Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Is it worth it?

Why you can trust this Samsung S10 review 

At Back Market, we’re a marketplace that understands tech, thanks to our decades of experience in this field and our collaboration with tech experts. 

We pride ourselves on being industry experts with a keen understanding of the Samsung S series and its many models, including the Samsung S10. The professional team we work alongside handles Samsung S series phones daily and knows these devices inside and out. 

They analyze and test the system hardware and software, evaluate the phones’ condition, and repair and refurbish them. Their expertise and careful evaluations via a specialized points-based system that we developed help us ensure the products you receive are of the highest quality before they are Verified Refurbished. This is why you can trust our list.

Samsung Galaxy S10 specs

• Display: You're looking at a 6.1-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen with HDR10+ support. These specs equal a display that is super vibrant, sharp, and easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight.

• Processor: Under the hood, it’s powered by the Samsung Exynos 9820 (international) or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (US), both offering smooth performance for gaming, multitasking, and everything in between.

• Memory and storage: It’s got 8GB of RAM paired with either 128GB or 512GB of internal storage. And yes, there's a microSD card slot if you need even more room.

• Cameras: On the back, you’ll find a triple-lens setup: a 12MP wide lens with dual aperture, a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 16MP ultrawide lens for those sweeping landscape shots. The front camera is a solid 10MP, which is great for crisp selfies and video calls.

• Battery: Fueling it all is a 3,400mAh battery. It supports 15W wired and wireless charging, plus Wireless PowerShare if you want to top off your earbuds or a friend’s phone.

Samsung Galaxy S10 pros and cons

The Samsung Galaxy S10, like many other phones in the Samsung lineup, has its positives and negatives. The table below shows the pros and cons of the phone, which many tech experts agree with. The table should help you get a brief overview of the phone and what you’ll learn in the latter sections of this article.

Samsung Galaxy S10 features and benefits

Thanks to its impressive engineering and design, the Samsung Galaxy S10 was a conversation starter when it first came out. The year it was released, everyone answered a resounding yes when asked if they should upgrade. 

Even though the S10 has been surpassed by the Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S22, and Galaxy S25, it remains a powerful and attractive phone. 

In this Samsung Galaxy S10 review, we’ve discussed the features and benefits of this device, which is now classed as an “oldie but a goodie.”

Display

Did you know that Samsung Galaxy displays are so good that even the brand's competitors use them? In fact, Apple relies on Samsung's technology, according to PCMag, with the outlet stating in 2023 that "Apple will be more reliant on Samsung Display for iPhone 15 production." This was confirmed by Samsung brand manager Paul Guzek, who stated that "our competitors are even using them."

Even the older S10 model boasts an incredible display, and users still enjoy performing everyday tasks and even playing the occasional game on these devices because the display is just that good. For example, a Reddit user said:

“S10 and 10+ and ultra cult unite! Seriously, I love my 23+, but I still use my 10+ to play Fortnite, and it still maintains 60 fps on medium. It is such a nice phone; I don't think Samsung will ever make one quite as nice.”

The Samsung S10 features a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen and a 1440 x 3040 resolution. This display looks even better than anything Samsung sells its rivals, and at the time of its release, it was crowned the most color-accurate smartphone display ever. That’s impressive. However, what’s even more impressive is that the phone creates 550 ppi pixel density, ensuring everything on the screen is highly detailed — even by today's standards a few years later.

Performance

Nowadays, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S10 is solid, but it’s nothing compared to the newer models. However, with that said, the S10 is still snappy with no noticeable lag and is miles better than older models like the Galaxy S8. 

Battery-wise, the S10's performance is disappointing. At most, the battery lasts 25 hours between charges. To put this into perspective, if you have the screen set to FHD+ and the always-on display setting off, the phone could last from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM the next day at a push if you’re doing things like listening to music, browsing the internet, using apps, and having push notifications enabled. 

Unfortunately, cable charging also leaves much to be desired — womp, womp. The S10 takes about an hour to hit 77% charged, whereas competitors like the Huawei P30 Pro are fully charged in less than an hour. 

However, its saving grace is its Qi charging mat and its wireless power sharing, which is handy when you need to charge something else. With the wireless PowerShare feature, you can turn your phone into an ad-hoc wireless charger in a moment of need, which we think is pretty convenient.

Design

If there is one thing the S10 does better than newer models in its lineup, it’s looking good. The design of this phone is still much loved by consumers to this day, with a Reddit user saying:

“The front and sides of the S10 are just stunning in real life - I can't believe it's a four-year-old phone. Its successors just don't have even remotely the physical appeal of the S10.”

This device features a sleek glass back and metal frame, and the phone itself fits comfortably in the palm of a hand. The phone came in many different colors, from flamingo pink, prism black, and prism blue to canary yellow and prism green. Getting your hands on one of these more unique colors might be harder, but you can look on Back Market for a refurbished model. 

The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a very clean look overall, with the phone's cameras barely visible. There is also no sign of the invisible reverse wireless charging module, which is a relief because when brands say “invisible”, they don’t always mean it.

Software

We know software is important and can make or break a phone's performance. Fortunately, this isn’t something you need to worry about when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S10. This is because this phone features superb software in the form of the One UI. The One UI software upgrade makes it better than older models in the S series — although, admittedly, it's not as good as newer versions. 

The One UI version of Android 9 Pie made this phone's big screen more usable, with the top part of the screen displaying information and the bottom half reserved for touch-based interactions. The One UI software also allows your thumb easy access to menus, buttons, and other touch-interaction points.

Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner

Who doesn’t love a fingerprint scanner? When it comes to safety features, it's hard to argue that a fingerprint scanner is pointless, especially when said scanner is built into a Samsung. For years, Samsung has been a leader in this tech, and at the time of release, the S10's fingerprint-scanning capabilities were impressive. In fact, they still are. 

The fingerprint reader built into the S10 uniquely uses ultrasound technology to read the ridges of a fingerprint through the display. Most other fingerprint scanners around this time used optical technology, which is less secure than ultrasonic sensors. 

With the fingerprint scanner built right into the screen, it's also convenient and faster to use than traditional capacitive sensors.

Shopping tips for the Samsung Galaxy S10

Others might tell you that shopping for a 2019 Samsung Galaxy S10 isn’t smart, but in our book, it's the right choice, considering it’s still a fantastic phone. However, because it is an older phone, there are a few shopping tips you might want to keep in mind. 

For starters, choose refurbished. Seriously. Why would you want to pay full price when you can get a Verified Refurbished S10 from a reputable marketplace like Back Market for up to 50% less? The S10s sold on Back Market even come with a one-year warranty and no sketchy business in sight, which you might encounter if you bought used elsewhere. 

If you don’t want to choose refurbished, you can try major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, but since it is an older phone, you might struggle to find one. If you do, remember to compare the pricing across these retailers to find the best deal, and for goodness’ sake, be sure to check the return policy, warranty, and hidden fees. 

Alternatively, you could wait for major shopping events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but depending on your needs, this might be too long a wait. Luckily, Back Market has more affordable pricing year-round, so there is no need to wait to shop with us.

Why choose refurbished 

We know that buying refurbished comes with the sweet victory of scoring a deal, but it’s not solely about this. It's also about getting a premium phone like the Samsung Galaxy S10 without sacrificing performance. 

Refurbished S10s on Back Market are professionally tested, cleaned, and restored by experts to ensure that they have premium functionality, with no weird bugs or awful surprises. 

Unlike buying used from a random seller, every S10 from Back Market comes with a warranty, clear grading, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s a smarter, more sustainable choice that helps cut down on e-waste while giving you premium tech for way less.

Trade in your old tech and choose a Samsung Galaxy S10

If you want to save even more money, you should consider Back Market’s trade-in program. When you trade in old tech with us, you get cash back or credit that you can use toward buying a premium refurbished Samsung Galaxy S10. Our trade-in process is quick, easy, and totally transparent, with real-time pricing and free shipping included.

Samsung Galaxy S10 pricing

Final thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S10

So, the jury's findings are as follows for our Samsung Galaxy S10 review: the S10 is a phone that is still worth buying despite its age. This phone might not be the latest and greatest, but it's a solid choice, especially if you’re on a budget and don’t want to splurge on newer models. 

Just keep in mind, however, that this phone has its limitations and that system support will end soon. So, if you’re looking for a phone that will last you several years, the S10 might not be the best choice. If you want a phone to bridge the gap and still give you a decent runtime, though, there might not be a better choice.