Skip to main content

Now that the Galaxy S20 FE is here, should you still buy the Galaxy S10?

Best answer: The Galaxy S10 series still has a lot going for it in 2020, especially thanks to price cuts Samsung introduced when the S20 made its debut. However, with the recent launch of the Galaxy S20 FE, the older S10 lineup is a bit tougher to wholeheartedly recommend.

How much does the Galaxy S10 cost these days?

Samsung upped its prices across the board with the Galaxy S20 series, pushing some of us out of the market for its high-end phones. Thankfully, it continues to sell the S10 lineup with official price cuts, offering an enticing option for those who want a flagship phone but can't get into four-figure prices for one.

Looking at the retail prices of the Galaxy S10 family, here's what we're now dealing with:

  • Galaxy S10e — $600
  • Galaxy S10 — $750
  • Galaxy S10+ — $850

Compared to the Galaxy S20 series, which starts at $1,000 and goes all the way up to $1,400, these are much more accessible price points. And, what's even better, you shouldn't ever have to pay that full retail amount. Looking at Samsung's website, you can currently trade-in your current phone and get a $100 instant discount on any S10 model.

It's also not uncommon to find additional savings from third-party retailers. You can often find any of the Galaxy S10 models for a few dollars less than when shopping on Amazon, and if you prefer getting your phones at Best Buy, there's usually some discount offered when you buy and activate the phone on the same day.

Should I just get the Galaxy S20 FE instead of the Galaxy S10?

When talking about buying the Galaxy S10 in 2020, we also have to consider Samsung's recent launch of the Galaxy S20 FE. It offers many of the core features and experiences found on the more expensive Galaxy S20 handsets, but at a much cheaper price.

The Galaxy S20 FE retails for $700, and at that price, you're getting a lot. Some of the key features include a 120Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 865 processor, three rear cameras, and a huge 4,500 mAh battery. Compared side-by-side with the Galaxy S10, it's undeniably the better phone.

With that being the case, is there an argument to be made for still considering the Galaxy S10 over the S20 FE? It all comes down to price. At $750 or $850 for the S10 or S10+, respectively, it just makes sense to get the Galaxy S20 FE instead. It costs less, has better specs across the board, and is backed by an extra year of software updates. Even the Galaxy S10e is a difficult sell against the S20 FE, but given its lower price and more compact size, it could still be a better fit for some shoppers.

Is the Galaxy S10 still powerful enough in 2020?

The Galaxy S10 has been updated to the same One UI 2 software, so you aren't being left behind in terms of software features that launched with the S20. Thanks to Samsung's commitment to three years of updates for many of its phones, you can also expect software updates to keep rolling in until 2022. The Snapdragon 855 processor and 8GB of RAM are more than capable for anything you'll need to do, and the battery life will hold up to everyone but the most hardcore users.

Other areas of the experience, like the display and hardware design, feel modern on the S10 even though they aren't the absolute latest and greatest Samsung has to offer. You're also getting the same base-level features like water resistance, wireless charging, fast charging, and a microSD card slot. The S10 even has something the S20 doesn't: a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The only place the Galaxy S10 shows its age is in the cameras, as Samsung really took a big step forward with the S20's shooters both front and back. The Galaxy S10 just isn't very capable in low-light scenes, and its telephoto camera is nowhere near as capable as the S20's. The ultra-wide and front-facing cameras are more comparable, but still off the pace of the latest devices. Altogether you're still going to get good — and very consistent — camera performance, but it just isn't going to feel like a bleeding-edge device in that respect.

Should I buy the Galaxy S10 during Prime Day?

As you've probably heard by now, Amazon Prime Day is right around the corner. The massive shopping event takes place between October 13 and 14, and if history tells us anything, we're bound to see a bunch of Samsung hardware get discounted.

While not confirmed as of yet, it's fully expected that the entire Galaxy S10 lineup should get some sort of additional savings during Prime Day. In other words, if you're thinking about picking up one of the phones, it may be worth holding off just a little bit longer and seeing what Samsung has to offer during Amazon's big event.

Oldie but a goodie

Samsung Galaxy S10

$721 at Amazon $750 at Best Buy

Still a solid phone in 2020

For a year-old phone, the Galaxy S10 is still really solid. Its hardware and specs feel modern, and it's running the latest Samsung software. It's no longer as good of a deal given the release of the Galaxy S20 FE, but if you can find it on sale, it's still a decent choice.

Get something new

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

$600 at Amazon $600 at Best Buy $600 at B&H

Modern Samsung for less

The Galaxy S20 FE is one of the most compelling phones Samsung's launched in a long time. It offers about 90% of the regular S20 experience for hundreds of dollars less, making it one of the best values of the entire year. If you haven't checked it out yet, you really should.



Source: androidcentral

Popular posts from this blog

The hidden cost of food delivery

Noah Lichtenstein Contributor Share on Twitter Noah Lichtenstein is the founder and managing partner of Crossover , a diversified private technology fund backed by institutional investors, technology execs and professional athletes and entertainers. More posts by this contributor What Studying Students Teaches Us About Great Apps I’ll admit it: When it comes to food, I’m lazy. There are dozens of great dining options within a few blocks of my home, yet I still end up ordering food through delivery apps four or five times per week. With the growing coronavirus pandemic closing restaurants and consumers self-isolating, it is likely we will see a spike in food delivery much like the 20% jump China reported during the peak of its crisis. With the food delivery sector rocketing toward a projected $365 billion by the end of the decade, I’m clearly not the only one turning to delivery apps even before the pandemic hit. Thanks to technology (and VC funding) we can get a ri

Cyber Monday Canada: Last-minute deals for everyone on your list

Best Cyber Monday Canada deals: Smart Home Audio Phones, Tablets & Accessories Wearables Laptops & PC Components Amazon products Gaming Televisions Cameras Lifestyle & Kitchen Toys & Kids Cyber Monday Canada is here, and retailers are rolling out the red carpet for customers who want to shop for everything from tech to kitchenware to games and everything in between. Unlike years past, Cyber Monday Canada deals look a bit different than normal. Instead of retailers trying to pack their stores with as many shoppers as possible, we're seeing tons of online deals that you can take advantage of from the comfort of your home. We've rounded up our favorites below, so feel free to browse through the best of what Canada Cyber Monday has to offer! This list is being updated with new Cyber Monday deals all the time, so check back often. Spotlight deals It's a Switch Nintendo Switch Fortnite Edition bundle $399.95 at Amazon It's a Switch.

Slack’s new integration deal with AWS could also be about tweaking Microsoft

Slack and Amazon announced a big integration late yesterday afternoon. As part of the deal, Slack will use Amazon Chime for its call feature, while reiterating its commitment to use AWS as its preferred cloud provider to run its infrastructure. At the same time, AWS has agreed to use Slack for internal communications. Make no mistake, this is a big deal as the SaaS communications tool increases its ties with AWS, but this agreement could also be about slighting Microsoft and its rival Teams product by making a deal with a cloud rival. In the past Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield has had choice words for Microsoft saying the Redmond technology giant sees his company as an “existential threat.” Whether that’s true or not — Teams is but one piece of a huge technology company — it’s impossible not to look at the deal in this context. Aligning more deeply with AWS sends a message to Microsoft, whose Azure infrastructure services compete with AWS. Butterfield didn’t say that of course

iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

The iPhone 15 Pro brings over 50 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, which was released two years prior. This buyer's guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations and helps you to decide whether it's worth upgrading. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, Macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and five hours of additional battery life. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro was discontinued upon the announcement of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, but it is still possible to get hold of it second-hand. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you and serves as a way to c