BLU Bold N2 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting a budget-friendly contender, the BLU Bold N2, against a seasoned flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S10. Can the N2 hold its own against a phone that once defined premium Android?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S10 remains the clear winner, offering superior performance, a vastly better camera, and a more refined user experience. However, the BLU Bold N2 provides impressive value for its price, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers seeking a decent all-around phone.

PHONES
Phone Names	BLU Bold N2	Samsung Galaxy S10

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
5G bands	2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA

Launch
Announced	2022, August 11	2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08
Status	Available. Released 2022, August 11	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	158.7 x 74.1 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.92 x 0.34 in)	149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm (5.90 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	180 g (6.35 oz)	157 g (5.54 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)	1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~550 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 93.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)	Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China
OS	Android 11	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1

Memory
Card slot	Unspecified	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Dual	16 MP, (wide) 2 MP, (depth)	-
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad	64 MP, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, 115˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Triple	-	12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS

Selfie camera
Dual	16 MP, (wide) 2 MP, (depth)	-
Features	-	HDR
Single	-	10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	FM radio (USA & Canada only)
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
	-	ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

Battery
Charging	30W wired, 50% in 20 min	15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4200 mAh	Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Cyprus Teal	Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue
Models	-	SM-G973F, SM-G973U, SM-G973W, SM-G973U1, SM-G9730, SM-G973N, SM-G973X, SCV41, SM-G973C
Price	About 230 EUR	About 150 EUR
SAR	-	0.93 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.48 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 79h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.498 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 82dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 85dB
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 328366 (v7) GeekBench: 10174 (v4.4) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

BLU Bold N2

Fast Charging (30W)
Modern Dimensity 810 Chipset
Affordable Price
Decent Performance for Basic Tasks

Lower Display Quality
Less Powerful Processor
Inferior Camera
Likely Smaller Battery Capacity

Samsung Galaxy S10

Stunning Dynamic AMOLED Display
Powerful Processor (Exynos/Snapdragon)
Excellent Camera System
Long Battery Life
Premium Build Quality

Older Model
Slower Charging (15W)
Higher Price (on the used market)
No 5G

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S10 boasts a Dynamic AMOLED display with an 'infinite' contrast ratio and excellent sunlight visibility. While the BLU Bold N2 likely has a decent LCD panel, it won't match the S10's vibrancy, color accuracy, or overall visual quality. The S10's display is a significant advantage.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S10's camera system is a major step up. It offers superior image quality, better low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. The BLU Bold N2's camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots, but won't compete with the S10's capabilities.

Performance

The Galaxy S10, with its Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 (depending on region), offers considerably more processing power than the Dimensity 810 in the BLU Bold N2. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the S10. The N2 is adequate for basic use, but struggles with demanding tasks.

Battery Life

While the BLU Bold N2 has faster wired charging (30W vs 15W), the Galaxy S10 boasts an exceptional endurance rating of 79 hours. This suggests significantly longer battery life for the S10, even with its older technology. The N2's battery capacity is likely smaller.

Buying Guide

The BLU Bold N2 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize fast charging and a modern chipset for everyday tasks. The Samsung Galaxy S10 is perfect for those who demand top-tier performance, a stunning display, a versatile camera system, and a premium build quality, even if it's an older model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the BLU Bold N2 a good phone for gaming?

The BLU Bold N2 can handle basic games, but it will struggle with demanding titles. The Samsung Galaxy S10 offers a much better gaming experience.

❓ How does the camera quality of the BLU Bold N2 compare to the Samsung Galaxy S10?

The Samsung Galaxy S10's camera is significantly better than the BLU Bold N2's, offering superior image quality, low-light performance, and more features.

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S10 still worth buying in [current year]?

Yes, the Galaxy S10 remains a capable phone with a fantastic display and camera. However, consider that it's an older model and won't receive the latest software updates.