Samsung Galaxy Note10+ – Reviewed.

Samsung is on fire this year with their product releases.

They recently released their latest in the Note Series, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Note10+. The ever kind people over at Samsung has sent over their Galaxy Note10+ for us to review. Thank you!

What is the Samsung Galaxy Note10+?

As quoted from their website, their Note10+ is basically the “next-level power”. It claims to be “a mobile experience that’s like a computer, a gaming console, a film studio and an intelligent pen”. Pretty bold claims huh?

Similar to their S10 and S10+, both the Note10 and Note10+ comes in two sizes. Also, Samsung seems to have taken the positive reviews with regards to the notch-less screen and followed through with the designs for the Note10 and Note10+.

It honestly seems to me that Samsung heard us, guys!

Their fingerprint sensors has also been moved and changed to an on-screen sensor. The only thing that I had to get used to was how the phone registered your fingerprint – watch the video below.

The prices of the phones (without contract) are:

• Galaxy Note10 256GB / 8GB RAM: SGD$1, 398
• Galaxy Note10+ 256GB / 12GB RAM: SGD$1, 598
• Galaxy Note10+ 512GB / 12GB RAM: SGD$1, 898

It’s pretty pricey but again these are without contract. As most of us don’t really buy without contract, you might want to head down to your nearest telcos for the prices.

The specs between the Note 10 and Note 10+ are:

The main difference between these two are, again, their sizes. Additionally, another difference is the capability of the Note10+ to add an external memory support which can push your memory to 1TB. Why anyone would need such a huge storage, I don’t know. But, you do you honey if you want that space.

First Impressions.

My first thought upon taking the phone out of the box was the relatively light weight. Was it as noticeable as when I reviewed the S10+? No. The weight is quite comparable to my S9+, truthfully.

The phone also seems to fit longer in the palm of my hands and it shows as it extends beyond what I am used to. Does it make it uncomfortable? Nope. The rectangular look on this phone makes it look so much more streamlined than any other Samsung phones.

The Note 10+ is thinner but does not have the fragile feeling that some phones have when the weight and size has been changed.

The Performance.

Let’s go on the the claims. Will the phone prove to be too good to be true or is it truly as what Samsung has made it out to be?

Samsung claims that their Note series has the capability to outlast your day. While I was tempted to try it out, it was unfortunately the weekend and I spent the time at home.

The PCMark score certainly backs up Samsung’s claim that their Note series would be powerhouse phone that everyone needs. Compared to when I reviewed the S10+, the results between the two are vastly different.

Next up is the battery performance score. When I looked at it, yours’ truly was truly shocked. Take a look below.

13 hours of usage? Hello, I’d like to report an outrageous claim that turned out to be true. That’s practically an hour past half a day. That’s your work hours plus the going back and forth. Maybe throw in dinner outside with friends too??? This sister? Is shooketh.

Games. For the love of games. Of immersive virtual reality. Unfortunately, this sister forgot to ask her fiance to download PUBG to play of Note 10+ so that we can ask how does the game play feel.

Here’s the results from the 3D Mark.

I did download Pokemon Go to see how the graphics would look like. The colors certainly seem sharper and clearer however, a part of me finds the screen uncomfortable to look at. It could be due to the fact that the screen brightness was on maximum but even after lowering it, I find that my eyes seem to be strained.

Lastly, the camera. While I am aware that the pictures from the Note 10+ will definitely be better, I was mostly interested the rear camera. With three cameras at the back, I was expecting to be wowed.

For reference, the below picture is taken with my Samsung Galaxy S9+ which features dual cameras at the back, the size of 9 by 16.

Next, the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ using only it’s dual camera option. Same size option as well.

As you can see, there’s not much difference except that my S9+ turns out more of a fluorescent cast than compared to Note 10+. However, the difference when you use all three cameras at the back? Check it out. Again, the size of the picture is the same as the previous two; 9 by 16.

The lamposts near the road. The downwards slope from the reservoirs. More trees and sky in suddenly in the view. So, there is definitely a huge difference in having the additional camera at the back.

The bottom line.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Samsung has never skimped on the quality of their phones. With this latest release, it also shows that Samsung listens to its customers feedback and actually does what we want.

We love the notch-less design? Here’s a new phone with no notch too. You like the fingerprint sensors to be on the glass? Alright, here you go.

I’m not sure about you but I am constantly falling in love with Samsung and their products. Their Note 10+ is no different and I am loving it. However, do I want to change to this new phone immediately? My answer would be ‘no’. Not because I don’t want it but because my S9+ is still relatively new and usable. There’s no valid reason to change.

Yet, would I consider changing to the Note series next? The answer would be an unequivocal “YES”. If Samsung comes out with another series in the Note range next year and the quality is equal or better than this Note 10+, I would gladly get it.

TLDR:

Samsung does it again with a phone that lives up to its outrageous (but TRUE) claims. If you’re in the market for a new phone, I would really encourage you to consider the Note 10+. For those who especially love using the wide-angle shots for scenery, do put this in your list to try. I would love to see more images of nature using this phone.