Sprint launches Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, pre-orders get a solid $250 discount

Sprint has recently lit up its 5G network in four major US cities and just a couple of weeks after the launch of the service, it adds one more phone to its fleet of 5G handsets: the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is now available for pre-order.

The Galaxy S10 5G is a big phone that is packed to the gills, just as you'd expect from a premium flagship. It features a beautiful 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, an even larger size than the 6.4" screen on the S10+, it runs on the the Snapdragon 855 system chip and it has four cameras on its back, the three main ones are the same as on the S10+, while the fourth camera is a depth sensor. The S10 5G also comes with a massive 4500mAh battery to ensure the phone can handle the new requirements of the 5G network.

The Galaxy S10 5G pre-orders on Sprint start today and those who pre-order qualify for a $250 discount. This brings the price of the phone down to $40.28 per month on an 18-month lease. After the 18-month lease ends, you can return the phone and upgrade to a new model, or opt to pay 6 additional months and own the device. This brings the total cost of the Galaxy S10 5G to $966 (24 monthly payments of $40.28).

Sprint's other 5G phone, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is also offered at a discount currently. It costs $24 per month on an 18-month lease with the same conditions: at month 18, you can return it and upgrade, or pay 6 more installments to own the device. The total cost of the LG V50 works out to just $576, which is 40% lower than the price you would pay for Samsung's 5G phone.

If you want to use 5G on Sprint, you need to sign up for the carrier's most expensive Unlimited Premium plan that costs $80 per month for one line. The plan includes nationwide Unlimited data, talk and text, as well as free Hulu, Amazon Prime, Twitch Prime, Tidal HiFi, Full HD video streaming and 100GB mobile hotspot.

The Galaxy S10 5G pre-orders are open now and the phone will be available in stores next Friday, June 21. You will be able to first get the phone in the cities where 5G is available, which currently include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Kansas City. Sprint is expected to expand its 5G network to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C over the next few weeks.

Sprint is the only US carrier that has started its 5G roll-out using mid-band spectrum rather than mmWave. Mid-band frequencies travel longer distances and ensure much wider coverage than the mmWave technology in use with Verizon and AT&T for example. This means that while you will not be able to get 1Gbps+ speeds on Sprint, you will actually have decent coverage, something that the other major US carriers cannot quite offer yet. To learn more about how 5G networks work and what are the differences in implementation, feel free to read our USA 5G networks primer.