Samsung Galaxy A10e vs. Apple iPhone 8: A Budget Showdown

Choosing a budget smartphone can be tough. The Samsung Galaxy A10e and Apple iPhone 8 both offer compelling features at accessible price points, but cater to different needs. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 8 wins overall due to its superior performance thanks to the A11 Bionic chip, better software support, and generally more polished user experience. However, the A10e offers a larger screen and potentially better value for those prioritizing size and affordability over raw power.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A10e Apple iPhone 8
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - AT&THSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 29, 30, 66 - AT&T1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Metro PCS, T-Mobile-
Launch
Announced2019, July. Released 2019, August2017, September 12. Released 2017, September 22
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions147.3 x 69.6 x 8.4 mm (5.80 x 2.74 x 0.33 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM
Weight141 g (4.97 oz)148 g (5.22 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~295 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size5.83 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypePLS LCDRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
 -3D Touch display & home button
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.35 GHz Cortex-A53)Hexa-core (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral)
ChipsetExynos 7884 (14 nm)Apple A11 Bionic (10 nm)
GPUMali-G71 MP2Apple GPU (three-core graphics)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1iOS 11, up to iOS 16.7.12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single8 MP, f/1.9, AF or 5 MP, AF12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
Features-Face detection, HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, f/2.0 or 2 MP7 MP, f/2.2
Video-1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging-15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Talk time-Up to 14 h (3G)
TypeLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.96 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlackSilver, Space Gray, Gold, Red
ModelsSM-A102U, SM-S102DL, SM-A102U1, SM-A102W, SM-A102NA1863, A1905, A1906, A1907, iPhone10,1, iPhone10,4
PriceAbout 80 EURAbout 210 EUR
SAR0.47 W/kg (head)     0.54 W/kg (body)1.32 W/kg (head)     1.36 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.19 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -80.4dB
Battery life-Endurance rating 66h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1395:1 (nominal), 3.957 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- Voice 71dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 80dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 237594 (v7) GeekBench: 10214 (v4.4) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A10e

  • Larger Display
  • More Affordable
  • Expandable Storage (via microSD)
  • Decent Battery Life

  • Slower Performance
  • Less Polished Software
  • No Wireless Charging
  • Lower Camera Quality

Apple iPhone 8

  • Faster Performance (A11 Bionic)
  • iOS Ecosystem
  • Better Camera
  • Wireless Charging
  • Longer Software Support

  • Smaller Display
  • Higher Price
  • Non-Expandable Storage
  • Older Design

Display Comparison

The A10e boasts a larger 6.2-inch display, offering more screen real estate for media consumption and browsing. The iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch display. Both have a contrast ratio of 1395:1 (nominal) and 3.957 (sunlight), suggesting decent outdoor visibility. However, the iPhone 8's display generally offers better color accuracy and sharpness.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 8's camera is generally considered superior, offering better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. While the A10e's camera is adequate for casual snapshots, the iPhone 8 consistently delivers more pleasing results. Both offer Photo/Video capabilities.

Performance

Here's where the iPhone 8 truly shines. The A11 Bionic chip is significantly faster and more efficient than the Exynos 7884. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance on the iPhone 8. The A10e can handle everyday tasks, but may struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 66h, suggesting comparable battery life under moderate usage. The iPhone 8 supports 15W wired charging with PD 2.0 (reaching 50% in 30 minutes) and wireless charging (Qi), offering more convenient charging options than the A10e, which lacks wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A10e is ideal for users seeking a large screen, basic functionality, and a very budget-friendly option. The Apple iPhone 8 is a better choice for those who value performance, iOS ecosystem integration, and longer software support, even if it means a smaller screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Apple iPhone 8 will receive software updates for a longer period due to Apple's commitment to iOS updates.
❓ Can I expand the storage on the Samsung Galaxy A10e?
Yes, the A10e supports expandable storage via a microSD card, unlike the iPhone 8.
❓ Is the iPhone 8 worth the extra cost?
If performance and iOS integration are important to you, the iPhone 8 is worth the premium. If you're on a tight budget and prioritize screen size, the A10e is a viable option.