Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M vs. Galaxy S10e: A Generational Leap?

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M was a pioneer, pushing Android boundaries in its time. Now, let's pit it against the sleek and powerful Samsung Galaxy S10e, a modern marvel. This comparison explores how far smartphone technology has advanced and which device offers the best value today.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S10e utterly dominates this comparison. While the Nexus I9250M holds nostalgic value, the S10e's superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it the clear winner for modern users. It's a testament to how quickly technology evolves.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M Samsung Galaxy S10e
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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
SpeedHSPA 21.1/5.76 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -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
Announced2012, January. Released 2012, January2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm (5.33 x 2.67 x 0.35 in)142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight135 g (4.76 oz)150 g (5.29 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionOleophobic coatingCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~316 ppi density)1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~438 ppi density)
Size4.65 inches, 59.6 cm2 (~64.8% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 82.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUDual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9Octa-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
ChipsetTI OMAP 4460Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China
GPUPowerVR SGX540Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAM Adreno 640 - USA/China
OSAndroid 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal16GB 1GB RAM128GB 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
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, AF-
Video1080p@30fps4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single1.3 MP10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video720p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth3.0, A2DP5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, A-GPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBmicroUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out)USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Photo/video editor Document viewerANT+ 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-byUp to 600 h-
Talk timeUp to 9 h-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1750 mAh batteryLi-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlackPrism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink
ModelsGT-I9250MSM-G970F, SM-G970U, SM-G970W, SM-G9700, SM-G970U1, SM-G970N, SM-G970X
PriceAbout 240 EURAbout 130 EUR
SAR0.40 W/kg (head)     0.74 W/kg (body)0.56 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.35 W/kg (head)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)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M

  • Pioneering Android experience
  • Compact size
  • Decent Super AMOLED display for its time

  • Outdated processor
  • Poor performance with modern apps
  • Limited camera capabilities
  • No fast charging
  • Lack of modern features

Samsung Galaxy S10e

  • Powerful processor
  • Excellent camera system
  • Vibrant AMOLED display
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Compact and premium design

  • Older model (limited software updates)
  • Can be expensive (depending on condition)

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S10e boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with a near-infinite contrast ratio, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz refresh rate (depending on the model). The Nexus I9250M's Super AMOLED display was impressive for its time, but it lacks the S10e's brightness, resolution, and advanced features. The S10e's smaller size also makes it more pocketable.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S10e's camera system is a world apart. It offers multiple lenses (wide, ultrawide, telephoto) and advanced features like scene optimization and night mode. The Nexus I9250M's single camera was decent for its era, but it can't compete with the S10e's image quality, dynamic range, and versatility. Video recording capabilities are also vastly superior on the S10e.

Performance

The S10e's Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chipset (depending on region) is significantly faster and more efficient than the Nexus I9250M's TI OMAP 4460. The S10e's octa-core processor handles demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the Nexus struggles with modern apps and experiences. The S10e also benefits from significantly more RAM.

Battery Life

Both devices are reported to have an endurance rating of 83h, however, this is likely a theoretical maximum. The S10e's battery is larger and more efficient, allowing for longer real-world usage. The S10e also supports fast charging (wired and wireless) and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Nexus.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M? Primarily, enthusiasts interested in retro Android experiences or developers needing a specific older platform. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S10e? Anyone seeking a compact, powerful, and feature-rich smartphone with excellent camera capabilities and long-lasting battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy Nexus still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with significant limitations. It can run older Android apps, but modern apps may not be compatible or perform well. Software updates are long discontinued.
❓ Can I find a Galaxy Nexus in good condition?
Finding a Galaxy Nexus in excellent condition can be challenging. They are primarily available on the used market, so condition varies greatly.