Words Basil Kronfli
£1099 / stuff.tv/S105G
The 5G evolution of the Samsung Galaxy S10 really goes for it with tech specs, starting with a best-in-class screen, a sleek finish and six cameras that deliver. Factor in the 5G speeds it can hit and we’re almost sold, even with the £1099 asking price… but, of course, just how good your S10 5G is will depend on exactly where you are.
If you’re going for a 5G phone, 5G coverage needs to reach you; otherwise you might as well just opt for a much cheaper 4G handset and contract. At the time of writing this review, only EE, Vodafone and Three have gone live with their 5G services in the UK. Coverage is sparse right now, but the upshot is, it’s only going to get better.
And that’s not the only reason your experience of the Galaxy S10 5G will depend on where you are – it also affects the phone’s processor. If you’re in the US you get the Snapdragon 855, which has impressed us countless times, powering phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro, the Sony Xperia 1 and the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – it’s a cracking chipset. If, however, you’re in the UK, you’ll be getting the Exynos 9820. That’s the version we’ve reviewed, and in the S10s of old it’s been a weaker CPU.
Is there enough new niceness crammed inside the British version of the S10 5G to make it a great device, though?
1 Fascination treat
Given its mammoth 6.7in screen, the Galaxy S10 5G is surprisingly sleek, combining curved Gorilla Glass 6 with polished metal for a phone that feels as good as it looks. The front is almost all screen, with a double punch-hole for the selfie cam.
2 Display for today
This is the biggest display you can get on a non-plus-size phone (the standard S10’s is 6.1in). It isn’t just big, though… it’s also glorious. Resolution is stunningly sharp, outdoor viewing is never an issue, viewing angles are strong and colours look rich but tempered.
3 Adjust like heaven