Femiexe
Samsung has been in the business of making exceptional phones for a long time now. Right from the early days of the cell phone, the Korean giant has remained relevant in the mobile phone conversation through the years. Samsung has time and time again, stamped their place as an envelope-pusher, bringing the much-needed competition to Apple devices. With the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, the story is no different.
Described by some users as “the best Samsung smartphone ever made”, the Note 10 Plus brings a new dimension to performance devices. We take a closer look at the Note 10 Plus in this article as we breakdown the specifications and price.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Key Specs & Features
Weight: 196g
Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm
OS: Android 9
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: QHD+
CPU: Octa-core chipset
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB
Battery: 4,300mAh
Rear camera: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP + VGA
Front camera: 10MP
Waterproof: IP68
Headphone jack: NO!
Stylus: S Pen
Display: A Phone of Many Colours
The first thing that strikes you when you pick up a Note 10 Plus is its massive screen. Samsung pulled no punches with the 6.8-inch screen on this piece. Considering that the phone maker is reputed to be the biggest AMOLED screen manufacturer, the Note 10 Plus showcases its maker’s proficiency in that department.
The Note 10 Plus’ proprietary Dynamic AMOLED Display is bright and the colours are very vivid, all without looking oversaturated. The presence of the huge screen might be imposing to new users, but to faithful users, the huge screen is just what this machine needs. With this model, Samsung disposes of the bezel, making the Note 10 Plus all screen, from top to bottom. However, this might cause the phone to register some false touches.
While it has arguably the best screen on the market, the curved edges of the screen might also cause some false touches if you wrap your hand around the phone. The camera punch-hole is much smaller in this model, with the camera being embedded into the display.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ Design: Sleek and Light
The Note 10 Plus is a big phone, no doubt. Its big screen makes it quite difficult to hold and with the glass back, you probably want to get a case to avoid it slipping from your hands or a crack if it ever drops. That’s where the cons stop.
The Note 10 Plus showcases the Aura back design which radiates a mesmerizing rainbow of colours when it reflects the light. Quite literally an eye-catcher. The Auro colours are available in Aura Glow, Aura Black, Aura White, Aura Pink and Aura Red.
Unlike the Note 8 and Note 9, the Note 10 Plus does not feature an IR face scanner for the face unlock functionality that made its predecessors such a fan-favourite. It is substituted for the in-screen fingerprint sensor which works much better than previous versions when put to the test.
The Bixby button that summons a personalised voice assistant in the previous versions is combined with the power button in the Note 10 Plus, resulting in fewer buttons. The 3.5mm phone jack is also noticeably absent in the Note 10 Plus, combining that functionality with the USB-C charging port. USB-C headphones are included in the box.
Most ardent users favour the Note 10 Plus because of its stylus. Samsung Note 10 Plus’ S Pen unleashes the stylus in a whole slew of new features. The stylus is shorter and thinner but still lets you write and sketch with pinpoint accuracy. You can also capture screenshots with just the stylus and make notes even with the screen off. The Air Gestures function allows you to zoom in and out of the camera view.
The S Pen improves on its handwriting recognition and conversion of written notes into text. The icing on the gadget cake is the remote shutter which lets you take pictures from a distance, with the S Pen’s Bluetooth LE functionality.
Cameras: Say Cheese
Samsung went all out with the cameras this year, with the Note 10 Plus presenting 5 cameras; 4 rear cameras and 1 selfie camera. The rear cameras consist of normal, telephoto, ultrawide and depth-sensing lenses. Samsung makes good on its reputation for bright and punchy colours this year. The pictures are solid and lively, great for capturing landscapes and sunsets.
The 12.3MP main camera allows for great night mode cameras, edged out only by the Google Pixel 3’s Night Mode. The dedicated Night Mode function makes photos look great even in low light environments.
Perhaps the best features of the 5-camera set up are the 12mp f/2.1 telephoto and 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lenses. This allows you to take photos at differing perspectives, with the VGA Depth Lens offering support by applying Live Focus to the photos. The telephoto lens enables you to capture entire scenes without having to move back to fit the whole landscape in the shot. Pretty neat.
The front camera is a 10MP lens with Live Focus in selfie photos which is noted for making the subject of the photos stand out. It also includes a number of filters which you can apply easily to your photos.
In the video department, the Note 10 Plus offers some new features. Videos made on the Note 10 Plus are less shaky and more balanced, thanks to its “Super Steady” Optical Image Stabilization technology. This helps users make much more smoother photos. Samsung also includes a revamped video editor to make changes to your videos. Finally, the Live Focus makes another appearance in videos, enabling you to blur out backgrounds and focus on just you.
Battery and Performance: Power and Precision
We get it. Power is a concern and you want a device with a solid battery. Samsung responds with the biggest battery on a Samsung phone ever. The Note 10 Plus’ size and extensive functionalities are supported by a 4,300 mAh battery. After all-day heavy use, the battery still lasts for more than a day. The power management is further supported by regulating the QuadHD+ display resolution which you can turn on or off.
The Note 10 Plus is accompanied by a 25W charger, charging from 0% to 100% in a little over an hour. Samsung also improves on its fast charging capabilities, raising the wattage to 45W. A 45W charger (sold separately) charges the phone from drained to 100% in 30 minutes, an impressive feature. Wireless charging is also boosted up from 12W to 15W.
The Note 10 Plus is one of the fastest phones you can buy. When you have 12GB of RAM, you can do pretty much anything you want to on this device. Sporting an Exynos 9825 or Snapdragon 855 (depending on the region of purchase). The device further positions itself as a gaming phone with a vapour-cooling chamber to let users play the most intensive 3D games.
Storage isn’t a concern with the device, as it comes with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. If by some remote chance this isn’t enough for you, this model also sports a microSD card slot for extra storage.
What is the Price for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus in Nigeria?
This part might make you screech to a halt. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ carries a price tag of N380,000 for 256GB version and N465,000 for the 512GB version. However, with an impressive show of functionalities, this price tag might not scare avid users. Compare prices of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus on Jumia and Konga
Final Verdict
The Note 10 Plus is overall a great device. While it might not appeal to casual phone users, core fans of the Note series will appreciate this masterpiece. Again, the hefty price tag on this device might discourage you if you’re just looking to buy a high-end phone. The Note 10 Plus is ideal for users who watch tons of videos, movies, YouTube, and Netflix. It’s also great for people who like to take notes or sketches and selfie maestros. While all the functions are nice to have, not everyone would find them useful.
You should also check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.
