Samsung Galaxy S Series

The year is 2010. The smartphone market is maturing, and Samsung launches the very first Samsung Galaxy S. The goal was clear: to create a serious competitor to the iPhone, which was already popular at the time. The Galaxy S combined a Super AMOLED screen—impressive for its time—with the flexibility of the Android operating system. This proved to be a winning formula.

Galaxy S = Super Smart

From that moment on, the “S” stood for Super Smart. Each new generation in the S series became a showcase for Samsung’s latest technological innovations, with a focus on three pillars:

• Display Quality: The best displays on the market
• Camera performance: Pushing the boundaries of mobile photography
• Processing power: Lightning-fast performance for gaming and multitasking

Galaxy S models

The Galaxy S series has undergone frequent changes in its lineup over the years. For example, a Plus model was introduced in 2017, and since 2020, an Ultra model has joined the lineup. In 2025, Samsung added the ultra-thin Edge model to the lineup. As a result, the series currently consists of:

• Standard model: The Smart All-Rounder - Ideal for everyday use and easy to carry, with the same powerful chipset as its bigger brothers and a versatile camera system ready for all your social media posts and cherished memories.


• Plus model: The Multimedia Champion - Larger display for a better viewing experience with movies and games, more battery capacity to get you through the day, yet more compact than the Ultra.


• Edge model: The Fashion-Forward Choice - A wafer-thin model for those who want to stay ahead of the curve and are willing to trade battery capacity for it.


• Ultra model: The Uncompromising Innovator - Unmatched camera capabilities with the best sensors, the fastest performance for higher productivity, the brightest display made from the most premium materials, and the precision and functionality of a stylus.

Which Galaxy S model is right for you?

If you just want a good phone, don’t need all the bells and whistles, and are looking for a compact model above all else, then the standard model is the best choice.

Do you watch a lot of media, play games constantly, and always run out of battery by the end of the day? Then the Plus model is for you.

Do you want the best of the best—the most powerful performance, the best and most advanced cameras, and the very best display? Then the Galaxy S Ultra model is the one for you. It’s also the only one that can be operated with an S Pen stylus. Ideal for anyone who wants to take notes or draw on the go.

The days when you needed a new model every year just to have the best and latest features are now behind us. A new generation of Galaxy S phones can be seen more as an evolutionary upgrade rather than a revolutionary one. If you’re looking for something truly different, take a look at the Galaxy Z series.

Meaning of the Galaxy S number

Galaxy S phones are identified by a number. Since the Galaxy S20, this number has corresponded to the year of release. This is handy because it lets you see right away which year that model was released. Samsung typically releases its latest Galaxy S phones at the beginning of the year during a special Unpacked Event.

In addition to a name, Galaxy S phones also have a model number, which often started with i9xxx in the beginning but is now frequently SM-S9xx.