The Samsung Galaxy C series offered a unique blend of premium design and mid-range performance. Today, we're pitting two models against each other: the Galaxy C10 and the Galaxy C9 Pro. Which phone offers the better value and experience in 2024?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy C10 edges out the C9 Pro thanks to its more modern Snapdragon 660 chipset and significantly better battery endurance. While the C9 Pro was a strong contender in its time, the C10's improvements make it the preferable choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 40, 41 - India |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2016, October. Released 2016, November |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 162.9 x 80.7 x 6.9 mm (6.41 x 3.18 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | To be confirmed | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 | 6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~75.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8976 Pro Snapdragon 653 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 512 | Adreno 510 |
| OS | Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.7, AF
Auxiliary lens | 16 MP, f/1.9, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (region dependent) |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio with RDS | Stereo FM radio with RDS |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| 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 (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 750 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 36 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gold, Pink Gold, Black, Blue | Gold, Pink Gold, Black |
| Models | K50a40, K50-t5, K50-t3s | SM-C9000, SM-C900F, SM-C9008, SM-C900Y |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 380 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.79 W/kg (head) 1.62 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 53h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1793:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 76dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 984Basemark X: 5656 |
GFXBench: 5.8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy C10
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 660)
- Superior battery life (53h endurance)
- Potentially better camera image processing
- Super AMOLED display with high contrast
- Camera specs are vague
- May be harder to find new
Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro
- Potentially lower price on the used market
- Super AMOLED display
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 653)
- Shorter battery life
- Showing its age
Display Comparison
Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays, known for their vibrant colors and deep blacks. The C10 boasts a contrast ratio of 1793:1, suggesting slightly better image quality than the C9 Pro, although specific resolution and size details are missing for both. Expect excellent viewing angles and good outdoor visibility on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are listed as 'Photo / Video' for the C10, indicating a lack of detailed information. The C9 Pro featured a 16MP main camera and a front-facing 8MP camera. Given the C10's newer chipset, it likely has improved image processing capabilities, potentially resulting in better low-light performance and more accurate colors, even without specific megapixel details.
Performance
The C10's Snapdragon 660 is a noticeable upgrade over the C9 Pro's Snapdragon 653. The Kryo 260 cores in the 660 offer improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming capabilities. The C9 Pro's Cortex-A72/A53 combination is still capable, but noticeably slower.
Battery Life
The C10's endurance rating of 53h is a significant advantage. This suggests a much larger battery capacity and/or more efficient power management compared to the C9 Pro. Expect significantly longer battery life on the C10, easily lasting a full day or more with moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy C10 is ideal for users seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with decent performance for everyday tasks and photography. The Galaxy C9 Pro might appeal to budget-conscious buyers who can find it at a significantly reduced price, but understand it's showing its age.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy C10 worth buying in 2024?
If you can find one at a reasonable price, the Galaxy C10 is a solid choice for a reliable mid-range phone with good battery life. However, newer phones offer more advanced features.
❓ What's the difference between the Snapdragon 660 and 653?
The Snapdragon 660 is a newer and more powerful chipset than the 653, offering better CPU and GPU performance, and improved power efficiency.
