iPhone 11 vs. Galaxy S10 Lite: A Detailed Comparison for Budget-Conscious Buyers

Both the Apple iPhone 11 and the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite represent compelling value in today’s smartphone market. The iPhone 11, despite its age, remains a popular choice due to Apple’s ecosystem and software support. The Galaxy S10 Lite, meanwhile, offers flagship-level specs at a significantly reduced price point, making it a strong contender for Android enthusiasts. This comparison dives deep into their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a streamlined user experience, the iPhone 11 is the better choice. However, the Galaxy S10 Lite’s superior battery life and faster charging, coupled with its more powerful CPU core configuration, make it a strong alternative for Android power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 11 Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A22211, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223-
Launch
Announced2019, September 102020, January 03
StatusAvailable. Released 2019, September 20Available. Released 2020, February 03
Body
BuildGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight194 g (6.84 oz)186 g (6.56 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)-
Display
ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCorning Gorilla Glass 3+
Resolution828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLiquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)Super AMOLED Plus, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetApple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Adreno 640
OSiOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, Super Steady OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) supportANT+
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)45W wired
TypeLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, WhitePrism White, Prism Black, Prism Blue
ModelsA2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1SM-G770F, SM-G770F/DS, SM-G770F/DSM, SM-G770U1
Price$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32About 380 EUR
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     0.93 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)0.49 W/kg (head)     1.52 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM$ 359.95-
256GB 4GB RAM$ 469.99-
64GB 4GB RAM$ 292.79-
RENEWED£ 214.00-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.7dB
Battery life Endurance rating 94h Endurance rating 110h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB -27.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 370751 (v7), 459497 (v8) GeekBench: 11151 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Apple iPhone 11

  • Long-term software support from Apple
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • Excellent video recording quality

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Shorter battery life compared to S10 Lite
  • Less customizable operating system

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

  • Faster 45W wired charging
  • Longer battery life
  • More powerful peak CPU performance

  • Android software updates are less consistent
  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Samsung’s image processing can be overly saturated

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S10 Lite boasts a higher measured brightness of 705 nits compared to the iPhone 11’s 644 nits, potentially offering better visibility in direct sunlight. While Samsung markets an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, the iPhone 11 delivers a measured 1505:1 contrast ratio, indicating excellent black levels and color separation. Both displays are capable, but the S10 Lite’s higher peak brightness gives it a slight edge for outdoor use. Neither display utilizes advanced panel technology like LTPO, meaning refresh rates are fixed.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable photo and video recording, but details are limited without specific sensor information. The absence of detailed sensor specs necessitates a focus on processing. Apple’s image processing typically prioritizes natural colors and dynamic range, while Samsung often boosts saturation and contrast. The S10 Lite’s larger physical size *could* accommodate a larger main sensor, potentially improving low-light performance, but this is speculative without concrete data. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on both devices is crucial for stable video recording.

Performance

The iPhone 11’s Apple A13 Bionic (7nm+) chip features a hexa-core CPU, while the Galaxy S10 Lite utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) with an octa-core configuration. While the A13 Bionic is renowned for its single-core performance, the S10 Lite’s Kryo 485 cores, with a peak clock speed of 2.84 GHz, offer a higher maximum processing speed. This translates to potentially faster performance in multi-threaded tasks. However, Apple’s tight hardware-software integration often results in smoother overall responsiveness, despite the core count difference. The iPhone 11 has 4GB of RAM, while the S10 Lite also has 4GB, meaning RAM isn't a differentiating factor.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S10 Lite’s endurance rating of 110 hours significantly surpasses the iPhone 11’s 94 hours, indicating substantially longer battery life. This advantage is further amplified by the S10 Lite’s 45W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in a significantly shorter time than the iPhone 11’s 30-minute PD2.0 50% charge. While the iPhone 11 supports Qi wireless charging, the S10 Lite lacks this feature. The S10 Lite’s superior charging speed and endurance make it the clear winner for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if you need a phone with guaranteed software updates for years to come, a simple and intuitive operating system, and seamless integration with other Apple devices. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite if you prefer a more customizable Android experience, prioritize battery endurance and faster charging speeds, and want a device with a more powerful peak CPU performance for demanding tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 855 in the Galaxy S10 Lite struggle with demanding games compared to the A13 Bionic?
While the A13 Bionic excels in single-core performance, the Snapdragon 855 is still a very capable chip. It can handle most modern games at high settings, though you might experience slightly more frame drops or require lower settings in the most graphically intensive titles compared to the iPhone 11. Thermal throttling could also become a factor during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How long will Apple continue to provide software updates for the iPhone 11?
Apple typically provides 5-6 years of software support for its iPhones. As of late 2023, the iPhone 11 is still receiving updates, and it's reasonable to expect at least another 2-3 years of major iOS updates and several more years of security patches. This is a significant advantage over the Galaxy S10 Lite, which has a more limited update lifespan.
❓ Is the lack of a headphone jack on the iPhone 11 a major inconvenience?
The iPhone 11, like many modern smartphones, does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. This means you'll need to use wireless headphones, a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter (sold separately), or USB-C headphones. For users heavily invested in wired headphones, this can be a significant drawback.