Short answer: Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 worth it in 2021? Yes, the Galaxy Note 10 is worth buying in 2021. In fact, the Galaxy Note 10 is a great smartphone to buy in 2021 because you can get gently used Note 10 or Note 10 Plus for a really low price.
Flagship smartphones aren’t cheap, and with prices often coming in around the $1,000 mark, people often look towards a previous generation model as a way to save money. To that point, the best way to save money on your next smartphone purchase is to buy a previous generation model that is gently used.
The current generation for the Galaxy Note lineup is the Galaxy Note 20, which means now is a great time to pick up a gently used Galaxy Note 10. Today we’ll be looking at the Galaxy Note 10 family, which includes the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus. Keep reading to see if either of these will be your next smartphone.
Table of contents:
- What are the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10?
- What are the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 features?
- Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 worth it in 2021?
- Here are the reasons to buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 10
Learn more about Galaxy Note 10 Prices and Galaxy Note 10 Upgrade Options in our Galaxy Note 10 Buyer’s Guide. Looking for other Galaxy Note models? Check out our overall Galaxy Note Upgrade Guide.
What are the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10?
Samsung originally announced the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus in August 2019. This officially marks the Galaxy Note 10 family as the previous generation because the Galaxy Note 20 family was introduced in August 2020. Even though the Galaxy Note 10 is a generation old, it still has several features that make it worth considering over the Galaxy Note 20.
One of the hallmarks of the Galaxy Note has always been S Pen support. People buy a Galaxy Note because they want a stylus, but some of those people may not be as into the size of the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note 10 has a 6.3” display and is smaller in size compared to the Galaxy Note 20 (which has a 6.7” display).
You can check out the full set of specs for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and see how they compare to the Galaxy Note 20 5G and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G in the table below.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 | Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G | |
Display | 6.3″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED (2280 x 1080) | 6.8″ WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED (3040 x 1440) | 6.7″ flat Infinity-O FHD+ Super AMOLED+ (2400 x 1080) | 6.9″ edge Infinity-O Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (3088 x 1440) |
Processor | Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 865+ | Snapdragon 865+ |
RAM | 8GB | 12GB | 8GB | 12GB |
Storage | 256GB | 256GB or 512GB internal with microSD card support up to 1TB | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB internal with microSD card support up to 1TB |
Rear Camera | Triple camera with Dual OIS (16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto) | Quad camera with Dual OIS (16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto, DepthVision) | Triple camera with OIS (12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto) | Triple camera with OIS (12MP ultra-wide, 108MP wide, 12MP telephoto) and Laser AF sensor |
Front Camera | 10MP Selfie camera | 10MP Selfie camera | 10MP Selfie camera | 10MP Selfie camera |
Water Resistance Rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,500 mAh | 4,300 mAh | 4,300 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
Charging | 25W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | 45W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | 25W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | 25W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
3.5mm headphone jack | No | No | No | No |
Network Connectivity | 4G LTE | 4G LTE | 4G LTE / 5G (sub6 & mmWave) | 4G LTE / 5G (sub6 & mmWave) |
Size / Weight | 71.8 x 151.0 x 7.9 mm / 168 grams | 77.2 x 162.3 x 7.9 mm / 196 grams | 75.2 x 161.6 x 8.3 mm / 194 grams | 77.2 x 164.8 x 8.1 mm / 208 grams |
What are the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 features?
With options to get a 6.3” display on the Galaxy Note 10 or a 6.8” display on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus — it is obvious that the display is a key feature of any Galaxy Note. Both the Note 10 and Note 10 Plus feature a Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, and both are HDR10+ certified.
Aside from the extra half-inch that you get with the Note 10 Plus, the key difference is the resolution and pixels per inch (ppi). The Note 10 has a 2280 x 1080 resolution with a 401ppi and the Note 10 Plus has a 3040 x 1440 resolution with a 498ppi. Some of the other key features of the Galaxy Note 10 family are as follows:
- Samsung DeX will let you connect your Galaxy Note 10 to a Windows or Mac computer using a USB connection. Once connected, you will be able to use your phone, and your apps with a keyboard and mouse. You can also drag and drop files between your Galaxy Note and your computer.
- Link to Windows means better integration for Windows users. With Link to Windows you will be able to connect and access quickly using the Quick Panel, and in turn, see notifications and more on your computer.
- Super Fast Charging for the Galaxy Note 10 using the in-box Samsung power adapter, and Super Fast Charging 2.0 for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus when using a 45W power adapter and 5A charging cable.
- Wireless Power Share provides the ability to charge other Samsung devices such as a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Buds.
- Video recording features include Live focus video which allows you to make depth-of-field adjustments to blur the background, and a Zoom-In Mic to amplify and better capture the audio you want to record.
- Video editing using Samsung’s built-in Video editor app allows you to quickly edit your video on the go.
- Night mode on the front-facing camera means you will be able to capture better selfies in low-light settings.
S Pen improvements that arrived with the Galaxy Note 10 include a one-piece design and support for more advanced Air Actions. The S Pen has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and a battery life that provides up to 10 hours of standby time. Some of the other S Pen features include support for Live message, Samsung Notes, Screen off memo, Screen write, Smart select, Magnify, and more.
Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launched with Android 9.0 Pie and Samsung’s One UI. Samsung then began updating the Galaxy Note 10 to Android 10.0 in March 2020. The update to Android 10 also included new camera features such as Single Take mode and an option to record 4K video at 60 frames per second using the selfie camera on the front.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 worth it in 2021?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is absolutely worth buying in 2021. Granted, it may not be the current generation in the Note lineup, but the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus have solid hardware specs and solid software features to match.
Not to mention, you can get a really great deal on a gently used Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10 Plus. As of July 2021, prices for a used Galaxy Note 10 run between $299 and $499, and prices for a used Galaxy Note 10 Plus run between $359 and $579 for listings in the Swappa marketplace.
The current prices for gently used Galaxy Note 10 smartphones are especially noteworthy when you factor in the original price, which was $949 for the Note 10 and $1,099 for the Note 10 Plus. This means you can buy either of these models for roughly half of the original MSRP.
You should buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 if…
- …you want a feature-rich smartphone with an integrated stylus, which is what the Galaxy Note 10 offers with the S Pen.
- You should buy the Galaxy Note 10 instead of the Galaxy Note 20 if you want a smaller phone.
- You should buy a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10 Plus if you want to pay less.
You should consider a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 if…
- …you want the S Pen, but prefer to have a phone that was originally released in 2020 (as opposed to 2019).
- You should buy the Galaxy Note 20 instead of the Galaxy Note 10 if you want a larger display (and do not mind the larger overall size).
- You should buy a Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if you plan to keep your phone for several years into the future, and are comfortable spending a little more money now.
In the end, it doesn’t matter which Galaxy Note you choose because you’ll always find the best deals on Swappa. The Swappa marketplace is safe and secure, and it is also easy to use. Our support team is available 24/7/365 if you have any questions or concerns, and our policies have been designed to protect buyers and sellers We also do not allow any junk to be listed or any jerks to use our site, so you can take comfort in knowing that you’ll be dealing with quality buyers and sellers. But don’t just take our word for this — make sure to also read some of the Trustpilot reviews that have been left by other Swappa users.