Samsung Galaxy S10e SM-G970 Review

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is a charming but dated compact phone. Its best score is for features (93rd percentile), thanks to its headphone jack and great screen. Only worth buying if you specifically crave its small size and are willing to accept its old software and slower chip.

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is a blast from the past, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a compact, lightweight phone that still packs a solid Super AMOLED display and a headphone jack, which feels like a luxury these days.

But here's the catch: this is an international version, which means it's running Samsung's own Exynos processor instead of the Snapdragon chip found in US models. That, plus its age, puts it in a weird spot between a nostalgic pick and a practical daily driver.

Performance is where the age shows. The Exynos 9820 and 6GB of RAM land in the 60th percentile in our database, which means it's fine for basics like social media and web browsing, but don't expect it to keep up with modern apps or games. The battery life is surprisingly decent for a 3100mAh cell, scoring in the 89th percentile, so you'll likely get through a day. The cameras (scoring 89th percentile) still hold up well for a phone this old, especially in good light.

At around $270, the value proposition is tricky. You're getting a well-built, compact phone with great features for its era. But you're also buying a device that's several generations old, running outdated software, and with performance that's merely adequate. For the same money, you could get a newer budget phone with better long-term support.

Compared to modern compacts, it's outclassed. The iPhone 13 mini or newer Google Pixels are far more powerful and supported. Against current budget phones like the Motorola Moto G or OnePlus Nord series, the S10e wins on premium build and display quality but loses badly on software updates and raw performance. Its main appeal is its specific, dated form factor.

If you need a reliable, secure daily driver with modern software support, skip this immediately. Also, if you're on a major US carrier like Verizon, skip it—the international version likely won't work properly. Look at a Pixel 'a' series or a recent Samsung A-series phone instead.

Buy this only if you're a die-hard fan of small phones and you absolutely must have a headphone jack and a premium-feeling Samsung body. You need to be okay with outdated software and middling speed. For literally anyone else, a modern budget phone is a smarter, safer buy.