April 2015: The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge deliver the first metal design in S series history. Starting with the S7, Galaxy S phones are protected against dust, as well as resistant to up to 5 feet of water for up to a half-hour. Samsung would offer further protection from the elements with the introduction of the S7, the first Galaxy S device to earn an IP-68 rating. As such, the S5 was able to withstand submersion of up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The Galaxy S5 featured a small cover over the USB port at the bottom of the device, providing added protection against dust and water. Samsung became one of the first companies to launch a smartwatch when it released the Galaxy Gear later in 2013, and 2014’s Galaxy S5 was the first smartphone to come with a built-in heart rate monitor.Īpril 2014: S5 introduces water and dust resistance. In addition, the S4 laid the groundwork for even better fitness tracking moving forward. Via the S4’s built-in pedometer, the app empowered users to keep tabs on their steps, sleep patterns, calories and diet. The Samsung Galaxy S4 was the first S series device to launch with the S Health fitness tracker app pre-installed. April 2013: S Health turns the Galaxy S4 into a fitness tracker. Later, the S6 debuted adaptive fast charging to help users juice up their devices more quickly. The S4 worked with wireless charging accessories and the S5 introduced an ultra power saving mode that allowed the phone to last several days in a standby setting. In the years to come, a series of new features would make battery life one of Samsung’s major competitive selling points. As a result, the phone was able to withstand the battery drain with its high-performing Exynos Quad processor. The Galaxy S3 featured a 2,100 mAH battery that was one of the bigger smartphone batteries around, and 40% more powerful than the one the Galaxy S released 2 years prior.
Engadget described the S2's thin profile as “a stunning feat of engineering.” May 2012: The S3 kicks off a series of battery innovations. The S2 improved upon the size and quality of its predecessor’s display, but its most acclaimed feature was a light, thin design that made the phone remarkably easy to handle.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 sold more than 10 million units in its first five months, establishing the Galaxy S as the premier line of Android smartphones and one of the top handheld devices on the market. May 2011: The S2's bigger screen but slimmer body proves to be a major hit. The size and quality of Samsung Galaxy S screens would become two of the series' most talked-about features, through to the present day. However, it was the crystal-clear Super AMOLED display that CNET lovingly described as a “4-inch behemoth.” The original Samsung Galaxy S smartphone featured an Android operating system, a removable 1500 mAh battery and replaceable storage via a microSD chip. June 2010: The Original Samsung Galaxy S hits the market. Here’s a look back at some of the key developments in Samsung Galaxy S history. The new devices boast a superior multi-camera system, 8K video recording, Space Zoom as well as large display sizes so you can work and play with ease. From upgrades like water resistance and fitness tracking to massive improvements in the quality of its camera, display and battery power, the Galaxy S series has made extraordinary progress in its 11 years.Īnd now, with the introduction of the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung is taking its flagship smartphone to even greater heights. Today’s Samsung Galaxy S smartphones look much different than they did upon their 2010 debut, but one constant has been Samsung’s ability to innovate.