Samsung Unveils the Galaxy S20, Its First 5G Flagship Series

After much anticipation and speculation, today Samsung announced its latest addition to the Galaxy family of smartphones: the Galaxy S20 5G series.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Prices

Customers will be able to choose from three different flavors of the S20 5G, with pricing dependent upon carrier and internal memory (which ranges from 128GB – 512GB):

• Galaxy S20 5G, starting at $999.99
• Galaxy S20+ 5G, starting at $1,199.99
• Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, starting at $1,399.99

Samsung Galaxy S20 Launch & Pre-Order Dates

Samsung has set a March 6 launch date for all Galaxy S20 5G phones, with most preorders beginning February 21. T-Mobile and Sprint are offering a pre-registration that essentially saves your place in line to pre-order the phone. Verizon and AT&T are offering pre-order incentives, such as $200 in Samsung credit through Verizon. More deals may be introduced as the release date approaches.

Key Features of the Galaxy S20 5G

5G Capability

All three models support 5G connectivity; the S20 will connect to both T-Mobile’s and Sprint’s 5G networks, and the S20+ and Ultra models will operate on every carrier’s 5G network, including Verizon and AT&T.

Display

Screen sizes range from 6.2 inches for the Galaxy S20 to a whopping 6.9 inches on the S20 Ultra, and all three devices showcase an HD+ dynamic AMOLED infinity display, meaning you get an edge-to-edge high-definition screen with crystal-clear contrast and cinema-quality color. All models also feature a 120Hz refresh rate, so as your screen refreshes itself 120 times every second, you’ll enjoy super-snappy graphics without lag time (which is excellent for watching crisp video or enjoying quick game reaction).

Cameras (Photos and Video)

Apart from the series-wide 5G capability, the real showcase of the S20 devices is the upgraded camera system. You’ll find new features like 8K video recording, the most advanced image resolution available resulting in ultra-high-definition and realistic video quality.

The Single Take photo/video capture lets you grab a perfect high-def still image from a moving video, and Super Steady anti-rolling image stabilization means you can take all the jogging selfies you want without the motion bounce. It also supports uber-fast shutter speed, taking a photo in just 1/10th of a second.

The S20 and S20+ feature a 64MP sensor with enhanced low-light technology and up to 30x zoom with Samsung’s hybrid Space Zoom that utilizes both optic and super resolution zoom at the same time. The S20 Ultra stands apart from its sister devices in a number of ways, with a 108MP camera, dynamic resolution shifting, and folded lenses that deliver up to 100x super resolution zoom.

Bonus Features

Along with the introduction of the S20 5G series, Samsung announced the launch of a number of collaborations and compatible devices, including:

• The Galaxy Buds+ wireless earbuds, featuring three microphones, a two-way speaker optimized for high notes and bass, iOS compatibility, wireless charging, and up to 22 hours of battery life
• Direct-to-YouTube 8K video sharing
• Native integration of Google Duo video chat
• Deep Spotify integration
• Gaming integration with Microsoft Xbox and launch of Forza Street in the Galaxy Store

Galaxy S20 vs. Galaxy S10

Better Features Overall

The bottom line: Samsung went big on the S20. The S20 has a slightly larger display than its counterpart (6.2 inches compared to 6.1 inches), but the S20 Ultra packs nearly another full inch onto the screen. The refresh rate has doubled from 60 Hz to 120 Hz, and Samsung also doubled the touch rate from 120 Hz to 240Hz (which is especially helpful for mega gamers who need fast responsiveness from the screen). The battery got a step-up, too, jumping to 4,000mAh from the previous model’s 3,400mAh, and includes 25W fast-charging (the Galaxy S10 offered 15W).

5G Compatibility All Around

Though the Galaxy S20 series is Samsung’s first entirely compatible 5G device line, there is also the 5G-specific Galaxy S10 5G available through both Verizon and T-Mobile. The S10 5G is significantly more expensive than both the standard Galaxy S10 as well as the first-tier S20, clocking in at $1,299. This could be because, like the S20+ and S20 Ultra, the S10 5G is compatible with both low-band and high-band network frequencies, so you can use it on any 5G network you’re able to connect to.

Upgraded Cameras

As mentioned, the rear camera system is also significantly upgraded in the S20 series, while the front camera has remained the same (10MP). The biggest difference comes in the telephoto lens—where the Galaxy S10 features a 12MP sensor, the S20 sails all the way to 24MP. This explains how the device is able to go from a 2x optical zoom in the S10 to a 3x optical and 30x digital zoom in the S20. Video recording has doubled from 4K to 8K, and you’re also getting more AI features like Live Focus and Single Take.

S10 Wins on Price

One big plus in the S10’s favor? Its price. As of publishing, the Galaxy S10’s outright retail cost of $899 is cheaper than the S20 5G’s $999 price tag, and the S10+ is $200 less than its S20+ counterpart. Samsung also announced that the entire S10 series’ prices will drop significantly after the launch of the S20—starting from $599 for the S10e to $849 for the S10+.

Samsung Galaxy S20 5G Plans

Before you run out to grab your new Samsung 5G phone, you’ll need a 5G phone plan that gives you enough data to truly take advantage of the Galaxy S20’s potential. Currently, none of the major carriers have created 5G-specific phone plans; rather, they’ve opened select unlimited plans already in their arsenal to 5G access (typically their mid-tier and premium unlimited offerings).

Check out the latest 5G-compatible unlimited plans and get ready for the 5G mobile revolution.