We recently took a look at the Samsung Galaxy S10+ which I would say is the best smartphone money can buy (at the time this article was written). We are now taking a look at the Samsung Galaxy S10e.
The Galaxy S10e is the smallest of the S10 range which is made up of the S10 and S10+. While the S10 and S10+ have similar specs, the S10e is at the bottom of the tech chain. You may be thinking that this is a bad thing and if you are comparing just the specs, then sure maybe it is. But if you are looking at the overall package of the device, then it may not be a bad thing at all. Read my review below to find out why this is not a bad thing!
Design:
The Galaxy S10e will be best suited for those that don’t want to carry around a large phone but still want the benefits of a flagship device. The S10e measures in at 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm which is about the same size as the iPhone XR. So one of the benefits of the S10e over the S10/S10+ has to be its size.
The S10e does have a few notable design differences to the S10 and S10+. Firstly, you will notice that there is a single pinhole camera on the display compared to the dual pinhole camera on the S10+. Secondly, while the S10 and S10+ have three rear cameras, the S10 only has two rear cameras.
You will also notice that the S10e has a thicker bezel on the display compared to the infinity display that the S10 and S10+ have.
The S10e still gets the same build and material quality like its siblings, such as its aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 rear back.
You will also find a volume rocker and Bixby button on the left of the device and a headphone jack and USB Type-C port at the bottom.
Lastly, the S10e has a super-fast fingerprint sensor located on the right of the device, which also doubles as a power button. This is instead of the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that the S10/S10+ has under the display. This for me is a major win as I would prefer to have a physical fingerprint button any day, than one under the display. I just find when you are rushed to unlock your phone (which is always), it is too time-consuming to get your finger in the right spot on the display.
The S10e comes in a range of funky colours. Yellow, Prism White, Green and Black.
Display:
The Galaxy S10e has a 5.8” Full HD Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O Display. This is compared to the 6.1″ and 6.4″ Quad HD display of the S10/S10+. One of the most notable differences is the lack of a curved display on the S10e. On the S10e you are fixed to one screen resolution, so this can’t be changed like the S10/S10+. I don’t see this as an issue as the resolution is set right for the screen size and performs as it should. You also get the support of HDR10+, giving real colours and contrast for each scene. The screen also performs well in daylight thanks to the brighter screen!
Processor/Ram:
While at the bottom of the range, the S10e packs some decent processing power with a 2.7GHz Octo Core processor as well as 6GB of RAM. This combination gives the S10e performance that will suit most users. Even when I tested out some heavy multitasking, the S10e held its own and showed its siblings how it performs.
Camera:
My favourite feature of the S10+ is definitely the camera setup, so upon getting my hands on the S10e, I was interested to see how its cameras would perform. The S10e comes with a dual rear camera consisting of a 12MP +16MP lens and one single
10MP front camera.
Starting at the rear, the 12MP is the standard (normal) lens which has a Dual Aperture of F1.5 or F2.4. While the 16MP gives you a single Aperture of F2.2 and this is the wide-angle lens. The Wide-angle lens is really useful when you want to capture a wider field of view from the same viewpoint. Unfortunately, the S10e lacks the telephoto lens (the third lens) that you get on the S10/S10+ which lets you get much closer to your subject.
Both rear cameras capture photos with rich tones and colours in daylight with excellent dynamic range. At night, they both do a really good job of letting in the right amount of light but the 12MP, thanks to its dual aperture lens, lets in more light so even in low light conditions, you have well-lit photos. You also get front and rear Auto Focus and Optical Image Stabilization on the rear camera. Last but not least, there is the scene optimizer which automatically optimizes your camera settings to the scene, so you always get the perfect setting for your image. I have always enjoyed shooting with the Galaxy range of devices and the Galaxy S10e is no different.
The digital zoom is also pretty impressive:
The front camera has a 10MP lens with an aperture of F1.8. There is a wide-angle selfie mode which lets you include more people or in the below case, my hat:
The selfie camera takes crisp and well-lit images. There is even a flash mode to ensure that you get the right lighting at night. I even found the autofocus to be really fast as selfies happen quickly and blurry faces suck. Luckily with the S10e this is not a problem.
Sample Photos taken around Cape Town:
The S10e also has live focus which we saw on the S10/S10+. Live focus mode uses the dual-camera setup to allow you to blur the background after you take photos. This allows you to make the focus of the image the subject in the foreground. This mode replicates the “bokeh effect” which we see on DSLRS. This feature has a couple of filters which you can see here:
You can record video in up to UHD (4K / 3840 X 2160) @ 60fps. If you want to capture special moments in slow motion, you can do so @ 960fps in HD or 240fps @FHD.
Other features worth noting:
You certainly won’t be running out of storage thanks to the 128GB of internal storage and the support of a MicroSD card up to 512GB.
Just like the S10+, the S10e supports Wireless PowerShare which lets you charge Qi-certified devices by simply holding your S10e against another device. This also lets you charge a wireless accessory such as the Galaxy Buds.
The S10e can be taken wherever you go throughout your day. Thanks to its IP68 rating, which is the highest mobile device standard for water and dust resistance.
The S10e also comes with Samsung’s AI, Bixby. You can use Bixby to make a call, add an event to your calendar or if you need someone to talk to, Bixby can tell you a joke. You can also use Bixby in the camera to give you information about an object or translate for you.
The fun to use ArEmoji comes with the S10e, just like the S10/S10+. With ArEmoji, you can create lifelike emojis that look just like you and then you can use the camera to get them to mimic your movements. This is a fun feature I will never get over!
Lastly, your data will be safe thanks to Samsung Knox which protects your phone at every level. The S10e also supports biometric authentication such as facial recognition and fingerprint for easy unlocking. Don’t forget about the fingerprint sensor!
Software:
The Galaxy S10e comes loaded with the latest version of Android – Android 9 or better known as Android Pie. Much like we have seen on every Samsung device, the S10e does come with some bloatware (Apps that you may not need but are preinstalled) but to be honest, I did not even worry about uninstalling these apps, as I never once felt my device to be slow. To be fair, some of these apps do turn out to be useful (I found this out when setting up my Galaxy Buds). Much like the S10+, the S10e also makes use of Samsung’s One UI which ensures that your device has an easy to use look and feel. Overall the device performs smoothly and the UI is really easy on the eye and simple to use!
Battery:
The Galaxy S10e has a 3100mAh battery which gives you about a day or even more of battery life. While you may note that the baby of the S10 range has the smallest battery, it is important to note that it does not require a larger battery thanks to it not being as powerful as the S10/S10+. If you do struggle with battery life, there are handy battery saving modes to save some juice. I found the battery saving modes weren’t really necessary for me and I actually don’t even use one on the S10+. The S10e also supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, which allows you to perform quick wireless charging. With the included fast charger, you should be able to add 50% juice in 30 minutes, which is perfect for those quick charges before heading out.
What’s in the box:
- Data Cable
- Travel Adapter
- Ejection Pin
- USB Connector
- Earphones sound by AKG
- Cover
Price:
So what is the damage? The S10e comes in at R15999 which is slightly less than the Galaxy S10 (R18999) and the Galaxy S10+ (R20999/R25999). Considering you are still getting a flagship-level Samsung device at a decent saving, the S10e is certainly well priced for those looking for “something less” that still has the “something more” factor. *Please note these are the prices when the phone launched in Feb 2019. I suggest checking Google, Price Check and Takealot to find updated pricing as there are always deals around.
Verdict:
It is always easier to just choose the best when it comes to getting a phone. But is the best always the right value for money? Is the best always what you actually need? After spending some time with the Samsung Galaxy S10e, the answer to the above is a big no. The reason is simple. Not everyone needs all the features of the top range flagship (such as the Galaxy S10+) and not everyone can afford to buy the best either. For me, the S10e is the solution to this problem. You are getting a well built and specced product with similar if not the same features as the S10/S10+, but in a smaller form factor at a cheaper price.
Now yes, I use the S10+ and love all of its features (you can read what I love about the S10+ in my Galaxy S10+ review) but if you won’t be using all the features I use, then why spend the extra money when you can settle for phone nearly as good?! And that is where the Samsung Galaxy S10+ comes in!
Where to buy: https://www.samsung.com/za/smartphones/galaxy-s10/buy/
