Samsung Galaxy S10e vs Google Pixel 7a: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S10e remains a compelling option, even years after its release, thanks to its compact size and premium feel. The Google Pixel 7a, on the other hand, brings Google's renowned camera and software experience to a more accessible price point. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Pixel 7a wins overall, offering a superior camera, modern chipset, and guaranteed software updates. While the S10e boasts a stunning display and compact design, its aging hardware and lack of long-term support make it less appealing in 2024. The Pixel 7a provides better value and future-proofing.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S10e Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USAHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 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 - USA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8
Launch
Announced2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 082023, May 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight150 g (5.29 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~438 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size5.8 inches, 82.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+OLED, HDR, 90Hz
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-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/ChinaOcta-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAM Adreno 640 - USA/ChinaMali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlyNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual12 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 video64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)-
Battery
Charging15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsPrism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo PinkCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsSM-G970F, SM-G970U, SM-G970W, SM-G9700, SM-G970U1, SM-G970N, SM-G970XGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 130 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980
SAR0.56 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.58 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)-

Samsung Galaxy S10e

  • Compact and pocketable
  • Excellent display quality
  • Premium build quality
  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging

  • Aging hardware
  • Limited software updates
  • Slower charging speed
  • Camera not as competitive as newer phones

Google Pixel 7a

  • Outstanding camera performance
  • Clean and fast Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Faster charging
  • Bright display

  • Design can be polarizing
  • Tensor G2 can throttle under sustained load
  • Wireless charging is slower than some competitors

Display Comparison

The S10e's display is remarkable, boasting an 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely OLED) and a vibrant color profile. However, the Pixel 7a's 1070 nits max brightness provides significantly better visibility in direct sunlight. While the S10e's display is visually stunning, the Pixel 7a's brightness gives it a practical edge.

Camera Comparison

Google's Pixel phones are renowned for their camera prowess, and the 7a is no exception. Its computational photography capabilities are exceptional, producing consistently excellent images in various conditions. The S10e's camera is still good, but it lacks the Pixel 7a's dynamic range, detail, and low-light performance. The Pixel 7a is the clear winner here.

Performance

The Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chipset offers a noticeable performance boost over the S10e's Exynos 9820/Snapdragon 855. The Tensor G2's Cortex-X1 core provides excellent single-core performance, while the S10e's chipset, though capable, is showing its age. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the Pixel 7a.

Battery Life

The S10e has a slightly higher endurance rating (83h) compared to the Pixel 7a (76h) based on older testing methodologies. However, the Pixel 7a's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely translate to comparable real-world battery life. The Pixel 7a also supports faster charging (18W vs 15W) and wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is ideal for users who prioritize a compact form factor, a vibrant display, and don't need the latest and greatest features. The Google Pixel 7a is perfect for those seeking a fantastic camera, clean Android experience, and guaranteed software updates at a mid-range price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S10e still worth buying in 2024?
It depends. If you prioritize a compact size and a great display and don't need the latest features or long-term software support, it can be a decent option. However, the Pixel 7a offers a more modern and future-proof experience.
❓ Which phone has the better camera?
The Google Pixel 7a's camera is significantly better than the S10e's, thanks to Google's advanced computational photography algorithms and hardware improvements.