Samsung has introduced the Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition, a mission-ready smartphone especially built for the military.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition (TE for short), features customized software and features tailored to the specific needs of “operators in the federal government and Department of Defense (DoD),” supporting a range of military peripherals and applications designed for tactical and classified missions.
In terms of data encryption and security, the Galaxy S20 TE features DualDAR architecture, adding two layers of NSA-standard data encryption, securing your “top-secret level data for classified missions.”
The Galaxy S20 TE helps operators stay connected as it works seamlessly with tactical radios and mission systems, right out of the box, as well as multi-ethernet capabilities that provide dedicated connections to mission systems. Furthermore, the device supports Private SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and CBRS.
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For users wearing night-vision goggles, the Galaxy S20 TE provides a night-vision mode that allows them to switch display options. Also, a “stealth mode” lets users disable LTE and mute all RF broadcasting to go totally off-grid if necessary.
The device can also be easily unlocked in landscape mode while mounted to the chest – which is useful if you’re a soldier in the field.
The S20 TE isn’t only suited as a mobile device, though. When connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, it functions a lot like a PC. The device’s powerful 64-bit Octa-Core processor and 12GB of RAM ensure that the device can handle pretty much anything that is thrown at it.
Oh, also… it’s rated IP68, which means it can withstand dust, dirt, and sand, and is resistant to submersion for thirty minutes at a 1.5m depth. So, yeah, you will need a case for it.
Galaxy S20 TE Full Specs
| Specifications | Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.2″ WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2.0, 3200 x 1440 Resolution, Bezel-less Screen, Supports both 60Hz and 120Hz Refresh Rate |
| Color | Cosmic Gray |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (SM8250), Octa-Core 2.8 GHz, 64-bit, 7nm Application Processor |
| Network | LTE Cat 20 S20: Sub-6 5G |
| OS | Android 10 with One UI 2 |
| Dimensions/Weight | 2.7″ x 6.0″ x 0.3″ / 5.7 oz. |
| Camera | Rear: Wide: 12MP, 2PD, OIS, F1.8 / Tele: 64MP, 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom, 30x Digital Zoom, OIS, F2.0 / Ultra-Wide: 12MP, 120˚ FOV, F2.2, Bright Night Mode Front Wide: 10MP, 2PD, AF, F2.2 |
| Video Recording | Front and Rear: 4K up to 60fps and 8K @ 24fps |
| Battery (Typical) | 4,000mAh, Wired super-fast charging and wireless fast charging, wireless charging compatible with WPC/PMA |
| Memory/Storage | 12 GB/128 GB; expandable up to an additional 1 TB with microSD card |
| Audio | MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, DSF, APE |
| Video | MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4G/5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, HE80, MIMO, 1024QAM Bluetooth 5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), ANT+ Location (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou) USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, NFC, PC Sync (Smart Switch, PC version) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Barometer, Ultrasonic Fingerprint, Geomagnetic, Gyro, Hall, Proximity, RGB Light |
| Additional Features | Stealth Mode, Night-Vision Mode, Tactical Application Quick Launch, Lock Screen Auto-Rotate, Auto Touch Sensitivity, Quick Share, IP68, Knox, Wireless PowerShare, Samsung DeX, Bixby, Samsung Pass (NFC, MST), Samsung Internet |
The Samsung Galaxy S20 TE will be available in Q3 2020, however, it will only be available through “select IT channel partners.” Therefore, it is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to get your hands on one unless you’re in the military – or part of some top-secret government mission.