2019 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year for Samsung Mobile, as long as most of the rumors surrounding its upcoming devices pan out.
Bloomberg is reporting this week that Samsung’s planning on launching a slate of Galaxy S10 models in early 2019, with its first, but oft-rumored foldable smartphone arriving sometime in the first half of the year. The new report echoes what we’ve heard in previous, separate reports. That includes that the two most expensive variants of the Galaxy S10 will feature in-display fingerprint readers. The OLED screens in the handsets are expected to be curved as well.
The new report also echoes the belief that Samsung is planning on including three rear cameras on both high-end models. Meanwhile, around front, Bloomberg expects the front-facing camera to be “visible and tucked under the screen”. In a bit of new information, it looks like 2019 may be the year Samsung ditches the 3.5mm headphone jack. But, according to the report, Samsung has not made a final decision in that regard just yet.
There will be a third variant of the Galaxy S10, and according to the report this will be a less expensive model. It is not known, however, if this is a Galaxy S10 Lite or just one more option as part of the main lineup. (Samsung’s Lite variants typically don’t share many of the same features as the flagship models and launch several months later.) However, it is expected the low-cost model will not feature an in-display fingerprint reader, and it won’t feature a curved display, either. Earlier rumors have suggested it won’t have three cameras on the back, either.
Samsung’s 5G aspirations are made known in the new article, as it is expected the company is building a 5G-enabled variant of the Galaxy S10. Bloomberg says the 5G option will launch in time with Verizon’s mobile 5G network, which is expected in the early part of 2019.
Moving on to the foldable phone. Bloomberg says that Samsung is still working on the finalized design, and trying to decide between folding the phone vertically or horizontally. If the company can’t get these decisions made before its planned developers conference in November, where it has said it will be showing off its first foldable smartphone, it’s likely the company will show off the user interface for the device, and potentially some prototypes for what the company will officially announce in early 2019.
The new foldable phone won’t boast an in-display fingerprint reader due to technological constraints, and the device’s folding display is “coated with a film” rather than glass. The report indicates the smaller display will measure in at four inches, when the phone is folded closed. Opening it up though will reportedly show off a seven-inch display, and the phone will apparently fold like a wallet. That does seem to line up with those initial rumors of Samsung’s foldable phone that date back several years, and which you can see pictured at the top of this article.
So, if you’re a Samsung fan, or are just excited to see what is likely the next major step for smartphone design, then 2019 is going to be pretty exciting.
[via Bloomberg]