The Galaxy Note 10 series of phablets is the brand’s most premium non-folding phone launched in 2019. This phone is also one of the phones that received great attention from a large segment of the public, so in this article we show you a detailed review of this phone before purchasing.
Galaxy Note 10: Design and display
The Galaxy Note 10 fits more comfortably in the hand than the Galaxy Note 9 or Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but it is still a difficult phone to hold for those with smaller hands.
The Galaxy Note 10 is not only smaller than the Note 9, but also lighter and thinner. It measures 72 x 151 x 7.9mm and weighs168g, making it one of Samsung’s lighter flagships.
Again, this is still a large phone and those with small hands will struggle to use it with one hand; don’t expect the ease of use of the iPhone SE or Sony’s Compact line of Xperia phones.
The biggest design change from other Samsung phones is the introduction of a full-screen display with a punch-hole cut out for the front-facing camera at the top center of the screen.
The Galaxy Note 10 features a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a full HD resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels, or 401 pixels per inch; HDR10+ technology is also included, given that Samsung has not adopted a QHD display, The look of this display is impressive.
We hardly noticed the lack of a QHD display in general use, but those accustomed to phones with higher resolutions than Full HD may notice the slightly lower resolution of this device.
The Galaxy Note 10’s display is bright and easy to read, but it’s often used on high brightness instead of auto brightness.
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Some may be un comfortable with the camera sensor being centered, but it is definitely much less obtrusive than the notch found on other popular phones like the iPhone XS and iPhone 11.
Samsung has embedded the fingerprint scanner under the screen of the Galaxy Note 10, slightly higher than the under-display scanners on other Android phones.
This seems to be a more comfortable placement, a sour thumbs naturally rest on this area when using the Note 10. We quickly unlocked it without hesitation and found it to be fast and accurate.
The bottom edge of the Galaxy Note 10 has a USB-C connector in the center and a speaker and S-Pen slot to its right. The top edge of the phone is uninterrupted, except for the SIM tray.
The frame is made of high-grade metal and the back is made of glass. Color options are Aura Glow (a combination of blue and white), Aura Black, and Aura Pink, but it is currently unknown which colors will be available in which markets.
We particularly liked the Aura Glow, which changes color in different light conditions; it is also IP68 water proof and dust proof, so there is no need to worry about it breaking even if it gets wet.
Galaxy Note 10: Camera
The Galaxy Note 10 uses a combination of a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens, a 12MP normal lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens.
These combinations provide a great photographic experience, and the camera is especially good in auto mode.
It is not the best cell phone camera at this time, but if it is a couple of years old, it is likely to be better than any smart phone in use today.
Main camera specifications:
- Quad camera including ToF sensor
- Primary: 1.4 μ m pixel 12Mp sensor, 26mm (equivalent) variable aperture f/1.5-2.4 lens, dual pixel AF, OIS
- Ultra wide: 16Mp sensor,1.0 μ m pixel, 13mm (equivalent) f/2.2lens
- Tele: 12Mp sensor with 1.0μm pixels, 52mm (equivalent) F2.1 aperture lens, PDAF,OIS
- 4K video, 2160p/60fps (default 2160p/30fps)
Galaxy Note 10: Battery life
Samsung chose to include a 3,500m Ah battery in the Galaxy Note 10, not the most amazing battery life we have experienced in a smart phone, but enough to last a day of normal use.
However, around 8p.m., the battery would sometimes run low and need to be recharged.
Fortunately, the Galaxy Note 10 has an impressive fast charge, and plugging it in for about 15 minutes was enough to last me through the end of the day.
However, if the Note 10 is used on auto-brightness, it will likely last all day. However, unless you are a very light user, it is unlikely to last until the second day of average use.
S Pen stylus
There are not many phones on the market that come with a stylus. In fact, the Galaxy Note series is the only option if you need a stylus.
The stylus on the Note series has been improved over the years since the first model was released in 2011, creating an impressive experience that can provide many additional features to the phone.
The S Pen (Samsung’s name for the stylus) plugs in to a hole on the bottom, right edge of the phone. When the stylus is pressed, it pops out, but can be inserted in either direction, so it can not be accidentally inserted into the phone.
The stylus itself is light and easy to use. The screen technology used by Samsung also supports different pressure levels, allowing the pen to create impressive designs and take notes.
With the Galaxy Note 10 series, Samsung has included a variety of gesture controls on the pen. This allows users to control certain apps such as the camera, video, and gallery by moving the S Pen in different directions.
This is currently only for Samsung’s own apps and the functionality is quite limited. If you want to show off your photo gallery, it may be easy to pick up the S Pen and flick through the gallery, but it is difficult to recall that the feature exists if you simply move your finger on the display to cycle through the gallery.
Since the company is allowing third-party app developers access to this feature, third-party applications may begin using it in the coming months.
Should you buy it?
If you think so, the answer would be yes. The Galaxy Note10 is the full package for most people, although some may be frustrated by the disappointing battery life or the lack of a 3.5mm head phone jack.
It also doesn’t have a QHD display, which some may be desperate to get, but overall, this is a solid device that offers the best power and top-of-the-line features.