Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus!
Staff Writer / 10-02-2020 / Reviews
Samsung recently launched its flagship Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ smartphone phablets in South Africa and across the world. Unlike previous generations, this is the first time Samsung has split the Note brand into two offerings, leaving many people confused over which model to choose. Here are some of the highlights and features of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ to help you make up your mind.
Design
Naturally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has a huge screen - in fact, it’s the biggest Note to date with a 6.8-inch screen, which is perfect if you’re a serious gamer or if you use the Note 10+ for design or video editing. In contrast, the smaller Note 10 has a 6.3-inch screen, which is actually smaller than the display found on the previous generation Galaxy Note 9 .
The Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ have a dynamic AMOLED+ screen made of Corning's latest Gorilla Glass 6. In terms of feel, the Note 10 is more compact and easier to handle, weighing just 168 grams compared to the bigger Note 10+, which weighs in at 195 grams. If you have small hands, it’s advisable to go for the sleeker Note 10.
Both phones come in a variety of colours, but only the Note 10+ is available in the eye-catching Aura Blue.
Cameras
The Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ have the same cameras and sensors. The three rear cameras comprise a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. The front of each device sports a 10MP selfie camera.
Live Focus Mode auto-focuses on subjects while recording video, while the Zoom-In Mic feature cuts out background noises for crisper, clearer audio.
Under the Hood
Although both phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chipset, there are a few notable differences. The Note 10+ has 12GB of RAM while its little sibling has 8GB. This means multi-tasking and running background apps is smoother on the Note 10+.
Storage is another major factor in the new Note 10 range. The Note 10 is an upgrade to the Note 9 in that it has 256GB of memory but doesn’t have a slot for an SD Card. The Note 10+ is available with either 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage and features an SD Card slot to expand the capacity up to 1TB if required.
Battery
Battery life has become a major selling point for smartphone users. The Note 10+ ships with a large 4300mAh battery for much longer usage on the go. Surprisingly, the Note 10 has a 3500mAh battery, which is actually smaller than the one in the Note 9.
Price and Verdict
The Note series from Samsung has always been targeted at power users with a focus on productivity on the go. The Note 10+ is definitely an improvement over previous versions and will set you back around R 22 999. The Note 10 is slightly disappointing as it doesn’t provide many improvements from the Note 9. Nevertheless, it’s much smaller and easier to handle than the Note 10+, and with a price tag of R 18 999, it does seem like a good choice as an entry into the flagship arena.