Lenovo M10 FHD REL vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Tale of Two Androids

We're pitting the Lenovo M10 FHD REL, a budget-friendly tablet designed for casual use, against the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, a no-compromise flagship smartphone. This isn't a direct competition, but a demonstration of the vast differences in capabilities and price points within the Android ecosystem. This comparison is for users deciding whether to invest in a dedicated tablet for media consumption or a premium smartphone offering all-around functionality.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, superior display, and advanced camera system offer a level of performance and features the Lenovo M10 FHD REL simply cannot match. However, the M10 FHD REL remains a viable option for those on a strict budget needing basic tablet functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names Lenovo M10 FHD REL Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsN/AGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsN/AHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps - cellular model onlyHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyLTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2020, January 24. Released 2020, January 242023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions-163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMYes - cellular model only· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight520 g (1.15 lb)234 g (8.25 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size10.1 inches, 295.8 cm26.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 320 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 506Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal32GB 3GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Features-Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single8 MP, AF12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single5 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS - cellular model onlyGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 7000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackPhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsTB-X605FC, TB-X605LC, ZA4Y0079IN, TB-X605M, TB-X605LSM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 180 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR-1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 126h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Lenovo M10 FHD REL

  • Extremely affordable price point
  • Suitable for basic media consumption
  • Portable and lightweight

  • Weak processor for demanding tasks
  • Inferior display quality
  • Limited camera capabilities

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Stunning display with high brightness and contrast
  • Advanced camera system for high-quality photos and videos

  • Significantly higher price
  • Larger and heavier than the M10 FHD REL
  • May be overkill for basic tasks

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a significantly more advanced display. While both devices feature FHD resolution, the S23 Ultra’s measured peak brightness of 1274 nits dwarfs the likely lower brightness of the Lenovo M10 FHD REL. The S23 Ultra’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery and providing smoother scrolling, a feature absent on the M10 FHD REL. The S23 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a superior panel with deeper blacks, enhancing the viewing experience for videos and games.

Camera Comparison

The camera systems are worlds apart. While both devices offer photo and video capabilities, the S23 Ultra’s camera is in a different league. Details regarding the S23 Ultra’s camera are limited to 'Photo / Video', but Samsung flagships are known for their advanced image processing, optical image stabilization (OIS), and high-resolution sensors. The M10 FHD REL’s camera is likely a basic setup suitable for casual snapshots, lacking the features and image quality of the S23 Ultra. Ignoring the likely presence of low-resolution auxiliary cameras on both devices, the S23 Ultra’s main sensor will offer superior low-light performance and dynamic range.

Performance

The performance disparity is immense. The Lenovo M10 FHD REL’s Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) and Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU are designed for efficiency, not speed. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) with its complex core configuration (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) delivers flagship-level performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers significantly better thermal efficiency, meaning less throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The S23 Ultra will handle demanding apps and multitasking with ease, while the M10 FHD REL will struggle with resource-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery life is impressive, achieving an endurance rating of 126 hours and 13:24 hours of active use. Its 45W wired charging with PD3.0 allows for a 65% charge in just 30 minutes, and 15W wireless charging adds convenience. The Lenovo M10 FHD REL’s battery capacity is unknown, but given its lower-power chipset, it likely offers adequate battery life for its intended use case. However, it will almost certainly lack the fast charging capabilities of the S23 Ultra.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo M10 FHD REL if you need a dedicated, affordable device primarily for media consumption, light web browsing, and basic tasks like reading ebooks. It's ideal for families or individuals who want a secondary screen without breaking the bank. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you prioritize performance, camera quality, a vibrant display, and all-day battery life in a single, premium package. It's the choice for power users, content creators, and mobile gamers.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 450 in the Lenovo M10 FHD REL sufficient for playing modern mobile games?
No, the Snapdragon 450 is a low-end processor and will struggle with most modern mobile games, even at low settings. Expect significant lag and frame rate drops. It's better suited for casual games and less demanding applications.
❓ How does the thermal management of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra handle extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's 4nm process and Samsung's cooling system are designed to mitigate thermal throttling. While the device will get warm during prolonged gaming, it's unlikely to experience significant performance drops compared to devices with less efficient chipsets.
❓ Can the Lenovo M10 FHD REL be used for video conferencing effectively?
The Lenovo M10 FHD REL can be used for basic video conferencing, but the camera quality and microphone performance are likely to be subpar. The smaller screen size may also make it less comfortable for extended video calls.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra support DeX mode for a desktop-like experience?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra supports DeX mode, allowing you to connect it to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a desktop-like experience. This significantly expands its functionality beyond a typical smartphone.