Samsung Galaxy S10+ vs. Sony Xperia 10 VII: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users in 2024, the Sony Xperia 10 VII is the better choice. While the S10+ boasts a potentially brighter display, the Xperia 10 VII’s significantly improved battery endurance, modern chipset, and continued software support outweigh the S10+'s aging hardware and diminishing battery health.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S10+ | Sony Xperia 10 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 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 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08 | 2025, September 12 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, September 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 153 x 72 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China | Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0" |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 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 video | - |
| Video | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 10 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 | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio (USA & Canada only) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | Wired, PD, QC |
| Type | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue | White, Turquoise, Charcoal |
| Models | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X, SC-05L | XQ-FE54, XQZ-CBFE, xqfe54eukcl.gc, xqfe54eukcw.gc, xqfe54eukcb.gc |
| Price | $ 289.88 / C$ 449.97 / € 230.00 | $ 459.99 / £ 329.00 / € 379.00 |
| SAR | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 48:10h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class D |
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Potentially brighter display in ideal conditions
- Flagship-level build quality (at launch)
- Faster CPU clock speeds (on paper)
- Aging battery with reduced capacity
- Limited software update support
- Potential for overheating with the Exynos variant
Sony Xperia 10 VII
- Exceptional battery life and longevity
- Modern and efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset
- Continued software support
- Faster charging standards (PD, QC)
- Less powerful CPU compared to S10+'s Snapdragon 855
- Display may not be as color accurate
- Mid-range camera system
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S10+’s display boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and 4.514 nits of sunlight contrast, suggesting excellent visibility outdoors. However, the Xperia 10 VII counters with a measured peak brightness of 1064 nits, potentially exceeding the S10+ in real-world conditions. While the S10+ likely has superior color reproduction due to its flagship status, the Xperia 10 VII’s brightness is a significant advantage for outdoor use. The S10+’s panel technology is older, lacking the efficiency gains of newer displays.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited for the S10+. The S10+ likely excels in dynamic range and low-light performance due to its flagship heritage. The Xperia 10 VII’s camera specifications are not provided, but Sony’s image processing is known for its natural color reproduction. Without detailed sensor information for the Xperia 10 VII, a direct comparison is difficult, but the S10+ likely has an advantage in overall image quality, assuming its sensors are still in good condition. The S10+’s video capabilities were also a strength at launch.
Performance
The S10+ shipped with either the Exynos 9820 (8nm) or the Snapdragon 855 (7nm), depending on the region. Both are powerful chips, but the 7nm Snapdragon offers better thermal efficiency. The Xperia 10 VII utilizes the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm), a more modern and efficient chipset. While the S10+'s CPUs (Octa-core, up to 2.73 GHz) have higher clock speeds, the 4nm process of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 allows for sustained performance without significant throttling. The Xperia 10 VII’s Cortex-A78 cores provide a substantial performance uplift over the S10+'s Cortex-A55 cores in everyday tasks.
Battery Life
This is where the Xperia 10 VII truly shines. The S10+’s endurance rating of 91 hours is respectable for its age, but the Xperia 10 VII achieves a remarkable 48:10h endurance rating and boasts 1400 battery cycles, indicating significantly longer lifespan. The Xperia 10 VII also has an active use score of 12:57h. The S10+ supports 15W wired and wireless charging with 4.5W reverse wireless, while the Xperia 10 VII offers wired charging with PD and QC standards. The Xperia 10 VII’s superior battery efficiency and longevity make it the clear winner in this category.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you prioritize a potentially brighter display and are comfortable with the risks of an older device – including battery degradation and limited software updates. Buy the Sony Xperia 10 VII if you value long-term battery life, efficient performance, and a phone that will receive updates for a longer period, even if it means sacrificing some peak processing power.