Samsung Galaxy S10e Review

They say bigger is better. We eat Big Macs, visit the Big Banana, and sing along when Sir Mix-a-Lot croons about big butts. It's also true in the world of smartphones where devices have steadily increased in size over the past decade. So much so that companies are now finding ways to fold screens in half so as to get more even more phone in our pockets.

And then you have the Samsung Galaxy S10e; a phone that bucks the trend. Samsung designs the S10e to be smaller and slightly cheaper, but to achieve both goals there are a few sacrifices made, and we're not convinced that Samsung has made great decisions in what has got the chop.

Compared to the larger Galaxy S10 and S10+, the S10e is smaller in all dimensions. It's a tad shorter and not as wide as the standard S10. It is 7g lighter in the hand and the screen is 5.8-inches diagonally with a lower resolution panel. Not that you miss the extra pixels: the screen in the S10e is as vibrant and sharp as any recent Samsung smartphone. Displays as still one of the main reasons to choose a Samsung phone over a competitor's model.

While the S10e comes with the same processor as the larger variants, and the performance is great, it has less RAM and a smaller battery. Having used the different S10 handsets we can tell you that you won't miss the extra RAM but you will feel the smaller battery.

One of the key selling features of the S10 (and S10+) is the addition of an 'ultrasonic' fingerprint scanner positioned below the screen. This is absent in the S10e, where the fingerprint scanner is intermingled with the Power Button on the right-side of the phone. This doesn't sound as cool as an 'ultrasonic' scanner, but it is far more reliable. I found the position of the power button is a bit awkward, but the fingerprint scanner is fast when you reach it.

How good is the battery in the Galaxy S10e?

None of the downsizing mentioned above makes an appreciable difference when using the S10e compared to the S10 and S10+. The smaller phone feels lightning fast to use and I find it impossible to tell the difference in the screen resolution. It doesn't make a difference at all.

But I noticed the difference in battery life straight away. Using the S10e the same as I use all smartphones I was surprised to be running out of battery in the early evening.

With the Galaxy S10+ I saw battery life of about a day and half. The internal calculator claimed 25 hours between charges with approximately 5 hours of screen on use. With the S10e the same tool reports 18 hours of use and 4 hours with the screen on. In 2019, with the competition easily hitting two days between charges, this isn't good enough.

On a related note, I also found that the S10e handset got extremely on several occasions during pretty routine use. Like 'hot potato', blow on your hands, put the phone down for a bit, hot. I haven't experienced this with a smartphone several years.

Does the Galaxy S10e take good photos?

Samsung has packed the cameras in on this year's Galaxy S range. The S10+ has five cameras, the S10 has four and, continuing along this spectrum, the S10e has three: two on the back and one of the front.

Fewer cameras isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Google Pixel phones are proof that you just need one great camera (and a smart robot inside to make corrections after you take your shot). However, Samsung has opted for wide-angle lens on the back rather than a zoom lens, and it is arguably less useful. Most of the dual-camera phones last year included the zoom lens and I find I miss it.

Otherwise the photos the S10e takes are good, and similar to the photos I took with the Galaxy S10+. I find that the colours look great and I like that the camera software is smart enough to switch to the best shooting mode depending on the environment, but I still find that the focus isn't as sharp as I expect it to be.

Who is the Samsung Galaxy S10e for?

It's refreshing to use a Samsung phone that is smaller than its recent phones, and it manages to offer most of what we love in the larger models. Some of the sacrifices, like a lower resolution screen and less RAM are invisible in everyday use. Others like the absence of the in-screen fingerprint scanner are actually a positive.

The camera in the S10e takes photos as good as the camera in the S10+, but not as good as you will get in Huawei phones in the same price range. I have managed to take several great shots with the S10e, just be aware that photos taken by the Huawei P30 Pro leave these Samsung phones in the dust.

My major disappointment is with the battery life. When I first heard about a smaller phone with a lower resolution screen I immediately assumed that the battery life would be a key selling point. A 3,100mAh battery isn't a small battery, after all. For the S10e to deliver between 20 to 25% less battery life is a real letdown. Especially when Samsung's closest competitors are all doing well in this department.

I don't want a Galaxy S10e, what else can I buy?

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

The Mate 20 Pro corrects on two of our biggest complaints about the Galaxy S10e. You will take excellent photos with this phone and we guarantee you'll be surprised at how long the battery lasts for.

iPhone XR

Samsung isn't the only big name phone maker with a more affordable flagship. The iPhone XR offers the same benefit of a lower price tag without skimping too much on power and performance. And the battery is excellent. 

OPPO R17 Pro

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a seriously cool new smartphone. The Oppo R17 Pro sells for half the price of a new Galaxy S10+, but comes with most of the things you'll need in a new phone.

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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