While many pundits (us included) were expecting Samsung to reveal its much-rumored foldable clamshell device, the Galaxy Z Flip, at its Unpacked 2020 event on February 11, the Korean company has jumped the gun by fully revealing the device in a commercial aired during tonight's Oscars broadcast.
The commercial was spotted by The Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, who managed to capture the TV spot and post it on his Twitter page – you can check the commercial below.
In the video, the Galaxy Z Flip is mostly shown sitting on a table and folded at a 90-degree angle, allowing users to easily video chat and also view themselves, hands-free.
We'd previously heard reports that the device would be targeted at a younger female audience, and this commercial seems to back that up, particularly in the way it presents the phone in a similar fashion to the clamshell-style powder compact cases that reportedly inspired its design.
As pointed out by The Verge, small print is displayed during the commercial informing viewers that they “may notice a small crease in the center of the main screen, which is a natural characteristic of the screen.”
During its brief 30-second runtime, the ad also offers a look at the Galaxy Z Flip's small outer touch display, which sits next to the device's dual camera and shows an incoming call which can be interacted with directly. We presume notifications will also be shown on this smaller screen.
While pricing and availability information wasn't revealed during the TV spot, it does end with the suggestion that – as expected – all will be revealed during Samsung's Unpacked 2020 event.
As always, we'll keep you updated with any new Galaxy Z Flip developments as they happen.
After revealing software appeared on Apple’s App Store, Samsung confirmed that a new-and-improved version of its true wireless earbuds, called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, will be launching soon.
While it was live only briefly, the iOS app’s page noted that the upcoming 'buds are compatible with the iPhone 7 and newer as long as they're all running iOS 10 or higher. Samsung confirmed in a statement that the company is "excited to introduce Galaxy Buds+ soon," according to CNET.
Given that Samsung Unpacked 2020 is coming February 11, and that the original Samsung Galaxy Buds launched at Unpacked 2019 alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10, we’re betting ‘soon’ to mean at this year’s event where we’re expecting to get our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S20. Heck, we even heard the Buds Plus will come free with the new flagship smartphone.
Unfortunately, the app page did not reveal anything about the true wireless earbuds beyond a photo, though the presence of the iOS app means iPhone owners will have more control over the Galaxy Buds Plus (like updating software) than before. Luckily, a specs leak just dropped.
Galaxy Buds Plus leak: more battery, smaller size?
Hours after news broke about Samsung’s official confirmation of the Galaxy Buds Plus, noted leaker Evan Blass tweeted out a spec sheet comparing the original models with the new ones. Best of all: they're allegedly only $ 20 more (around £15 / AU$ 29) than the original model.
Assuming the leak is true, the Galaxy Buds Plus will have nearly twice the battery life (11 hours, with an additional 11 hours in the case) and will charge faster (recharging for 3 minutes gives an hour of playtime) than the originals.
They’ll allegedly pack a two-way dynamic speaker (woofer + tweeter), an extra outer microphone, and have additional Spotify interaction with the outside touch pad.
That’s a lot to boast, though the spec sheet didn’t mention whether noise cancelling – a key feature in the AirPods Pro – would be coming to the new version. Sadly, rumors anticipate it won’t.
As the name implies, the Galaxy Watch Active is focused on health and fitness and features an ultra-lightweight design with a one-inch display. The Samsung watch continually monitors your heart and will send alerts when an abnormal heart rate is detected. The watch can even help with sleep and stress, sending you breathing exercises when high-stress levels are detected. The Galaxy Active also helps you keep on track with your fitness goals by tracking up to 39 exercises and displaying your health summary on the smartwatch display.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is rarely discounted, so this is a fantastic opportunity to score a discount on the smartwatch. This offer from Best Buy is only valid for today, so you should take advantage now before it's too late.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus will reportedly come free when you preorder one of the brand's more expensive S20 smartphones, which are due to be unveiled on February 11 at Samsung's Unpacked 2020.
A promotional image posted by renowned tipster Evan Blass shows off the new true wireless earbuds alongside the Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra, while text at the top of the image reads: "Preorder now and get Galaxy Buds+ for free."
It doesn't look as though preorders for the regular Galaxy S20 will qualify for this offer – although, it's important to note that Samsung hasn't yet verified whether the promotional image is authentic, and we probably won't find out for sure until February 11.
Lots of leaks
Based on the leaked image, it appears that the new Galaxy Buds Plus will sport a very similar design to their predecessors, with slick pearlescent housings and adjustable silicone eartips.
There's been a number of leaks in the run up to Samsung's new true wireless earbud's launch date, including a purported lack of noise cancellation.
According to a report by SamMobile, the second-gen true wireless earbuds won't be as big an upgrade as we were hoping for, eschewing the AirPods Pro-style noise-cancelling tech we were expecting. Prolific tech leaker @UniverseIce made the same claims in early January, too.
It's possible that Samsung is planning to release a more premium version of the Galaxy Buds Plus in the future, which come with noise cancellation – this would allow the brand to offer two models at different price points, like Apple does with the original AirPods and AirPods Pro.
The new Galaxy Buds Plus will also reportedly boast a much longer battery life than their predecessors, at 12 hours from a single charge.
An FCC filing for the new buds revealed that they'll use 300mAh batteries, while the charging case will use 600mAk batteries; the original Galaxy Buds used 150mAh and 300mAh batteries respectively.
Of course, we'll need to wait until February 11 to find out exactly what the new true wireless earbuds will offer, but at this rate, there won't be many surprises at Samsung Unpacked 2020.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch event will be on February 11, which is an official fact because Samsung itself sent out official invites to its next big Unpacked keynote.
We're expecting three smartphones in this year’s lineup, consisting of the main Samsung Galaxy S20 and a top-end S20 Ultra, and also the Galaxy S20 Plus, the latter of which we've given an individual page because there's so much there to cover.
We consider all three phones on this page, though, as new features are coming to all three – and all of them could end up being 5G phones. We know that because the next-in-line chipset, the Snapdragon 865, makes including a 5G modem mandatory. In other words, Samsung would seemingly have to go out of their way not to include connectivity to the next-gen mobile networks.
Originally, we expected this phone to be called the Galaxy S11 but most rumors are now pointing toward the company skipping S11 through S19 to go straight to S20.
Inspired by all these phones, we've also drawn up a list of the things we'd like to see in the Samsung Galaxy S20, or whatever the next Galaxy S phone ends up being called. We've also done a separate guide for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.
It may be introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, or Galaxy Bloom, or Galaxy Z Flip, as various different leaks have suggested Samsung's new foldable phone will be called.
Here's everything that we've heard about the Samsung Galaxy S20 so far, including the plenty of leaks we've seen.
Update: We've seen potential renders of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the most premium of the range, which show off its rumored 48MP telephoto lens in a two-tone camera bump. Plus, we’ve got initial pricing – and the Ultra’s cost is looking steep.
What is it? The next Galaxy S smartphone from Samsung
When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
What will it cost? Likely more than $ 899 / £799 / AU$ 1,349
Samsung Galaxy S20 release date and price
The Samsung Galaxy S11 launch date is locked in for Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco. That's the same month and city venue as 2019's trio of Galaxy phones.
That means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. For context, the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, though this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so things may shift a bit.
Samsung’s Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar
The Galaxy S11 price could be the same as the S10 at $ 899 / £799 / AU$ 1,349 for its cheapest storage size, and all the way up to $ 1,149 / £999 / AU$ 1,699.
There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 to be more expensive though, indeed one leak suggests it might be a little more, with prices in euros rumored to start at €900-1,000 for the 5G version, with the 4G model apparently likely to start at around €100 euros less than that.
Another leak listed prices for all three models (conversions estimated by us): the S20 prices for 4G/5G versions conform to those above, while the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G seemingly starts at €1,099 (around $ 1,215 / £926 / AU$ 1,775). And the top-tier Samsung Galaxy Ultra 5G comes in at a whopping €1,349 (around $ 1,491 / £1,136 / AU$ 2,179) for the 128GB version, while the 512GB model could cost €1,549 (around $ 1,712 / £1,305 / AU$ 2,502).
The price in dollars is likely to be similar, with the price in pounds probably set to be slightly lower than that. Note however that with rumors of a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra at the top of the range, the base S11 / S20 is likely to essentially be the S11e in all but name, making these prices high if accurate.
Accompanying the launch of the Galaxy S11 might be new premium wireless earbuds to rival the Apple AirPods Pro called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. Given the original Galaxy Buds were introduced alongside the Galaxy S10, it makes sense that the new ones would come out with the next Samsung flagship.
While the Samsung Galaxy S11 is the most obvious name for Samsung's next flagship, coming as it does after the Samsung Galaxy S10, it's not the only possible one, with Samsung Galaxy S20 having also been rumored. This is reportedly done because the handset will come out in 2020, and Samsung wants the phone names to match with the years.
Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and possibly the Samsung CEO himself, we could get a Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus as we've been reporting on.
There's also no mention of a 5G model, though this is no surprise, as it's likely Samsung would include 5G in the standard models, much as it did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, rather than making a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G. Some later leaks have included 5G in the name – e.g. the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G – so it’s unclear whether each 5G-capable version will have it appended.
How about this for a rumor though: could the Galaxy S line be discontinued, and the Galaxy S11 never see the light of day? That's what one source suggests,that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that combines all Samsung's premium features into one smartphone.
Sure, we've heard that before about Samsung phones and it turned out to be wrong, but given the similarities between both ranges, it's not something we can totally rule out.
Samsung Galaxy S20 design and display
We’ve seen plenty of leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 series, and while there are variations between lots of them, they all are clearly variations on the same idea. You can see some here, others here, and even more here.
Nearly all renders point to the rear cameras being housed in a large bump in the top left of the back of the phone. The exact layout of them is unclear though, with some renders showing them in an organised row and others pointing to a more messy splattering.
Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as it's called in the leak, make us think that the lenses and flash will be arranged in two rows in the camera bump, as that's what the pictures show. The chin under the display looks worryingly thick though.
A later leak with another screen cover reference model suggests the device will have thin bezels, though the leaker noted that the 'S11's "forehead" and "chin" are very optimistic', suggesting they could be thicker than the reference expects.
We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 couldmove the punch-hole camera to the top center of the screen, similar to the Galaxy Note 10 range, as we've since seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though. You can see how this might look in the images above and the one below.
The most enduring size rumor suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, the S20 Plus (or S11) will have a 6.7-inch one, and the S20 Ultra (S11 Plus) will have a 6.9-inch one. That’s a pretty sizeable increase on the previous generation.
In terms of materials, we'd expect the front and back to be Corning Gorilla Glass as most phones use, but while premium devices typically have an aluminium frame between, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could have a top-end stainless steel frame. Currently only top-end iPhones and certain other handsets use this pricey and heavy material in their builds, so if true this shows the S20 Ultra is set to redefine 'premium' smartphone design.
As for the rest of the design, one thingwe've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black shades, while the Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in blue, grey and pink. The source doesn't say what colors to expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus in though.
A later leak points to official colors: the S20 will come in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink; the S20 Plus in Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue; and the S20 Ultra in Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black. Interestingly, this leak also suggests the curved 3D edges typical of the S-line will be toned down to more subtle 2.5D angles.
These displays mighthave a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz found on the S10 range. That theory is mostly based on a 120Hz mode being spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software. There's no guarantee the feature will arrive on the Galaxy S11 range, but it seems a likely candidate, especially as a sourcehas now said as much.
A huge phone leak backed up the Galaxy S20 refresh rate and screen size rumors, adding the resolution of each would be 3200 x 1440. That would make the smallest device have technically the best pixel-per-inch count.
The S11 could also use a new screen tech, as Samsung hastrademarked the name SAMOLED, which sounds like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its phones, though we don't know how SAMOLED would differ.
Samsung Galaxy S20 camera
We’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or S20 Plus, but maybe not the ‘Lite’ S20 model) to come with a brand new 108MP sensor, as we’ve heard not one but two leaks suggesting that. This 108MP sensor used will apparently combine nine pixels into one, for 12MP shots that can take in a lot of light.
One source has pointed to a 5x optical zoom lens on the smartphone too, which we’ve heard could be 48MP, the most high-res sensor we’ve seen paired with a zoom lens so far. We’ve finally seen some leaked renders of the S20 line, and the camera bump is pointedly different between the S20 and S20 Plus models with an all-glossy block and the S20 Ultra, which has glossy on the top and a small matte section on the bottom housing the supposed 48MP telephoto – to spotlight it, we presume.
We haven’t heard much about other lenses but we’d expect an ultra-wide angle lens as well as possibly a depth sensor and maybe even a macro lens, as the recent Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite introduced the series’ first.
We've seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, and you can see this below. A more recent rumor from the same source suggests there will be a four-camera array on the rear of the Samsung Galaxy S11 and Galaxy S11 Plus (or S20 Plus and S20 Ultra)
Esteemed leaker IceUniverse previously claimed it would be a five camera setup, but says this new information is from a more recent prototype so they believe this to be the accurate details. That matches up with one of themost recent renders we've seen leaked, but so many different renders have leaked that we’ve no concrete idea at what the rear array will look like.
We have heard an incredibly detailed spec dump, when three sources simultaneously revealed information on the cameras, and it gives us a huge look at what to expect (if true). We'll detail it below.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main
12MP
12MP
108MP
Telephoto
64MP
64MP
48MP
Wide-angle
12MP
12MP
12MP
Extras
ToF
ToF
Front-facing camera
10MP
10MP
40MP
We've added the selfie camera count to that list which came not from the aforementioned leak but a subsequent one. This latter leak echoed the camera specs with the addition of the selfie camera megapixel resolution.
Those are some pretty impressive specs if true, although it's curious the telephoto lenses are better on the smaller devices. We've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but it seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true. We have heard quite a few 100x digital zoom leaks though, so who knows?
That latter spec could be wrong though, as we've also heard that all the devices will have 5x optical zoom. This comes from news that a company has been supplying this type of zoom lens to Samsung for the devices, and it's a slightly more plausible spec than 10x zoom.
We’ve heard loads of cool features trademarked by Samsung that could end up in the handset, from ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to the 'Bright Night Sensor', which sounds a lot like a low light mode but with dedicated hardware.
Samsung is also rumored to beputting the best optical image stabilization (OIS) of any phone in the Galaxy S10 Lite – and if it does, it's likely to also include the tech in the S11. That would make sense, as low light and especially night sky photos could benefit from longer exposures, which usually need either a tripod or decent OIS to prevent blur.
Elsewhere,mention of several new camera features has been found in official Samsung software. There's a Director's View mode for tracking a subject, Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically take photos at the optimal moment, the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video, and some new Live Focus bokeh effects.
We've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or Galaxy S20 Plus, based on the new naming rumors) will come with a 4,500mAh battery – that's based on a photo shared by a certification website in Korea, so it seems legitimate, but you can never be totally certain. If this is true, the Galaxy S11 will have the same capacity as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which should compensate for the new tech we're expecting to see in the device.
We've heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) will use a 5,000mAh battery, which would be the biggest used in a Galaxy S device. Another source has since backed up that 5,000mAh claim. This rumor makes sense, because it would be an expected step up between the S11 and S11 Plus, but we don't know for sure.
Plus, one rumor suggests the Galaxy S11e will have a larger battery than the Galaxy S10e, though again this could refer to the base Galaxy S20 in the suggested new naming conventions. We’d expect this, as new generations of handsets often bring upgrades like this, and one leak has suggested it'll be 4,000mAh.
An industry insider has suggested the reason the smartphones can use such big batteries is due to shrinking one part of the internals, a technique which the iPhone 12 could use too.
Samsung Galaxy S10 with its reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs and features
We’re pretty certain the Samsung Galaxy S11 will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. Well, it’ll have this processor in the US, but most other regions will likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, probably the 9830.
A rumor also suggests the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the top-end device, will have 128GB / 256GB / 512GB storage options, with a slot for a microSD card that'll add another 1TB space. We don't know the options for the other devices, though.
All three Samsung Galaxy S20 / S11 phones are expected to be IP68 waterproof and dust resistant, according to one leak.
A more unlikely feature that the S11 could pack is a spectrometer, which could be used to determine the chemical composition of objects. Samsung has patented a phone-like device with just such a feature, so it's possible, but it sounds a bit far-fetched and niche.
However, by freeing up space that would have been used for a headphone port, Samsung could potentially make the battery bigger and/or the body thinner.
We could see the Galaxy S11 range launch without an in-screen fingerprint sensor, judging by the news that theupcoming Galaxy phone could use facial recognition unlocking tech instead. TheiPhone 11 andGoogle Pixel 4 have similar systems, where instead of using in-screen fingerprint sensors, they use facial recognition, and this is a rather secure form of unlocking (compared to Samsung's current photo-based facial recognition) but it's slower than using a fingerprint.
There’s also a leak suggesting Samsung phones will get an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to easily swap files between nearby Galaxy phones. This could be extended to older Samsung phones with a software update, though it’s unclear if it will come to other Galaxy products (like the Tabs).
While early rumors have started to swirl, in reality there's still a long way to go before we see the Samsung Galaxy S11, which is good news as it gives Samsung plenty of time to take our suggestions on board.
So, listen up Samsung, here's what we want to see from the Galaxy S11. Please don't let us down.
1. Better camera specs
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has three rear cameras: the 12MP main sensor with a regular lens, the 12MP second sensor with a telephoto lens for distance shots, and the 16MP third sensor with an ultra-wide lens.
The three lenses are generally what we'd expect in a smartphone camera, but the resolution of each is a lot lower than in many other phones.
Handsets like the Honor 20 Pro have a 48MP main snapper, which is a big step up from 12MP, and even affordable handsets sometimes now come with four lenses (the extra is usually a time-of-flight or macro sensor for close-up shots), so to stay competitive in the smartphone camera game Samsung needs to up its game with the Galaxy S11.
The Honor 20 Pro’s four cameras. Image credit: TechRadar
If you're scratching your head thinking "the Samsung Galaxy S10 does have a 3.5mm headphone jack", then you're right – but it may be the last of its kind.
Newer Galaxy smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy A80 have ditched the headphone jack, so it seems Samsung is following suit behind many other smartphone companies in getting rid of the physical headphone port.
But since many, many people still use non-Bluetooth earphones, it's a feature that we'd love to see return in future Samsung smartphones, especially given it's one of the only high-end smartphone manufacturers to still be using them.
3. Different front-facing camera arrangement
The Galaxy S10 was one of the first phones to have a 'punch-hole' front-facing camera, which means the front snapper was in a cut-out section inside the screen, in the corner.
The Galaxy S10 Plus’ punch-hole camera. Image credit: TechRadar
In theory this is a useful feature that replaces the top notch, so you get more screen real estate – but in practice the punch-hole takes just as much space, as there's a sliver of screen between the camera and the edge that just isn't used.
The Galaxy S10 had a 3,400mAh battery – that's fine, but you've got no hope of that lasting more than a second day of use, especially if you use your phone a lot.
We'd hope the Samsung Galaxy S11 battery life would surpass that – it will definitely have to have a bigger capacity to cater for all the new tech the phone uses, but we'd like to see a serious improvement on the capacity, perhaps 4,000mAh or above.
5. More launch colors
The Galaxy S10 comes in a few colors, most commonly prism white and black – but we always love a vibrant design in a phone, and so far Samsung handsets have often seemed a little dull.
The vibrant Samsung Galaxy S10e. Image credit: TechRadar
We're not asking for the crazy back patterns of a Huawei or Honor phone, but it would be nice for the Samsung Galaxy S11 to launch in a few different colors.
The Galaxy S10 has a few colors that are only available in certain regions, like yellow, green or red, but if Samsung made these designs available from the get-go in all regions, we'd appreciate the design a lot more.
6. Affordable 5G
We're expecting there to be a Samsung Galaxy S11 5G – there was a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, after all, and by the time the S11 launches 5G will be available in many countries.
However, the Galaxy S10 5G is even bigger than the Galaxy S10 Plus, and so is massive and expensive. Currently there are no affordable 5G smartphones on the horizon, but Samsung could really get ahead of the curve if the Galaxy S11, or Galaxy S11e, had a low price and ran on 5G networks.
Among the Samsung Galaxy S20 line of phones, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is expected to be the larger-sized version that may boast higher specs, a bigger battery, and possibly even more features. We’ll find out for sure on the February 11 launch date, which we know thanks to Samsung’s official invites.
This could land as the Galaxy S20 Plus even though we originally expected it to be called the Galaxy S11 Plus. Rumors suggest Samsung is skipping S11-S19 for the round S20 in order to align the nomenclature with the year 2020. Cute.
What we’ve heard so far comes from leaks and speculation – like suspecting the S11 Plus will be a 5G phone. That’s because the next flagship chipset in line, the Snapdragon 865, requires a 5G modem installed on the device – but to save costs, we could also see a 4G model.
There's a greater question of what role the S20 Plus plays though, now that the S20 Ultra is rumored to sit above it as the maximum-spec'd model in the S20 line.
It could just be a larger S20, but given that Samsung typically follows Apple’s lead in phone lineups, we could see the standard S20 become the new affordable flagship, in a similar way to the iPhone 11. That would be in place of an S20e, so in that case the S20 Plus could be a 'standard' spec'd version, a larger version, or both.
We've also heard that Samsung might be upping the display refresh rate to 120Hz paired with a 1080p screen, with the option to push it back down to 60Hz for a QHD+ resolution.
Most other rumors refer to either the S20 or the rumored full-spec'd S20 Ultra, so we've referenced those that could potentially apply to the S20 Plus, too. Below then you'll find what little we know for sure along with the many leaks and rumors that we've heard, which together start to paint a picture of the Samsung Galaxy S20 or S11 Plus.
What is it? The next larger-sized Galaxy S flagship from Samsung
When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
What will it cost? Probably upwards of $ 999 / £899 / AU$ 1,499
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus release date and price
The Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 range is set to be announced on Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco.
Based on past form, that means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. That said, while the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so it's possible the S11 Plus will hit stores at the very beginning of March.
Samsung’s Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar
The Galaxy S11 Plus price could be the same as the S10 Plus's was at launch. That phone was $ 999 / £899 / AU$ 1,499 at launch for its cheapest storage size, rising to $ 1,599 / £1,399 / AU$ 2,399 for the largest 1TB/12GB version.
There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 Plus to be even more expensive – either because of its increased specs or for the inclusion of 5G, especially given the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's starting price was $ 1,299 / £1,099/ AU$ 1,850. However, we won't know for sure until Samsung officially launches the S11 Plus.
But the initial price leak we've seen pegs the starting price at €1,099 (around $ 1,215 / £926 / AU$ 1,775). That's for the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G – we haven't heard whether there might be a lower-priced 4G model.
The Galaxy S11 Plus could launch along with new premium wireless earbuds designed to rival the Apple AirPods Pro. These are rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.
Given the original AirPods-rivaling Galaxy Buds were released alongside the Galaxy S10, it would make sense for the new model to launch with the S11 range.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus name
While it makes sense that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus would be the next numbering in the line after the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, we could see it leap ahead, with rumors calling it the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.
Since the handset will come out in 2020, we've heard Samsung might want the phone names to match the release year, for this model and those thereafter.
Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and potentially even the Samsung CEO himself, the whole line could be branded as the Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of (respectively) the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus we've been assuming.
Until we know for sure, we'll still mostly refer to this device as the Galaxy S11 Plus, but that will change if we get official word from Samsung that the new devices will be the S20 series. Confusing, but necessary.
We haven't heard much mention of a distinct 5G model in the lineup, though this isn't much of a surprise given how likely it is that Samsung will include 5G in each of the standard models. This would follow what the phone-maker did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, as opposed to crafting a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G.
As a last naming rumor, we've heard the Galaxy S line could be discontinued: one source suggests that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that would combine all of Samsung's premium features into one smartphone line. While that's still a moonshot rumor, it would be unwise not to even consider it.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus news and rumors
Perhaps the most important leaks are the ones showing us how these new Samsung flagships could look, and we've seen leaks of the entire lineup.
In fact, we’ve seen several leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 range, and while the designs vary, there are a lot of similarities. Check out some here, others here, and even more here.
Just about every render we've seen shows the rear cameras as being in a large bump at the top left of the back of the phone. How they're laid out is less certain though, with some of the renders showing them in a single neat row while others point to a more haphazard arrangement, but some allegedly real images suggest something different to either of those options.
We've also heard that the S11 Plus could have a punch-hole camera in the top-center of the display, similar to where it is in the Galaxy Note 10 range, which we've seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though, which lines up with leaked images that show a noticeably smaller punch-hole.
The most prevalent sizing rumor implies that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch as the lowest-cost model instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, while the S20 Plus (or S11 Plus) will have a 6.7-inch display, and the S20 Ultra will have a 6.9-inch screen. That’s a noticeable size increase over the previous generation's screens.
A remarkably complete spec leak, shown below, echoes those sizes, adding that the S20 Plus will have a 1440 x 3200 20:9 screen with 525 pixels per inch, and that the body of the phone will be IP68 certified and come in at 162 x 74 x 7.8mm and 188g.
As for the rest of the design, one rumor we've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black colors, while the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in more playful blue, grey and pink shades. Another leak suggests official colors: Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue.
That's a lot like how Apple has split hues on its iPhones between more restrained colors in the 'Pro' models and fun, vibrant hues for the less expensive version. The source doesn't say which colors to expect for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Ultra), but we wouldn't be surprised by a premium color for the premium version.
The screen meanwhile could feature a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz offered by the S10 range. A 120Hz mode was allegedly spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software, an assertion supported by another source.
A further leak backed this up with a fuzzy image specifically of an S11 Plus showing these options as well as a maximum display resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 WQHD+ – but crucially, the 120Hz mode can't operate at this resolution, which only supports 60Hz refresh rate.
That same leak suggests that the S11 Plus, and conceivably the rest of the line, is finally doing away with the headphone jack.
While we couldn't exactly see whether this was true with the alleged hands-on video included by the source of the leak (below), it would make sense, with the Galaxy Note 10 range and most other flagships already lacking such a port.
The Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus might come with new screen tech though, given that Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED. That sounds a whole lot like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its flagship handsets, though we have no idea how SAMOLED would differ.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus camera
We’re anticipating that the the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or possibly the Ultra) will come with a 108MP sensor, an idea which is supported by not one but two leaks. This 108MP sensor is expected to combine nine pixels into one, which becomes the equivalent of 12MP shots that can take in plenty lot of light for far more vivid photography.
Exciting as this sounds, some more recent rumors (highlighted below) suggest that the Galaxy S11 Plus will actually just have a 12MP main snapper, with the 108MP lens reserved for the S11 Ultra, so don't count on seeing this on the mid model.
One source alleges that the S11 line's telephoto lens meanwhile could have a 5x optical zoom, and it might use a 48MP sensor. That would make for the most high-res zoom lens sensor we’ve seen on a phone yet.
While we haven’t heard too much about other lenses in the array yet, we’re expecting an ultra-wide angle lens, likely a depth sensor and perhaps even a macro lens, given that the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite has a macro lens.
We've also seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, as evidenced by the tweet below. A more recent rumor from the same source meanwhile implies a four-camera array on the rear of the Galaxy S11 Plus.
They previously claimed it would have five rear lenses, but they note that this new information is from a more recent prototype – which leads them to believe that four lenses is more likely.
This also aligns with one of themost recent renders we've seen leaked, but with so many different renders leaked into the wild, we have no serious idea what the rear array will look like.
We have seen an incredibly detailed spec dump – which would be more suspect if three sources who simultaneously revealed information on the cameras.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main
12MP
12MP
108MP
Telephoto
64MP
64MP
48MP
Wide-angle
12MP
12MP
12MP
Extras
ToF
ToF
If accurate, those would be some impressive specs, although it's suspect that the telephoto lenses have more megapixels on the smaller handsets.
This does however match the complete specs leak further up in this article, which adds that there's likely to be a 10MP front camera, 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom.
Indeed, we've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but the general consensus seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true.
We’ve also heard of plenty of neat features that Samsung trademarked which may end up in the S11 series, from a ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to a 'Bright Night Sensor'. The latter sounds a lot like a 'low light' mode but bolstered by dedicated hardware.
Elsewhere, hints toward several new camera features have been unearthed in official Samsung software code. There's Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically shoot photos at the prime moment; a Director's View mode for tracking a subject; the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video; and a selection of new Live Focus bokeh and depth effects.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs and features
We’re almost positive the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. At least in the US, as has been tradition; everywhere else will very likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, likely dubbed the 9830 or Exynos 990.
We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 range will all come with a base 12GB of RAM, although that may spike up to 16GB or potentially beyond at the top end. What you could need this much RAM for in a smartphone is beyond us, but it shows just how high-end this range is set to be. Storage meanwhile is rumored to be 128GB, along with a microSD card slot.
As for battery size, one leak suggests that one of the Galaxy S11 models will have a 4,500mAh battery with another set to geta 5,000mAh one. The latter size is probably for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra, but we'd expect at least 4,500mAh in the S11 Plus.
We've heard another rumor that the Samsung S20 Plus will debut an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to, you guessed it, quickly share files. It seemingly only works between Galaxy phones, so it's unclear if it will eventually become as versatile as Apple's multi-platform service.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch is in a matter of weeks, and we’re eager to see everything that might be unveiled at this year’s Unpacked event. The tech giant often takes the opportunity to debut more than just phones, and some much-anticipated gadgets could see the light of day.
Case in point: at the Samsung Galaxy S10 launch back in February 2019, the phonemaker introduced the AirPods-like Samsung Galaxy Buds. Now that Apple’s released its AirPods Pro, we expect Samsung to fire back by debuting the much-rumored Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.
We’re also curious if we’ll see the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G, a version of the company’s pro tablet that could connect to the next-gen networks – something that would put Samsung ahead of Apple in the tablet game.
Speaking of getting ahead, we’re also awaiting news on the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 as well as the rumored Samsung S Flip foldable.
At the less likely end of the spectrum are much-wanted but little-rumored products like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, which we haven’t heard much about in the years since its much-beloved predecessor hit the market. And, of course, we might see a Bixby Speaker.
If there’s one thing we can virtually guarantee, it’s that the Samsung Galaxy S20 won’t debut alone. Here’s what we’re looking forward to at the event.
Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S20 along with the likely larger Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus will take center stage at Unpacked. We’re expecting a few innovations from the new flagships, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about these phones. First and foremost: will they all be 5G-capable?
Either of these phones will almost certainly pack the Snapdragon 865 chipset, which requires a 5G-capable modem like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55, so we could reasonably assume the phones will be able to connect to the next-gen networks out of the box. It’s still possible that Samsung will release cheaper 4G-only versions alongside 5G ones, but it seems like it would be more trouble than it’s worth.
Most of what we’ve heard about the phones has involved incremental improvements: thinner bezels, centerline selfie camera, larger 6.2-inch (S20) and 6.7-inch (S20 Plus) displays – but a few, like a souped-up 64MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom and 120Hz max screen refresh rate, have us excited. However it seems like Samsung is saving the most substantial improvements for the biggest, baddest model…
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
This is more like it. The largest, highest-specced version of the S20 line is rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. It might be called the S20 Ultra 5G, which makes it an even more obvious inheritor of the massive Samsung Galaxy S10 5G that launched in mid-2019; this time, we’re expecting the top-top-tier phone to arrive at the same time as its smaller siblings.
The Ultra is rumored to pack a max-sized 6.9-inch display and seriously souped-up cameras: a 108MP main shooter, a 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom, and a 40MP front-facing camera. (All S20 phones are rumored to pack the same 12MP ultrawide lens, while the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra both come with time of flight sensors.) Put simply, the S20 Ultra is poised to be the highest-tech phone out there, with a rumored 100x digital zoom packaged as ‘Space Zoom.’
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite / Note 10 Lite price and release date
Curiously absent in the S20 lineup is a follow-up to the S10e budget flagship. It’s entirely possible that Samsung is following Apple in making its prime-named phone (the standard Galaxy S20) the cheapest option. Or Samsung could be slotting its recently-announced Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite into the budget flagship role.
We’ve already seen and played with these phones at CES 2020, but we could finally learn when they’ll be sold and how much they’ll cost. While their specs are technically a year behind the new S20 line, that should work in their favor when it comes to affordability, and they’ll likely cost less than the S10e did at launch – making both these handsets strong contenders for the best mid rangers out there.
There’s another possibility, of course: both the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite were specifically created to appeal to different markets than those that embrace Samsung’s priciest flagships. If that’s the case, we may not hear about the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite at all.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are rumored to be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s AirPods Pro – noise-canceling premium true wireless earbuds, but in this case, for Android phones. At least, that’s what we’re expecting – but rumors have both supported and refuted the possibility of noise-canceling.
Even without packing the AirPods Pro’s standout feature, the Galaxy Buds Plus could outshine the Pro in terms of battery life – one rumor suggests they could last up to 12 hours.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 2
The original Samsung Galaxy Watch was a powerhouse with a neat rotating bezel that made navigating the smartwatch easier – and a more fun, tactile experience. While the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 introduced a digital haptic version of this feature, it’s not the same and we’re eager for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2.
We haven’t heard much at all about the Galaxy Watch 2, which itself suggests we probably won’t see this smartwatch at Unpacked 2020. But we can still dream.
New fitness tracker?
It’s entirely possible we get a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Fit, or perhaps even another budget fitness tracker like the Samsung Galaxy Fit e. We haven’t heard any news or rumors, so there’s no real hype building around a new device from Samsung. But if we don’t get another smartwatch this year, it might make sense for the company to whet appetites with a refreshed fitness tracker.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 was a welcome surprise: a higher-specced tablet to rival the iPad Pro, but with a few extras that stand out in contrast. The Tab S6 includes an S Pen in the price (which is lower than the iPad Pro), has an improved desktop-simulating Dex mode, and its keyboard accessory (sold separately) has a touchpad. It’s an intriguing contender that only gets more exciting with 5G.
A Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G launching at Unpacked 2020 would beat Apple to the punch, which hasn’t released a 5G-capable iPad yet. It would also be rather useful for on-the-go professionals that need to upload and download files rapidly, like media editors.
Of course, 5G networks are still in early days – and a Tab S6 5G would need to be keyed to each provider’s 5G network. We’ll see how Samsung handles this if it does release a 5G tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Ah, the enigmatic Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It’s unclear if this is simply a code name for the Galaxy Fold 2 or a forked device in its own right that, rumor has it, will be a clamshell-style foldable that hinges on its horizontal access, somewhat similar to the Motorola Razr.
We’ve also heard that it could have two hinges – so that it can be folded into a Z-shape, hence the name – but that’s uncertain, and sounds finicky for a company to attempt just a year after its first foldable was famously delayed for screen durability issues.
Samsung Galaxy Fold 2
For all the vertical-fold diehards, we’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 will follow its predecessor’s footsteps as a ‘hot dog style’ foldable – but bigger and better. Specifically, leaks have told us it could have bigger battery, faster charging speeds, better cameras, and other incremental improvements.
While Unpacked 2020 seems soon after the original Fold’s delayed launch in late 2019, it could be a jumping off point to leave behind the baggage and start anew with a (much more tested) successor device.
Samsung Bixby Speaker
There’s long been rumors of a Bixby-supporting smart speaker in the works at Samsung – or, as it might be known, the Samsung Galaxy Home. Whether this ends up surfacing is unclear, but the appeal is obvious: a smart speaker housing the unpopular but ubiquitous-on-Samsung-devices AI assistant Bixby to compete with all the Amazon Echo and Alexa-powered speakers in the world. We haven’t heard rumors of one coming – but anything’s possible at Unpacked 2020.
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