Samsung Galaxy: From Galaxy S to Galaxy S26

As dramatic a evolution as the Samsung Galaxy has undergone is rare among smartphone manufacturers.

Starting with the original Galaxy S in 2010, the range has now developed into a huge ecosystem comprising flagship smartphones, foldable phones, low-cost devices, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds and AI-powered experiences. Since the early years of Android smartphones up to the present day with the Galaxy S26, Samsung's experience illustrates the rapid way in which mobile technology has evolved.

2010: Where Galaxy Started

The first Galaxy S was launched by Samsung in 2010. At the time, it was presented as a premium Android smartphone, featuring a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 5MP camera, and a slim build. The Galaxy S was the basis of Samsung's strategy for its top-range smartphones.

2011–2013: Galaxy S2 and S3 Take Off

When the Galaxy S2 was released in 2011, there were improvements in its performance, design, and connectivity. The Galaxy S3 was introduced in 2012. The larger screen, its curved shape and better hardware contributed to Galaxy becoming one of the leading brands in the smartphone market.

2011: Galaxy Note Changes the Game

In 2011 Samsung launched another major range of smartphones. By combining a large screen with the S Pen, the Galaxy Note offered users a novel method of taking notes, drawing and working on a smartphone. The Note range later came to be closely linked with productivity and Samsung's high-end smartphones.

2015–2016: Samsung Goes Premium

The Galaxy S6 represented a major change in Samsung's design. In place of the plastic design used on the earlier Galaxy phones, Samsung adopted a construction made up of metal and glass, at the same time making curved-edge display technology a key element of its design language. In 2016 the Galaxy S7 was launched with improvements to the camera, water resistance and the hardware.

2017–2019: The Infinity Display Era

The Infinity Display was introduced with the Galaxy S8. The bezels being greatly reduced gave a more immersive screen effect, while the Galaxy S9 kept on improving the design. The Infinity-O display was introduced further with the Galaxy S10.

However, Samsung was already making preparations for something entirely different.

A smartphone with the ability to fold.

2019: Samsung Enters the Foldable Era

The Galaxy Fold was launched by Samsung in 2019. When the device is closed it functions as a smartphone and when opened it becomes a significantly larger display. It established a brand-new branch within the Galaxy family together with the conventional S series.

2020: Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip

Samsung has extended its strategy regarding foldable phones with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip. The book-style design was continued by The Fold. Instead, the Flip enabled a full-sized smartphone to be folded into a much smaller size. Foldables were not the only thing concerned with larger screens. They also concerned themselves with portability and with new ways of using a smartphone.

2020–2022: Galaxy Becomes an Ecosystem

Samsung's strategy regarding mobile phones went well beyond that of the S series. The company offered the Galaxy S flagship models, the Galaxy Z foldable phones, and more affordable Galaxy A and M smartphones. The Galaxy phones also became more and more connected to the Galaxy Buds, the Galaxy Watch, the tablets and other Samsung devices. The S Pen tradition from the Note has also been carried over into Samsung's high-end Ultra series of smartphones.

2023–2024: AI Comes to Galaxy

The arrival of the Galaxy S24 range marked a significant point in Samsung's AI strategy. Galaxy AI incorporated its AI features directly into the smartphone experience. The company was beginning to concentrate less on making phones faster and more on making them more useful and intelligent.

2025: Foldables Become More Refined

Samsung has kept on improving its foldable phones by placing greater emphasis on thickness, weight, durability, the hinges and the software. The challenge had now gone beyond merely making a phone that could fold. It was giving foldable technology a practicality suitable for everyday use.

2026: The Galaxy S26 Era

The latest flagship range from Samsung is the Galaxy S26 series. The range features the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, Samsung still concentrating on AI, cameras and performance. The S26 Ultra also features a Privacy Display which is intended to help in protecting the content that users are viewing in public.

Samsung's range of foldable phones has also kept on developing with the launch of its most recent Z series.

From One Smartphone to an Entire Galaxy

The most significant change isn't just the fact that Samsung's phones have improved so much. The extent of Galaxy's growth is what it is.

In 2010 Galaxy was starting out with a single main line of smartphones. The ecosystem now comprises flagship phones, Ultra models, foldables, affordable smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds and AI-powered software.

The Galaxy Journey

Large screens and the S Pen