The Motorola DEFY+ is a rugged throwback, a testament to early Android durability. The Samsung Galaxy S10e, on the other hand, represents a peak in modern smartphone design and performance. Can a phone from 2010 compete with a flagship from 2019? Let's find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S10e utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and features. However, the DEFY+’s ruggedness and nostalgia factor offer a unique appeal. If you prioritize modern tech, the S10e is the clear winner, but the DEFY+ holds a special place for those seeking a durable, simpler experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 | 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 | 2011, August. Released 2011, September | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 107 x 59 x 13.4 mm (4.21 x 2.32 x 0.53 in) | 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 118 g (4.16 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~438 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.7 inches, 37.7 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 82.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| | Touch sensitive controls
MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 | 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 | TI OMAP 3620 | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX530 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAM Adreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 2GB 512MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| 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 | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC+ player
MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Document viewer
Photo viewer/editor
Organizer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input | ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired, PD2.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 7 h 10 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1700 mAh battery | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink |
| Models | - | SM-G970F, SM-G970U, SM-G970W, SM-G9700, SM-G970U1, SM-G970N, SM-G970X |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.56 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.58 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -92.9dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 83h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 71dB / Noise 76dB / Ring 80dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 325192 (v7), 389694 (v8)
GeekBench: 10081 (v4.4), 2141 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -92.9dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 71dB / Noise 76dB / Ring 80dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 325192 (v7), 389694 (v8)
GeekBench: 10081 (v4.4), 2141 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola DEFY+
- Rugged and durable design
- Nostalgic Android experience
- Decent battery life (given its age)
- Water resistant
- Outdated processor and performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Limited app compatibility
Samsung Galaxy S10e
- Powerful processor and performance
- Excellent display quality
- Advanced camera system
- Fast charging (wired and wireless)
- Modern features (reverse wireless charging)
- Older model (limited software updates)
- Battery life degrades over time
- Can be expensive to find in good condition
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S10e boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering deep blacks and stunning colors. The DEFY+'s LCD screen is functional but noticeably less impressive in terms of brightness, color accuracy, and resolution. The S10e's smaller size also makes it more pocketable.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S10e's camera system is significantly more advanced, offering superior image quality, dynamic range, and features like portrait mode. The DEFY+'s camera is adequate for basic shots but lacks detail and struggles in low light. Video recording capabilities are also vastly improved on the S10e.
Performance
The Exynos 9820/Snapdragon 855 in the S10e provides a massive performance advantage over the TI OMAP 3620 in the DEFY+. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is seamless, and demanding games run smoothly on the S10e. The DEFY+ struggles with modern apps and can feel sluggish.
Battery Life
While the DEFY+ boasts an impressive endurance rating of 83h, this is largely due to its low-power processor and limited features. The Galaxy S10e also achieves 83h endurance, but with a much more powerful processor and advanced features, demonstrating superior power efficiency.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Motorola DEFY+? Those seeking a durable, basic phone for outdoor activities or a nostalgic trip back to early Android. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S10e? Anyone wanting a powerful, feature-rich smartphone with a fantastic camera and display.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Motorola DEFY+ still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with limitations. It can handle basic tasks, but modern apps and games may struggle. Its durability remains a strong point.
❓ Can I find software updates for the Motorola DEFY+?
No, the DEFY+ is no longer receiving software updates. This poses a security risk and limits compatibility with newer apps.
❓ Is the Galaxy S10e worth buying now?
It's a good value if you can find one in good condition. It still offers excellent performance and a great camera, but be aware that software updates are also discontinued.
