Samsung's More Affordable Galaxy S10e Compared to iPhone XR

[MacRumors]

In the 2018 iPhone lineup, Apple introduced the iPhone XR, an iPhone that shares many of the same hardware advancements added in the XS and XS Max, but at a more affordable $749 price tag.

Samsung followed in Apple's footsteps with its own 2019 Galaxy smartphone lineup, introducing the Galaxy S10e alongside the S10 and S10+ with a smaller screen size and a cheaper $749 price point that's meant to compete with Apple's iPhone XR. In our latest YouTube video, we compare Samsung's affordable smartphone option to Apple's.

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Samsung's Galaxy S10e features a 5.8-inch 2280 x 1080 OLED display, while Apple's iPhone XR uses a 6.1-inch 1792 x 828 LCD display that Apple calls "Liquid Retina" because it's the company's best LCD to date. Samsung's OLED display is bright, crisp, vibrant, and a close match to the display used in its higher-end smartphones.

Apple's display doesn't look bad, but it can't quite match the quality of OLED. When it comes to cutouts, the iPhone XR uses the same notch as the iPhone XS and XS Max because it has the same Face ID facial recognition system, while the Galaxy S10e uses a unique hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera that maximizes available screen real estate.

Samsung can't match Apple's facial recognition capabilities, so the Galaxy S10e features a fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the right side of the device. That's a deviation from other S10 devices that have an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

Apple's iPhones typically beat Samsung's when it comes to processor performance, and it's no different with the XR and S10e. The XR is equipped with Apple's A12 bionic chip (the same chip that's in the XS and XS Max), while all of Samsung's smartphones, S10e included, use the Snapdragon 855. The Snapdragon 855 does not perform as well as the A12 on benchmarks, but these are modern smartphones that excel at everyday tasks.

The S10e is equipped with 6GB RAM, double the RAM in the iPhone XR, but Apple has traditionally made better use of lower quantities of RAM due to deep integration between hardware and software.

Samsung's S10e wins out over the XR when it comes to storage because the base model starts at 128GB of storage (vs. 64GB) and comes with a microSD card slot for expanding space available to you.

Because it has a smaller display, the S10e is lighter and more compact, which is better for one-handed use and closer to the iPhone XS. Both devices have multiple color options, with the XR coming in six shades and the S10e available in four colors with a pearlescent sheen.

Apple scaled back on the iPhone XR's rear camera to cut down on cost, and Samsung did the same thing. The iPhone XR uses a single-lens camera while the other iPhones have dual-lens setups, and the S10e has a dual-lens camera instead of a triple-lens camera. The S10e features both wide and ultra-wide lenses, while the XR only has a single wide-angle lens.

The XR uses software for Portrait Mode photos that have blurred backgrounds, which prevents the feature from working with pets, food, and anything but people, really. The S10e doesn't have that limitation, which, paired with the ultra-wide lens, gives the S10e an edge when it comes to photography. Apple's images are more color accurate and better at accurate exposures.

There are pluses and minuses with both Samsung and Apple's "budget" smartphones. Apple brings Face ID, its faster A-series chip tech, and tighter software/hardware integration (which, arguably, means a longer life and more frequent software updates), while Samsung's S10e has a dual-lens rear camera, an OLED display, and expandable storage.

Do you prefer the iPhone XR or the S10e? Which company did a better job making an affordable device that still has all of the modern tech one might want in a smartphone? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Samsung's More Affordable Galaxy S10e Compared to iPhone XR

 

[Alienzed]

People say no one wants smaller phones. Is that why Apple's smallest phone is actually more expensive than other models?

 

[Unity451]

I have the XR, and I'm quite content with it. I could easily hang onto this phone for several years, assuming it holds out until then.

 

[Jakewilk]

Apple made a bad bet on more expensive phones and now everyone who wasn’t a diehard is aware that there are other good phone companies making better phones for the same price level or less

 

[Tick410]

Here comes the lies already. The Snapdragon 855 has been decimating the A12 Bionic in every speed test other than 1 or 2 that were probably manipulated for Apple to win. Come on Mac Rumers. Keep the honesty please.

 

[DNichter]

I really like the S10e, even considered buying myself to give Android a try, but I found the switch would just be way too much work and I would lose more than I would gain. Great phone though and probably the one I would choose if I wanted a Samsung/Android. I am looking forward to going back from the 6.5 iPhone to the 5.8. I think it's the perfect size.

 

[mi7chy]

Those useless horns or ears make the iPhone Xr more wieldy while offering virtually the same usable display area as the Galaxy S10e.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Here comes the lies already. The Snapdragon 855 has been decimating the A12 Bionic in every speed test other than 1 or 2 that were probably manipulated for Apple to win. Come on Mac Rumers. Keep the honesty please.

Citation please.

 

[now i see it]

this reminds me of the Mac vs Dell comparisons of long ago.
It was never about the hardware (contrary to comparison pundits) but all about the OS.
Pretty much since forever, a person chooses their favorite OS and then buys the hardware that will run it.

 

[kalafalas]

The S10e is by a landslide a better phone than the XR in pretty much every way, except iOS and Face ID.

In fact, the S10e is a better phone than the S10. No curved edges on the screen (no accidental touches and angle based color issues), great form factor, and reliable well placed biometrics. It even offers the same performance and display quality.

I don’t understand why they decided to make the second camera the wide angle instead of the telephoto, that’s the main design choice of the S10e I don’t think was smart.

Luckily I love my iPhone X and don’t feel the need to upgrade or switch for a while. But if apple doesn’t offer a smaller, more fully featured model in the $800 range they are going to loose a lot of people to this phone as it’s clearly the better option over the XR, which was outdated before it was even launched.

 

[Oohara]

For me it's mostly about the screen so of those two I'd easily take the S10e.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I don’t understand why they decided to make the second camera the wide angle instead of the telephoto, that’s the main design choice of the S10e I don’t think was smart.

You're the minority on that one. Most want wide angle over telephoto.

 

[Jack Burton]

I want an iPhone Xr with the form factor and screen of the s10e.

I would also want a wide angle lens instead of a telephoto in an update to the iPhone Xr.

 

[Tick410]

Citation please.

The XR is equipped with Apple's A12 bionic chip (the same chip that's in the XS and XS Max), while all of Samsung's smartphones, S10e included, use the Snapdragon 855. The Snapdragon 855 does not perform as well as the A12 on benchmarks, bu

 

[Agit21]

I mean seriously look at the huge bezel on the XR!? Wtf Apple

 

[Stevez67]

Both good phones at their price point. The only differences are cosmetic, personal preference, and synthetic benchmarks.

 

[keysofanxiety]

...

I meant citation for the Snapdragon “decimating the A12 Bionic in every speed test other than 1 or 2 that were probably manipulated for Apple to win.”

Not a quote of the article that says the A12 outperforms the Snapdragon.

 

[69Mustang]

I really like the S10e, even considered buying myself to give Android a try, but I found the switch would just be way too much work and I would lose more than I would gain. Great phone though and probably the one I would choose if I wanted a Samsung/Android. I am looking forward to going back from the 6.5 iPhone to the 5.8. I think it's the perfect size.

6 months from now this phone is going to be about $400. At that price it will be an absolute steal. The 10e could be a flagship phone for a number of other Android OEM's. They didn't skimp on this phone. I think it has a better screen than the 10 and 10+ since I am not a fan of the signature curve on Sammy's flagship screens. I was gonna pick up an S9 since it's about $450ish right now. I think I might snag a 10e around the time of the Note 10 debut.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Any phone with a headphone jack is by default the better phone.

Also; MicroSD card slot is a huge bonus and the fingerprint scanner right on the power button is the most obvious and logical place to put it.

 

[v0lume4]

But if apple doesn’t offer a smaller, more fully featured model in the $800 range they are going to loose a lot of people to this phone as it’s clearly the better option over the XR, which was outdated before it was even launched.

It still baffles me that Apple went out of their way and spent all of that R&D money to purposely develop an inferior phone to fill the "affordable" price point. And LCD screen. In 2018. For $750. Are you kidding. They didn't even keep the X around and sell it cheaper.

Does anyone have any evidence as to if the XR was created (with an LCD screen) due to display panel supply concerns or was it just total greed?

 

[Mitochris]

Apple. Please make a smaller phone. I also love the hole punch camera. Much nicer.

 

[v0lume4]

6 months from now this phone is going to be about $400

If this ends up being true then that is absolutely bonkers. I'd feel crazy to purchase absolutely anything else out there if I could get the S10e for $400. The phone is flagship in every sense of the word, not to mention -- small*!

*small = about the same size as the standard iPhone XS, which unfortunately is "small" these days

 

[Tick410]

I meant citation for the Snapdragon “decimating the A12 Bionic in every speed test other than 1 or 2 that were probably manipulated for Apple to win.”

Not a quote of the article that says the A12 outperforms the Snapdragon.

I meant citation for the Snapdragon “decimating the A12 Bionic in every speed test other than 1 or 2 that were probably manipulated for Apple to win.”

Not a quote of the article that says the A12 outperforms the Snapdragon.

 

[Robocopper]

Yup, he nails it. Except for the OS. I chose the iPhone XR and bought one, because I don’t want google’s Track-Me-Everywhere feature, well, stealing my life and selling to anyone who want to pay.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Any phone with a headphone jack is by default the better phone.

Cool, I’ve got an iPhone 3GS just begging for a new owner. Don’t mention it.