Samsung Galaxy

**Samsung Galaxy** (Korean: 삼성 갤럭시, stylized as **SΛMSUNG Galaxy** since 2015 (except Japan where it omits the Samsung branding), previously stylized as **Samsung GALAXY**; abbreviated as **SG**) is a series of computing and mobile computing devices that are designed, manufactured and marketed by Samsung. The product line includes the Samsung Galaxy S Series of high-end smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab series of tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note series of tablets and phablets with the added functionality of a stylus, the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z series, and smartwatches including the first version of the Samsung Galaxy Gear, with later versions dropping the Galaxy branding, until the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch in 2018.

Samsung Galaxy devices use the Android operating system produced by Google, with a custom user interface called One UI (with previous versions being known as Samsung Experience and TouchWiz). However, the Galaxy Tab Pro S is the first Galaxy-branded Windows 10 device that was announced in CES 2016.

The Galaxy Watch is the first Galaxy-branded smartwatch since the release of later iterations of the Gear smartwatch from 2014 to 2017. In 2020, Samsung added the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2-in-1 laptop running ChromeOS to the Galaxy branding lineup. The follow-on Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 was released in 2021.

## Definitions

### Categories

#### Current

* Galaxy Z, high-end foldable devices
* Galaxy S, the flagship series with the newest features
* Galaxy A, a midrange series with more features than the M series
* Galaxy M, a slightly more budget alternative to the A series
* Galaxy F, another A series alternative sold in developing countries
* Galaxy Xcover, rugged business phones with lower specifications

#### Discontinued

* Galaxy Note, devices with a large screen and a stylus (discontinued in 2021). Replaced by the S Ultra models.
* Galaxy J, low-end devices (discontinued in 2019). Merged with Galaxy A.
* Galaxy Y, small smartphone device (discontinued in 2014).

### Model numbers

Since September 2013, model numbers of devices in the Samsung Galaxy series are in the "SM-ABCDE" format (excluding the Galaxy J SC-02F, Galaxy Centura SCH-S738C, and SGH-N075T), where A is the model series, B is the device class, C is the generation, D is the device type, and E is the country/region that is made for (if applicable). Previously, from 2009 until September 2013, the model numbers were in the "GT-XXXXX" format.

#### Phones

* SM-Sxxx — S series model from S22 and later
* SM-Gxxx — S series (S5 — S21), F series model
* SM-Nxxx — mainstream Note model (New type of model number)
* SM-Axxx — A series model
* SM-Mxxx — M series model
* GT-Sxxx2/ SM-Gxxx/DS / SM-Gxxx/DD SM-Gxxx2 Dual-SIM “Duos” model
* GT-Nxxx0/GT-Nxxx5 – Galaxy Note 1 and 2 (International 3G/4G, respectively)
* GT-Nxxx3 – Unlocked Galaxy Note 1 and 2 (US/Canada)
* GT-Ixxx0/GT-Ixxx5 – Galaxy S4 and earlier models (International 3G/4G LTE, respectively)
* GT-Ixxx3 – Unlocked Galaxy S4 and earlier models (US/Canada)
* SGH – GSM handset
* SPH – Sprint handset
* SCH – Verizon/US Cellular handset
* SHV/SHW – Korean handset

#### Tablets

* SM-Xxxx — Tab S models from S8 and later
* SM-Txx0/1/5/6 – mainstream Tab model (Tab 3 to Tab S7)
* SM-Pxx0/5 – mainstream Tab with built-in S Pen stylus model (Note 10.1 2014, Tab A 10.1, etc.)
* SM-Wxxx — Windows model (i.e., Galaxy Book)
* GT-Nxx00/GT-Pxx20 – older mainstream Tab with built-in S Pen stylus model (Note 8.0 and 10.1, 3G/4G LTE respectively)
* GT-Nxx13 – older mainstream Tab with built-in S Pen stylus model (Note 8.0 and 10.1, US/Canada Wi-Fi)
* GT-Nxx10 – older mainstream Tab with built-in S Pen stylus model (Note 8.0 and 10.1, International Wi-Fi)
* GT-Pxx00/GT-Pxx20 – older mainstream Tab model (Tab 1 to Tab 3, 3G/4G LTE respectively)
* GT-Pxx13 – older mainstream Tab model (Tab 1 to Tab 3, US/Canada Wi-Fi)
* GT-Pxx10 – older mainstream Tab model (Tab 1 to Tab 3, International Wi-Fi)
* GT-Snnn5/GT-Nnnn5/GT-Pnnn5/GT-Innn5/SM-NnnnF/SM-Tnn5/SM-GnnnF – 4G/LTE model

#### Regions

* A: AT&T
* P: Sprint
* R4: US Cellular
* T: T-Mobile
* V: Verizon
* U: USA carrier locked
* U1: USA factory unlocked
* N: Korea
* W: Canada
* 0: China mainland (phones)
* C: China mainland (tablets)
* B: International 5G
* F: International 4G/LTE

### Firmware numbering

The following is a list of known firmware regions.

#### Korea

* KS: Korea (phones)
* KO: Korea (cellular tablets)
* XX: All Wi-Fi tablets

#### Americas

* SQ: USA (carrier locked phones)
* UE: USA (carrier unlocked phones and Wi-Fi tablets), Canada (Wi-Fi tablets)
* VL: Canada (all variants except Wi-Fi tablets)
* UB: Latin America & Caribbean
* XX: All Wi-Fi tablets

#### China

* ZC: China mainland (all devices)
* ZH: Hong Kong/Taiwan (all phones)
* XX: Hong Kong/Taiwan (all tablets)

## Background

The original Samsung Galaxy was launched in 2009 as Samsung's first Android powered device. At the time, the brand's flagship smartphone was the Samsung Omnia and its successor, powered by Windows Mobile. Omnia had been the second full-touch Samsung device running the TouchWiz user interface (after the Tocco), but the Galaxy had an unmodified Google Android interface; the TouchWiz UI made its way to the Galaxy series with the Samsung Galaxy S. The Galaxy S and its successor Galaxy S II became very successful, eclipsing the company's other lines and operating systems. During the decade, the Samsung Galaxy phones “became the company's most-praised products and also were among the best-selling smartphones in the world.”

## Devices

### Phones

After their introduction in the 2000s, the Samsung Galaxy phones “became the company’s most-praised products [and] also were among the best-selling smartphones in the world.”

#### Samsung Galaxy Z (Zen) series

The Galaxy Z series is a line of high-end foldable smartphones. The line started in 2019 with the Galaxy Z Fold. The latest phones from this series are the Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Galaxy Z Fold5, both released in July 2023.

#### Samsung Galaxy S (Super Smart) series

The Galaxy S series is a line of high-end smartphones. The latest models are the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, released in January 2024.

#### Samsung Galaxy A (Alpha) series

The Galaxy A series is a line of mid-range to high-end Android smartphones manufactured by Samsung Electronics. The Galaxy A series is similar to the high-end Galaxy S series, but with lower specifications and features. The latest models are the Galaxy A14, Galaxy A34, and Galaxy A54, released in 2023.

#### Samsung Galaxy M (Millennial) series

The Galaxy M series is a line of online-exclusive, mid-range; considered as the successor to the Galaxy J and Galaxy On series.

#### Samsung Galaxy F (Fun/Flipkart) series

The Galaxy F series is a newer line of mid-range to low-end phones.

#### Galaxy XCover series

The Galaxy XCover series is a line of rugged “business” phones, which have low-end specifications, but with stronger build quality and durability.

#### Discontinued lines

Samsung released multiple series of smartphones, often overlapping with each other. Most of these series were dropped.

* The Galaxy Note series was a line of high-end devices primarily oriented towards pen computing. The line was replaced by the Galaxy S Ultra series.
* The Galaxy Core/Grand series is a line of mid-range devices released between 2013 and 2015. The line was replaced by the J series.
* The Galaxy J series was a line of entry-range phones, replaced by the Galaxy A series in 2019.
* The Galaxy Mega series was last updated in 2014 with the Samsung Galaxy Mega 2. The line's successor is the Galaxy M series.
* The Galaxy On series is a line of online-exclusive phones. The series was replaced by the Galaxy M series.
* The Galaxy Mini series was last updated in 2012 with the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2.
* The Galaxy Trend series was last updated in 2013 with the Samsung Galaxy Trend Plus.
* The Galaxy Ace series was last updated in 2014 with the Samsung Galaxy Ace 4.
* The Galaxy R Series was last updated in 2012 with the Samsung Galaxy R Style.
* The Galaxy Young Series is a low-end line. It was last updated in 2014 with the Samsung Galaxy Young 2.
* The Galaxy Pocket series was last updated in 2014 with the Samsung Galaxy Pocket 2.
* The Galaxy C series was a line of upper mid-range devices for specific markets. The latest device released under this line is the Samsung Galaxy C8.
* The Galaxy E series was replaced by Galaxy F Series.

#### Other phones

* Galaxy Nexus
* Samsung Galaxy (2009)
* Samsung Galaxy 3
* Samsung Galaxy 5
* Samsung Galaxy Discover
* Samsung Galaxy Express
* Samsung Galaxy Express 2
* Samsung Galaxy Fame
* Samsung Galaxy Feel
* Samsung Galaxy Folder
* Samsung Galaxy Folder 2
* Samsung Galaxy Gio
* Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
* Samsung Galaxy Prevail
* Samsung Galaxy Round
* Samsung Galaxy Star
* Samsung Galaxy Star Pro
* Samsung Galaxy W
* Samsung Galaxy Win
* Samsung Galaxy Z

### Tablets

#### Samsung Galaxy Tab Series

*Main article: Samsung Galaxy Tab series*

The Samsung Galaxy Tab series is a line of Android-powered tablets that debuted in 2010. There are two sub-categories currently under this series:

* The Galaxy Tab S is a line of high-end tablets, with a focus on productivity and pen computing. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ & S8 Ultra are the latest devices, released in February 2022.
* The Galaxy Tab A is a line of mid-range to low-end tablets.

### Wearables

#### Smartwatches

*Main articles: Samsung Gear and Samsung Galaxy Watch series*
Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Gear, a smartwatch running Android 4.3, on 4 September 2013. The Galaxy Gear was Samsung's only smartwatch to feature Galaxy branding; later Samsung smartwatches use the Samsung Gear branding. The Gear series was later succeeded by the Samsung Galaxy Watch series.

In a software update in May 2014, Samsung replaced the operating system of the Galaxy Gear from Android to Tizen. Samsung's One UI, which is running on newer Samsung Galaxy devices released after 2019, is available to Samsung Galaxy Watch on 20 May 2019.

#### Activity trackers

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Fit, an activity tracker positioned below the Galaxy Watch line. The first iteration was released on 2019. Samsung later announced the Galaxy Fit2, which is a follow-up of their first tracker from 2019.

#### Wireless earbuds

*Main article: Samsung Galaxy Buds series*

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Buds, which is the new replacement to the Samsung Gear IconX.. The first iteration was released on 20 February 2019. Subsequent Galaxy Buds iterations will be revealed during the Galaxy Unpacked event annually.