Samsung launched a military-focused smartphone named Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition. This smartphone is designed to fulfill the need of operators in the US federal government and the Department of Defense.
Design-wise it is very similar to the regular Galaxy S20. This additionally includes some high-end software for military use, various modes like night-vision mode, security features, and a rugged case.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition overview
Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition has a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display having a resolution of 1440×3200 pixels. This comes with a standard 120 Hz refresh rate. The display features a hole-punch providing space for the selfie camera.
Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition houses a triple rear camera setup having 12 MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 64 MP telephoto camera with f/2.0 aperture, a 12 MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture. The cameras are aligned in a vertical design. For selfies, this phone has a 10 MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture on the front.
The fingerprint reader is placed under the display of the phone. It measures 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm and weighs 163 grams.
This smartphone is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and runs on One UI 2.0 based on Android 10.
It comes with DeX software that offers a PC-like experience when connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Operators can use the smartphone for completing reports, training, or mission planning.
It is built on Samsung Knox that uses DualDAR architecture to secure the smartphone through dual-layered encryption. It also works even when the smartphone is in a switched-off or an unauthenticated state.
As communication plays a great role in the battlefield, Galaxy TE includes 5G, Private SIM, Wi-Fi 6, and CRBS radio to cover all bases in the field.
Hardware features include a night-vision mode that allows users to turn the display on or off when wearing night-vision eyewear, a body-wearing mode to unlock the screen in landscape mode, and a “Stealth mode” which is a cool way to describe airplane mode.
Samsung Galaxy S20 TE is backed by a 4,000 mAh battery that also supports charging up to 25 W. It also supports 15W wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition full specification
NETWORK | Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
LAUNCH | Announced | 2020, May 21 |
Status | Coming soon | |
BODY | Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) |
Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | |
Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | |
SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM and/or eSIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
DISPLAY | Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | |
Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | |
Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | |
| HDR10+ | |
PLATFORM | OS | Android 10, One UI 2 |
Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) | |
CPU | Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2×2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) – Global | |
GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 – Global | |
MEMORY | Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM | |
| UFS 3.0 | |
MAIN CAMERA | Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | |
Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | |
SELFIE CAMERA | Dual | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2″, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF |
Features | Dual video call, Auto-HDR | |
Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | |
SOUND | Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
3.5mm jack | No | |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
COMMS | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | |
GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | |
NFC | Yes | |
Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | |
USB | 3.2, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go | |
FEATURES | Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| ANT+ Special software for military use | |
BATTERY |
| Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery |
Charging | Fast charging 25W | |
MISC | Colors | Cosmic Grey |
Price | Not announced |
Samsung has also made a range of rugged case solutions, special connectors, and hubs to work with several tactical kits making it suitable for a wide range of mission types.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition will be available in one storage variant i.e 128GB internal storage with 12GB RAM. It will also available in only one color option – Cosmic Gray.
This smartphone won’t be sold to the general public. It will only available through selected IT channel partners. There is no official announcement on the pricing or release outside the US right now.