Samsung Galaxy S10e review: The small wonder

The Galaxy S10e is Samsung’s answer to Apple’s ‘cheaper’ iPhone XR. Samsung Galaxy S10e is available in India for ₹55,990. Should you buy this phone?

Samsung Galaxy S10e is available for ₹55,990. (HT Photo)

Tiny and cute are probably the first words that will come to your mind when you first see Samsung Galaxy S10e. But don't let its compact size fool you as the smartphone comes with flagship-level specifications and features. Samsung Galaxy S10e stays away from the flamboyant design of its siblings, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+. The miniature version, however, has plenty to offer you.

Packed with 6GB of RAM and octa-core processor, Galaxy S10e is also Samsung's answer to Apple's so-called 'cheaper' iPhone XR. At ₹55,900, Galaxy S10e is priced lower than Apple's but is still more expensive than other affordable premium flagship phones such as OnePlus 6T.

Design

The Galaxy S10e had almost everyone go "awww" at it because of its compact size. At a time when phone screens are only getting bigger, some even crossing 6-inch threshold, it's really nice to see key smartphone players still investing in smaller form factor.

Galaxy S10e looks more like the mini version of Galaxy S10. With a punch-hole camera display and glass back it offers a subtle look. You might want to opt for the 'Prism White' Galaxy S10e if you want to flaunt for your phone. The 'Prism Black' Galaxy S10e looks rather dull, and won't be catching any eye.

On the front, you get a 5.8-inch AMOLED display with OneUI layered on top. Samsung offers possibly the best AMOLED displays, and you get the same experience on the Galaxy S10e. OneUI, although customised for large-screened phones, still offer a minimalistic experience which I prefer.

Galaxy S10e has the perfect compact size people are looking for in a phone. It fits comfortable in my hand, and for the first time, my pockets too.

Camera

The Galaxy S10e comes with a dual-camera setup of 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and 16-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. For selfies, it has the same 10-megapixel camera as seen on the Galaxy S10. The smartphone's cameras are great to play around with colours. You'll get the most vivid colour reproduction on your photos with the Galaxy S10e.

Galaxy S10e captures realistic colours (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

Galaxy S10e captures realistic colours (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

The ultra-wide angle lens is also a great addition for those who would like to capture scenic beauties, buildings and more. The smartphone also comes with the same camera app and you can use features like super slo-mo, and live focus. It however lacks in the low-light photography department. I tried out the camera in the evening, and also late at night but the photos mostly came out grainy.

Lowlight photos could have much better (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

Lowlight photos could have much better (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

Performance

Galaxy S10e uses the same processor as the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+. The overall performance, I would say is on par with the Galaxy S10+. Sadly, the phone's glass back tends to heat up quite a lot of times. This doesn't affect the phone otherwise but can be a nuisance, especially if you don't have a cover or case.

Instances like when you're streaming content for long duration on platforms like Netflix, the Galaxy S10e starts heating up. Graphic intensive games like PUBG Mobile look great on the Galaxy S10e, but the heating issue affects your experience. If you're still hooked to the Galaxy S10e, a case will solve your problem as it did for me.

Galaxy S10e comes with the smallest battery in the series. The 3,100mAh battery will last you a good 10-hour day. The fast charging is a blessing though, and you can make up for even half a day within just 20 minutes of charge.

Verdict

Galaxy S10e comes close to a flagship but in the mid-range premium segment, one that is ruled by OnePlus phones. While the Galaxy S10e does offer an alternative to the OnePlus 6T, at least the McLaren edition, it is however not as fast as the latter. But the Galaxy S10e comes with more premium features like wireless charging, better cameras, and one of the best displays.