In 2019, we faced a difficult dilemma when reviewing 5G phones. They were, without exception, all excellent, but why would anyone pay a premium for technology that was barely supported?
Well now, as Samsung prepares for another Unpacked event next month, the company’s 5G handset prices have come down significantly. We’ve already highlighted the incredible £399 Galaxy A90 5G bargain available direct from Samsung, but now the S10 5G has an equally appealing contract offer.
At the Carphone Warehouse, prices start from £30 per month and with variable upfront costs depending on network and data, you can pay as little as £819.99 over the course of a two-year contract. Expensive, yes, but remember than the S10 5G had a SIM-free price of £1,099 less than a year ago and you realise just how decent an offering this is.
Our pick of those deals, by the way, is probably the £34 per-month O2 contract. Yes, there are cheaper options available over the course of a contract, but this one offers a very generous 45GB of data, and comes with a low £49.99 upfront price. If you want a lower monthly cost, you’re looking at paying £100 upfront.
But what if you’re not interested in 5G? While you may be best off waiting to see what Samsung is offering next month for the S20, the S10 5G is still a better handset than the rest of the S10 family. It has a larger 6.7in screen, a bigger 4,500mAh battery and a 3D camera added to the mix. It’s the ultimate version of one of the finest phones of 2019.
“If you tally up the scores, it’s abundantly clear that the Galaxy S10 5G is a formidable flagship,” Nathan wrote in our review. “According to our usual ranking criteria, it’s practically faultless in every single area, so why am I holding it back from winning an award?
“The exaggerated promises of the 5G network are little more than a pipe dream at the time of writing,” he continued. “Neither speeds nor coverage are adequate enough for any expensive 5G phone contract at the moment, and I’m simply not comfortable awarding any 5G phone with a recommendation until the infrastructure delivers on these promises – no matter how impressive the handset may be.”
That’s a fair criticism. But when it’s down to £30 per month, you may decide the time has come to join the 5G revolution regardless.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk
