Samsung Galaxy S10+ Galaxy S10+ Review

The Galaxy S10+ scores a near-perfect 99th percentile for features, keeping the beloved headphone jack and microSD slot. However, its performance sits at a middling 69th percentile, and it costs a full $1000. You're buying a classic, not a current contender.

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ is a classic that still holds up. It scores in the 99th percentile for features, which means it's packed with stuff modern phones often skip, like a headphone jack and expandable storage. That's a big deal if you're tired of dongles and cloud storage fees. With a 93rd percentile camera and display, plus a 93rd percentile battery, it's a well-rounded package that feels premium. The catch? Its raw performance lands in the 69th percentile, so it won't keep up with the latest flagships in a speed test.

The Snapdragon 855 and 8GB of RAM put this phone's performance in the 69th percentile. That's perfectly fine for everyday tasks, social media, and even some gaming, but it's not going to win any benchmark trophies today. Where it really shines is in the details. The 6.4" Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display is in the 93rd percentile for a reason—it's vibrant and sharp at 522 ppi. And that 4100mAh battery, also in the 93rd percentile, should get most users through a full day without a sweat.

At $1000, the value proposition is tricky. You're paying current flagship money for a phone with last-gen performance. The high feature, camera, and display scores are great, but that 69th percentile performance is a real anchor on the price. You're essentially paying a premium for the headphone jack and expandable storage in a premium body. If those are must-haves, it might be worth it. If raw speed matters more, your money goes further elsewhere.

Compared to something like the Google Pixel 10, you'll trade camera computational photography and a newer OS for the S10+'s headphone jack and expandable storage. Against the OnePlus 15, you'll lose a ton of performance and likely get a worse software update policy, but gain those classic features. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a more direct comparison—it'll have better performance and support, but likely a plastic build and might still lack the headphone jack. It's a battle of modern specs versus classic convenience.

Skip this phone if you need cutting-edge speed or long-term software support. Its 69th percentile performance score means it's already behind the curve, and it launched with Android 9. Gamers, power users, and anyone who wants their phone to feel fast for years should look at newer models. Also, avoid it if 5G is important, as it's a 4G-only device.

We can only recommend the Galaxy S10+ if the headphone jack and expandable storage are non-negotiable for you and you're okay with performance that's good, but not great, by today's standards. Its 99th percentile feature score is unique, but that comes at the cost of paying $1000 for 69th percentile speed. For most people, a modern mid-ranger or a previous-year flagship will offer better performance and support for the same or less money.