The vivo X30 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite represent interesting points in their respective brands' histories. The X30 showcased vivo’s ambition with a then-new Exynos chipset, while the S10 Lite aimed to bring a flagship experience at a more accessible price point. Now, with both devices available at significantly reduced prices, the question arises: which offers the better value in 2024?
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 855, built on a 7nm process, delivers a noticeable performance edge over the 8nm Exynos 980 in the vivo X30, despite both phones having similar endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (3.6+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December. Released 2019, December | 2020, January 03 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, February 03 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 74.1 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.92 x 0.35 in) | 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196.5 g (6.95 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR, 800 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED Plus, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 10.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
32 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, Super Steady OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 45W wired |
| Type | 4350 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Peach, Light Blue, Rainbow Shadow | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Blue |
| Models | V1938CT | SM-G770F, SM-G770F/DS, SM-G770F/DSM, SM-G770U1 |
| Price | About 420 EUR | About 380 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 0.93 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.49 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.7dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 110h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.2 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 370751 (v7), 459497 (v8)
GeekBench: 11151 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo X30
- Potentially more modern design language
- 33W fast charging is still respectable
- Exynos 980 offers 5G connectivity
- Exynos 980 may exhibit more thermal throttling
- Performance generally lags behind Snapdragon 855
- Limited information on camera sensor specs
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
- Snapdragon 855 provides strong and consistent performance
- 45W fast charging for quicker top-ups
- Samsung’s established camera image processing
- Older chipset architecture compared to newer offerings
- Design may feel dated compared to newer phones
- Software update support may be limited
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite boasts a display capable of reaching 705 nits of peak brightness, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the vivo X30’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology typically delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks, with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio. The S10 Lite’s brightness advantage is significant, especially for users who frequently consume content in direct sunlight. Both phones likely utilize OLED panels, but the S10 Lite’s measured brightness gives it a clear edge.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Galaxy S10 Lite likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing pipeline, known for its vibrant and often saturated colors. Without specific sensor size or aperture details for the X30, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the S10 Lite. The S10 Lite’s camera system is likely more refined due to Samsung’s extensive experience in mobile photography. The presence of OIS on the S10 Lite is highly probable, further enhancing image and video quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) features a 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 prime core, supported by 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 cores and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 cores. This contrasts with the vivo X30’s Exynos 980 (8nm) with its 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 and 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration. The 7nm process of the Snapdragon 855 offers better power efficiency and thermal headroom, translating to sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. While the Exynos 980’s Cortex-A77 cores are competitive, the Snapdragon 855’s overall architecture and process node provide a performance advantage.
Battery Life
Both the vivo X30 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite achieve an endurance rating of 110 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Galaxy S10 Lite supports 45W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge compared to the vivo X30’s 33W charging. This faster charging is a significant convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X30 if you prioritize a more modern design aesthetic and are comfortable with potentially slightly lower peak performance in demanding tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite if you prefer a proven chipset with strong gaming capabilities and faster 45W charging, making it ideal for power users and mobile gamers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 980 in the vivo X30 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 980, being built on an 8nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 855’s 7nm process. While it can handle moderate gaming, extended sessions with graphically demanding titles may result in reduced performance as the chip heats up.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between 33W and 45W?
The difference is substantial. 45W charging on the Galaxy S10 Lite will significantly reduce the time it takes to fully charge the device, potentially shaving off 30-60 minutes compared to the vivo X30’s 33W charging, depending on battery capacity.
❓ Is the Snapdragon 855 still a capable chipset for modern mobile games?
Yes, the Snapdragon 855 remains a very capable chipset for most mobile games, even in 2024. While newer chipsets offer more raw power, the 855 can comfortably handle popular titles at high settings with smooth frame rates.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect for these phones now?
Software support is limited for both devices. Samsung typically provides longer software support than vivo, but both are past their prime update cycles. Expect limited security patches and no major Android version updates.
