In the market for a shiny new Galaxy? The Galaxy S10 has landed, but is Samsung's new hotness worth your hard-earned dollars? Or would you be better off saving some money on a Samsung Galaxy S9 instead?
Here's how the phones will compare on:
Galaxy S10 vs Galaxy S9: Price
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S9
If you look purely at outright prices, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the cheaper of the two devices.
But hold that thought, because if you're buying on a plan, there are some pretty sweet launch-day deals on the new S10. Some are even better value than S9 plans.
Flagship phones these days are pricey, and the Samsung Galaxy S10 is no exception, with the 128GB model starting at a whopping $1,349 outright.
Meanwhile, JB Hi-Fi has already started flogging Galaxy S9 64GB models for $999, a $200 discount on its previous $1,199 retail price.
But if you're buying on a plan, the choice between the two is not so simple. The Galaxy S10 has just launched which means telcos are competing to get you on one of their contracts. We've already seen Woolworths Mobile knock $250 off the price of the S10 over 24 months if you sign up by February 28. And we're expecting more deals as the launch madness rolls on.
In a couple of months' time, the Galaxy S9 will definitely be the cheaper phone on a plan. But today it will pay to check out both options. Start your search below.
Galaxy S10 vs Galaxy S9: Camera
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S10
The universal rule of smartphones is that the newer device always has the better camera. But this year the S10 has taken a massive step ahead.
The Galaxy S10 packs not one but three rear-facing cameras and the results are sure to impress.
If you want to get the Galaxy with the best camera, Samsung has made things super easy this year. The Galaxy S10 is by far the superior choice.
The Galaxy S10 offers much more versatile photography than its predecessor with not one but three rear-facing cameras: a 12MP standard lens with a variable aperture, a 12MP zoom lens, and a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens. At the very least, that should offer impressive zoom capabilities and improved low-light photography. We'll know more once we've had a chance to take the S10 out for a spin.
Check out just a few of the S10 plans below. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
Galaxy S10 vs Galaxy S9: Looks
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S10
This year the S10 sports a bigger and better display with more room for all the Netflix you're now addicted to watching on the train.
But the camera cut-out won't be for everyone.
This is a big year for the Galaxy S series design, with the S10 sporting an all-new look. Samsung has drastically cut down on bezel, fitting a curved 6.1-inch display in roughly the same size body as the 5.8-inch Galaxy S9.
In order to achieve this, Samsung has made a phone that's "holey". Specifically the S10's front-facing camera is built directly into the screen in a "hole punch" camera cut-out style as shown above. Samsung is calling this the "Infinity O".
The S10 fingerprint reader has also gone in-screen, rather than on the back as with the Galaxy S9.
Just like the notch, the "camera hole" is sure to be controversial. Some will like it. Others will hate it. The one thing that's certain is it won't be for everyone. But the changes mean more real estate for that gorgeous Quad HD+ screen and, in the year 2019, that's important. Or it might be, depending on how often you use your phone to watch TV.
If you are planning to get into some Netflix on the train with your new S10, check out these plans with big data. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
Galaxy S10 vs Galaxy S9: Performance
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S10
While both phones offer zippy performance out of the box, there's no question that the S10 will stay faster and more secure for longer.
This is something you'll have to weigh up against savings if you're considering the cheaper phone.
The Galaxy S10 will be slightly zippier than the S9, but really when it comes to speed of performance, at some point fast enough is enough. We doubt most users will notice much difference between the two phones out-of-the-box in their day-to-day.
But the real test for performance isn't how fast the phone is the day you buy it. It's how fast, secure and bug-free it will be one to two years after purchase. And unfortunately this is where older Samsung models tend to fall down. Samsung has historically only guaranteed software and security updates for its devices for two years after they first come to market.
That means an S9 bought today will have only one year left of guaranteed support, while an S10 bought today will have two, and that's bound to allow the S10 to stay safe and secure for longer.
If you want to make sure your Galaxy is always the latest and greatest, check out some lease and upgrade plans for the S10 below. You'll lease your Galaxy for a cheaper monthly price and after 12 months you can upgrade to a newer phone for $99.
Galaxy S10 vs Galaxy S9: Battery life
Our pick: Galaxy S10
Newer phones always tend to have battery life that's a little better thanks to hardware that's just generally more efficient.
On top of a better battery life, the S10 also has Qi reverse charging, which is pretty damn nifty.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 comes with the top-tier Exynos 9820 processor, and newer processing units always mean more efficiency, which users experience as better battery life. Aw yeah.
On top of the processor, the Galaxy S10 comes with a nice big 3,400mAh battery. The S9 only has a 3,000mAh battery. Of course, the benefit of the bigger battery may be offset by the S10's larger screen size. We'll know more once we've taken the S10 out for a spin.
Perhaps the coolest new battery feature on this year's S10, however, is the Qi wireless reverse charging. Yes, not only can the S10 charge wirelessly, it can also act as a charger. You can use any spare battery life to top up other devices, including the new Galaxy buds. Nifty.
Still undecided? Check out our guide to the Galaxy S10 vs the Galaxy S10+, or the Galaxy S10 vs the Galaxy S8.
Jacqui Dent
Editorial Strategist
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