Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite vs. A51: Which Samsung Phone Delivers the Best Value?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset provides significantly faster performance, and its 45W charging dramatically reduces downtime. While the A51 boasts better battery endurance, the S10 Lite’s speed advantage justifies the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A515U | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 12. Released 2019, December 16 | 2020, January 03 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, February 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) | 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED Plus, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, Super Steady OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing ANT+ | ANT+ | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 45W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Blue |
| Models | SM-A515F, SM-A515F/DSN, SM-A515F/DS, SM-A515F/DST, SM-A515F/DSM, SM-A515F/N, SM-A515U, SM-A515U1, SM-A515W, SM-A515X, SM-S515DL | SM-G770F, SM-G770F/DS, SM-G770F/DSM, SM-G770U1 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 380 EUR |
| SAR | 0.80 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 0.93 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.37 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) | 0.49 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | $ 299.99 | - |
| 128GB 6GB RAM | $ 674.99 | - |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | $ 211.50 | - |
| RENEWED | £ 179.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -87.3dB | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 110h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -28.6 LUFS (Average) | -27.2 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 113051 (v7), 175363 (v8) GeekBench: 5401 (v4.4), 1294 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 370751 (v7), 459497 (v8) GeekBench: 11151 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A51
- Longer battery life (86h endurance rating)
- More affordable price point (starting at $211.50)
- Acceptable camera performance for casual users
- Significantly slower performance due to Exynos 9611 chipset
- Slow 15W charging
- Lower display brightness
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 855
- Faster 45W charging
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Shorter battery life (110h endurance rating)
- Higher price compared to the base A51 configuration
- May run slightly warmer under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both the A51 and S10 Lite feature 'Infinite' contrast ratio displays, typical of Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology. However, the S10 Lite pulls ahead with a measured peak brightness of 705 nits, compared to the A51’s 636 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely use similar PWM dimming rates (data unavailable), the S10 Lite’s higher brightness offers a more comfortable viewing experience in various lighting conditions. The A51’s display is adequate, but the S10 Lite’s is demonstrably superior.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the S10 Lite likely has an edge in image processing quality due to its more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 855. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S10 Lite’s chipset allows for faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The A51’s camera system is competent, but the S10 Lite’s superior processing power gives it an advantage in capturing detail and reducing noise. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A51 is largely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The Galaxy S10 Lite’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) is a flagship-class chipset, featuring a Kryo 485 CPU architecture with a prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This contrasts sharply with the A51’s Exynos 9611 (10nm). The Snapdragon 855’s smaller 7nm process node allows for greater transistor density and improved thermal efficiency, resulting in sustained performance under load. The A51’s Cortex-A73 cores, while capable, simply cannot compete with the Snapdragon 855’s Kryo cores in demanding applications or gaming. The S10 Lite will offer a noticeably smoother and more responsive user experience.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A51 boasts an endurance rating of 86 hours, while the S10 Lite achieves 110 hours. This indicates the A51 will last longer on a single charge with typical usage. However, the S10 Lite compensates with significantly faster 45W wired charging, allowing for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the A51’s 15W charging. This means even with a slightly smaller battery capacity (not specified in the data), the S10 Lite’s rapid charging minimizes downtime and can effectively negate the A51’s endurance advantage for many users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 if you prioritize maximizing battery life above all else and need a phone primarily for basic tasks like calling, texting, and social media. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite if you demand smoother multitasking, enjoy mobile gaming, and value faster charging speeds – even if it means slightly less battery endurance.