Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, analysis: of Lite, only the name

It’s been a while since its presentation, yet the Galaxy S10 Lite concept is still somewhat confusing. Despite bearing the surname “Lite,” it is a mobile size larger than the rest of the models in the S10 series – except the 5G variant. In addition, it has a processor that is objectively superior to the Exynos 9820, and yet it is cheaper than all the other models in the family, including the Galaxy S10e.

But does all that matter? I admit that I began to test this mobile to understand the place that this device occupies in the brand’s mobile catalog. But the reality is that, after a little over a week of use, I have ended up realizing that, leaving aside names, surnames, and concepts, the Galaxy S10 Lite is one of the most exciting phones in the entire Samsung catalog, even now.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite: a technical sheet of characteristics and specifications

Name Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
specs
Dimensions	75,6 x 162,5 x 8,1 mm, 186 grams
Screen	6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O
Resolution	Full HD+
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM	6/8 GB LPDDR4x
Operating system	One UI 2.0 based on Android 10
Storage	128 GB UFS 2.1 expandable by microSD
Cameras	Trasera triple: 5 MP F2.4 macro + Wide-angle 48 MP con Super Steady OIS AF F2.0 + Ultra Wide 12MP F2.2 f2.2 32 MP front
Battery	4,500mAh with fast charge
Others	Optical fingerprint reader on screen, USB Type C, Bluetooth 5.0
Colors	white, blue, and black

The best of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Its design and display

Samsung has been nailing the design section for some time in its latest terminals for the high-end and mid-premium range, and therefore it is not surprising that this aspect is one of the strengths of the Galaxy S10 Lite.

Like the vast majority of terminals launched this year, the Galaxy S10 Lite is not exactly a tiny phone. With more than 16 centimeters in height, it is positioned as a large terminal, intended for those willing to live only with those terminals whose use with one hand is little less than a risky sport.

Despite this, it is a comfortable device: the curvature of the rear panel and the aluminum edges that surround it, added to the elongated format of its screen, make the Galaxy S10 Lite a pleasant mobile in hand, although not so much like the models of the S20 series, mainly because in this case we are facing a somewhat more rectangular terminal, with more marked corners.

It is also a modern-looking device: its back is made of plastic, although the touch is not very different from the glass that we can find in other mobile phones of the brand. This material gives the device more excellent shock resistance, although it makes it more prone to scratches — in fact, my unit already has a few scratches from previous tests. It’s also a material that attracts dirt to a greater extent, and it won’t take long to see your fingerprints on the back of the phone.

The front of the S10 Lite follows the design lines that Samsung has been adopting in its mid-range and high-end lines over the last year. That is: a large screen occupies almost the entire front, thanks to ultra-reduced margins and a small hole in the upper center. And precisely, the screen is another of the strengths of this device.

It is, of course, a Super AMOLED panel, with 6.67 inches diagonal and Full HD + resolution, which exudes quality on all four sides. When the “Natural” color mode is selected, color reproduction is excellent, as are viewing angles and brightness levels. Nothing that we had not already seen on the company’s panels.

It may be missing or a refresh rate higher than the native 60 Hz of this panel. Even so, it is undeniable that we are talking about a fantastic screen, one of the best I have tried on a mobile at this price.

Performance and overall experience

I wish Samsung had used the Snapdragon 855 in all variants of the Galaxy S10 series.

Having tested two of the S10 series models at the time, both the S10e and the Galaxy S10+, I can assure you that the performance of this Galaxy S10 Lite is superior to that of the rest of the variants of this family, not only in terms of performance. –today, the differences between the best processor on the market and the second best are negligible in this regard–, but, above all, in terms of energy efficiency and temperature management –until today, I have not tested a single Samsung mobile with Exynos processor that does not get hotter than usual when running heavy games–.

As was the case with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, based on the same Qualcomm platform as this S10 Lite, the terminal’s performance is excellent even when subjected to tasks that require a relatively high load. The 8 GB of RAM ensures that our applications remain in memory for as long as possible, ready to be reaccessed at any time without long load times or unexpected closures.

It also helps that One UI, in its version 2.1 based on Android 10, has reached a point of maturity that until years ago seemed unattainable by the company. Everything works fast; the design is coherent and, except for Samsung’s now-classic mania of including more applications than necessary, and of deactivating options by default that should be activated –or vice versa–, the experience offered by this software is at the level expected in mobile of this category.

Autonomy

Having used a processor signed by Qualcomm also translates into better autonomy. It’s 4,500 mAh help, that’s for sure, but so should the 5,000 mAh of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and the reality is quite another.

With the Galaxy S10 Lite, you will have no problem reaching the end of the day with just under half of the battery remaining for the next day. During these days of testing, I have been able to reach seven or up to 8 hours of screen on, mainly using Wi-Fi networks and occasionally playing titles like Traffix or Call of Duty: Mobile.

But whatever you use the device for, luckily, the 25W fast charge offers a reasonably high recharge speed, allowing you to go from 1 to 100% in about an hour and 20 minutes. As usual, the charging process is much faster during the early stages to avoid premature battery degradation.

The worst of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Small shortcomings

No aspect of the device shows enough defects to highlight it as a negative point. The reality is that keeping its price in mind, and especially the difference in this regard concerning the cheapest model of the S20 series, we can only mention some deficiencies, more or less critical, that we trust can be corrected in a supposed new generation of this Lite series:

• The optical fingerprint reader is not as fast or as accurate as of that of the higher models. A capacitive reader on the side would have been a better option.
• The speaker quality is not up to par with the rest of the S10 series models.
• Water resistance, wireless charging, and support for Samsung DeX would have been exciting additions, helping the S10 Lite stand out from the competition.

So are the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Despite not being one of the reference models in its catalog, Samsung decided to make the Galaxy S10 Lite the first to introduce Super Steady OIS technology in its primary camera, making it clear that photography would be a priority in this terminal, despite its price.

The camera that benefits from this stabilization system is the primary 48-megapixel resolution sensor with f. According to the brand, this technology allows you to capture higher-quality images in night scenes or with movement and record vibration-free videos. To do this, a tilt-based system is used, which collects and interprets data from the phone’s gyroscope and other sensors to compensate for movements and reduce vibrations in captured images.

Along with this sensor, we find two more on the back: an 8-megapixel resolution ultra-wide-angle and the already classic 5-megapixel “macro” that the vast majority of brands have decided to use as a wild card, but unfortunately not add too much value to the photographic experience. Or, at least, not as much as a telephoto.

Meanwhile, on the front, a single camera is located in the hole in the screen’s upper central part. It has 32 megapixels of resolution and an aperture of f / 2.2.

Despite being part of the Galaxy S10 family, it is appreciated that Samsung has chosen to provide this device with the vast majority of the new camera features introduced along with the Galaxy S20, such as the capture mode unique”, the professional video mode, or the possibility of capturing images at the native resolution of the primary sensor, without reducing its size through Pixel Binning. The renewed night mode is also present, being able –in theory– to capture more light than in the previous installment.

Behavior by day, portrait mode, and at night

When circumstances are on our side, the primary camera of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is capable of generating shots full of detail, with vivid colors as usual in the brand’s phones. Of course, the tendency of Samsung’s processing to lift the shadows of the scenes, subtracting contrast and depth from the photographs. Luckily, it’s easy to get rid of this type of processing simply by using the “Pro” mode included in the terminal’s camera application.

As is customary on the brand’s phones, faces seem to be the worst enemy of the software in charge of processing the photos. The softening of facial features is still the main problem with the camera of Samsung terminals, and in mobiles like this S10 Lite, it becomes even more evident.

Although valuable and fun, the super wide-angle camera does not offer a result at the level of the primary sensor. The differences in the interpretation of colors are evident from the moment we switch between one camera and another, as is the dynamic range, much lower in this ultra-wide. Despite this, it is appreciated that Samsung includes the possibility of using this sensor to capture video, even at 4K resolution – even if that means losing part of the sensor’s viewing area.

It is at night when the photographic system of the S10 Lite seems more worthy of a mid-range terminal than that of a first-class one. It’s not that the photos are bad. They are not. However, in these types of complex situations, the image quality begins to drop to give way to noise and, curiously, to lag when trying to capture images in scenes where the light does not seem to be enough.

Front camera

With its 32 megapixel resolution, the front camera offers an excellent result, again, when the circumstances of the scene are on our side. The processing does its thing again, and the smoothing of facial features is noticeable, even when beauty mode is off. As usual in the brand’s phones, it is appreciated to have the option to switch between a wider angle that can be useful for selfies.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite: opinion and final thoughts of Andro4all

Don’t be fooled by its name: there’s nothing Lite about the Galaxy S10 Lite beyond the title. Not even the price. Samsung has pulled out of its sleeve a mobile as confusing as it is interesting, which does not fail in its objective of rivaling some of the most cutting-edge mobiles from Chinese firms, famous for offering terminals with top-of-the-line specifications at a lower price to that of conventional brand models.

This S10 Lite is today one of the best high-end phones at a reduced price that you can buy: it has one of the best screens in its category — although it could use a different resolution or a higher rate of refreshment–, added to first-rate specifications that translate into good performance, and significant autonomy, all supported by a versatile photographic system capable of offering more than excellent results.

Price and where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

The original price of 659 euros for the Galaxy S10 Lite was a bit high for many. After all, it was possible to access the rest of the models in the Galaxy S10 series for a little more. Fortunately, as is usual with the brand’s mobiles, the price has already plummeted only a few months after its launch, and it is possible to get it for less than 500 euros. That’s less than phones like the Xiaomi Mi 10, OnePlus eight, or Realme X3 SuperZoom cost.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, opinion and note from Andro4all
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite?
In favor	One of the best screens in its category Excellent performance. The Snapdragon 855 and the maturity of One UI make a difference. Significant autonomy added to a charge a fast charge fast enough Excellent design and good build quality The primary sensor offers good image quality
Against	The ultra-wide-angle camera is not at the level of the main one, and the macro sensor does not add value to the photographic experience. Details such as wireless charging or water resistance are missing Sound quality can be improved
Conclusions	“Galaxy S10s” would have been a more apt name for a phone like this. The last name “Lite” does not define, far from it, everything that hides this high-end phone and “reduced” price that, despite having gone unnoticed among the endless number of mobiles that make up the South Korean catalog, is one of the most exciting and attractive models in its category.
Punctuation	But wasn’t this a Lite?