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Need more speed? Your next Samsung flagship could have 5G
- Samsung is reportedly working on a Galaxy S10 Plus variant with 5G connectivity.
- The phone is set to be produced in limited numbers, as 5G networks aren’t expected to be widespread in 2019.
- The company has previously released variants of its flagships with upgraded cellular connectivity.
The push towards 5G is growing stronger, as more manufacturers conduct testing and target a 2019 release schedule. Now, it’s been reported that Samsung is working on a Galaxy S10 variant with 5G connectivity.
According to Korean-language publication The Bell (Google Translate), the 5G model will be a “derivative” of the S10 Plus. It notes that, aside from the 5G connectivity, the phone will still share the same basic specifications as the S10 Plus.
Read: Best Android phones (September 2018) — Our picks, plus a giveaway
The outlet says the phone will only be produced in small quantities, as 5G networks aren’t expected to be widespread in 2019. It’s believed the 5G silicon will be supplied by an internal Samsung division and Korean company Gigalane.
It wouldn’t be the first time Samsung introduces a variant of its flagship with faster cellular connectivity. We previously saw variants of the Galaxy SII with LTE, as well as LTE-A variants of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5.
Nevertheless, this marks the latest nugget of information in the Galaxy S10/5G saga. More recently, Samsung’s DJ Koh was quoted as saying that the company’s first 5G device would not be a Galaxy S10 entry.
What about endurance?
One big question is whether a Galaxy S10 Plus 5G variant (and other 5G phones in 2019) will suffer from drastically reduced battery life. It’s not unheard of for the first-generation of phones with faster connectivity to lack endurance — remember the LTE-enabled HTC Thunderbolt? Nevertheless, Samsung delivered a 4,000mAh battery in the Galaxy Note 9, so hopefully a 5G model gets a larger battery as well.
As for Galaxy S10 specs, rumors suggest we could see in-display fingerprint scanners, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. Samsung is also expected to use the Snapdragon 855 and its next-generation Exynos chipset to power the phones.
In the camera department, it’s been claimed that the top-end Plus model will have five cameras (two in front and three at the back). It might not be the first smartphone with this configuration, as the LG V40 is tipped to offer the same layout when it launches later this year.
Would you buy a 5G-enabled Galaxy S10 model? Give us your thoughts in the comments section!