When I first began utilizing the Galaxy S10E I assumed, “Wow, out of all of the Galaxy S10 ($1,000 at Amazon) phones, this could be the biggest hit.” I really feel that manner nonetheless. It’s onerous to discover a critical flaw. The Galaxy S10E is the smallest, least expensive of Samsung’s 4 new Galaxy telephones, at $750, £669 and AU$1,199. The “E” stands for “Essential,” by the way in which. It additionally has the least quantity of cameras and different add-ons, however shares the identical core options because the $1,000 Galaxy S10 Plus, together with all three of its implausible cameras, the wonderful Snapdragon 855 processor and Android Pie with Samsung’s new One UI interface on prime.Battery life is powerful. You can use the cellphone to wirelessly cost Qi-enabled gadgets and it is simply as proof against water and mud as another Galaxy S10 cellphone. In addition, two Galaxy S10E “trade-offs” may really clear up potential issues you may need with the bigger Galaxy S10 Plus. First, the display screen is flat, not curved. While this provides it a barely much less immersive look, it additionally means you might have a better time tapping the cursor firstly of a textual content area. For me, that always falls on the curve, which generally is a no-man’s land for recognizing faucets. Or in the event you’re like my mother, a flat display screen and straighter sides could make the S10E simpler to carry. Then there are individuals like my brother: a no-nonsense man who simply needs a cellphone, dammit, and to hell with the frills. Another “trade-off” that may transform a profit is that there isn’t any in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint reader just like the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus and S10 5G have. Instead, the fingerprint scanner is a capacitive-style pad that is built-in into the ability button. It’s really extra correct than the in-screen reader. A value conflict is the Galaxy S10E’s largest risk. It’s one that does not stem from the iPhone XR ($750 at Verizon Wireless), which prices the identical and has fewer goodies (like smaller storage capability). It’s the OnePlus 6T ($645 at Amazon) that is available in at $550, £499 (or about AU$775) that is the larger risk — this was additionally our prime worth cellphone for 2018. Google can also be rumored to launch a less expensive Pixel 3 Lite this spring, which might spell hassle for the S10E if it is available in nearer to the 6T’s value. View full gallery The Galaxy S10E, S10 and S10 Plus.
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The takeaway right here is that the Galaxy S10E is a little-but-mighty powerhouse that is definitely worth the value. If you do not want a 6.4 inch display screen and a telephoto lens, that is the Galaxy S10 to get. Read on for the whole lot that is totally different concerning the Galaxy S10E, together with the fingerprint sensor, cameras and battery life. Skip to the tip for a shopping for information comparability with different telephones, and a full specs comparability. Galaxy S10E versus the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus Don’t be tempted to consider the S10E because the runt of the litter. It’s the smallest and least adorned, but it surely’s a powerful cellphone in its personal proper. Major variations come all the way down to the dimensions, the variety of cameras, the display screen decision and the battery and storage capacities. The Galaxy S10E has 128GB or 256GB storage choices, for instance, whereas the S10 Plus tops out at an astonishing 1TB. Most individuals on the planet do not really want 1TB of storage. 128GB with a 512GB microSD possibility is a beneficiant beginning quantity for many. And whereas the 3,100-mAh battery sounds smaller than the S10 Plus’ 4,100-mAh battery, it’s going to nonetheless final you all day. It ran 17 hours in our looping video drain check. That’s not numerous corner-cutting. This mini comparability exhibits the most important variations: Galaxy S10E, S10, S10 Plus, S10 5G
Samsung Galaxy S10E
Samsung Galaxy S10
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Display dimension, decision
5.8-inch AMOLED; 2,280×1,080 pixels
6.1-inch AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 pixels
6.4-inch AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 pixels
6.7-inch AMOLED
Camera
12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (extremely wide-angle)
12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (extremely wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (extremely wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (extremely wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto) 3D depth (HQVGA)
Front-facing digital camera
10-megapixel
10-megapixel
10-megapixel, 8-megapixel
10-megapixel, 3D depth (HQVGA)
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 512GB
128GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB
RAM
6GB, 8GB
8GB
8GB, 12GB
8GB
Battery
3,100-mAh
3,400-mAh
4,100-mAh
4,500-mAh
Goldilocks design and dimension are good You’ve heard me and possibly others discuss with the Galaxy S10E as a “small” cellphone, however that is no mini machine just like the 3.3-inch Palm. It’s about the identical dimension and dimensions as an iPhone XS ($1,000 at Amazon), however it’s considerably smaller than the Galaxy S10 Plus. I referred to as it adorably petite as compared, however with a 5.8-inch display screen, there’s nothing shrunken about it. I’ve comparatively small fingers, so for me the S10E is just about good. It’s a slick, slippery cellphone and whereas it has scudded off fairly a couple of tabletops, the straight sides and smaller body make it really feel safer in my hand than the bigger S10 Plus. I would advocate a case for most individuals. View full gallery The Galaxy S10E’s fingerprint reader and energy button are one.
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Typing: The 5.8-inch display screen is something however small, although typing will really feel extra compact than on a bigger display screen. Coming from the Galaxy S10 Plus’ 6.4-inch show, the S10E’s digital keyboard feels “small,” however in the event you’re coming from a cellphone with a similar-size show, you will not discover a lot distinction, if any. Taking pictures one-handed: For my smaller fingers particularly, the Galaxy S10E was a reduction to make use of when snapping pictures. I have a tendency to carry the S10 Plus regular with two fingers after which shortly dart in a finger to focus when autofocus is not studying my thoughts. Sometimes I’ve to make use of the tip of my nostril. I haven’t got to inform you how embarrassing it’s to peck your cellphone display screen like a chook, however I do know I am unable to be the one individual to do that. The S10E is sufficiently small to carry regular with one hand and focus with the opposite, if want be. Samsung’s Shot Suggestions software program additionally makes an attempt to make issues simpler for you by robotically taking a photograph whenever you line up the shot alongside a recommended guideline. The flat display screen is not really a step again I really like the extra immersive look of the opposite Galaxy S10s’ curved sides, however thus far the flat display screen is simply advantageous. And you continue to get use of the Edge display screen tab, which may function a velocity dial for opening your favourite apps and contacts from any display screen. I take advantage of this every day to open apps like Google Drive and Google Keep notes. The display screen’s decision and pixel ($313 at Amazon) density are the bottom of all of the S10 telephones (438 ppi in comparison with 550 ppi on the Galaxy S10 and 522 ppi on the S10 Plus), however I used to be hard-pressed to inform the distinction with the telephones facet by facet on max brightness. I might nonetheless learn advantageous exterior. View full gallery The Galaxy S10E’s display screen is not technically pretty much as good because the S10 Plus’, however your eyes will not care.
Angela Lang/CNET
I scrolled by means of web sites, watched a downloaded Netflix video and zoomed in on HD pictures. If something, blues are just a little brighter on the S10 Plus, and a bit darker on the S10E. Yellows and reds are hotter and extra saturated on the S10E. You will not lose considerable high quality by going with the S10E. Note that the S10E has Gorilla Glass 5 on the entrance, whereas the opposite S10 telephones use a barely harder Gorilla Glass 6 (all of them use Gorilla Glass 5 on the again). If you are involved about drops, a glass display screen protector is a brilliant play. The Galaxy S10 telephones all include a thicker plastic movie adhered to the display screen. Samsung says this can be a display screen protector value $30, but it surely wasn’t for me, so I took it off. View full gallery Wirelessly charging one other cellphone on the again of the S10E completely works. A fingerprint scanner within the energy button proves you do not ‘want’ ultrasonic The ultrasonic fingerprint reader within the different Galaxy S10 telephones is meant to be an enormous benefit. It’s meant to be quicker, safer and work by means of water and grease. But the Galaxy S10 Plus’ in-screen fingerprint scanner hasn’t lived as much as the promise. Fingerprint recognition is hit and miss, and it takes a beat to unlock the cellphone. There are undoubtedly limitations for moist and greasy fingers, and that is after two software program updates. (Hopefully a future replace will repair this.) All of that is to say that the S10E’s capacitive fingerprint sensor built-in into the ability button is definitely turning out be a bonus. This is definitely considered one of my favourite locations for a fingerprint reader as a result of, for right-handed individuals no less than, it falls in a pure place that is simple to achieve and requires little guesswork. Samsung provides you the choice to unlock the cellphone with a comfortable contact, moderately than making you press down on the button, which spares some repetitive stress.