Doubling the company’s top-tier smartphone.
Samsung has officially unwrapped three Note’s (technically two) for the first time — the Galaxy Note10, Note10+ and Note10+ 5G — overnight in Brooklyn with an Infinity-O display and faster charging, albeit without a headphone jack.
Most notable is the move to an Infinity-O AMOLED display with the Note10 containing a 6.3-inch FHD+ screen (401ppi), whereas the more costly Note10+ is a 6.8-inch Quad HD panel (498ppi) — all are HDR10+ certified and contain slightly curved edges.
‘Infinity-O’ is Samsung’s own display that features a singly hole-punch front facing camera in the top-middle of the Note10, rather than the dual-camera, right-side position of its S10+ sibling.
The overall body is more angular and square with the top and bottom having distinct rounded corners, similar to the Sony Xperia 1 and 10 range, and the frame is finished in aluminium.
Regardless of model, the Note10 boasts a smaller 7nm octa-core Exynos 9825 or a Snapdragon 855 processor (depending on region), with the smaller Note containing 8GB RAM and the Note10+ having 12GB RAM.
In most markets, the Note10 only comes with 256GB storage, while the Note10+ has 256GB or 512GB memory — the latter of which is standard on the 5G variant.
Only the Note10+ has a microSD card slot for expansion up to 1TB; the standard Note10 does not.
The S-Pen, synonymous with the Note brand, is back with rounded corners for better ergonomics, new gesture features that can control compatible applications via Bluetooth — such as zooming in the camera with a spiral action (just like on the Tab S6) — and handwriting recognition for easy conversions to proper text.
While the slot remains to house the S-Pen stylus, the 3.5mm headphone jack has been ditched across the Note10 line-up, claiming that this decision allowed the Korean conglomerate to give an extra two to three per cent battery and improve haptic feedback from the vibration motor without the hollow hole, according to an interview by The Verge.
An USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack dongle is not included in the box (it is sold separately), though Samsung does supply improved USB-C AKG earbuds (an active noise cancellation version is available separately), enabled by using the universal port.
Moving on, the all Note10’s transfer the S10’s triple camera array in a vertical position, consisting of an ultra wide 16MP (F2.2, 123°), standard optical image stabilised (OIS) 12MP wide-angle with variable aperture to adapt to lighting conditions (F1.5/F2.4, 77°), and a 12MP telephoto macro lens with OIS (F2.1, 45°).
Additionally, the Note10+ adds a time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensor for AR Doodle which puts drawn text and symbols from the S-Pen on people or objects, and actively moves with them for video; as well as a 3D Scanner tool to scan objects and turn them into a movable 3D rendering or for 3D printing.
The middle-aligned front camera is an upgraded 10MP sensor with auto-focus (F2.2, 80°) with the Note+ gaining ‘DepthVision’ for better live focus portraits; the iris scanning feature has been removed.
Recording video, the improved super steady feature stabilises footage using software and is now on the hyperlapse mode as well; the zoom-in-mic function amplifies audio when zooming in on subjects; the Note 10+’ ToF enable active background blur of subjects; and there is also a built-in simple video editor in the gallery app.
Instead, it now opts for the same ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner as found on the S10 as the primary secure authentication method, but a less secure 2-dimensional face recognition feature is available.
A dedicated Night Mode is also here, using software to brighten low light photographs and can even be used on the selfie camera.
Surviving off USB-C, the Note10 contains a 3500mAh battery but the larger Note10+ can house a larger 4300mAh cell — the former has support for 25W fast wired charging and the latter can be juiced-up at a maximum of 45W.
Though, it is worth noting that both models come with a 25W power brick, so Note10+ users wanting to charge the fastest possible will need to purchase a separate 45W travel adapter from Samsung with the technology dubbed ‘Super Fast Charging 2.0’, claiming a charge that lasts ‘through the day’ in just 30 minutes.
As for wireless charging, the Note10 is capped at an improved 12W but the Note10+ is even faster at 15W at the Qi standard.
Wireless PowerShare, which enables other Qi and WPC enabled devices to be charged from the back of the phone, returns as standard.
Similarly, Samsung DeX is featured as well, now enabling users to plug in the Note10 with any monitor, and now Windows or Mac laptop, via a USB-C to mirror the phone’s applications and functions in a desktop-style interface.
For the mobile gamers, the Note10 has a vapour chamber cooling system, and the updated Game Booster is now ‘AI-based’ and optimises performance depending on the game, while it also enables Discord chats in-game as well.
Samsung also says that a new PlayGalaxy Link streaming service will be included, letting gamers stream any game from the PC and enable them to be played on the Note10 without using any local storage.
Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby, is less intrusive by removing the dedicated Bixby button, and only having two buttons on the left side of the phone — one a volume rocker and the other a multi-function button that triggers wake/sleep with a tab, Bixby with a tap and hold, and power off with the press of volume at the same time.
This is all run on an updated One UI 1.5 which overlays Android 9.0 Pie (no word on Android Q), now including a power-off toggle in the notification centre (as a substitute to the new button arrangement), a built-in screen recorder and tweaked vertical stack interface when popping out the stylus.
Samsung has also elevated its partnership with Microsoft, integrating its ‘Your Phone’ feature into the Note10 out-of-the-box which enables screen mirroring, sending text messages and receiving notifications on any Windows 10 device with the April 2018 update (version 1803) or later.
As usual, IP68 water and dust resistance, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, MST and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support is here.
The flagship 5G guise uses Sub6/mmWave technology which will be available with selected carriers depending on market.
A range of accessories including cases, a new fast wireless charging stand, and the aforementioned 45W power brick and 3.5mm headphone adapter will be sold.
The Galaxy Note10, Note10+ and Note10+ 5G are internationally available in a multi-colour and highly reflective Aura Glow, Aura Blue (10+ only), Aura Pink (10 only), Aura Red (10 only), Aura White and Aura Black which will launch from August 23.
A blue S-Pen is included with the former while all other hues have colour matching styli, with the Aura White model only coming with white in-box accessories (USB-C cable, power brick, AKG earphones, etc.), and a handy clear case will be bundled.
Locally, it will arrive Down Under on August 23 with only Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura White colours in the Note 10 (256GB) costing $1499; Note 10+ (256GB) at $1699; and Note 10+ 5G (512GB) at $1999.
Pre-orders are online now across Samsung, other retailers and carriers, offering the recently released AKG NM700NCM2 noise cancelling Bluetooth headphone (worth $499) as a bonus, though JB-Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman stores are also including a $100 gift card in some form (JB-Hi-Fi credit and Eftpos respectively).
The Connected by Henry Man 