With its latest Galaxy Note generation, Samsung gives potential buyers the option to choose from two sizes. The flagship Galaxy Note 10+ comes with a massive 6.8″ display for those who want maximum screen size in a smartphone. At 6.3″ the display of the standard Note 10 falls much more in line with the Galaxy S10 series, which is traditionally smaller than the Notes.
Both displays are of the AMOLED variant and support HDR10+ with Dynamic Tone Mapping. However, the Plus model comes with a 1440p+ resolution while the smaller model offers a 1080p+ resolution.
Both phones come with the same triple-camera setup but the 10+ adds a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor which can be used to create 3D models with a scanning app and should also benefit the simulated bokeh effect.
The 12MP main camera comes with a 1/2.55″ sensor and a 27mm equivalent lens with variable aperture (F1.5-2.4). Dual-pixel AF and optical image stabilization are on board as well. The 12MP tele uses a smaller 1/3.6″ sensor and offers a stabilized 52mm equivalent lens with F2.1 aperture which is slightly faster than on the tele-equipped S10 models. The ultra-wide angle offers a higher 16MP pixel count and a 12mm equivalent focal length.
The 10MP front camera is hidden under a ‘punch hole’ and features a 26mm equivalent lens with F2.2 aperture. Front and rear cameras can record 4K video, and a new ‘Live Focus Video’ mode allows for shallow depth-of-field effects in real-time. Other special effects, like simulated out-of-focus highlights or black-and-white backgrounds, can also be added in real-time to video. Software features include a new and more advanced video editor and a special version of Adobe Premiere Rush which is available as a free download.
Like previous Galaxy Notes the 10th generation comes with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus which now features both an accelerometer and a gyroscope, allowing it to be used as a motion controller. The phone can be controlled at a distance using the gestures app and Samsung says it will make an SDK available to third-party app developers as well.
Depending on region the Note 10 will be powered by either Samsung’s new Exynos 9825 chipset or the Snapdragon 855 and users can choose from 256 or 512GB storage options. The Plus model also comes with a microSD card slot.
In terms of audio output you get stereo speakers and a pair of USB-C headphones but no conventional audio jack. Battery sizes differ between models, with the Plus version offering a 4,300mAh unit versus the standard model’s 3,500mAh variant.
Both models will be available as 5G versions for those lucky enough to live in an area with 5G coverage. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ will be available from August 23. Pricing starts at $ 949 for the Note 10 with 256GB. The Plus version will be $ 1,099 for the 256GB model and $ 1,199 for the 512GB variant.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
