This doesn’t happen often. It seems to have happened with Samsung’s next-gen flagship Galaxy S10. Prototypes of Samsung’s upcoming phones appear in the rumor mill just a month or two before their official unveiling. But a leaked Galaxy S10 prototype has surfaced on the Internet even though the phone is still 6-9 months away. Often reliable Twitter leaker Ice Universe shared a picture of a smartphone with the words “This may be a design beyond.”
Many interpreted it to be a Galaxy S10 prototype because past reports have suggested that ‘Beyond’ was the code-name for the S10. The phone looks gorgeous, no doubt. Consumers would love it if the actual device resembles the leaked image. Samsung is expected to overhaul the design of Galaxy S10 to mark the 10th-anniversary of its flagship phone, just like Apple did with the iPhone X.
This may be a design beyond. pic.twitter.com/lViQUsW1Jv
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) June 20, 2018
The picture shared by Ice Universe shows a device with a completely bezel-less display. There is no bottom chin, no side bezels, and no cutout or bezel at the top. For such a device, the screen-to-body ratio should be close to 100%, compared to 83.6% for the Galaxy S9 and 94% for the recently launched Oppo Find X. The ear speaker, front camera, iris scanner, and other sensors appear to have been integrated under the display.
It’s unclear which OS the Galaxy S9 prototype is running because there are no notifications or on-screen buttons in the leaked image. You can see the Bixby button, power button, and volume rockers on the sides. The Galaxy S10 is also rumored to have an in-display fingerprint sensor to let you unlock the phone by placing your finger on the screen.
Why this Galaxy S10 prototype might not be legit
There is more than one reason to believe that this Galaxy S10 prototype is not legit. It’s rare for a prototype image to leak several months before the phone’s unveiling. Samsung might not even have finalized the Galaxy S10’s design. The Galaxy S9’s first prototype images appeared just two months before its unveiling. It’s unlikely that such a clear picture of the Galaxy S10 prototype would appear even before the Galaxy Note 9, which is set to debut in a couple of months.
#LOLeak… pic.twitter.com/B4ne4mSkrM
— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) June 20, 2018
Reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer aka @OnLeaks also indicated that the picture was not legit. It’s worth pointing out that Ice Universe’s intent might have been lost in translation. Ice Universe is a Chinese leaker, and caption for the same image on their Weibo post translates to “This is the next step,” says Android Authority. On Twitter, it went from the “next step” to “beyond.” Furthermore, you can also notice a bit of photoshopping towards the bottom edge of the phone.
Rumored Galaxy S10 specs
The upcoming S10 and S10 Plus are said to have the same 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch Super AMOLED Infinity screens as this year’s flagship models. The phone will be powered by at least 6GB RAM and next-gen Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chips depending on the market. It would be Samsung’s first phone to feature an in-display sensor. The Korean company will likely retain the 3.5mm headphone jack and the microSD card slot.
The rumor mill claims Samsung will offer a triple camera system on the back of Galaxy S10. It would help the device compete with Huawei’s P20 Pro, which also has a triple rear camera. At least one of Apple’s 2018 flagship iPhones is also said to sport a triple camera. Samsung will also improve the selfie camera with the next year’s model. There would also be a 3D depth sensing module for facial recognition and augmented reality.
Korean site ETNews recently reported that the Galaxy S10 would have a ‘sound-emitting’ display. It means you’ll be able to use the phone’s OLED display for hearing purposes when on a phone call. If it happens, it will allow Samsung to eliminate the ear speaker from the top bezel.
Samsung usually refreshes new Galaxy S handsets around the Mobile World Congress (MWC), which takes place in late February or early March. But the company is reportedly preparing to unveil its foldable smartphone at the MWC next year. So, the Galaxy S10 could be unveiled earlier. Samsung could hold an Unpacked event on the sidelines of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January to launch the S10.
