Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Review

Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy Note series has long been synonymous with premium smartphones that offer cutting-edge technology, robust performance, and innovative features, particularly geared towards productivity and creative professionals. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10, launched in August 2019, continues this legacy with a blend of powerful hardware, an immersive display, and the signature S Pen functionality. This review will provide an in-depth look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, covering design, display, performance, camera quality, battery life, software, and overall user experience.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is a stunning device that exudes a premium feel, thanks to its meticulous design and build quality. The device features a glass front and back, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, and an aluminum frame. This combination not only provides durability but also a sleek and modern aesthetic that is both visually appealing and comfortable to hold.

The Note 10 has a slim profile, measuring just 7.9mm in thickness, and weighs around 168g, making it one of the more compact and lightweight devices in the Note series. This makes it easier to handle, especially for those who found previous Note models to be too bulky.

One of the standout design elements is the nearly bezel-less Infinity-O display, which features a small, centered punch-hole cutout for the front camera. This design choice maximizes screen real estate and provides an immersive viewing experience. The back of the device has a reflective finish that changes color depending on the angle of light, available in colors like Aura Glow, Aura Black, and Aura White, adding to its visual appeal.

The placement of buttons and ports is ergonomic, with the power button and volume rocker on the left side (a departure from the usual right-side placement in previous models), and the USB Type-C port, speaker grille, and SIM tray at the bottom. Notably, the Note 10 does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a decision that sparked mixed reactions among fans.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 features a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 401 ppi. While some may argue that the resolution is a step down from the Quad HD+ resolution found in the Note 10+, the display is still incredibly sharp, vibrant, and offers excellent color accuracy.

The Dynamic AMOLED panel supports HDR10+ content, providing an enhanced viewing experience with rich colors, deep blacks, and high contrast. The display also boasts a peak brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. Samsung's Always-On Display feature is present as well, allowing users to quickly glance at notifications, time, and other information without fully waking the device.

The nearly bezel-less design, combined with the small punch-hole cutout, provides an immersive experience whether you are watching videos, playing games, or browsing the web. The curved edges add to the premium feel, though they can sometimes lead to accidental touches.

Performance

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is powered by either the Exynos 9825 chipset (for international models) or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset (for models in the US, China, and other select markets). Both chipsets are built on a 7nm process, ensuring power efficiency and robust performance.

The device comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, providing ample space for apps, photos, videos, and other files. Unfortunately, the Note 10 does not support microSD card expansion, which may be a drawback for users who require additional storage.

In terms of real-world performance, the Galaxy Note 10 handles everyday tasks with ease. Apps launch quickly, and multitasking is smooth and responsive. The device excels in productivity tasks, thanks to the combination of powerful hardware and software optimizations. Gaming performance is also impressive, with the Note 10 capable of running graphically intensive games at high settings without noticeable lag or frame drops.

Camera System

The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is versatile and capable, consisting of a triple-camera setup on the back and a single front-facing camera.

Rear Cameras

Primary Camera: The 12MP primary sensor features a variable aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4), allowing it to adapt to different lighting conditions. In well-lit environments, the camera produces sharp and vibrant images with excellent dynamic range. In low-light conditions, the variable aperture and Samsung's Night Mode help capture more light and detail, resulting in brighter and clearer photos.

Ultra-Wide Camera: The 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens has a 123-degree field of view, making it perfect for capturing landscapes, group photos, and architectural shots. The wider perspective allows users to fit more into the frame, though there is some noticeable distortion at the edges, which is common with ultra-wide lenses.

Telephoto Camera: The 12MP telephoto lens offers 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom, enabling users to get closer to their subjects without sacrificing image quality. The optical zoom provides clear and detailed images, though the quality degrades slightly when using digital zoom.

Front Camera

The 10MP front-facing camera, housed in the punch-hole cutout, captures detailed and well-exposed selfies. The camera supports features like Live Focus, which creates a bokeh effect for portraits, and Night Mode for improved low-light performance. Video recording with the front camera is also impressive, supporting 4K resolution at 30fps.

Video Recording

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 supports 4K video recording at 60fps with the rear cameras, and 4K at 30fps with the front camera. The video quality is excellent, with sharp details, vibrant colors, and smooth motion. The device also features Super Steady stabilization, which helps reduce shake and produce smoother footage, especially when recording action scenes.

Additional video features include Live Focus Video, which applies a bokeh effect to videos, and AR Doodle, which allows users to draw and write in 3D space using the S Pen. These features add a creative touch to video recording, making it fun and engaging.

S Pen

The S Pen is a defining feature of the Galaxy Note series, and the Note 10 comes with an improved version that offers enhanced functionality. The S Pen now includes a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, enabling Air Actions, which allow users to control the device with gestures. For example, users can swipe left or right in the air to switch camera modes or control media playback.

The S Pen also supports Bluetooth, enabling remote control functionality. Users can take photos, control presentations, and perform other tasks by pressing the button on the S Pen. The latency of the S Pen is low, providing a natural and responsive writing and drawing experience.

Samsung Notes, the default note-taking app, offers a range of features that make the most of the S Pen. Users can convert handwritten notes to text, draw shapes and diagrams, and organize notes into folders. The S Pen is also compatible with a variety of third-party apps, enhancing its versatility.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is equipped with a 3500mAh battery, which may seem modest compared to other flagship devices. However, the efficient Exynos 9825/Snapdragon 855 chipset and software optimizations ensure that the device can last a full day of moderate to heavy usage.

The Note 10 supports 25W wired fast charging, allowing users to quickly recharge their device. It also supports 12W wireless charging and 9W reverse wireless charging, enabling users to charge other Qi-compatible devices, such as earbuds or smartwatches, using the Note 10.

Software and Features

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 runs on One UI 1.5, based on Android 9 Pie, with updates available to newer versions of One UI and Android. One UI is known for its user-friendly interface, intuitive design, and rich feature set. The software is optimized for one-handed use, with key elements positioned towards the bottom of the screen for easy reach.

One UI includes a range of productivity features, such as Samsung DeX, which allows users to connect the Note 10 to a monitor and use it as a desktop computer. DeX mode provides a desktop-like experience with resizable windows, a taskbar, and support for a keyboard and mouse.

The Note 10 also includes Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant, which offers voice control, smart home integration, and contextual information. While Bixby has improved over time, it still lags behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa in terms of functionality and accuracy.

Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 offers a comprehensive set of connectivity options, including 4G LTE, dual SIM functionality, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. The device also supports Samsung Pay, which allows users to make secure payments using their phone.

Overall User Experience

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 delivers a premium user experience that caters to both productivity and entertainment needs. Its sleek design, vibrant display, powerful performance, and versatile camera system make it a compelling choice for a wide range of users. The S Pen adds a unique dimension to the device, providing enhanced functionality for note-taking, drawing, and remote control.

The device excels in everyday tasks, gaming, photography, and media consumption, providing a well-rounded experience that caters to different needs and preferences. The battery life is sufficient for a full day of use, and the fast charging capabilities ensure that users can quickly recharge their device.

The software experience with One UI is intuitive and feature-rich, offering a range of customization options and productivity features that enhance the overall user experience. The comprehensive connectivity options, including support for Samsung DeX and Samsung Pay