We’re not expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy S11 release for a while since, if Samsung continues its yearly cycles for phone releases, it will be out in or around February 2020 – but we’re already hearing rumors of what we can expect from it.
On top of that there are some features we didn’t see in the Samsung Galaxy S10 that we were expecting, and there were aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Samsung Galaxy A80 and Galaxy Fold that would work well in a new Galaxy S flagship.
Inspired by all these phones, we’ve also drawn up a list of the things we’d like to see in the Samsung Galaxy S11, or whatever the next Galaxy S phone ends up being (it could be the Galaxy S20, given that phone companies seem to jump straight from 10 to 20 when numbering phones).
You’ll find that below, but first, here’s everything that we’ve heard about the Samsung Galaxy S11 so far.
Latest news: The Samsung Galaxy S11 might have a 120Hz refresh rate and 5G based on the latest leaks, but its fast charging might not be a match for rivals.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next Galaxy S smartphone from Samsung
- When is it out? Possibly February 18
- What will it cost? Likely more than $899 / £799 / AU$1,349
Samsung Galaxy S11 release date and price
We saw the Samsung Galaxy S10 release alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 Plus in late February 2019. Since Samsung tends to release its phones in yearly cycles, we expect to see the Samsung Galaxy S11 release in February or March 2020.
That may mean we hear about it at MWC 2020, or it may be a touch earlier as one rumor suggests we might see it on February 18. It’s quite early to hear about an actual launch date though, so we’d take that news with a big pinch of salt.
The Galaxy S10 cost $899 / £799 / AU$1,349 for its cheapest storage size, and went all the way up to $1,149 / £999 / AU$1,699, when it released.
We would expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 price to be a small increase on this, as the Galaxy S10 was pricier than the Galaxy S9.
Taking into consideration the usual price increases on Galaxy S handsets between generations, we’d expect to see it cost around $1,000 / £900 / AU$1,500 for the cheapest version, and even more for more memory.
Having said that, we’re talking about the standard Galaxy S11 here, but a rumor suggests there might be a Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite (if it doesn’t launch earlier as the S10 Lite), in which case there might be a cheaper option for buyers who don’t have a grand to spend on a smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy S11 design and display
According to one of the more reputable tipsters on the web, the screen sizes of the Galaxy S11e, Galaxy S11 and Galaxy S11 Plus will be 6.4 inches, 6.7 inches and 6.9 inches – and they’re all going to come with curved screens.
They might also have a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz found on the S10 range. That theory is based on a 120Hz mode being spotted in a beta for Samsung’s smartphone software. There’s no guarantee the feature will arrive on the Galaxy S11 range, but it seems a likely candidate.
We haven’t heard much else about this aspect of the Galaxy S11 yet, but a browser test for an unknown Samsung phone believed to be an S11 model points to a 20:9 aspect ratio. That would make it more widescreen than the 19:9 Galaxy S10 (or taller when held in portrait orientation).
It could also use a new screen tech, as Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED, which sounds like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its phones, though we don’t know how SAMOLED would differ.
We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 could move the punch-hole camera to the top center of the screen, similar to the Galaxy Note 10 range. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though. You can see how this might look in the image below.
This is the Galaxy S11 rendering I made, based on the leaked information, don’t take it seriously, it’s just my imaginary. pic.twitter.com/CunwipElFPNovember 11, 2019
The same source has since added that the Samsung Galaxy S11 will apparently have a narrower bezel than the Galaxy Note 10, but apparently won’t have a ‘waterfall’ screen (that being a very steeply curved screen edge like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro has).
There’s also an outside chance that the Galaxy S11 will have two screens, as Samsung has patented a design (spotted by LetsGoDigital) with a smaller second screen on the back of a phone, as you can see below.
This would remove the need for a selfie camera, as the second screen could be used to frame photos using the main camera. We doubt we’ll see this design though – all sorts of things get patented and often don’t get made.
As for the rest of the design, one thing we’ve heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black shades, while the Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in blue, grey and pink. The source doesn’t say what colors to expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus in though.
Samsung Galaxy S11 camera
Samsung has announced new 48MP and 64MP camera sensors , so it’s possible Samsung will use one of them for the Galaxy S11.
However, Samsung might go even further, as it has also now announced a 108MP sensor, one which has been specifically rumored for inclusion in the Galaxy S11. The source of this rumor adds that the Samsung Galaxy S11 will apparently also have a lens with 5x optical zoom.
Elsewhere, another leaker has also said that Samsung will probably use a 108MP camera in the Galaxy S11, but this will apparently be a new one, rather than the sensor Samsung has already announced. This is a rumor that’s now starting to gain some serious momentum.
We’re not sure what upgrades it would get, but with Samsung’s first 108MP sensor likely to land on a Xiaomi handset this year, it would make sense for Samsung to make something totally new for the Galaxy S11.
A 5x optical zoom lens is looking ever more likely too, as a source claims the S11’s camera is codenamed ‘Hubble’. That’s the name of a space telescope, so strongly suggests impressive zoom skills. Plus, another source has also pointed to a 5x optical zoom lens, but said that the phone won’t have a ‘normal’ one, whatever that means.
One thing it might mean is that the lens is more flush with the back of the handset than most zoom lenses, as another source claims Samsung is working on just such a lens – which is also yet more evidence that a zoom lens is in the works.
Alternatively, it could be referring to a focus on photographing the night sky, as not only is the camera apparently codenamed Hubble as mentioned, it might also have a ‘Space Zoom’ feature, which Samsung has applied to trademark.
Samsung’s description of the feature makes it sound like a general zoom mode, but the name certainly suggests it could be designed to take better photos of stars, planets and the moon.
Another leak has stated that the main camera sensor on the Galaxy S11 will be different to all previous Galaxy phones from the S7 to the S10. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be one of the above sensors, but it’s very possible.
One thing we might not get is an in-display camera, as while the likes of Oppo and Xiaomi are already teasing the technology, a source suggests Samsung will wait for the tech to “mature” first, and in the meantime will stick with punch-hole cameras – albeit ones of ever smaller sizes.
Samsung Galaxy S11 specs and features
On the topic of ‘tech Samsung has announced’: we know the company has created a 12GB Mobile DRAM, which lets the phone read memory at a quicker rate, so that’s an obvious candidate for the Galaxy S11.
The Galaxy S11 might also be the first phone to have a tiny 5nm chipset, according to Sina, which could see it outperform other handsets.
Speaking of the chipset, one believed to be the Snapdragon 865 has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. It’s likely that US versions of the Galaxy S11 will use this chip, so that’s promising.
A more unlikely feature that the S11 could pack is a spectrometer, which could be used to determine the chemical composition of objects. Samsung has patented a phone-like device with just such a feature, so it’s possible, but it sounds a bit far-fetched and niche.
In other news, it may be worth keeping an eye out for rumors and leaks regarding the ‘Picasso’ as that, according to leaker Ice Universe, is the code-name Samsung is currently using internally for the Galaxy S11.
Galaxy S11 R & D code: Picasso pic.twitter.com/AOtMq61RouMay 19, 2019
We can also look to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 for some possible specs and features. The Galaxy S10 for example probably won’t have a headphone port, since Samsung has ditched it for the latest Note. Similarly, it likely won’t have a Bixby button.
However, by freeing up space that would have been used for a headphone port, Samsung could potentially make the battery bigger and/or the body thinner.
In fact, one rumor suggests the Galaxy S11e will have a larger battery than the Galaxy S10e. It may be because this is a 5G version of the device, but it seems to suggest that Samsung will be increasing battery capacity on its next series of devices.
Speaking of 5G, according to a source you’ll be able to get the Galaxy S11 and S11e in either 4G or 5G versions, while the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus will apparently only be offered as a 5G phone.
We’ve also now seen evidence of at least one Galaxy S11 handset offering 5G, as mention of it was found on a certification listing for a phone with a model number linked to the S11 range. Surprisingly though it also listed fast charging of up to 25W, which would make it slower than the 45W Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
There’s also unlikely to be a fingerprint sensor, judging by the news that the Galaxy S11 could use facial recognition unlocking tech instead. The iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 have similar systems, where instead of using in-screen fingerprint sensors, they use facial recognition, and this is a rather secure form of unlocking (compared to Samsung’s current photo-based facial recognition) but it’s slower than using a fingerprint.
How about this for a rumor though: could the Galaxy S line be discontinued, and the Galaxy S11 never see the light of day? That’s what one source suggests, that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that combines all Samsung’s premium features into one smartphone.
Sure, we’ve heard that before about Samsung phones and it turned out to be wrong, but given the similarities between both ranges, it’s not something we can totally rule out.
Samsung Galaxy 11: what we want to see
While early rumors have started to swirl, in reality there’s still a long way to go before we see the Samsung Galaxy S11, which is good news as it gives Samsung plenty of time to take our suggestions on board.
So, listen up Samsung, here’s what we want to see from the Galaxy S11. Please don’t let us down.
1. Better camera specs
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has three rear cameras: the 12MP main sensor with a regular lens, the 12MP second sensor with a telephoto lens for distance shots, and the 16MP third sensor with an ultra-wide lens.
The three lenses are generally what we’d expect in a smartphone camera, but the resolution of each is a lot lower than in many other phones.
Handsets like the Honor 20 Pro have a 48MP main snapper, which is a big step up from 12MP, and even affordable handsets sometimes now come with four lenses (the extra is usually a time-of-flight or macro sensor for close-up shots), so to stay competitive in the smartphone camera game Samsung needs to up its game with the Galaxy S11.
We’ve heard that Samsung is working on a 64MP smartphone camera that could be put in the Samsung Galaxy S11 – if this is true, the new phone would blow its competitors out of the water.
2. A 3.5mm headphone jack
If you’re scratching your head thinking “the Samsung Galaxy S10 does have a 3.5mm headphone jack”, then you’re right – but it may be the last of its kind.
Newer Galaxy smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy A80 have ditched the headphone jack, so it seems Samsung is following suit behind many other smartphone companies in getting rid of the physical headphone port.
But since many, many people still use non-Bluetooth earphones, it’s a feature that we’d love to see return in future Samsung smartphones, especially given it’s one of the only high-end smartphone manufacturers to still be using them.
3. Different front-facing camera arrangement
The Galaxy S10 was one of the first phones to have a ‘punch-hole’ front-facing camera, which means the front snapper was in a cut-out section inside the screen, in the corner.
In theory this is a useful feature that replaces the top notch, so you get more screen real estate – but in practice the punch-hole takes just as much space, as there’s a sliver of screen between the camera and the edge that just isn’t used.
Going forward, we’d like to see the Samsung Galaxy S11 take a different tack – Samsung itself has said it’s planning to drop the punch-hole in favor of a camera under the screen, but that could still be a few Galaxy S phones down the line.
4. Greater battery capacity
The Galaxy S10 had a 3,400mAh battery – that’s fine, but you’ve got no hope of that lasting more than a second day of use, especially if you use your phone a lot.
We’d hope the Samsung Galaxy S11 battery life would surpass that – it will definitely have to have a bigger capacity to cater for all the new tech the phone uses, but we’d like to see a serious improvement on the capacity, perhaps 4,000mAh or above.
5. More launch colors
The Galaxy S10 comes in a few colors, most commonly prism white and black – but we always love a vibrant design in a phone, and so far Samsung handsets have often seemed a little dull.
We’re not asking for the crazy back patterns of a Huawei or Honor phone, but it would be nice for the Samsung Galaxy S11 to launch in a few different colors.
The Galaxy S10 has a few colors that are only available in certain regions, like yellow, green or red, but if Samsung made these designs available from the get-go in all regions, we’d appreciate the design a lot more.
6. Affordable 5G
We’re expecting there to be a Samsung Galaxy S11 5G – there was a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, after all, and by the time the S11 launches 5G will be available in many countries.
However, the Galaxy S10 5G is even bigger than the Galaxy S10 Plus, and so is massive and expensive. Currently there are no affordable 5G smartphones on the horizon, but Samsung could really get ahead of the curve if the Galaxy S11, or Galaxy S11e, had a low price and ran on 5G networks.
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