vivo NEX 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the vivo NEX 3 emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 855+ chipset consistently outperforms the global Exynos 9820 in the Galaxy S10 5G, and the 44W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, Samsung's software and ecosystem remain compelling advantages.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo NEX 3 | Samsung Galaxy S10 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| 5G bands | - | 78 NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2019, February. Released 2019, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm (6.59 x 3.00 x 0.37 in) | 162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm (6.40 x 3.04 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 217.3 g (7.65 oz) | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2256 pixels (~363 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~502 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.89 inches, 119.3 cm2 (~93.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10 | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) | Mali-G76 MP12 - GlobalAdreno 640 - USA |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, (telephoto), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), PDAF | 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 44W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Crown Silver, Majestic Black, Royal Gold |
| Models | V1923A, V1923T, 1908_19, 1912 | SM-G977U, SM-G977N, SM-G977B, SM-G9770, SM-G977P, SM-G977T |
| Price | About 640 EUR | About 380 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.26 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
vivo NEX 3
- Superior CPU performance with Snapdragon 855+
- Significantly faster 44W wired charging
- Immersive waterfall display design
- Waterfall display prone to accidental touches
- Lacks wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Polished Samsung One UI software experience
- Strong ecosystem integration with Samsung devices
- Exynos 9820 performance lags behind Snapdragon 855+
- Slower 25W wired charging
Display Comparison
Both devices feature excellent AMOLED displays, but differ in implementation. The Galaxy S10 5G boasts a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel, while the NEX 3 features a 6.59-inch Fluid AMOLED display. The NEX 3’s defining feature is its ‘waterfall’ display, curving dramatically over the sides, minimizing bezels. While visually striking, this design can lead to accidental touches. The S10 5G’s display is more conventional, offering a more practical user experience. While neither spec sheet details peak brightness, Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED typically achieves higher peak brightness levels, improving outdoor visibility. Both likely support HDR10+ content.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems. The NEX 3 features a 64MP main sensor, while the S10 5G has a 12MP main sensor. While megapixel count isn't everything, the NEX 3’s larger sensor captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance. Both phones include ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. The S10 5G’s camera benefits from Samsung’s well-regarded image processing, often producing vibrant and saturated images. The NEX 3 tends towards a more natural color profile. Both offer capable video recording, but the Snapdragon 855+ in the NEX 3 provides slightly better video encoding efficiency. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick, offering minimal practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset. The vivo NEX 3 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7nm), known for its efficiency and performance. The Galaxy S10 5G, globally, ships with the Exynos 9820 (8nm). While the Exynos 9820 has a higher clock speed on its Mongoose M4 cores (2.73 GHz vs 2.96 GHz on the Snapdragon), the Snapdragon 855+'s architecture and 7nm process node generally translate to superior sustained performance and thermal management. The US variant of the S10 5G uses the Snapdragon 855, narrowing the gap. The NEX 3’s Kryo 485 CPU cores offer a balanced approach, while the Exynos’ Mongoose cores are often prone to throttling under sustained load. Both phones feature 8GB of RAM, but the NEX 3 benefits from the Snapdragon’s more efficient memory controller.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S10 5G packs a 4500mAh battery, while the NEX 3 has a 4500mAh battery. However, the Snapdragon 855+ in the NEX 3 is more power-efficient, potentially leading to longer real-world battery life. The NEX 3’s 44W wired charging is a significant advantage, capable of fully charging the device in under an hour. The S10 5G supports 25W wired charging (with PD3.0), 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging – features the NEX 3 lacks. This makes the S10 5G more versatile for users who rely on wireless charging or want to top up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo NEX 3 if you need maximum processing power for demanding games or applications, and value incredibly fast charging speeds. You'll also appreciate the nearly bezel-less waterfall display. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, benefit from Samsung's ecosystem integration (like DeX), and desire wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities. The US Snapdragon variant of the S10 5G closes the performance gap considerably.