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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a higher refresh rate for smoother navigation and scrolling, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is superior with its 120Hz display, but this might affect its battery life more than the Galaxy S10's standard 60Hz display. The Galaxy S21 also has an advanced processor and more RAM, which means better performance overall. For photography enthusiasts, the S21's camera system offers significantly better photo and video quality, with enhancements like a 64MP telephoto camera. However, the Galaxy S10 includes a headphone jack and a high-quality OLED display with a sharper resolution, which might be more appealing if those are priorities. Both phones have similar quality builds, with the S10 featuring a glass back and the S21 a plastic one, which might affect the phone's feel and durability. Lastly, if cost is a crucial factor, you might lean towards the less expensive S10, accepting that it has older technology. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S10
- The Samsung Galaxy S10 has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S21.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.4
7.2
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 outshines the Galaxy S10 with a selfie camera that delivers better quality images, which is very important for selfie enthusiasts. Additionally, it surpasses the S10 in aspects like photo software, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, all of which contribute to a superior photography and videography experience.
Photo Quality
5.4
7.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 takes poorer quality photos because it scores lower in selfie quality, and camera features like resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance are rated poor. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S21 produces better photos, with a higher rating in selfie quality and good scores in the aforementioned camera features, reflecting advancements in technology and software optimization between the two models.
Video Quality
5.5
6.6
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 produces poorer video quality partly because it has fair ratings in video stabilization and low light performance, and its video dynamic range is poor, meaning its videos may not be as smooth or look as good in varying lighting conditions. The more recent Samsung Galaxy S21 has improved in these aspects with good ratings in video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, leading to better overall video quality.
Battery
5.6 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$145
$145
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a price of $145 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S10 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$145 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 8, 2019 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 550 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD855 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3400 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.9" x 2.77" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.54 oz | 5.96 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | N/A | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Prism Black, Prism White, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Flamingo Pink, Cardinal Red | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | No | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S10
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Tom's Guide
Caitlin McGarry | October 2022
"The Galaxy S10 offers superfast performance and a beautiful display, with a less distracting camera cutout than on the larger, pricier S10 Plus. If all you're looking for is a well-rounded, well-crafted Android flagship that can do it all — including work with a pair of good old-fashioned wired headphones — for a price you can sleep easy at night spending, the Galaxy S10 remains an unbeatable proposition."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S10 or the Samsung Galaxy S21
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
144,000
Recommendations made
81,600
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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