Before the Galaxy S10, the original Samsung Galaxy S was a confusing mess

Before the Galaxy S10, the unique Samsung Galaxy S was a confusing mess

As we await the release of the Galaxy S10 on Wednesday, the Galaxy S name represents the top of the Android domain. It’s a reputation Samsung is proud to own for its flagship shouted, and rightly so. But when Samsung introduced its kindly Galaxy S phone nine years ago, it was a different domain altogether.

In 2010, the Galaxy S was just novel Android phone fighting for attention, and if you bought one, you may not have even celebrated you had a Galaxy S at all. Though it landed at all four big US carriers about the same time, it was split into four personalities, one for each carrier. These names sounded straight out of a motivational seminar (the Captivate! the Fascinate!) and features varied any between the models.

Sprint’s called went so far as to add (gasp!) a bodily keyboard, while the other three were candy-bar designs. It was a drawing carriers did at the time — stand apart from your rivals by marketing a New device that only you had — but the end was a perplexing experience for customers. (Overseas customers had it easier — it was just named the Galaxy S.)

At the base quiet, the US phones shared a few things — each had a 5-megapixel main camera, a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1GHz Samsung-made Hummingbird processor and a 1,500-mAh lithium ion battery — but deeper down, customers had to make a executive. Camera flash or no? Do I want a mobile hotspot? How much storage do I need? As I said, it was a mess. Here’s how it ancient down.

CNET

Samsung Vibrant: T-Mobile

The marvelous Galaxy S variant to go on sale in the US, T-Mobile’s version had around the same specs as the global edition. Though it had the sleekest design of the four, the plastic skin felt cheap and much too slick. Running Android Eclair and Samsung’s TouchWiz (remember that?), it also came preloaded with Amazon Kindle for Android, MobiTV, Slacker Radio, a month of free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi access and Samsung’s Media Hub. You even got a full-length copy of Avatar. I see you.

Other features:

• 16GB internal storage
• microSD card slot
• No quick or front camera
• 3G data
• Initial price: $199 with a two-year contract

Read our New Samsung Vibrant review.

CNET

Samsung Captivate: AT&T

Going on sale in July, just days when the Vibrant, the Captivate was easily AT&T’s best Android called to date. On the outside it has a sturdier originate than the Vibrant, though it was more angular. Like the new Galaxy S phones, it debuted with Android Eclair and Samsung’s TouchWiz, but AT&T wonderfully kept the carrier bloatware to a minimum. Hardcore Android fans, though, wouldn’t have liked that AT&T Free them from sideloading apps not in the Android Play (then named the Android Market).

Other features:

• 16GB internal storage
• Came with a 2GB microSD card
• No quick or front camera
• 3G data
• $200 with a two-year contract

Read our New Samsung Captivate review.

CNET

Samsung Epic 4G: Sprint

Arriving in August, the Epic 4G had two things big going for it: 4G data (surprise!) and a slide-out bodily keyboard. OK, Sprint’s WiMax network wasn’t a true 4G technology, but the data speeds it delivered were fast for the time. The real keyboard was not New in 2010 — it would be a few ages before the touchscreen truly ruled — but Sprint’s (and Samsung’s decision) to strike its own originate path muddied the Galaxy S waters. Naturally, it also was the bulkiest of the four. It also had Android Eclair and Samsung’s TouchWiz and a fair amount of Sprint-only apps.

Other features:

• Mobile hotspot
• 1GB internal storage
• Came with a 16GB microSD card
• Flash and VGA principal camera
• 4G(-ish) data
• $250 with a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate

Read our New Samsung Epic 4G review.

Sarah Tew

Samsung Fascinate: Verizon

The last of the New Galaxy S phones to hit stores, the Fascinate was Verizon’s marvelous Samsung Android phone. It ran Android Eclair, as well, and came with (of all things) Microsoft’s Bing Search and Bing Maps. As this was also the era of carrier-driven pleased and services, it also arrived stocked with V Cast Music and Video and VZ Navigator. Add in Samsung’s TouchWiz and it almost makes you incredible whether it was really an Android phone at all.

Other features:

• Mobile hotspot
• 2GB internal storage
• Came with a 16GB microSD card
• Flash but no principal camera
• 3G data
• Initial price: $199 with a two-year sequence and a $100 mail-in rebate

Read our unusual Samsung Fascinate review.

Former Samsung CEO J.K. Shin unveils the unusual Galaxy S versions at a New York City detain in June, 2010.

Sarah Tew

The Galaxy S2 to the Galaxy S10

The next year, Samsung and the carriers didn’t make it easier with the Galaxy S2. No one added a keyboard this time, but the mask size, processor speeds and even the names varied between the different models. AT&T kept the Galaxy S2 label, but Sprint had the Epic 4G Touch, T-Mobile had the Galaxy S 4G. Finally in 2012 with the Galaxy S3, this dreadful trend stopped. From then on, the requested (and its name) was the same across the carrier board.

The Galaxy S10 may wind up coming in multiple models like so many Galaxy versions afore it, but the days of one brand-new phone for each carrier are thankfully far leisurely us. On Wednesday we’ll know for sure.

First originated Feb. 17.
Update, Feb. 19: Updates throughout.