[Interview] Ushering in a New Era of Connectivity with the Galaxy S10 5G

On April 5, the powerful and feature-packed member of Samsung’s newest flagship line, the Galaxy S10 5G, will officially launch in its first market.

Consumers in South Korea will be the first to get their hands on the world’s first 5G smartphone. A monumental release not just for Samsung but for the mobile industry as a whole, the Galaxy S10 5G allows users to unlock an entirely new mobile experience – one that combines bar-raising display, camera and performance innovations with support for the next-generation telecommunications standard, 5G.

How will putting the power of 5G into consumers’ hands change the way we enjoy things like AR, VR, 8K video and cloud-based content? To answer those questions and more, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Albert Hoseong Kang, of Samsung Electronics’ Innovative Product Planning Group.

Creating a Faster Future

The Galaxy S10 5G opens the door for users to access unprecedented speeds – up to 20 times faster than 4G.

As Kang explained, 5G speeds will fast-track the development of cloud-based services, make the idea of buffering videos a thing of the past, and change the way we create content and enjoy our favorite multimedia. “Downloads and uploads speeds will be dramatically reduced, which means more people will be watching and shooting high-definition content,” said Kang.

5G will also revolutionize gaming, sports, and other entertainment. “When 5G networks are implemented, response speeds will be drastically shortened, which means you’ll experience real-time responsiveness with most types of content,” said Kang. “Delay times will be virtually eliminated during sports broadcasts, and games like first-person shooters and racing games, which could be difficult to enjoy due to mobile devices’ technical limitations, will be taken to a whole new level.”

This also includes cloud-based games, or games that may be played in real time via a cloud server. Cloud-based games don’t have to be downloaded to your phone, don’t take up storage space, and don’t require individual updates. They do, however, require fast and stable network speeds, which makes them difficult to fully enjoy when connected to 4G networks. But with its 5G network support, the Galaxy S10 5G will allow users to experience graphics-intensive cloud-based games in all their glory.

The launches of 5G networks will also lead to more utilization of AR services. The Galaxy S10 5G’s innovative 3D Depth Camera works by measuring the length of time it takes for an infrared light signal to bounce off subjects, and uses that data to enhance AR services, generate Live Focus bokeh effects when shooting videos, and measure objects’ size – as well as the distance between them – with Quick Measure.

“The Galaxy S10 5G’s 3D Depth Camera will help bring about a variety of useful services,” said Kang. “All of these innovations are the results of careful consideration of how to deliver more value – and new multimedia experiences – to 5G smartphone users.”

Optimized Inside and Out

The Galaxy S10 5G was designed for consumers who want it all, and optimized to take full advantage of the incredible speed, power and connectivity that comes with 5G networks.

To maximize users’ immersion when viewing high-quality HD video and other digital 5G content, Samsung equipped the device with a 6.7-inch, edge-to-edge display – the largest in the Galaxy S10 line. To enable users to spend more time streaming, playing and doing, and less time charging, Samsung incorporated a high-capacity 4,500mAh battery, as well as support for Super Fast Charging of 25W.

When the time came to decide upon an optimal storage setup, Samsung focused on usability, carefully considering how smartphone users will utilize their devices in the 5G era. This ultimately led to the decision to equip the Galaxy S10 5G with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of baseline storage – the largest baseline storage in the Galaxy S10 line.

The Galaxy S10 5G has a futuristic feel to it, which, as Kang pointed out, extends to the design and color of the device. When refining the design, he explained, “We tried to create the impression that using a 5G smartphone is like using the smartphone of the future.”

Some of these enhancements included making the side metal frame thinner than on the other Galaxy S10 models, which makes the Galaxy S10 5G more comfortable to hold, and offering the phone in its own unique range of colors¹: Crown Silver, Majestic Black and Royal Gold. The Crown Silver model features a prismatic color treatment, which means that its color changes depending on the angle of the light.

Driving 5G Innovation

As Kang explained, developing the first smartphone optimized for 5G wasn’t easy. Because 5G phones had never been developed before, the process required venturing into unknown territory.

“Since it was the first time, we needed to overcome a number of technological barriers,” said Kang. “We also faced difficulties developing new hardware and software.”

To overcome those barriers, the company drew from its long history of developing industry-leading mobile innovations.

“Although it was our first time developing a 5G device, we have a wealth of experience when it comes to developing technologies for new telecommunications standards,” said Kang. “The know-how we accumulated during the shifts from 2G to 3G and from 3G to 4G enabled us to gather valuable insights into the market for 5G devices and their users.”

When it came to testing and refining the device, the development team leaned on their company’s leadership in 5G network solutions. As Kang explained, “Samsung has already developed a wide array of end-to-end solutions for 5G services – ranging from network equipment to processors, memory semiconductors and handsets – which made testing easier.”

According to Kang, Samsung’s ultimate goal for these solutions, and for the Galaxy S10 5G, is to “create a world where anyone can enjoy 5G,” and create an environment in which cloud, AR, VR and ultra-high definition video services can truly flourish. “We will continue to provide new experiences that deliver the promise of the 5G era by working with our partners and strengthening our leadership in this area,” said Kang.

The Galaxy S10 5G’s Korean release is just the beginning. Soon, Samsung’s groundbreaking 5G phone will be released in markets around the world to help usher in the 5G era.

¹ May differ by region and carrier