Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: A Detailed Performance and Feature Comparison

Launched in different eras of 5G adoption, the Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G represent contrasting approaches to early 5G smartphone implementation. The Z6 Pro aimed for aggressive value, while the S10 5G positioned itself as a premium, albeit early, 5G flagship. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device holds up better today.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing convenience and a more refined experience, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is the better choice. Its 25W charging, wireless charging capabilities, and potentially more optimized software outweigh the Z6 Pro’s value proposition. However, the Z6 Pro remains a compelling option for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G	Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - USA
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	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	41, 78 NSA/Sub6	78 NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China

Launch
Announced	2019, June 26. Released 2019, November 15	2019, February. Released 2019, April
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions	157.5 x 74.6 x 8.7 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.34 in)	162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm (6.40 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	185 g (6.53 oz)	198 g (6.98 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)	1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~502 ppi density)
Size	6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, HDR10	Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)	Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)	Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA
GPU	Adreno 640	Mali-G76 MP12 - GlobalAdreno 640 - USA
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), ZUI 11	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/1.8, 2.9µm, PDAF, OIS (dedicated video camera) TOF 3D, (depth)	-
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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@120fps, gyro-EIS	4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm	10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth sensor)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX HD	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	FM radio (USA & Canada only)
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, 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
	-	ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

Battery
Charging	18W wired	25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Red, Blue	Crown Silver, Majestic Black, Royal Gold
Models	-	SM-G977U, SM-G977N, SM-G977B, SM-G9770, SM-G977P, SM-G977T
Price	About 400 EUR	About 380 EUR
SAR	-	0.46 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.26 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body)

Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G

Potentially lower price point
Consistent Snapdragon 855 performance
5G connectivity

Slower 18W charging
No wireless charging
Potentially less refined software experience

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Faster 25W charging with PD3.0
Wireless and reverse wireless charging
Potentially superior display quality

Exynos 9820 variant may exhibit throttling
Higher price point
Software bloat (typical of Samsung)

Display Comparison

Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given Samsung’s history, the Galaxy S10 5G likely features a higher-quality AMOLED panel with superior color accuracy and potentially higher peak brightness compared to the Z6 Pro. The S10 5G also benefits from Samsung’s display expertise, potentially offering better viewing angles and outdoor visibility. The Z6 Pro, being a more budget-oriented device, likely utilizes a less expensive panel.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a precise comparison is difficult. However, Samsung typically prioritizes image processing and software features. The Galaxy S10 5G likely offers more sophisticated scene optimization and post-processing capabilities. The Z6 Pro, while potentially having a capable sensor, likely relies more on raw hardware and less on computational photography. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and lens apertures makes a definitive judgment impossible, but Samsung’s history suggests a more refined camera experience.

Performance

The performance landscape is nuanced. Both phones can be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), but the Galaxy S10 5G also shipped with the Exynos 9820 (8nm) in many regions. While the Exynos 9820 boasts a slightly higher clock speed on its Mongoose M4 cores (2.73 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the Snapdragon), the Snapdragon 855’s 7nm process generally translates to better thermal efficiency and sustained performance. The Z6 Pro’s consistent Snapdragon 855 configuration provides a more predictable performance profile. Both devices utilize octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences – Kryo cores vs. Cortex-A75/A55 – impact real-world responsiveness. The Snapdragon’s Kryo cores are optimized for a balance of performance and power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G has a clear advantage in charging. Its 25W wired charging with Power Delivery 3.0 support significantly reduces charging times compared to the Z6 Pro’s 18W charging. Furthermore, the S10 5G adds 15W wireless charging (Qi standard) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, offering versatility the Z6 Pro lacks. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging and wireless options of the S10 5G mitigate any potential capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G if you need a functional 5G phone on a strict budget and are comfortable with potentially less refined software and slower charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G if you prefer faster charging speeds (including wireless), a more polished user experience, and the convenience of reverse wireless charging, even at a higher price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9820 in the Galaxy S10 5G suffer from overheating or throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?

The Exynos 9820 has been known to exhibit more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 855 under sustained load. While Samsung implemented cooling solutions, demanding games may lead to performance drops over extended periods. The Z6 Pro’s consistent Snapdragon 855 configuration offers more predictable thermal performance.

❓ Is the 5G connectivity on both phones compatible with all 5G networks, or are there regional limitations?

5G compatibility depends on the specific bands supported by each phone and the 5G network in your region. Both phones support 5G, but it's crucial to verify compatibility with your carrier's 5G frequencies before purchasing. Check the detailed specifications on GSMArena or your carrier's website for specific band support.

❓ How does the software experience differ between the Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G and the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G runs Samsung's One UI, which is feature-rich but can be perceived as bloated by some users. The Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G likely runs a more streamlined version of Android, potentially with less pre-installed software, but may lack the polish and extensive features of One UI. Software updates are also typically faster and more consistent on Samsung devices.