Sony Xperia 1 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: A Flagship Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S10 edges out the Xperia 1 due to its more versatile camera system, faster charging, and generally more polished software experience. However, the Xperia 1’s unique 21:9 display and dedicated camera features appeal to content creators and those seeking a distinct design.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 1 | Samsung Galaxy S10 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 30 | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in) | 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm (5.90 x 2.77 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 157 g (5.54 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~550 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 93.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | 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 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm | 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@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| - | ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Purple, White | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue |
| Models | J8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03L | SM-G973F, SM-G973U, SM-G973W, SM-G973U1, SM-G9730, SM-G973N, SM-G973X, SCV41, SM-G973C |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.93 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.48 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB | Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 79h | Endurance rating 79h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.498 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.7 LUFS (Good) | Voice 82dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 85dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 328366 (v7) GeekBench: 10174 (v4.4) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 1
- Unique 21:9 display
- Dedicated camera shutter button
- Excellent manual camera controls
- High-quality build
- Slower charging
- Less versatile camera system
- Can feel bulky
- Software updates can be slower
Samsung Galaxy S10
- Versatile camera system (ultrawide lens)
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- More polished software experience
- Bright display in sunlight
- Exynos variant can have slightly lower performance
- Design can feel a bit dated
- Reverse wireless charging is slow
Display Comparison
Both phones boast 'infinite' contrast ratio displays, but the Xperia 1’s 21:9 aspect ratio is a major differentiator, offering a unique cinematic viewing experience. The Galaxy S10’s display shines in direct sunlight with a measured 4.498 rating, slightly surpassing the Xperia 1. While both are excellent, the Xperia 1’s aspect ratio is a niche appeal.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S10 offers a more versatile camera system with its ultrawide lens, providing greater creative flexibility. The Xperia 1 focuses on photography and videography with manual controls and a dedicated shutter button. Both capture excellent images, but the S10’s overall versatility gives it an advantage.
Performance
The Xperia 1’s Snapdragon 855 is a powerhouse, but the Galaxy S10’s Exynos 9820 (in EMEA/LATAM) or Snapdragon 855 (in USA/China) offer comparable performance. Real-world usage feels very similar on both devices, with smooth multitasking and responsive app loading. The Snapdragon variant of the S10 might have a slight edge in efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones share the same impressive endurance rating of 79 hours. However, the Galaxy S10’s 15W wired charging and 15W wireless charging (plus reverse wireless) provide a faster and more convenient charging experience compared to the Xperia 1’s 18W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 1 is ideal for content creators, photography enthusiasts who appreciate manual controls, and users who prefer a tall, cinematic display. The Samsung Galaxy S10 is a better choice for those seeking a more well-rounded experience with a versatile camera, faster charging, and a vibrant, user-friendly interface.