Announced in March 2010 and available from June 2010, the Samsung Galaxy S (I9000) was Samsung's 2010 Android flagship and the model that helped establish the Galaxy S line. CNET awarded the phone a 9.0 score, praising its Super AMOLED display and strong web/media performance. The device sold strongly after launch — Samsung reported 10 million units sold by January 2011, including roughly 4 million in North America and 2.5 million in Europe — which underlines its market impact.
This review synthesizes contemporary coverage and tests: CNET's hands-on review and scoring, benchmark reporting that highlighted Samsung's Hummingbird (S5PC110) 1GHz processor and PowerVR SGX graphics capable of Samsung-reported 90 million triangles per second, community retrospectives on sales milestones, and user reports about long-term wear issues from community and forum posts.
High-level verdict: the original Galaxy S delivered class-leading display and media/web performance for its time — Super AMOLED plus broad codec support (DivX and FLAC) made it a media powerhouse — but it showed real weaknesses in materials and some OEM software polish. If you prioritise screen quality, online speed and media playback, it remains a historically important and capable device; if you want premium build materials or a clean, unique industrial design, the Galaxy S's plastic chassis and iPhone-like front will disappoint.
How fast was the Galaxy S in real-world and benchmarks?
Samsung equipped the Galaxy S with its in-house S5PC110 'Hummingbird' chipset clocked at 1GHz and a PowerVR SGX graphics core; Samsung told press the GPU could process up to 90 million triangles per second. Independent early benchmarks (Linpack and popular Android benchmark apps) used at the time placed the Galaxy S ahead of contemporaries in graphics-heavy tests versus Snapdragon-based phones.
CNET's coverage and benchmark reports from the period credited the phone with 'great online performance' and strong media handling; that combination made the Galaxy S feel quick in web browsing and playback tasks common in 2010.
Was the Super AMOLED screen and codec support a real advantage?
Yes: CNET singled out the Galaxy S's Super AMOLED display as 'stunning' — the screen was one of the defining hardware features that set the phone apart from rivals at launch. The handset also supported codecs like DivX and FLAC, which CNET listed among the device's strengths for media playback.
That combination of a standout display and broad codec support made the Galaxy S a strong choice for video and audio playback compared with many contemporaries, and reviewers of the time repeatedly highlighted its media strengths in hands-on tests.
Stylish front, but materials and long-term finish raised complaints
Externally the Galaxy S closely resembled prevailing smartphone designs: CNET described the front as a 'spitting image' of the iPhone with rounded corners, stainless-steel trim and a central home key, while the rear bore Samsung's more familiar flat plastic back and a square camera module in the top-left corner.
Multiple sources raised build-quality concerns: CNET listed a 'cheap-feeling plastic chassis' as a negative, and community reports (forum and Reddit posts) cite real user complaints such as the outer coating on the plastic wearing out quickly and charging-port cover failures that harmed water resistance over time.
Android experience, widgets and web browsing
At launch the Galaxy S ran Samsung's Android build with custom widgets and UI additions; CNET called many of Samsung's widgets 'mostly ugly', even as they acknowledged the phone's 'slick' internal experience. The device's online and browsing performance received praise—CNET specifically noted 'great online performance'.
Usability leaned on the hardware: the fast Hummingbird processor and strong graphics performance supported smooth browsing and media apps of the day, but some OEM software elements and widget design were seen as weaker parts of the package by reviewers.
Sales, influence and what users remember
The Galaxy S carved out a big market footprint: Samsung's community timeline notes 10 million units sold by January 2011, with about 4 million of those in North America and 2.5 million in Europe. The model helped popularize Super AMOLED in Samsung's mainstream Android line-up and set the stage for subsequent Galaxy S generations.
Long-term user feedback captured in forums and community threads highlights the phone's strong initial impressions in display and performance, balanced against build and durability complaints — an early example of Samsung's strategy of leading on hardware capabilities while iterating on materials and software polish over later generations.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Super AMOLED display described by CNET as 'stunning' — a standout hardware feature at launch
- ✅ Built-in support for DivX and FLAC codecs for wide media playback compatibility (noted by CNET)
- ✅ Samsung S5PC110 'Hummingbird' chipset at 1GHz with PowerVR SGX graphics (Samsung-cited 90 million triangles/sec) provided class-leading graphics and web responsiveness in 2010 benchmarks
- ✅ Strong market performance: reported 10 million units sold by January 2011 (4M North America, 2.5M Europe), indicating broad consumer acceptance
- ❌ Cheap-feeling plastic chassis and trim — CNET listed materials as a negative
- ❌ Front design closely resembles Apple's iPhone, drawing criticism for lack of originality (CNET)
- ❌ Many of Samsung's bundled widgets were judged 'mostly ugly' by CNET, affecting software polish
- ❌ Long-term durability complaints in community reports: outer coating wore out quickly and charging-port cover failures harmed water resistance (forum/Reddit reports)
How It Compares to the Competition
- HTC Desire — Snapdragon-based rival that benchmarked differently against the Galaxy S; Galaxy S's Hummingbird GPU offered stronger graphics throughput per contemporary reports.
- Google Nexus One — Another 2010 Android flagship used in head-to-head benchmarks; Galaxy S outperformed in GPU-heavy tests according to early benchmark coverage.
- Apple iPhone 3GS — Design comparisons were frequent — reviewers noted the Galaxy S's front resembled the iPhone's styling, but Samsung prioritized display and codec support where Apple differed.
- Samsung Wave — Samsung's Bada-powered Wave preceded Galaxy S in using Super AMOLED; Galaxy S helped move Samsung fully into mainstream Android despite Wave being first to market with the panel.
Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It
Buy it if: Buy if you want a historically significant 2010 Android flagship with a market-leading Super AMOLED display, wide media codec support (DivX/FLAC), and a Hummingbird 1GHz chipset that delivered class-leading graphics and web responsiveness at the time.
Skip it if: Skip this device if you prioritise premium metal or glass materials, unique industrial design, or long-term durability out of the box — contemporaneous reviews and community reports flagged a cheap-feeling plastic chassis and coating/water-resistance issues over time.
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