No, the Galaxy S10e doesn't have a heart rate sensor. This is something we here at SamMobile missed because, frankly, the heart rate sensor has been such a common part of Samsung's flagships for so many years that we automatically assumed it would be there on all Galaxy S10 models. The S10e does have a small black hole with some kind of chip inside next to the rear camera flash, and we assumed the S10e's heart rate sensor is partly hidden unlike the S10's and S10+'.
But that is not the case, and the Samsung Health app doesn't have a heart rate tracker on the Galaxy S10e. The lack of a heart rate sensor is no doubt a sacrifice made by Samsung to achieve the $750 price tag for the smallest Galaxy S10. However, those who regularly upgrade to Samsung's flagship phones and use the heart rate sensor might be in for a surprise if they go into a store to purchase the Galaxy S10e and take the presence of a heart rate sensor for granted. This is also why Samsung was unable to add a notification light for the Wireless PowerShare feature on the Galaxy S10 lineup to the Galaxy S10e with the latest software update.
Some apps let you measure heart rate with the camera
You can still measure your heart rate on the Galaxy S10e by downloading apps such as this, which use the phone's camera to do the job. The dedicated heart rate sensors on phones and smartwatches work by shining a light on your finger and measuring the blood flow beneath the skin, and the camera can also be used to do this. You risk smudging the camera lens and the results aren't as accurate, but it doesn't deviate much from what you get with a heart rate sensor. Of course, if heart rate monitoring is a serious part of your fitness lifestyle, then a dedicated heart rate sensor is always going to be better.
Do you use the heart rate sensor on Galaxy flagships? Did you buy the Galaxy S10e thinking it would have a heart rate sensor only to be disappointed to find out it doesn't? Drop a comment and let us know!
