A look back at the Galaxy S devices that brought us to where we are today.

As Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd announced the newest additions to its Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, we take a look back at the history of the Galaxy S Series that have brought us to where we are today. From the Galaxy S that first launched in 2010, to last year’s Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, the premium smartphone series from Samsung has continuously revolutionized the smartphone field.

Galaxy S

The first Galaxy S smartphone was announced in March 2010, and with its Super AMOLED display and 0.5GB of RAM, it was groundbreaking at the time. So much, in fact, that TIME magazine ranked it the #2 device in the Top 10 Gadget List of 2010*[i]. When the Galaxy S was released, it was not only the thinnest smartphone on the market at 9.9mm, but also offered the fastest graphical processing.

 

Galaxy S II

When the Galaxy S II was announced in February 2011, it pushed the boundaries for how slim a smartphone could be, at 8.49mm. It was one of the first smartphones to offer a Mobile High-definition Link (MHL), allowing up to 1080p uncompressed video output to MHL enabled TVs, making it easier than ever before for users to share videos with friends and family. Launched with Android 2.3 “Gingerbread”, the Galaxy S II was able to update all the way to Android 4.1.2 “Jelly Bean”.

 

Galaxy S III

The Galaxy S III, which was unveiled in May 2012, ushered in a new organic design language for the Galaxy S series. With its rounded shape, and the slogan “Designed for humans, inspired by nature”, the S III topped many rankings for the best smartphone of 2012. The smartphone was developed under strict secrecy, and boasted a range of smart features including S Voice.

 

Galaxy S4

First shown at the Samsung Mobile Unpacked in New York City in March 2013, the Samsung S4 was reminiscent of its predecessor, the S III, but saw both upgraded hardware and software components. Described as a “Life Companion”, the software was optimized to make the device truly intuitive. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor offered 2GB of RAM, giving users a snappier user experience.

 

Galaxy S5

The S5 was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February 2014, introducing a textured rear cover for improved grip, as well as IP67 certification for dust and water resistance. The device evolved the design featured in the S4, and introduced a swipe-based fingerprint scanner for increased security. The 16MP rear-facing camera offered 4K video recording, and the camera app included a “Shot & More” menu that allowed users to make edits to photos after they are taken, proving that Samsung understood consumers’ needs for improved camera abilities.

 

Galaxy S6 / S6 edge

The S6 devices carried a complete redesign from the S5. Gone was the plastic casing, and the new glass and metal devices felt more premium than ever. The 2015 Galaxy S6 featured a unibody frame made of aluminum alloy with a glass backing and a curved bezel with chamfered sides. In the S6 and S6 edge, Samsung introduced an improved camera, a streamlined user interface and support for both major wireless charging standards. The S6 features other hardware improvements as well, including a 1440p display, a new in-house system-on-chip that utilizes a 14 nm FinFET manufacturing process, and an improved fingerprint scanner.

 

The Galaxy S series has been at the forefront of technological development every year since the launch of the first Galaxy S in 2010. With the S7 and S7 edge primed to hit stores in the GCC in March, consumers are ready to enter a new era of entertainment, connectivity and productivity.

[i] * http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2033840_2033837,00.html