Should I buy a used Samsung Galaxy S10e as a small phone?

Yes—if what you want is a genuinely small Android phone on a low budget, a used Samsung Galaxy S10e can still be a good buy. It’s compact, easy to use one-handed, and still fine for light everyday use.

That said, it’s an old phone: the Galaxy S10e was released in 2019, and in 2026 you should expect it to be well outside Samsung’s software and security update window. Battery wear is also the biggest practical risk—many used units will no longer hold a full day’s charge unless the battery has already been replaced.

So the S10e makes the most sense as a cheap compact phone, backup device, or casual daily driver if you’re okay with those tradeoffs. If you want stronger long-term support, better battery life, and less risk, a newer small phone is the safer choice.