Vertu Aster vs. Samsung Galaxy S10e: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S10e is the clear winner for most users. Its superior performance, modern features, and excellent camera far outweigh the Vertu Aster's luxury appeal. While the Aster offers exclusivity, the S10e delivers exceptional value and a significantly better user experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Vertu Aster | Samsung Galaxy S10e |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 25 | 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 Cat4 150/50 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 | 2014, October. Released 2014, December | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143.4 x 69 x 11.2 mm (5.65 x 2.72 x 0.44 in) | 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| Titanium body (forged grade 5) and luxurious calf leather covered rear panel | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass, oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~473 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~438 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 59.9 cm2 (~60.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 82.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Sapphire crystal glass | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 | 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 Snapdragon 801 (28 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAM Adreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.0 | 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 |
| Features | Dual-LED flash | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, Hasselblad certified, AF | - |
| Video | Yes | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2.1 MP | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 380 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 15 h 30 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2275 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Onyx Calf, Lagoon Calf, Blush Calf, Caviar Karung, Tangerine Karung, Raspberry Ostrich, Cognac Ostrich | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink |
| Models | - | SM-G970F, SM-G970U, SM-G970W, SM-G9700, SM-G970U1, SM-G970N, SM-G970X |
| Price | About 5440 EUR | 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) |
Vertu Aster
- Handcrafted materials
- Bespoke concierge service
- Exclusivity
- Wireless Charging
- Outdated chipset
- Poor performance compared to modern phones
- High price
- Limited software updates
- Likely inferior camera
Samsung Galaxy S10e
- Powerful processor
- Excellent camera
- Vibrant display
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- Reverse wireless charging
- Modern features
- Less exclusive than Vertu Aster
- Plastic build (on some models)
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S10e boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering deep blacks and stunning colors. The Aster's display, while likely high-quality, lacks detailed specifications and is likely an LCD panel. The S10e's smaller size also makes it more pocketable.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S10e's camera system is a major advantage. It offers versatile shooting options, excellent image quality, and advanced features. The Vertu Aster's camera is likely adequate but lacks the sophistication and performance of the S10e.
Performance
The S10e's Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chipset (depending on region) is significantly faster and more efficient than the Aster's Snapdragon 801. The S10e's octa-core processor handles demanding tasks and games with ease, while the Aster may struggle with modern applications.
Battery Life
Both devices are reported to have an endurance rating of 83h, however, this is a synthetic test. The S10e's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely translate to better real-world battery life. The S10e also supports faster charging and reverse wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Vertu Aster? Those seeking a status symbol, a handcrafted device, and are willing to pay a premium for exclusivity and concierge services. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S10e? Anyone looking for a powerful, feature-rich Android phone with a great camera and long battery life, at a more reasonable price.