Samsung Galaxy S10+ vs. OnePlus 7 Pro 5G: A Detailed Comparison of 2019 Flagships

Released within months of each other in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G represented distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The S10+ aimed for a comprehensive package with a refined display and versatile camera, while the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G prioritized speed and a clean software experience, capitalizing on the emerging 5G network capabilities. This comparison revisits these devices to determine which holds up better today, and for whom.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a smooth software experience, the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is the better choice. Its 30W charging significantly outperforms the S10+'s 15W, and the Snapdragon 855 delivers consistent performance. However, the S10+ boasts a superior display with infinite contrast and a more versatile camera system.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S10+ OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
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) / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-41 NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 082019, May 14. Released 2019, September 06
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz)206 g (7.27 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
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 (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetExynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaAdreno 640
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, OxygenOS 10.0.4
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlyNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 78mm (telephoto), 3x zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
Video4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, no video rec. with ultrawide camera
Selfie camera
Dual10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, depth sensor-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless30W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsPrism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke BlueMirror Grey, Almond, Nebula Blue
ModelsSM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X, SC-05LGM1925
Price$ 289.88 / C$ 449.97 / € 230.00About 800 EUR
SAR1.06 W/kg (head)     1.03 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)-

Samsung Galaxy S10+

  • Superior display quality with infinite contrast.
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging.
  • More versatile camera system (likely).

  • Slower charging speeds (15W).
  • Potential for Exynos throttling (EMEA/LATAM).

OnePlus 7 Pro 5G

  • Significantly faster 30W charging.
  • Clean and bloatware-free software experience.
  • Consistent Snapdragon 855 performance.

  • Lacks wireless charging.
  • Potentially less versatile camera system.

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ features a display with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a 4.514 contrast ratio in sunlight, indicating exceptional visibility even outdoors. While the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s known for its 90Hz refresh rate, a feature absent on the S10+. The S10+'s higher contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, making it ideal for media consumption. The S10+’s superior sunlight readability is a significant advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs beyond 'Photo/Video' are unavailable for the S10+. However, Samsung historically focused on versatile camera systems with multiple lenses and advanced image processing. The S10+ likely offered a wider range of shooting modes and features compared to the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. While the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G’s camera was competitive, Samsung’s image processing often prioritized vibrant colors and detail, appealing to a broader audience. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s established camera expertise gives it an edge.

Performance

Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) chipset, but the S10+ also came in an Exynos 9820 (8nm) variant for EMEA/LATAM markets. The Snapdragon 855, present in both the US/China S10+ and the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, benefits from a more efficient 7nm process compared to the Exynos 9820’s 8nm process. This translates to potentially better thermal management and sustained performance. The CPUs are architecturally similar – Octa-core configurations with Kryo 485 cores in the Snapdragon and a mix of Mongoose M4 and Cortex-A cores in the Exynos. Users of the Exynos variant may experience more noticeable throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ boasts an endurance rating of 91 hours, while the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G’s battery life is not specified. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The S10+ supports 15W wired charging (PD2.0) and 15W wireless charging, while the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G supports a significantly faster 30W wired charging. This means the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G can replenish its battery much quicker, a crucial advantage for users who frequently need to top up their devices. The S10+'s reverse wireless charging (4.5W) is a convenience feature absent on the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you need a more polished and feature-rich experience, particularly if display quality and camera versatility are paramount. Its wireless charging and reverse wireless capabilities add convenience. Buy the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G if you prioritize speed, fast charging, and a clean, bloatware-free Android experience, especially if 5G connectivity is a key requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9820 chip in the Galaxy S10+ overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9820, fabricated on an 8nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 855 (7nm). Users in EMEA/LATAM regions may experience reduced performance during extended gaming or demanding tasks, while the Snapdragon variant generally maintains higher sustained performance.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G compared to the 15W charging on the S10+?
The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G’s 30W charging can significantly reduce charging times. While exact figures depend on battery level and conditions, it can potentially charge from 0-100% in around 60-70 minutes, compared to the S10+'s estimated 120+ minutes with its 15W charger.
❓ Is the lack of a headphone jack on either phone a significant drawback?
Both the S10+ and 7 Pro 5G omitted the 3.5mm headphone jack, reflecting a trend in flagship phones at the time. Users reliant on wired headphones will need to use a USB-C adapter or Bluetooth headphones.
❓ Does the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G actually benefit from 5G speeds in real-world usage?
In 2019, 5G coverage was limited. The benefit of the 5G capability on the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G depended heavily on location and carrier availability. While offering potential for faster speeds, the real-world advantage was often minimal due to infrastructure limitations.