Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago when the first Galaxy S hit the shelves. Back in 2010, the idea of a "super-phone" was still kinda new. Fast forward to 2026, and looking at the list of samsung s series is basically like looking at a timeline of how we became obsessed with our pockets.
Samsung didn't just stumble into being the "Android King." They fought for it. They experimented with weird plastic, curved glass that nobody asked for at first, and eventually, the massive "Ultra" beasts we see today. If you're trying to track down a specific model or just want to see how far we've come from 512MB of RAM, you're in the right place.
The OG Era: When Buttons Were Real
The original Samsung Galaxy S (2010) was a gamble. It had a 4-inch screen. People thought that was huge! It’s funny now, considering the S26 Ultra is pushing nearly 7 inches. This was the phone that introduced us to Super AMOLED, which is basically the reason your screen looks so vibrant today.
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Then came the Galaxy S2. This phone was a legend. It sold 10 million units in five months. It was thin, light, and actually felt like it could take on the iPhone.
The S3 followed in 2012 with that "pebble" design. Remember the "Nature UX" sounds? The water droplet noises every time you touched the screen? It was a bit much, but people loved it. By the time the S4 arrived in 2013, Samsung was throwing everything at the wall. Eye-tracking, air gestures, health sensors—it was the peak of "feature creep," but it worked.
The Experimental Middle Years
Around 2014, things got a bit rocky. The Galaxy S5 was... well, it looked like a Band-Aid. That dimpled plastic back was a choice. But, it gave us the first IP67 water resistance in the main line. It was practical, even if it wasn't pretty.
2015 changed everything with the S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung finally ditched the plastic for glass and metal.
It looked premium.
It felt expensive.
But they killed the SD card slot and the removable battery. Fans were furious.
They fixed that with the S7 and S7 Edge in 2016. That phone is often called the "perfect" Galaxy. It brought back the SD card and perfected the curved glass. Honestly, if you still have an S7 in a drawer somewhere, it probably still looks modern.
The Bezels Start to Vanish
The Galaxy S8 (2017) was a "wow" moment. The Infinity Display removed the physical home button and moved the fingerprint sensor to the back—right next to the camera lens. Everyone hated that placement, but they loved the screen.
The S9 and S10 followed, mostly refining that look. The S10 (2019) was a big deal because it was the 10th anniversary. We got the S10e (the "compact" one people still miss), the standard S10, and the S10+. This was also the first time we saw the "punch-hole" camera instead of a notch.
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The Rise of the Ultra (2020 - 2024)
In 2020, Samsung changed the naming scheme. They jumped from S10 to S20. Why? Mostly for marketing. This was also the birth of the "Ultra."
The S20 Ultra was a monster with 100x "Space Zoom." It was overkill, and the autofocus was a bit wonky at launch, but it set the stage. The S21 (2021) tried to make the camera bump look like part of the frame. Then the S22 Ultra basically ate the Note series. It brought back the built-in S Pen, and the S series hasn't looked back since.
The S23 and S24 focused heavily on efficiency. Switching to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3 "for Galaxy" meant these phones finally stopped overheating. They became reliable. The S24, specifically, pushed "Galaxy AI" into the spotlight, which brought us things like Circle to Search.
The 2025 and 2026 Frontier
We've just seen the S25 series settle into the market. The S25 Ultra bumped the screen up to 6.9 inches while actually managing to feel smaller because of those 15% thinner bezels. It’s also the year Samsung went "All Elite" with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, focusing heavily on on-device AI that doesn't need the cloud.
And now, as we look toward the February 25, 2026 launch of the S26 series, the rumors are getting specific.
We are likely looking at:
- Galaxy S26: The 6.3-inch "base" model.
- Galaxy S26+: The middle child with a 4,900mAh battery.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: The powerhouse with a rumored 324MP main sensor.
The S26 Ultra is expected to finally move to 60W fast charging. It’s about time. Samsung has been stuck at 45W for years while competitors were hitting 100W+. There's also talk about the S26 Ultra switching to a 2nm process for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which would make it the most power-efficient phone Samsung has ever built.
Chronological List of Samsung S Series (Main Models)
- Galaxy S (2010)
- Galaxy S2 (2011)
- Galaxy S3 (2012)
- Galaxy S4 (2013)
- Galaxy S5 (2014)
- Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge / S6 Edge+ (2015)
- Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge (2016)
- Galaxy S8 / S8+ (2017)
- Galaxy S9 / S9+ (2018)
- Galaxy S10e / S10 / S10+ / S10 5G (2019)
- Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra / S20 FE (2020)
- Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra / S21 FE (2021)
- Galaxy S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra (2022)
- Galaxy S23 / S23+ / S23 Ultra / S23 FE (2023)
- Galaxy S24 / S24+ / S24 Ultra / S24 FE (2024)
- Galaxy S25 / S25+ / S25 Ultra / S25 Edge (2025)
- Galaxy S26 / S26+ / S26 Ultra (Expected 2026)
Which one should you actually care about?
If you're looking at this list of samsung s series to buy a phone today, don't just go for the oldest or the newest.
The S23 series is still the "sweet spot" for many because it was the first to really fix the battery life issues of the S22. However, the S24 and S25 come with a 7-year software update guarantee. That’s huge. It means an S25 bought today will still be getting security patches in 2032.
The S22 series is generally the one to avoid. It used chips that ran hot and drained the battery way too fast. If you're buying used, skip the 22 and go for an S23 or even a refurbished S21 Ultra if you want the big screen on a budget.
Summary for the S Series Enthusiast
Samsung’s journey from the plastic S4 to the titanium S25 Ultra shows a company that isn't afraid to pivot. They’ve survived the Note 7 disaster (different series, but it affected everything), the "boring" years of the S9, and the transition to AI-first hardware.
As we move into 2026, the focus is shifting away from just "more megapixels" to "smarter pixels." Whether you want the tiny S25 for one-handed use or the S26 Ultra for its rumored 3x and 5x optical upgrades, the S series remains the standard for what an Android phone can do.
Practical Next Steps
- Check your current model's trade-in value: Samsung is aggressive with trade-ins, often giving $600-$800 for phones that are two years old.
- Verify your software end-date: If you have an S20 or older, your security updates have likely stopped or are about to. It's time to upgrade for safety.
- Wait for February: If you're eyeing an S25, wait until the S26 announcement in late February 2026. Prices for the "older" S25 will drop significantly the moment the S26 is official.