Samsung is one of the leading companies in the smartphone industry, along with Apple and Huawei. Samsung's first smartphone models date back to the years 2008-2009, when devices such as the Samsung A117 and Omnia Lite were launched, until the birth a few years later of the successful Galaxy series.
Today, the Korean company has launched its most advanced models, including the foldable smarthone Samsung Galaxy X and the Galaxy S10, however it is important to understand the steps forward made by the company over the past 11 years.
Here are the models, prices and features of all smartphones produced and sold by Samsung, from 2008 to 2019.
2008-2009: Samsung's first smartphone models
The mobile technology developed by Samsung officially entered the market in 2008, when the Korean company's first smartphone models were launched. These phones were quite rudimentary, at least by modern standards, such as the Samsung A117, equipped with a small 128×160 pixel display, capable of playing MIDI and AMR audio files, but lacking a camera and advanced features. Other models of 2008 are the Explorer B2100, with waterproof structure resistant to water and microSD and the Samsung Omnia Lite, a touchscreen cell phone with access to Wi-Fi networks and WiMo technology.
Already the Samsung U800 Soul b, marketed that same year, proposed something more, including a 3 megapixel camera, with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, video recordings in CIF and the ability to make video calls. In 2009 the company put into production the Samsung A657un revolutionary phone for those times, characterized by a central keyboard and a large 1.8-inch screen, which allowed you to apply an external microSD memory up to 8 GB. This smartphone used the fledgling 3G internet network, sent emails and played good quality audio and video files.
In 2010 a truly modern smartphone from Samsung appeared, the Nexus S, made in collaboration with Google, a keyless phone with a touchscreen display, a real innovation for the time.
The Nexus S boasted the Gingerbread 2.3 operating system, one of the first versions of Android, with advanced features such as Wi-Fi hotspot and GPS. It also mounted a 4-inch screen, a powerful 1,500 mAh battery, 4 GB RAM and was compatible with applications such as Google Maps. The smartphone was truly a top of the range, in fact the selling price ranged, depending on the model and technical specifications, from 200 to 400€.
2010: the birth of Samsung Galaxy smartphones
In 2010, the Korean company launched the first examples of the famous Samsung Galaxy, advanced and intelligent smartphone models. For example, the Galaxy S i9000, created to challenge the technological supremacy of Apple's iPhone, offered innovative solutions such as a 4-inch touchscreen display with WVGA resolution, 5 Mpx camera, expandable memory and video playback at 30 frames per second (fps). This smartphone had a weight of 120 grams, 360 hours of maximum autonomy, USB, Bluetooth and microUsb connections, Wi-Fi hotspot, dual UMTS - GSM system and a launch price of 549€.
In 2010, the Samsung Galaxy Mini was also made, a smartphone with a 3.2-inch multi-touch display, with 1,500 mAh battery, Android 2 operating system.1 Eclair, microSDHC expandable up to 32 GB, GPS, Google Maps app and a purchase price of 100 to 319€.
In the same year, other Galaxy smartphone models are released by Samsung, including the Beam i8520, with HSPA protocol, AGPS, touchscreen, 3.7-inch display and 1.800 mAh, the Galaxy 3 i5801 with 5 GB internal memory expandable and launch price of 548€ and the Galaxy A, a smartphone, equipped with proximity sensor, accelerometer, Android 2.1 Eclair operating system and a cost of 197€.
2011: the second generation of smartphones Samsung Galaxy S
In 2011 continues the ascent of Samsung in the smartphone sector, where it needed a close fight with Nokia and Apple, of the late Steve Jobs.
The real novelty of the year is the Galaxy S2, the second generation of the successful model produced in 2010, presented to the general public at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that year. This new version has the sophisticated NFC technology, the basis of mobile payments, the operating system Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4.3-inch display with 480×800 pixel resolution and a 1,650 mAh battery with autonomy up to 350 hours.
Including the most interesting features an internal memory of 16 GB and an external expandable up to 64 GB with microSD, bluetooth 3.0, a rear 8 Megapixel camera capable of recording video in HD, with flash and digital zoom, a front camera of 2 Mpx with 720 pixel sensor and an output Si HDMI.
Samsung Galaxy S2 release price 575€, which after only one year goes to less than 400€, a clear sign of the speed of technological innovations typical of these years. The 2011 is a period of great ferment in the house Samsung, in fact come out many models of smartphones very successful in the 12 months.
Among these for example is the Samsung Galaxy Note, a cross between a smartphone and a tablet, with dimensions of 146 mm high by 83 wide. This phone has a 5.3-inch touchscreen, HSPA+ protocol, Wi-Fi connection, 8 Mpx high resolution camera with 1080 pixel HD video recording, Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core processor and 1 GB internal memory, externally expandable up to 32 GB with microSD. In addition to USB, miniUsb and Bluetooh connectivity, the Galaxy Note integrated a browser compatible with WAP and xHTML, all for about 509€.
During 2011 also come out two updated versions of the Samsung Galaxy S2, the LTE and the Plus. The Galaxy S2 LTE is able to connect with the new 4G internet network, for a download speed of up to 100 Mbps thanks to the LTE system, with a 4.5-inch display and launch price of 447€.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus smartphone on the other hand, the most advanced model in the series in 2011, has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor, latest generation HSPA connectivity, 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, 8 GB of internal memory, 5 Mpx rear camera and 0.30 Mpx front camera, as well as compatibility with apps such as Whatsapp and Skype.
2012: Samsung Galaxy S3 arrives
At the beginning of 2012, Samsung decides to launch the final challenge to Apple's supremacy, placing on the market the Galaxy S3, the third generation of the famous phone from the South Korean company. With a launch price of € 699 opened the way to high-end smartphones, technological devices reserved for an increasingly demanding and high-spending public. The Galaxy S3 offers users a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED High Definition display, with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, 2100 mAh battery with 220 hours of battery life, Exynos 4 Quad Core processor and the Android operating system version 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Two cameras on the Galaxy S3, one rear 8 Mpx, with 1080 pixel video recording at 30 fps and a front almost 2 Mpx, available in both 3G and LTE versions with 1.5 GB of RAM.
Significant details of this smartphone the Samsung Smart Stay facial recognition system, the voice assistant S Voice ancestor of Siri, the multimedia data sharing programs Allshare Cast and Play, the automatic Burst Shot and the miniaturization of videos Pop-up Play, which allows you to use other applications while watching video playback.
In 2012 another smartphone from Samsung is marketed, Omnia M, a Windows Phone with operating system version 7.5 Mango and 1.0 GHz processor, 8 GB internal memory, 1500 mAh battery, Bing Maps, 5 Mpx main camera and 2592×1944 pixel resolution, with video recording in VGA format at 30 fps, 0.30 Mpx front camera and initial cost of 306€.
During the following months of 2012 other Galaxy models are presented, including the S3 Mini, a smartphone slightly smaller than the standard S3 in size and performance, the S3 Advance with dual core processor, 7 GB of memory and 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and the Galaxy Note 2, with 5.5-inch display, stylus, 8 Mpx camera and 4G connectivity.
2013: the fourth version of the Samsung Galaxy
Samsung's fortunes in the smartphone industry, which becomes more competitive every year, are closely tied to the Galaxy, the Korean company's flagship phone.
In 2013, therefore, comes the fourth generation with the Samsung Galaxy S4, with Android Jelly Bean operating system and Exynos 5 Octa processor, 5 times more powerful than the previous one.
The S4 comes with 5-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display, with Full HD resolution and 13 Mpx rear camera of the highest quality. The generous 64 GB internal memory is expandable, apps like Google Maps, S Voice Driver and S Travel are integrated, and there is a 2 Mpx front camera.
The selling price of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is €699, the same as its predecessor, however you can choose between the basic version, with Exynos 5 Octa 5410 processor for 3G or the LTE version, with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, ideal for 4G internet connections.
In the same year also comes out the Galaxy S4 Mini, the reduced version of the smartphone from Samsung and the Galaxy Mega 5.8. The latter is a phablet, a device halfway between a smartphone and a tablet, equipped with a 5.8-inch LCD display, 540×960 pixel resolution, 2600 mAh battery, expandable memory up to 64 GB and two cameras of 8 and 2 Megapixels, all at a price of 349€.
Samsung not only produces expensive top-of-the-line models, but also sells cheaper smartphones on the market, such as the REX 90.
This is a simple but efficient device, designed specifically for those who don't want to spend large amounts of money on a cell phone, offering a 3.5-inch TFT screen, a 1000 mAh battery, external memory up to 32 Gb with microSD, a 3.2 Megapixel camera with 2048x1536p resolution and built-in social networking apps, costing just €74.99.
In 2013, the Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo, with a tocuhscreen display and expandable memory, and the Galaxy Round with a 5.7-inch curved and flexible display also came out.
2014: the year of the Galaxy S5, Samsung's best-selling smartphone
The year 2014 was a record year for Samsung, which put on the market the Galaxy S5, to date the company's best-selling smartphone worldwide, a highly successful product that consolidated the record achieved in those years. The Samsung Galxy S5 is a modern and technologically advanced smartphone when launched, with a weight of 145 grams and dimensions of 142 mm high by 72 mm wide. It features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display, with 1080×1920 pixel resolution, Android KitKat operating system, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 32 GB internal memory, expandable with microSD up to 128 GB.
The 2800 mAh battery ensures 300 hours of standby time, the rear camera is 16 Megapixel, with Ultra HD video recording and slow and fast motion functions, while the 2 MP rear camera has a resolution of 1600x1200p.
This is a water-resistant smartphone, with Download Booster system to quickly download even large files, Ultra Power Saving program for battery optimization, dual Wi-Fi antennas to increase signal reception and sensitive automatic zoom for taking photos always in focus. The initial price of the Galaxy S5 is 699€, however today you can buy it for just 200€.
In addition to the great success of the S5, 2014 sees the presence of many new models and updates of previous smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Core 2, with 4.5-inch display, 5 Mpx camera, Quad 1.2 GHz processor, 4 GB of memory and WVGA resolution, the Galaxy S5 Mini with heart rate sensor, 16 GB of memory and 8 Mpx camera, as well as the Galaxy Grand Neo.
This is a less expensive smartphone than the Galaxy S5, equipped with a 5 Mpx camera, external memory up to 64 GB, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 2100 mAh battery, 5-inch screen and a launch price of 249€.
2015: the appearance of curved edges in Samsung smartphones
The Galaxy remains Samsung's flagship smartphone, despite the fact that cheaper models are also in production, in fact in 2015 the sixth generation arrives with the Samsung Galaxy S6.
True novelty is the stylistic research of the design, which through the use of more malleable materials, such as the new OLED screens, allow to make the first smartphones with a curved edge. Cell phone emblematic of this transformation is the Galaxy S6 Edge, which is marketed with a record price of 889€, compared to 736€ for the standard version.
The technical equipment of this model, with a weight of 132 grams and dimensions of 142 mm high by 70 mm wide, includes a 5.1-inch screen with a pixel density of 576 ppi, an Exynos 7420 processor, operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop, an internal memory of 32 GB, a network speed 300 Mbps for 4G+, a 2600 mAh battery, a 16 Mpx main camera with optical stabilizer and a 5 Mpx front camera. Of course, there are also the standard version, the Galaxy S6 without curved edges and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, with a 5.7-inch QHD screen.
As for less expensive Samsung smartphone models, 2015 sees the launch of the Galaxy A8, with Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 5.7-inch display with Full HD resolution and 16 Mpx camera, at a cost from €434 to €500 and the Galaxy J5.
The latter is a rather inexpensive smartphone, with a launch price of 299€, equipped with a 5-inch screen, 13 Mpx camera, 16 GB of expandable internal memory and Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad Core processor.
Among the models of 2015 is also worth mentioning the Samsung Z3, with 8 GB of memory and 1 GB of RAM, 5-inch display, 8 Mpx camera, 2600 mAh battery and Quad Core processor at 1.3 GHz.
2016: updates and stability of previous models
During 2016, there were no particular technological innovations, with updates of previous models made in 2015, including the latest versions of the Galaxy S7, J7 and A9 Pro.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a natural evolution, in fact it has been equipped with a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen, u extremely powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 octa-core 64-bit processor and a 3000 mAh battery, to cope with the exponential increase in applications and video and audio playback systems. The Android operating system is version 6.0 Marshmallow, while the 32 GB internal memory can go up with external expansion up to 256 GB.
With a price of 739€ just released, the S7 offers a dual 12 Mpx camera, with 4K video recording, digital zoom, auto HDR and Dual LED flash, a 5 Mpx front camera and playback of audio and video formats MP3, OGA, WMA, MP4 and WMV.
In addition to the Galaxy S7 Edge and S7 Edge Plus versions, the same year also saw the production of the Samsung J7, a cheaper but equally efficient smartphone, priced at 299€, featuring a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, a weight of just 169 grams, 3300 mAh battery, 16 GB of internal memory, support for 2, 3 and 4G networks, 13 Mpx rear camera and 5 Mpx front camera.
2016 is the year of another model from the Korean company, the Samsung A9 Pro, a mid-range smartphone launched at 440€. Among the main features are a 6-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 652 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, a battery of an impressive 5000 mAh, a 16 Mpx camera and an 8 Megapixel front camera, with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. Also worth noting the release in 2016 of the Samsung C7, sold at less than 400€, the Samsung J2 Pro and the Samsung ON NXT at 275€.
2017: Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
The 2017 opens under the banner of two highly anticipated models from Samsung, the Galaxy S8 s the S8 Plus. The basic version of the S8 is a smartphone that sees a return to the past, with the abandonment of the modern lines of the last models, for a slightly more angular design.
The fingerprint sensor, which allows you to unlock the phone quickly, remains next to the camera sensor, despite criticism from many users.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 features a wide choice of different colors, a 5.8-inch, dual edge Super AMOLED display, a 3000 mAh battery, an Android 7.0 Nougat with Exynos 8895 processor, browser with HTML 5 protocol approval and 12 and 8 Mpx cameras,
The price of the Samsung Galaxy S8 with 64 GB internal memory is 799€, however today it can be purchased at an average cost of 450€.
Another model of 2017 is the Galaxy S8 Plus, the flagship version of the smartphone from Samsung, which you can take home today for about 530€, against a launch price of 929€, available in artic silver, black sky and orchid grey colors.
Specific features of the S8 Plus are the presence of Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant, iris scanner for facial recognition and dual audio bluetooth, as well as an expandable 64GB memory, an octa-core Exynos 8895 processor and the classic 12Mpx front-facing camera with 4K video.
In 2017 also comes out the Samsung Galaxy A7, now available with a price of 340€, equipped with 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, 32 GB memory expandable up to 256 GB, fingerprint sensor, 3600 mAh battery, fast charging, front and rear camera both 16 Mpx, Android Marshmallow operating system and Exynos 7880 octa-core processor.
For the segment of cheaper smartphones is presented the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4, with a cost today of 177€, offering a 4.99-inch LCD screen, a 2800 mAh battery, a Quad Core 1.4 GHz processor with Android 7 operating system.0 Nougat and 13 and 5 Mpx cameras.
2018: dual camera integration on the Galaxy S9 Plus
The novelties introduced in the 2018 models are really few, except for the dual camera integration on the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. This is a cell phone with a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display, with capacitive multi-touch system, a total weight of 163 grams and dimensions of 147 mm high by 68.7 mm wide. The 3000 mAh battery provides a good autonomy, up to 65 hours for music playback and 16 hours for video playback, while inside are an Exynos 9810 processor and the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system in combination with Samsung Experience.
There is no shortage of a 12 Mpx rear camera, with video recording in Ultra DH at 4K, with autofocus, digital zoom and LED Flash, with an 8 Mpx front camera and Auto Focus system.
Note the presence of Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant, Dual SIM, the ability to run two apps at the same time, facial and fingerprint recognition, as well as the advanced security systems Samsung Pass and Secure Folder. Prices are 879€ for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and 979€ for the Galaxy S9 Plus, both in Dual SIM versions with 64 GB of memory.
In 2018, the Samsung Galaxy J8 was also launched, which can be purchased today with prices around 290€, a smartphone with a 6-inch Super AMOLED display, HD resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor and Android Oreo GO Edition operating system, with 32 GB of internal memory expandable up to 256 GB, 3500 mAh battery and dual 16 Mpx camera.
Another important release of 2018 was the Samsung Galaxy A9, equipped with 5 photo sensors and no less than 4 cameras in the back, for a total resolution of 24 Mpx and a purchase price of about 330€.
2019: 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence
2019 has already seen Samsung come out with several smartphone models, including the new Galaxy S10, S10e and S10 Plus, the new generation of smart devices from the Korean company.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 weighs only 157 grams, with dimensions of 149 mm high by 70 mm wide, a 6.1-inch AMOLED dynamic and slightly curved screen, with 19:9 resolution. This smartphone mounts a 64-bit octa-core 8nm processor, with 128 GB internal memory externally expandable with microSD up to 512 GB, an Android 9.0 Pie operating system, a 12 Mpx triple rear camera with 4K resolution and a 10 Mpx front camera.
Strong points of the new Galaxy S10 are the dual SIM hybrid, fingerprint recognition with ultrasonic system, fast charging to optimize battery charging and AKG stereo speakers.
Sales price of the Samsung Galaxy S10 1,179€, for the 512 GB version, while for the Galaxy S10 Plus it takes at least 1,279€ for the 512 GB or 1,639€ for the 1 Terabyte one.
Less expensive is the Galaxy S10e model, purchasable for 779€ with 128 GB, a smarphone with 5.8-inch Super AMOLED screen, Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band, NFC technology and bluetooth 5.0, 12 Mpx main camera and 10 Mpx front camera.
In early 2019, other Samsung smartphone models also came out, including the Galaxy S10 5G, designed to work with modern internet transmission networks, and the Galaxy A50, one of the most advanced phones of the moment, with 6.4-inch display, 64 GB expandable memory, 4K video, 25 Mpx camera and 4G LTE technology, with octa-core Exynos 9610 processor, available at a cost of 359€.
Finally, you can also find on the market the Galaxy A10, the Samsung Galaxy A30 and the Galaxy Fold, the first foldable smartphone from the Korean company, sold with a launch price starting at 2,000€.
This model features a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED internal display, with a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED external screen, a 64-bit octa-core processor, 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage, a 4380 mAh battery, three cameras including two 10 Mpx and one 16 Mpx rear, with the Android 9 operating system.0 Pie and GUI optimized for the latest generation of foldable phones.
At the moment these are all the main models of Samsung smartphones, a company that has been able to evolve and design mobile devices increasingly advanced and technologically adequate, to meet the upcoming challenges characterized by artificial intelligence and 5G connections.