The Galaxy A10 is one of the smartphones that must put Samsung back on the highway to entry-level success. A path now fully occupied by Chinese manufacturers.
Presentation
The Galaxy A10 is the little brother of the A family at Samsung in 2019. Positioned at €159, it faces stiff competition from China, which has made entry-level its playground. affordable giants like the Xiaomi Redmi S2, the Motorola Moto G7 Play or the Nokia 4.2. Can the Korean giant still assert its strengths?
An affordable large-screen smartphone.
Ergonomics and design
While the Galaxy A series began to approach that of the S in terms of design, this year 2019 changes the game somewhat. By repositioning this series a little lower in the range, Samsung had to make some concessions on the appearance of its smartphones, Galaxy A10 in mind. Not that the finishes are sloppy, but the choice of materials is less fortunate, with plastic once again becoming king. The back of the A10 reminds us that it is indeed an entry-level smartphone, with its shiny plastic and very wise lines.
A plastic back not famous.
At the front, the Galaxy A10 offers an aesthetic in tune with the times. The very large 6,2-inch screen with relatively thin edges takes up just over 80% of the front panel. A small teardrop notch and thicker bottom border are present, but overall the Galaxy A10 sticks to current standards. Its large size does not allow it to be easily handled with one hand. Something that has become extremely rare.
A notch reduced to a minimum.
For the rest, Samsung has cut corners. The Galaxy A10 does not benefit from a fingerprint reader. For unlocking, you have to be satisfied with facial recognition or more traditional methods (diagram, code, password). No USB-C port either, the A10 remains on a micro-USB socket. On the other hand, the 3,5 mm mini-jack socket is in the game.
A micro-USB port and a 3,5 mm mini-jack socket.
Screen
We could have hoped that Samsung would gratify its A10 with an Amoled panel of which it has the secret. Unfortunately, you have to make do with a simple TFT LCD panel. Unsurprisingly, the contrast ratio does not reach peaks and peaks at 1170:1. The screen has at least the merit of remaining correctly readable in direct sunlight thanks to a maximum brightness which reaches 430 cd / m² and a light reflection rate in the average (48%).
The Korean manufacturer has accustomed us to excellent results in terms of colorimetry. Without being bad, the Galaxy A10 is somewhat disappointing. Admittedly, the average delta E, measured at 2,7, is excellent, but the color temperature, which climbs to 8 K, is mediocre. This last value results in rather cold gradations of gray and a bluish drift visible in the light tones. Samsung didn't bother to add the ability to adjust the temperature, which is a shame.
This screen is average when it comes to evaluating its persistence time (17 ms) or its tactile delay (97 ms). Finally, when most competitors have switched to a Full HD definition, the A10 simply retains an HD + definition (1 x 520 px). Enough to offer the bare minimum in terms of resolution (720 dpi).
performances
The Samsung Galaxy A10 arrives with an Exynos 7884 SoC on board with 8 cores and coupled with 2 GB of RAM. Overall, it does well for basic tasks. Some slowdowns are felt from time to time. These small setbacks are accentuated when juggling different applications that are a little too greedy.
Temperatures recorded after 10 min of FHD video recording.
The Mali-G71 MP2 graphics chip is not the fastest on the market. It offers an average performance that allows the A10 to launch most games from the Play Store. However, you have to agree to adjustments in the level of graphics for demanding games.
Audio
The Galaxy A10 offers mediocre headphone output, just like its big brother the A20e. Its performance is especially tainted by a poorly reproduced stereo scene, which spoils honest results elsewhere. If you are attached to the fidelity of the sound reproduction, it will be better to go through a wireless headset or opt for another smartphone.
A single loudspeaker is positioned on the back of the A10. Its rendering is also mediocre, with a clear tendency to saturation and a restitution centered on the high mids. Not enough to use it for more than an occasional call.
Photo
On the photo side, the Galaxy A10 offers something that we only very rarely come across: a single module on the back. The latter is based on a 13 Mpx sensor surmounted by an optical equivalent to 27 mm open at f / 1,9. No portrait mode or other very wide-angle, it goes to the essentials.
A single photo module on the back.
Module dorsal : 13 Mpx, eq. 27mm, f/1,9
In broad daylight, the behavior of the A10 in the photo is acceptable. It offers a rather neutral rendering and a decent amount of detail. The images produced still lack a bit of contrast and have a slightly washed-out appearance. Sold a few tens of euros more, the Redmi 3 Pro does much better.
In low light, it deteriorates very noticeably. Despite a relatively contained increase in ISO (1250 ISO), electronic noise drowns out the details. The A10 tries painfully to smooth out flat areas of color, without much success. Only satisfaction, the exhibition is not totally missed. It will still be better to avoid relying on the Samsung smartphone if the brightness is not sufficient.
Front and video module
The Galaxy A10 can record videos up to Full HD definition at 30 fps. As for the photo, it is necessary to favor well-lit places to hope to shoot something usable. Focus tracking isn't the fastest we've come across.
The 5 MP front photo sensor provides average shots. On the selfies, it is able to correctly control the backlights, but struggles to restore the finest details. Even when the "beauty" image processing is deactivated, the rendering of the skin appears smooth.
Autonomy
With its minimalist configuration and poorly defined screen, the Galaxy A10 had the odds on its side to pass the endurance test. It is precisely effective in exercise and lasted almost 19 hours on our SmartViser test protocol. It is thus placed among the very good students and is able to hold 2 full days of standard use and will not let go before the end of a big, more intensive day. The A10 has at least that going for it.
The 5 W charger provided by Samsung does not allow it to recharge quickly. It takes almost 3 hours to fill the 3 mAh battery.
Sustainability
Our sustainability score helps determine the sustainable aspect of the smartphone for both the consumer and the environment. It is based on the repairability index, durability criteria (protection index, standard connectors, warranty period and updates, etc.) and an assessment of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policies. . You will find all the details of the analysis in our article presenting the sustainability score.
Highlights
Large screen that occupies the space well.
Very high autonomy.
Double SIM + microSD.
Weak points
No fingerprint reader.
Mediocre photo part.
Disappointing mini-jack.
Average performance.
Conclusion
Note globaleThe Samsung Galaxy A10 makes a lot of concessions to achieve a contained price. Unfortunately, this has an impact on the user experience and limits its interest. Only its autonomy saves the day. We can only advise you to invest a little more to jump on a Realme 3 Pro, which is much more satisfactory overall.
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