Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Reviews: Here’s What the Experts Say

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series will come with the Exynos chipset in India.

The Quint
Gadgets
Updated:
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will be launched in India in September. 
i
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will be launched in India in September. 
(Photo: Samsung.in)

advertisement

Samsung is back with its big blockbuster devices, the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ and the South Korean tech behemoth has managed to squeeze everything into this device (except the kitchen sink).

By the looks of how Samsung has gone chest-thumping about this device, it seems that the company has put in a lot to make this a standout device.

But, like every smartphone launched to date, even the Note 10 isn’t a perfect phone and the international media seems to have taken ‘Note’ of the matter.

The phone is launching in India on Tuesday, however we have already got a whiff of what experts think about the phone. Here’s a look at what some of the experts have to say about the new Galaxy Note 10 series.

How’s the Build Quality?

Since the design has been completely overhauled, it’s safe to say that the new Note is much better looking than its predecessor. No more bezels means more screen area and more glass finishing on both the sides, which sadly could lead to more chances of screen damage. Looking at you, butter fingers.

The Note 10 comes with a 6.3-inch display.(Photo: The Quint)

The bigger Note 10+ does get the bigger screen but the smaller Note 10 seems more pragmatic especially for people who don’t want a screen beyond 6-inches.

Yet, Forbes seems to have a different perspective to this.

Considering that the Note series has always been about “more,” it’s hard to see the smaller Note 10 model as anything but Samsung cutting corners to meet a price point.
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2019/08/17/samsung-galaxy-note-10-plus-review-past-mistakes-fixed/#6dfe57d72251">Ben Sin, Forbes</a>

Many reviewers applauded the fact that Samsung was one of the few smartphone makers to continue with the 3.5mm headphone jack, however that love affair comes to an end with the Note 10 series.

This is the first time Samsung has dropped the jack from its top-end phones, and some will be unhappy with the decision.
<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-10">James Peckham, Tech Radar</a>

Overall, it’s a refreshing design — a bit on the boxy side — but it doesn’t manage to disenchant its users in any way.

How’s the Display?

It’s rare you hear bad reviews about a Samsung display and the Note series is testament to that claim. The new Note series boasts of a Dynamic AMOLED display this time around, and it manages to capture every detail and pixel without any hassle.

Where many users today would consider a 6.8-inch screen to be unmanageable, the Note 10+ doesn’t seem that overwhelming.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 offers a Dynamic AMOLED display.(Photo: The Quint)
Despite the Plus moniker and the 6.8-inch screen, the Note 10 Plus doesn’t feel like a particularly big phone at all. Samsung shredding nearly all bezels helped, as do the curvature of the display.
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2019/08/17/samsung-galaxy-note-10-plus-review-past-mistakes-fixed/#6dfe57d72251">Ben Sin, Forbes</a>

It’s a hearty sign that the notch gets to be at the ‘center of attention’ and eats up minimum screen space. Should it have been placed to the sides maybe? There is a different school of thought on that.

Some may not be fans of the central placement of the camera sensor, but it’s arguably a lot less intrusive than the notches you get on other popular phones, like the iPhone XS.
<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-10">James Peckham, Tech Radar</a>
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How’s the Performance?

On paper, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10+ are unmatched although considering that India will receive the Exynos chipset we’ll reserve our take on the performance of the phone.

The Snapdragon 855 makes the phone really snappy and the reviews seems to reciprocate.

It’s zippy, backed so far by benchmarking tests that are consistent with other phones using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset.
<a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/galaxy-note-10-plus-ongoing-review-samsungs-camera-gets-a-big-boost/">Jessica Dolcourt, Cnet</a>

Just like last time, the S-Pen adds more features to it, making it a more versatile accessory to the Note. The added Bluetooth functionality now allows gesture control with the S-Pen. But, is that something that users want?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 comes with a triple rear camera setup.(Photo: The Quint)
S Pen air controls get a refreshed look. It’s a lot more comfortable to use when you’re sitting for a while, less so when you’re on the move.
<a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/galaxy-note-10-plus-ongoing-review-samsungs-camera-gets-a-big-boost/">Jessica Dolcourt, Cnet</a>
A stylus in 2019 is ultimately something of a niche service, as very few people would prefer to take handwritten notes over typing.
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2019/08/17/samsung-galaxy-note-10-plus-review-past-mistakes-fixed/#6dfe57d72251">Ben Sin, Forbes</a>

How’s the Camera?

There have been subtle improvements in the camera department as seen in most reviews. On the rear is a triple setup of 12+12+16-megapixel cameras and a 10-megapixel camera on the front.

The video department sees considerable improvement and the Note 10+ by adding a TOF 3D VGA camera to it for better quality and depth.

The new Samsung Galaxy S10+ comes with a 4,300mAh battery.(Photo: Samsung.in)
Most of the Note 10’s improvements in the camera department are in its video recording capabilities. The image stabilization technology has improved.
<a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-10">James Peckham, Tech Radar</a>

Zoom-in-audio is something to look forward to, though its practicality will be put to test when it comes out.

How’s the Battery?

Offering a 3,500mAh battery in a flagship phone like the Note 10 is a crime. Period. With a powerful processor and a mammoth display the Note 10 battery is definitely going to be tested. Good thing it packs a 25W fast charger with it.

The Note 10+ comes with a 4,300mAh battery which looks the part. While charging “the Note 10 Plus' 4,300mAh routinely went from empty to fully charged in 65 minutes, says James Peckham from Tech Radar.

We’ll be getting our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 very soon and give you a closer look at what the new flagship from the South Korean tech giant is offering for the Indian consumers.

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 20 Aug 2019,01:15 PM IST

ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL FOR NEXT