To learn more about the development process behind the new flagship line’s powerhouse battery, Samsung Newsroom sat down with developers who helped bring the battery to life – Hyeonsu Lee, Hongjung Son, Yusu Kim and Juhyang Lee – as well as Product Planner Jeongmin Moon.

(Clockwise from left) Yusu Kim, Hyeonsu Lee, Hongjung Son, Juhyang Lee, and Jeongmin Moon

Changing Charging for the Better

According to Product Planner Jeongmin Moon, the development team incorporated Wireless PowerShare technology into the Galaxy S10 line to offer users the freedom to go about their day without being tied down by cables and chargers.

“We wanted to solve the inconvenience of having to carry around multiple chargers and cables when you’re out and about, or having to interrupt your day to stop at places like cafes just to charge your phone,” said Moon. “So we came up with the idea to essentially make the Galaxy S10 a wireless charger in and of itself.”

Since the release of the Galaxy S6, the first Galaxy device to offer wireless charging, more and more smartphones and wearables have begun to feature the technology as well. This, Yusu Kim noted, is another reason why Samsung prioritized incorporating wireless battery-sharing technology into the Galaxy S10 line.

“Wireless PowerShare allows you to easily share your battery’s power anytime, anywhere,” said Kim. “And as more devices begin to support wireless charging, more people will be able to experience the convenience that the technology creates.”

The technology behind wireless battery sharing and wireless charging is quite similar. A wireless charger receives DC (direct current) charge and converts it to AC (alternating current) with the battery coil before transmitting it to the receiving smartphone. The phone will then convert the AC charge back to DC and save the energy in the battery. Each Galaxy S10 device features a circuit that enables this two-way conversion, which essentially allows the phones serve as wireless chargers as well.

As mentioned above, the list of Wireless PowerShare-compatible devices includes not only smartphones, but, in an industry first, wearables1 like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds as well. As Juhyang Lee explained, the process of enabling the technology to work with such a wide range of devices was quite a difficult task.

“The sizes of these devices’ batteries are all different, so the most difficult part of the process was finding an optimal spot for the receiving coils that would result in maximum efficiency,” Lee explained. With the smartwatch, she recalled “the receiving coil was particularly small, so it took some time to find the most efficient approach. However, after months and months of extensive research, we produced a solution that meets our strict reliability standards.”

A Smarter Approach to Battery Management

Of course, in order to share its charge with another device, your Galaxy S10’s battery must possess enough power to efficiently operate your phone. (At least 30 percent, to be precise.) To offer users more freedom to utilize this useful function, the Galaxy S10 line features AI technology that optimizes battery usage based on how you use your phone.

(From left) Hongjung Son and Hyeonsu Lee

When building this technology, the developers focused particularly on the battery consumption of infrequently used apps. As Hongjung Son explained, “Out of all the apps that users have on their phones, only a small number are used every day. And the ones that aren’t used consume battery power in the background.”

“To limit these apps’ background activities,” he continued, “we incorporated AI technology that organizes apps into different categories, such as ‘frequently used,’ ‘occasionally used,’ and ‘rarely used.’”

The team also enabled the new smartphones’ Adaptive Power Saving mode to activate automatically² based on users’ usage patterns. Hyeonsu Lee described how it works: “If, for example, a user usually uses their phone for 30 minutes on their way to work, Adaptive Power Saving mode will automatically activate if their commute happens to get extended.”

“And because this mode is AI-powered,” he added, “the more it’s used, the more accurate it becomes.”

The efficiency of the Galaxy S10’s battery has been amplified with stronger hardware. At 7.8mm thick, it’s thinner than the Galaxy S9’s 8.5mm battery, and its capacity has been increased by 10 percent (from 3000-3500mAh to 3400-4100mAh)3.

A Powerful Vision

Each member of the product planning and development teams agrees that Samsung’s latest battery innovations will unlock unprecedented user experiences.

Moon concluded the interview by shedding some light on the company’s ultimate goals for its charging technology. “With Wireless PowerShare, we not only expect to resolve some of the inconvenient aspects of charging your devices,” said Moon. “We also expect people to communicate and engage with one another more.”

“Listening carefully to users’ feedback has enabled us to consistently improve our Galaxy smartphones,” added Kim, “and it will continue to do so. Going forward, we’ll continue to strive to develop battery technology that offers the very best in terms of users’ convenience and experience.”

¹ Using Wireless PowerShare, you can charge Samsung and Qi-certified phones, and wearables such as Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch (46/42mm), and Galaxy Buds. It may not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. Wireless PowerShare may also affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.

² Users may specify whether or not they’d like Adaptive Power Saving mode to automatically activate in their Galaxy S10’s settings.

³ Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3000mAh for Galaxy S10e, 3300mAh for Galaxy S10 and 4000mAh for Galaxy S10+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

But what exactly do these numbers mean? And what makes ATM water resistance ratings different from other kinds of evaluation standards, such as IP ratings? Read on to find out.

IP Ratings – Making a Splash in the Mobile Industry

In recent years, as more and more individuals have begun taking their smartphones and wearables to places where just a little water can cause huge problems, demand for water-resistant electronics has skyrocketed. As a result, a number of international standards have been put in place for testing water resistance, including the Ingress Protection (IP) rating established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

A device’s IP rating consists of two numbers and is given in the format IPXY (i.e. IP67). X is the rating for physical ingress, or how resistant the device is to penetration by foreign solid objects such as dust, and ranges from 0 to 6. Y, meanwhile, represents the rating for liquid ingress, or how resistant it is to penetration by liquids under various conditions, and ranges from 0 to 8. Below are charts that summarize these protection levels.

SOURCE: IEC 60529 ed.2.2 “Copyright © 2013 IEC Geneva, Switzerland. www.iec.ch”¹

The rating number assigned for each category indicates that the device being tested has met the requirements for each previous rating. For example, Samsung’s Gear S3 smartwatch, which has a rating of IP68, has passed the rating requirements for all six physical ingress levels and the first eight liquid ingress levels. In other words, under specific conditions, the Gear S3 can withstand accidental submersion up to 1.5 meters underwater for 30 minutes, as well as contact with harmful dust.

While a fitness band or smartwatch with an IP68 rating can be worn while jogging in the rain or doing the dishes, IP ratings do not take water pressure into account. Therefore, IP ratings are not indicative of a device’s ability to be used during aquatic activities such as swimming. This is where ATM ratings come in.

ATM Ratings – Water Resistance Under Pressure

While many manufacturers tend to follow IP ratings, some independently test their products to determine how much static pressure they can withstand when submerged. These pressure tests are measured in ATMs – which stands for atmospheres – and are converted to water depth to make the measurements easier to comprehend.

One ATM is equivalent to the static pressure exerted by static submersion in 10 meters of water. The higher the ATM rating, the deeper the product can go without being affected, as deeper water exerts more pressure. The basic ATM water-resistance levels are described below.²

Again, these ratings are for static pressure, meaning that if the device is resting still in a test chamber, it can tolerate pressure up to the rated value and will function properly upon its removal. Conversely, any application of dynamic pressure caused by movement of the wearer (such as diving into the water, for example) increases the pressure of water exposure. So, while a 3 ATM-rated fitness band could easily withstand rain, it might be damaged if sprayed with a powerful hose.

With a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, Samsung’s Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro are resistant to pressure at a depth of 50 meters, meaning the devices can not only stand up to the rain, but can also be worn during shallow water activities. This, along with the Speedo On swim tracking app,³ make the two new wearables ideal companions for any swim, whether tackling laps or going for a relaxing dip in the pool.

In summary, not all “water-resistant” devices are created equal. Therefore, it’s important to understand water resistance ratings to ensure your devices meet your needs and are appropriate for your lifestyle.

For more information about Samsung’s Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro, click here.

¹ All such extracts are copyright of IEC, Geneva, Switzerland. All rights reserved. Further information on the IEC is available from http://www.iec.ch. IEC has no responsibility for the placement and context in which the extracts and contents are reproduced by the author, nor is IEC in any way responsible for the other content or accuracy therein.

 ² ATM ratings are not authorized by the ISO. Listed usage examples are guidelines only. The survivability of a device depends not only on the water depth, but also on the age of the sealing material, previous damage, temperature and additional mechanical stresses, among other variables.

Mr. Asim Warsi, Senior Vice President, Samsung India putting at the launch of Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro wearable devices

Country’s biggest and most trusted consumer electronics brand, Samsung India launched two new devices in the wearable segment today. Gear Sport, a sleek and versatile smartwatch and Gear Fit2 Pro, a GPS sports band with smart features. Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro will go on sale in December and will be priced at INR 22,990 and INR 13,590 respectively.

Samsung’s new Gear devices have been designed to help users make the most of their day.

With the launch of these two models along with the successful Gear S3, Samsung has augmented its wearable line up considerably. Understanding consumer behaviour that spans different levels of seriousness and activity, Samsung’s current lineup of wearables ensures availability of a complete fitness feature set for all basic users. This also scales up for advanced usage like GPS enabled run tracking or swim tracking along with 50m water resistance.

The devices have revolutionary form factors that offer an uncompromised array of features – Gear Sport is a stylish sports watch made out of premium steel with the acclaimed rotating bezel User Interface. Whereas, Gear Fit2 Pro is a state-of-the-art fitness band with an ergonomic curved super AMOLED display.

Operating beyond conventional definitions of fitness, Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro support a diverse range of user lifestyle and activity levels. The devices mould around a user’s lifestyle with all 24 hours in the day accounted for – this includes activity, sleep and exercise being tracked in auto mode. Driving further specialisation in activity tracking is a selection of in house and third party apps. On Gear Sport, further connecting these moments are utilities and services that range from nutrition management to gameplay analytics for games like tennis to even calling an Uber right from the wrist.

“At Samsung, we celebrate the everyday athlete. With the launch of Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro, we continue to build on our wearables heritage of offering diverse choices to enhance consumers’ unique lifestyles. We have introduced new smart capabilities, easy-to-use features and partnered with leading names in tech and fitness to help consumers go beyond fitness and live an active, balanced and fulfilling life,” said Aditya Babbar, General Manager, Samsung India.

Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro are packed with new and innovative features to support balanced lifestyle:

Cutting Edge Fitness Features

• Industry-Leading Water Resistance and Swim Tracking: An ideal companion for any swim – from laps to playing in the pool – these devices are 5 ATM certified for water resistance. Now, with Speedo’s latest swimming training app – Speedo On – Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro allow you to easily track key swim metrics including lap count, lap time, stroke type and more.
• Top-of-the-line Heart Rate Monitoring: With improved accuracy, the devices offer advanced real-time heart rate monitoring. They help you continuously monitor your heart activity – whether it’s enjoying a stress-free nap or an invigorating cycling class.
• Auto Activity Detection: Automatic activity detection built into the devices is in tune with your body and can recognize the following categories of activities: walking, running, cycling and performing dynamic activities that could include dancing to basketball. Moreover, the devices give you inputs on the whole day when they auto track moments of inactivity like sitting at the laptop and sleeping/napping by poking you into some stretching exercises and giving you sleep quality analytics respectively.
• Premium Partnerships: Daily activities can be supplemented with updated Under Armour partnerships. Both devices provide access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including Under Armour Record, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo for activity, nutrition, sleep and fitness tracking functions – these apps provide users with a holistic picture of their health and fitness.

Gear Sport: A sleek and versatile smartwatch to support balanced lifestyle

Gear Sport comes with AMOLED 1.2-inch display and the acclaimed rotating bezel UI that makes it easy to view information, even when on-the-go. With Gear Sport, users can work to achieve health and wellness goals, and receive nutrition management alerts and activity recommendations even if they are offline.

Designed with military-level durability, it can handle a wide-range of environments. It is perfect wearable device for any occasion so you can effortlessly transition from the gym to a night out with friends. Gear Sport will be available in Blue and Black.

Gear Fit2 Pro: GPS enabled fitness band with smart features

Gear Fit2 Pro features built-in GPS tracking to capture your run or ride with accuracy. Fit2 Pro’s Super AMOLED curved 1.5-inch display and a high-resolution colour touchscreen make real-time updates and notifications easier to read. Drawing from Samsung’s smartwatch capabilities, the screen also doubles up as an effective secondary screen to the phone capable of displaying complex information like maps, activity stats and archives as well as responding to messages with preset replies and an emoticon library. Available in Black and Red, its versatile design also makes it a stylish accessory.