Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs. Samsung Galaxy S10e: A Detailed Comparison of Two Compact Flagships

The Sharp Aquos R2 Compact and the Samsung Galaxy S10e represent a dwindling breed: high-end smartphones in a genuinely pocketable form factor. Released in different markets and with differing philosophies, these phones offer compelling alternatives to the increasingly large modern smartphone. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device delivers the best experience for various user needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with wireless charging and a more established brand ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy S10e is the better choice. However, the Aquos R2 Compact offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a slightly more raw performance profile and a potentially more unique user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos R2 compact Samsung Galaxy S10e
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 17, 19, 26, 28, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / 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
Announced2018, November. Released 2019, January2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions131 x 64 x 9.3 mm (5.16 x 2.52 x 0.37 in)142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-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 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~485 ppi density)1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~438 ppi density)
Size5.2 inches, 67.5 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 82.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIGZO IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)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
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China
GPUAdreno 630Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAM Adreno 640 - USA/China
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal64GB 4GB 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 flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single22.6 MP, f/1.9, 22 mm, PDAF, OIS-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (gyro-EIS)4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, 23 mm10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
  24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD2.015W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSmokey Green, Deep White, Pure BlackPrism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink
ModelsSH-M09SM-G970F, SM-G970U, SM-G970W, SM-G9700, SM-G970U1, SM-G970N, SM-G970X
Price-About 130 EUR
SAR-0.56 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-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)

Sharp Aquos R2 compact

  • Potentially better thermal management due to compact size.
  • Snapdragon 845 offers strong performance.
  • Unique and less common device.

  • Lacks wireless charging.
  • Limited availability and support.
  • Less refined software experience.

Samsung Galaxy S10e

  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
  • More polished software experience.
  • Wider availability and support.

  • Exynos 9820 may be prone to thermal throttling.
  • Potentially less efficient chipset.
  • More mainstream design.

Display Comparison

Both devices boast an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent OLED panels. However, the context data lacks specific brightness figures. Given Samsung’s display expertise, the S10e likely achieves higher peak brightness, enhancing outdoor visibility. The R2 Compact’s display size isn’t specified, but its ‘compact’ designation suggests a smaller screen, potentially impacting media consumption. The S10e’s display benefits from Samsung’s color calibration, offering a more accurate and vibrant viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate data for either device means neither can be definitively labeled as superior in terms of smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. The S10e’s camera system is generally regarded as more versatile and capable, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing algorithms. The R2 Compact’s camera performance is less well-documented, and its image quality likely lags behind the S10e. The lack of detail regarding sensor sizes and apertures makes a precise comparison impossible, but the S10e’s reputation suggests a more refined and consistent camera experience. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution auxiliary lenses on both devices, the primary sensor quality is the key differentiator.

Performance

The chipset battle pits Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 (10nm) in the R2 Compact against Samsung’s Exynos 9820 (8nm) – or Snapdragon 855 (7nm) depending on the region. The 8nm/7nm process node advantage of the Exynos/Snapdragon 855 suggests better power efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance. The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores also represent an architectural improvement over the Kryo 385 in the 845. However, the R2 Compact’s smaller size may allow for more effective thermal dissipation, potentially mitigating the Exynos 9820’s known tendency to throttle under sustained load. The S10e’s RAM configuration isn’t specified, but it likely utilizes faster LPDDR5 RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an Endurance Rating of 83h, indicating comparable battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). The S10e offers a significant advantage with 15W wireless charging (Qi) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the R2 Compact. While both support 18W/15W wired charging with PD2.0, the S10e’s wireless charging capabilities provide added convenience. The R2 Compact’s battery life is likely optimized through software and the efficiency of the Snapdragon 845, but the S10e’s wireless charging options offer a more flexible charging ecosystem.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact if you prioritize a potentially cooler-running Snapdragon 845 and are comfortable with importing a device and navigating a less mainstream software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10e if you value wireless charging, a more refined software experience, broader compatibility with accessories, and the peace of mind of a globally supported brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9820 in the Galaxy S10e suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9820 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 855, and thermal throttling can occur during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. While Samsung implemented cooling solutions, the S10e may experience performance drops over extended periods. The Aquos R2 Compact's Snapdragon 845, benefiting from its smaller form factor, may maintain more consistent performance.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact a dealbreaker in 2024?
For users heavily invested in wireless charging ecosystems, the absence of this feature on the R2 Compact is a significant drawback. The convenience of simply placing the phone on a charging pad is a compelling benefit offered by the S10e. However, if wired charging is sufficient, the R2 Compact remains a viable option.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact and the Samsung Galaxy S10e?
The Galaxy S10e runs Samsung's One UI, a feature-rich and widely supported Android skin. The Aquos R2 Compact utilizes a less common software implementation, potentially requiring more technical expertise to customize and maintain. Updates may also be less frequent and less reliable on the R2 Compact.
❓ Which phone is better for media consumption, considering display quality and size?
While both have excellent OLED displays, the Samsung Galaxy S10e likely offers a brighter and more color-accurate viewing experience. The S10e's potentially larger screen size also makes it more suitable for watching videos and browsing the web.