I'm still pretty stoked about the S10 announcement next Wednesday. At the very least, don't buy a phone until that one launches as every other phone will go on sale to compete.
what's there to get excited about this time? bigger/brighter/higher resolution screen? faster processor? better camera?
I've stopped even paying attention to hardware. it's like during the era of Super NES, Genesis, 3DO, Jaguar etc, where they tried to make it about the number of bits the processor was. it's the same thing now...hardware barely matters now compared to what the software can do.
Google's recent work in computational photography (e.g. Night Sight), AR navigation, AI call screening, etc. are so much more exciting than the latest Snapdragon chip. and it's stuff that will improve the smartphone experience for more than just those with this year's latest hardware release.
if Samsung comes out and announces that Bixby will now automatically know what I feel like for dinner and order it so it arrives exactly as I come home from work, then I'll be intrigued. privacy be damned, I want my life to be made easier by technology, and the shiny smartphone by itself isn't going to be enough.
Rumour is Google is working on a less flagship oriented phone, realizing Apples upscale strategy is alienating customers. So that's what i'm interested in, a 5" vanilla Google phone for $300. It can't be that hard.
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what's there to get excited about this time? bigger/brighter/higher resolution screen? faster processor? better camera?
I've stopped even paying attention to hardware. it's like during the era of Super NES, Genesis, 3DO, Jaguar etc, where they tried to make it about the number of bits the processor was. it's the same thing now...hardware barely matters now compared to what the software can do.
Google's recent work in computational photography (e.g. Night Sight), AR navigation, AI call screening, etc. are so much more exciting than the latest Snapdragon chip. and it's stuff that will improve the smartphone experience for more than just those with this year's latest hardware release.
if Samsung comes out and announces that Bixby will now automatically know what I feel like for dinner and order it so it arrives exactly as I come home from work, then I'll be intrigued. privacy be damned, I want my life to be made easier by technology, and the shiny smartphone by itself isn't going to be enough.
Fair question. I think this is the first phone from Samsung in several generations that has any meaningful changes. The S8 looked different from the S7, but functionally was the same. The S9 was exactly the same as an S8 so was a non-starter.
Based on fairly reliable rumors, the S10 has some changes that make it markedly better than my current S7, and better than any of the competitors. Retaining the headphone jack is important to me, so that's there (not a change from current Galaxy phones, but a contrast to many competitors). Fingerprint sensor has moved back to the front, which I prefer over the rear fingerprint sensor the S8 & S9 had. Additionally, the fingerprint sensor will be underneath the glass/screen, so that's a cool piece of tech that is new.
I think the three cameras on the back shouldn't be downplayed. What is there, a normal, a telephoto and a wide angle? That's cool because for me and a lot of people a cell phone is their only camera. Having these multiple cameras is fantastic.
Reverse Qi charging is cool for me, too. I have the 2018 Icon X ear buds and will get the new Icon X ear buds (rumour has it they may be free with pre-order purchase of an S10). It's cool that you can put the ear buds case on the phone and it will charge them.
It will have front facing speakers (I've read). Not sure if the S9 has those, but my S7 doesn't. I had them on my Sony Experia and loved them, so it's going to be great having those again, so that's an improvement.
Finally, it will have all the usual upgrades (faster processor, bigger battery, nicer screen) as well as its own night bright type camera thing.
I was hoping for something that would knock my socks off, but it doesn't look like any of the manufacturers will have that this year, so maybe on my next upgrade. I don't see any phones out there better than the S10, so it makes it an easy choice for me - these changes are at least cool and I'll use them all, versus stupid emojis or something dumb like that.
My dream is still flip phone-sized phone that opens into either one or two screens, but is really small in my pocket. Seems like we'll be one step closer with the Galaxy F, but I don't need a Note-sized phone that folds into a tablet - I don't like tablets at all. I want a super small phone that flips into a Note-sized phone.
S10 launch video leaked ahead of tomorrow's official announcement. Looks like bluetooth buds will be free with pre-order between February 20 and March 7 (hopefully in Canada).
Rumour is Google is working on a less flagship oriented phone, realizing Apples upscale strategy is alienating customers. So that's what i'm interested in, a 5" vanilla Google phone for $300. It can't be that hard.
Some great android phones available in that price range. Android one phones even.
Some are north American. Some from overseas, but with international versions that work on NA bands
I'm still pretty stoked about the S10 announcement next Wednesday. At the very least, don't buy a phone until that one launches as every other phone will go on sale to compete.
Xiaomi mi 9 will be basically the same phone, (with out all the crappy Samsung bloatware) and probably about half the price.
Xiaomi mi 9 will be basically the same phone, (with out all the crappy Samsung bloatware) and probably about half the price.
People's aversion to Samsung bloatware is overblown IMO. No 3.5mm jack and crappier cameras sort of sucks. S10 is better for those two reasons alone, although no shame in the mi 9. Seems like it'll be a good phone, just not the best.
I thought the fold-able phone was better looking than anticipated. It looks like they thought it out alright. The presenters were an odd choice but the phone/tablet itself looks pretty good. The software being buggy is predictable at this point but once it comes out it should be fine. For that price, it better have more than just internal specs - better have the best camera for a smartphone as well. Really is ultra premium pricing and I'm not sure when I'm deciding between a phone and a really nice tablet if I'll pay the premium just for the all in one when I can get two separate devices that'll independently do the job better. For it to be mass adopted, I'd think $500 needs to be shaved off, but with no competition right now, perhaps they just want that quick cash from early adopters. A product like this probably means they'll be the sole benefactor for a couple years before a company like Apple copies, so it'll be interesting to see how far this goes before the price drops.
Pre-ordered the S10 so I could get the free Galaxy Buds that charge by sitting on the phone. Apparently it'll ship out on March 8, so I should have it by the 11th or 12th I would think.
