Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphone - pros and cons

Not all phones are as famous and authoritative as the Galaxy Note range from the South Korean Samsung corporation. Since the release date of the exclusive Note N7000 (2011), smartphones of this line have become very popular.

First of all, productivity and user needs are what made this lineup possible to establish the segment of "phablets" and "revive" the stylus. Today we'll talk about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphone, the advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed in this article.

Equipment

1. Telephone;
2. Charger, the power of which is 25 watts;
3. USB Type C - USB Type B cable;
4. Stereotype wired headset with Type C slot;
5. User's manual;
6. A clip for working with SIM cards.

Specifications

Review of new items

The Note lineup has actively bypassed itself and established a key direction in the segment of phones, namely, defined the trend for large displays. It's hard to believe, but back in 2011, when the first sample of this line was released, most users were skeptical about the smartphone. Then it seemed that there was no need for a large display, and the dimensions of the case, when compared with competitors (at that time), were completely frightening.

During this time, the company from South Korea changed the designation of the Note model range a number of times, noted one or the other advantageous features. If anyone remembers, then Samsung has a lineup of S - flagship devices released in the spring. So the Note line is a representative that comes out by the end of summer and beginning of autumn.

Most likely, the novelty will appeal to those people who want to test the device of this lineup, but do not want a device of extreme dimensions and high prices and do not fully understand why the S Pen stylus and its functionality are needed. However, at the same time, these users want to find a flagship smartphone with extreme functionality, which will be enough for the next couple of years.

In addition, the release of this smartphone is an excellent kick for Apple, as the Note 10 bypasses the functionality of the iPhone, which will hit the shelves in the fall of 2019. Anyway, the new model from the South Korean brand has bypassed Apple in everything that they can demonstrate in 2024. The Note lineup has won the hearts of many users around the planet, because the likelihood of stopping using Note models is very low, so good they are.

Appearance, dimensions and ergonomics

The most important flaw in ergonomics, which has already been noticed by both experts and users, is the ON / OFF key moved to the left end (before that it was always on the right side). It seems that, having gotten rid of the Bixby key, the company's developers decided to take revenge: they left the button where Bixby was located, but got rid of the power key on the right. And it really causes discomfort.

If users have adapted to making screenshots with a combination of buttons, then from now on they will need to hold the phone in an incomprehensible way. For right-handers on this model, the thumb is automatically located on the power button, but here it is difficult.

It is necessary to adapt, but in any case it will be inconvenient.

In the settings, it is possible to adjust the power key so that, with a certain number of presses, it imitates the Bixby button. The developers claim that the key has become meaningless, since it is necessary only to turn on the phone. The smartphone goes into sleep mode automatically, and it is possible to activate it through a fingerprint scanner, which is integrated into the display.

Samsung developers believe that the fingerprint scanner should be the function that is responsible for unlocking the device.

Why is there so much noise around the fingerprint scanner?

This can be interpreted by the fact that the company has absolutely revised the algorithms for its functioning. Now it is an ultrasonic scanner, technically a unit is used that is identical to the module in the S10 + smartphone. One way or another, with the help of software, the developers managed to make its functioning faster. In addition, the scanner was "trained" to identify fake prints that were made with film or paper, photographs, and even 3D prints made of gelatin or silicone materials.

The back and front panels of the case are made of Corning Gorilla Glass 6.

It should be noted that this is the most modern generation of glass. It is said to have excellent durability and the glass is scratch resistant. The bezel is made from 7000-series aluminum alloy, the metal material is chrome-plated and similar to that used to create the S10 +. Some users like the fact that the phone has not increased in weight and is still comfortable to work with. The model does not sink in the hand and feels great. The stereo type speakers here are of high quality and this is not surprising, since AKG was engaged in their adjustment.

The lack of a 3.5mm jack on the panel is becoming a negative direction this year. Renunciation turns into a massive one, but it is impossible to say that this is a competent step. It is also inappropriate to shield a South Korean corporation for renouncing its own competitive advantage. While most people regularly use a wireless headset, some still need a 3.5mm jack.

It should be noted that depending on the state, Note 10 can be equipped in different ways. In South Korea, the smartphone supports 5G, however, devices without 5G support will be delivered to most countries. In addition, marketers have convinced the developers to abandon the micro SD in order to share the novelty with the S10 +. Many experts and users alike like the extent to which a lot of space is taken up by the display. This is an incredible virtue of the model, since it has almost no bezels. Traditionally, the smartphone is waterproof and meets the IP68 standard.

There will be a certain amount of colors: there are red and pink shades, but they are not yet expected in the Russian Federation.

Names of colors:

• Aura Glow (pearlescent);
• Aura Black (black);
• Aura White (white).

Screen

The new product has an FHD + display format and a diagonal of 6.3 inches. It is no coincidence that this version was left without the best display resolution. This is the desire to share the device with the aforementioned S10 Plus - to make it less pretty. Officially, the same matrix is ​​installed here, which has support for the QHD format, but from a software point of view, its functionality is cut.

To what extent the fans will like this is not clear, because most of the users do not translate the display format on current devices and are fully satisfied with the image quality.

The screen in the new product is called "cinematic", and despite the fact that it is the same Dynamic AMOLED as in the S10 / S10 + models, the image quality is almost the same. In this regard, it is safe to say that these are the best displays that are on the market. A large number of various add-ons, it is allowed to choose the color temperature value that the user will like.

According to some experts, nothing is more beautiful than these screens yet. In this regard, it is possible to argue that the new product is different from all smartphones on the market.

Communication and communication

LTE cat.20 support depends on the operators, but theoretically, it guarantees a transfer rate of about 2 Gbps. The model supports USB 3.1 (Type C), Bluetooth 5.0, aptX and other audio codecs.

As for the wireless-type interfaces, Wi-Fi 6 is installed here, operating on innovative algorithms. Experts noted an interesting feature - activation of Wi-Fi depending on the geotag. Simply put, the phone itself remembers where the owner turned on Wi-Fi and automatically synchronizes with the network: if a person, for example, comes to a favorite cafe with Wi-Fi, then you do not have to activate it manually.

Of the distinctive features of the Bluetooth 5.0 performance, it is worth highlighting the possibility of synchronous connection of two pairs of headphones or other audio devices. Simply put, users are given the opportunity to listen to their favorite tracks together or watch videos with a friend. This is a truly incredible feature that was clearly lacking, despite the fact that not everyone needs it.

Another feature is the ability to select programs and in which connected Bluetooth devices the sound will be played. Simply put, users were given the opportunity to choose that the sound from the media player is transmitted to the portable acoustics, and the SMS is read exclusively in headphones.

This is really cool, but it will take time to adjust everything for yourself. Everything works like this: a father gives a smartphone to his son so that he watches a cartoon and the sound is broadcast through portable acoustics or a wireless headset, and he himself enjoys listening to his favorite tracks or listens to podcasts in another wireless headset.

This option works excellently and is very comfortable.

RAM, ROM and performance

The chipset is manufactured using a 7-nm process technology, due to which, together with RAM, the total operating speed has also increased. This is an incredibly smart phone, so no lags are expected in the work. The model has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM, however, there is no support for flash drives.

Autonomy

The model was supplied with a battery with a capacity of 3,500 mAh.

An ordinary charger with a power of 25 W is supplied with the device, thanks to which it is possible to restore the battery charge in an hour. However, users can purchase an additional charger with a power of 45 watts. In this case, charge recovery will not take more than 30 minutes.

Cameras

The main thing that excites the minds of users is what is the difference between the cameras on the Note 10 and Note 10+. The answer is not as predictable as it seems at first glance. In the field of photography, both new items are relatively identical, despite the fact that in the Note 10+, thanks to the ToF block, most of the photos with blurred backgrounds come out much better.

Blurring of the background in the rollers is noticeably better in the older modification. This was achieved by means of an auxiliary sensor. And in general, the operation with rollers was taken to a new level. For example, we added a function to build up sound from the microphone when the user zooms in on the image. There are various effects and working modes with rollers, including their processing.

The Advanced Super Steady stabilization function allows you to get a clear frame, which was achieved by increasing the sampling frequency from 500 MHz to 833 MHz.

The Quick Measurement program has been added to the Samsung Applications menu.

The user explores everything around by means of a camera, a network connection is required. After 10-15 seconds, the camera will start calculating the distance to objects. Effectively it functions in a range of no more than 1.5 m. For objects, in addition, the volume is calculated. The user has the ability to highlight points on the display and calculate the distance between objects. Today it seems nonsense, but who knows ...

Examples of photos on a selfie camera are presented below:

And here are examples of shots on the rear camera:

Overall, this is arguably the best camera on the market again in terms of its parameters. We improved computational shooting, most of the effects began to be calculated better, the quality of photos, and to be precise, their processing, improved.

Other features

The software is another side of this gadget, which is worth delving into for a full review of the novelty, because the Note model range is in demand also due to the presence of a lot of functions in it.

Enhanced DeX Mode, Microsoft Partnership and P2P Gaming

The South Korean corporation is improving the DeX mode, however, ideologically, the transformation of what is given to users happened. If before that the phone was "transformed" into a PC: users had the opportunity to connect a keyboard, mouse to the device and use it in this light, then from now on Samsung is testing a different solution.

Using an ordinary cord that comes with the package, you need to connect the device to a PC running both Windows OS and MacOS. DeX mode will appear, in which the computer keyboard and its touchpad are used for work, in the windows it is possible to move from one program to another, open any files and quickly move them to their destination.

During the synchronization process, users are encouraged to freely use their smartphone. Simply put, it will be 100% functional, and the DeX mode will work in some way in the background.

The curtain now has an icon for connecting to the Microsoft profile - Link to Windows.

It is not there for beauty, it is an opportunity to instantly, in the process of synchronization with Windows 10, get all custom add-ons and programs, and therefore there is no need to download them again. In addition, you do not need to enter anything, and user data for Microsoft Office, a subscription to a suite of office programs and other add-ons are loaded into the smartphone automatically.

All Microsoft Office files are instantly synchronized with the cloud storage.

At first glance, this seems to be nonsense, but for users who "live" in the Windows environment, it is very comfortable, which will free them from the need to enter passwords in various applications.

All Windows add-ins are now in one place and are accessible through a user profile. In addition, all programs are already installed on the phone.

In the third quarter, the South Korean corporation will expand support for Your Phone from Microsoft to Note. This program allows you to view all information from your phone on the PC display. However, this is a useless analogue of DeX, which today functions and copes with the tasks assigned to it better than the solution from Microsoft.

Play Galaxy Link P2P will be the next service that will come in a while. Users will be given the opportunity to play games on the phone that are on the computer and, at the same time, start from where the gamer left off. This is a P2P connection: key calculations of the game happen on the computer, and the image is transmitted to the phone.

Enhanced S Pen with addictive functionality

In appearance, the stylus has hardly changed: it is also hidden in the body, it is just as well felt in the hand. It will not be superfluous to recall what the stylus can do: you can draw, write and, in general, the S Pen is the best stylus available today, since no manufacturer has yet succeeded in repeating such a success.

And if in previous versions it was possible to control the process of photographing and view presentations from the stylus button, now this functionality has become much wider. For example, an LTO battery was installed inside, which works for about 10 hours from a single charge (charge recovery occurs in a minute). For comparison: in the predecessor, this value was 30 minutes.

In addition, accelerometers have appeared, which read to what extent a nimble gesture is, and gyroscopes set the tilt of the S Pen. This presented the opportunity to create the S Pen Air. The user only draws gestures in the air, while programs on the phone respond to movements.It is noteworthy that for the first time it became possible to use not 1, but 2 stylus with a phone. Simply put, the user has the ability to connect a second stylus in order to conduct a presentation or use gestures in the air. The battery of the phone sits down a little faster, but the concept is great.

The distance at which this sort of "remote control" functions is 10 m. The thing is comfortable, but for corporate clients it is absolutely excellent.

SDK was presented in the South Korean corporation. From now on, program creators have the ability to add gesture control in the air. In this case, the stylus "transforms" into a kind of wizard's wand, with a wave of which you can perform various actions. Similar to Tab 6, from now on any text content written by hand (which is more than 60 languages, including Russian) is identified and digitized. In branded Notes it is allowed to make the display transparent. For example, this makes it possible to watch the video and immediately make notes.

Another highlight of the stylus that will be loved by most users is the AR-doodle. Use activates the camera, and then draws whatever your heart desires to the subject: a beard, glasses, etc. All these elements are attached to the face, and then you can make a video or something like that. As for the stylus, it's worth saying the following: some don't use it at all, while others, on the contrary, use it regularly. We've increased the number of third-party programs that work with the S Pen, including everything that Adobe presents.

Direct contender: Apple's iPhone Xs Max

Without a doubt, it makes sense to think that the enhanced Xs Max, slated for a September 2019 release date, will be a direct contender for the culprit for today's review. However, at the moment it is possible to compare the previous version with the new Note 10 and even pinpoint exactly what will be missing in the new iPhone. The latter will not have a stylus with such functionality.

It will also lack the ability to sync with Windows, and will only function with macOS, since Apple attracts users to its own system and tries not to let them go. And there will also be a price tag starting at least 100,000 rubles. Taking into account the relentlessness of the "apple" company to set price tags, it is not possible to argue that the Note 10 has an actual competitor.

How much and where to buy?

The novelty will cost users 77,000 rubles. If we compare with the price tags on the iPhone, then this is still a reasonable price, comparable even to the current cost of the flagship devices of the South Korean corporation. If we talk about sales, then thanks to these two smartphones, they will slightly increase when compared with 2018.

It is worth noting that there is also a Galaxy Active watch (previous generation) in pre-order. This is a great bonus, especially since users are also given the opportunity to choose colors. Looking at how the sales are carried out on the predecessor, it is possible to expect the same effect on the Note 10, however, in 2024.

This means that the number of users who will become the likely owners of the novelty will increase. Most experts already consider this smartphone to be a great solution, since it has everything you could want from an innovative flagship device.

For users who do not want a stylus, do not want to pay "extra" and do not want large displays, there are always flagships S10 and S10 + for an adequate price. You just need to understand that the device under consideration today is an adherent of a completely different segment, which can do everything and even a little more. As surprising as it may seem, it makes sense to swap Note 9 for this model.In any case, this is what the experts say, emphasizing what is very attractive about the quality of the display.

• Display "without frames" with a matrix of the Dynamic AMOLED type and a hidden fingerprint scanner;
• Adequate amount of memory and their various varieties;
• High-performance Snapdragon 855 chipset from the well-known Qualcomm company;
• Amazing stylus capabilities;
• Built-in rear camera with AI functions.

• Overpriced, according to some users, the price.

First look at the new product - in the video: