The world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, Samsung on Tuesday launched its latest flagship Galaxy S20 smartphone range with 5G chips and a new camera system capable of up to 100x zoom.
The mobile phone giant unveiled the devices at an event in San Francisco and screened live in Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday night.
The company said it is hoping that fast screens, an overhauled camera system and a spread of sizes will be enough to lift sales and beat rivals Apple and Huawei in the competitive market.
The Galaxy S20 has a 6.2in screen and a triple camera on the back, while the Galaxy S20+ has a 6.7in screen and quad camera on the back. Both have cameras with hybrid optical zoom of 3x and digital zoom to 30x.
The super-sized Galaxy S20 Ultra has a 6.9in screen and a quad camera system on the back.
The two standout features are a 108MP main camera and a 10x hybrid optical zoom lens that has a periscopic arrangement, using a prism to direct light sideways into the body of the phone, similar to that used by Huawei on its P30 Pro last year for a 5x zoom. The camera is said to be capable of up to 100x digital zoom, twice that managed by rivals.
Samsung Software Engineer and Quality Assurance Manager, Stephen Okwara said Samsung had upped its game when it comes to camera capabilities on the new S20 line-up, but in some areas the South Korean firm was “merely in catch-up mode with the rivals.
He said Samsung’s innovations concerning the handling of extended zoom, such as the new window-in-window viewfinder with over 30x magnification, were worthwhile additions.
Okwara who described the smart phone as a world changing device said, ”We have completely changed the game in the innovative and ever changing smart phone market.
According to him, all three models have new Amoled screens with a refresh rate of 120Hz – twice the speed of standard smartphone screens and faster than the 90Hz screens used by OnePlus and Google last year – which makes use of the device smoother in scrolling and other fast-moving interactions.
From the front, he still explained that the devices resemble refined versions of S10 models from 2019, with an all-screen display on the front, a new central pinhole selfie camera at the top and curved glass at the sides. The backs are all glass with a big camera lump in the top left corner resembling that recently used by Apple and Google.
While the S20 will be available in 4G or 5G versions, the S20+ and S20 Ultra will only be available with 5G.
All three models come with at least 128GB of storage and a microSD card slot for adding more, 8, 12 or 16GB of RAM, fast cable and wireless charging, large batteries and ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanners for unlocking the devices.
“The challenge, which Samsung faces together with all other smartphone makers, is how to stand out from the endless stream of similar-looking black touchscreen rectangles,” he said.
“The support for 5G across all three variants of the S20 lineup is a key element, ensuring customers are getting a futureproof purchase and the camera certainly stands out, particularly on the flagship S20 Ultra,” he added.
Samsung head, Information Technology and Mobile, Adetunji Taiwo said, that though Samsung phone are all about hype the latest smart phones will surely deliver on their features.
On why the choice of Abuja for the launch, he said Abuja was chosen because the target demographics resides in the city.
On the issue of battery drainage, Taiwo said that had been taken care off in the new devices during the course of their research, stating that the issue had been nipped in the bud.
On the health hazards, he said there was nothing to worry about as the devices are absolutely safe given the over 50 certifications the company has in its kitten.
From the front, he still explained that the devices resemble refined versions of S10 models from 2019, with an all-screen display on the front, a new central pinhole selfie camera at the top and curved glass at the sides. The backs are all glass with a big camera lump in the top left corner resembling that recently used by Apple and Google.
While the S20 will be available in 4G or 5G versions, the S20+ and S20 Ultra will only be available with 5G.
All three models come with at least 128GB of storage and a microSD card slot for adding more, 8, 12 or 16GB of RAM, fast cable and wireless charging, large batteries and ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanners for unlocking the devices.
“The challenge, which Samsung faces together with all other smartphone makers, is how to stand out from the endless stream of similar-looking black touchscreen rectangles,” he said.
“The support for 5G across all three variants of the S20 lineup is a key element, ensuring customers are getting a future proof purchase and the camera certainly stands out, particularly on the flagship S20 Ultra,” he added.
The devices though will be available in the market in March, the S20 Ultra goes for N20,000; the S20 Plus N335,000 while S20 goes for N302,200.
Taiwo however assured prospective users that the after sales services would be available in all Samsung service centres in addition to provision of new parts for repairs.
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