprint. However, as there isn’t a physical fingerprint indicator, you’ll have to use the Force or turn on feature that shows the sensor’s location when you tap the screen once.
But the bonus is that unlike physical fingerprint scanners, it worked even when my fingers were a little wet.
There is one caveat though – Samsung wants you to only use recommended screen protectors for the sensor to work properly.
Three’s company
The Galaxy S10 is another milestone for Samsung – the electronics giant has managed to cram it with the latest technologies so you won’t be left wanting more, as least for now.
Whether you pick the Galaxy S10 or S10+ will be down to size – if you like it big then go with the S10+ because it packs a larger battery and screen.
And if you have always wanted to own a Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone but budget was a barrier, then here’s the good news.
The Galaxy S10e – which costs just RM2,699 – has most of the features of the higher-end models. You’ll miss out on the ability to take ultra-wide shots and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and get a slightly smaller and flat screen, but you’ll be spending a lot less.
GALAXY S10+
(Samsung)
Android smartphone
NETWORK: 4G
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 9 Pie
DISPLAY: 6.4in QHD+ Dynamic Amoled
CAMERA: Main cameras – 12-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel wide-angle, 16-megapixel ultra-wide; twin selfie cameras – 10 megapixel, RGB depth sensor
CONNECTIVITY: USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
PROCESSOR: Exynos 9820 octa-core
MEMORY: 128GB storage/ 512GB storage, 8GB RAM, microSD slot
BATTERY: 4,100mAh
OTHER FEATURES: Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, heart rate monitor, water and dust resistant (IP68), fast wired and wireless charging
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8mm
WEIGHT: 175g
WEBSITE: www.samsung.com/my
PRICE: RM3,699 for 128GB; RM4,599 for 512GB
RATING: 4.5 stars
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2019/03/04/galaxy-s10plus-s-marks-t
Source : TheStar