If you prioritize a lower-cost option with a very good overall performance and a compact form factor, the Samsung Galaxy S10e will likely satisfy your needs; however, it has a smaller screen, lower battery life, and its camera quality isn't quite as high-end. On the other hand, if you are willing to invest more for top-of-the-line camera quality, a larger and higher resolution display, a more recent and powerful processor, and better battery performance, then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra might be the better fit despite its higher cost. Keep in mind, the S21 Ultra also comes with 5G connectivity, which the S10e lacks, offering you faster data speeds if your carrier supports it. 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 S10e
The Samsung Galaxy S10e has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Good for taking photos
Good for recording videos
Very good display quality
Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.3/10
7.8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S10e has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S10e's cameras render a poorer experience due to shortcomings in resolution, software, dynamic range, low light performance, and versatility, reflecting in a low selfie score. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers enhanced camera capabilities with better photo and video qualities across these factors, achieving a higher selfie score and offering a more versatile and capable camera system overall.
Photo Quality
5.3/10
7.8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S10e takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10e produces poorer selfies in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which scores well on selfie quality. The S21 Ultra's superior photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, along with its camera versatility, contribute to its ability to take much better photos than the S10e.
Video Quality
5.5/10
7.1/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S10e takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers superior video quality compared to the Galaxy S10e due to advancements in video resolution and frame rate, video software, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality. The Galaxy S21 Ultra's technology for videos is assessed as excellent, whereas the Galaxy S10e has lower capabilities, which translates into less impressive video results.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S10e has a screen size of 5.8 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$145
$423
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy S10e has a price of $145 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
"You’re getting nearly the full S10 experience without spending as much money and in a size that’s a lot more appealing across demographics. If you’re looking for a good, small Android, this is a phone that I think most people will enjoy without sacrificing much in quality."
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S10e or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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.
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
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
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.