[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronic is reportedly testing a Galaxy S10 prototype phone with a triple-lens camera, the first of its kind, according to The Bell on July 9. 

Samsung plans to launch three variants of the Galaxy S10 next year, including a premium large-screen Galaxy S10+ whose project name is Beyond 2, a basic Galaxy S10 or Beyond 1 and a cheaper version or Beyond 0. 

The report said the upcoming Galaxy S10+ is expected to feature a whopping five camera lenses -- a front-facing dual-lens camera and a rear-facing triple-lens camera. 

The current Galaxy S9+ that was launched earlier this year features a 12-megapixel rear-facing dual-lens camera. The report said a 16-megapixel "super-wide angle" camera will be added to greatly improve landscape photography. 

The front-facing camera also will be upgraded with a dual-lens camera for improved selfie functions. The camera was first featured in the Galaxy A9, Samsung’s budget smartphone launched early this year. The camera comes with 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel lenses that support bokeh effects.

In the meantime, the report said, the basic S10 is expected to come with a front-facing single-lens camera and a rear-facing triple-lens camera, while the cheaper version is expected to come with a front-facing single-lens camera and a rear-facing dual-lens camera.

Samsung’s parts-making unit Samsung Electro-Mechanics that has supplied the rear-facing camera modules for the S series will be supplying the triple-lens camera modules.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)