Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 10 lineup in August 2019. The initial Note 10 lineup included the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus. At launch, the Galaxy Note 10 was the base model, and the Plus model was available for anyone wanting a bigger display.
The Galaxy Note 10 Lite arrived about six months later, in January 2020, and it was intended as a lower-priced mid-range model. The lower-priced alternative was welcomed at launch, but you can get an even better deal by picking up a gently used Note 10 on Swappa.
If you’re planning to buy a Galaxy Note 10 in 2021, the real decision is between the Note 10 and Note 10 Plus — and making sure it’s compatible with your wireless carrier.
Table of contents:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 model numbers
- Which Samsung Galaxy Note 10 should I buy?
- Which Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus should I buy?
- Which Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite should I buy?
- Find your gently used Galaxy Note 10 on Swappa
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 model numbers
The base model number for the Galaxy Note 10 is SM-G97x. The Note 10 is the SM-N970, and the Note 10 Plus is the SM-N975. Two models, which initially sounds simple enough, but each of those models has several variants, which break down as follows:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10: SM-N970U1, SM-N970U, SM-N970F, SM-N970F/DS, SM-N970W, SM-N9700
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus: SM-N975U1, SM-N975U, SM-N975F, SM-N975F/DS, SM-N975W, SM-N9750
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite: SM-N770F/DS, SM-N770F/DSM
This may look a little complicated, but it’s not. There are only two variants you should consider if you want to use your Note 10 or Note 10 Plus in the United States: the U and the U1 versions.
The “U” version is the carrier-specific variant and is intended for use with one specific wireless carrier, and the “U1” version is the factory unlocked version which can be used with different wireless carriers.
As you likely noticed from the above list, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite follows a different pattern, with the model number being SM-N770. The Note 10 Lite then has an F/DS and an F/DSM variant. Essentially, the Note 10 Lite models are both unlocked non-US models with the F/DS being global, and the F/DSM being specific for India and Russia.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 network compatibility guide
The factory unlocked version of the Galaxy Note 10 is the SM-N970U1, and the carrier-specific version is the SM-N970U. If you’re the type of person who switches wireless carriers trying to find the best coverage or the best price, you’ll want to get the SM-N970U1. If you use one wireless carrier and have no plans to switch carriers, you’ll want to get the SM-N970U.
You can find the Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile SM-N970U versions of the Galaxy Note 10 using the following links, or tap the widget below to browse for a factory unlocked SM-N970U1 Galaxy Note 10.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus network compatibility guide
The Galaxy Note 10 Plus follows the same pattern as the Galaxy Note 10 with the “U” and “U1” variants being the models to choose between if you’re planning to use your Note 10 with a U.S. wireless carrier.
The SM-N975U1 is the factory unlocked model and should be selected if you think you may switch carriers. The SM-N975U is the carrier model and can be selected if you plan to stick with a single carrier.
You can view current listings for the SM-N975U Galaxy Note 10 Plus for Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile using the following three links. Otherwise, if you happen to be looking for the flexibility to easily switch carriers — tap the widget below those links to browse the current selection of the SM-N975U factory unlocked model.
- Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
- AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
- T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite network compatibility guide
The Galaxy Note 10 Lite follows a different pattern as compared to the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus. If you’re planning to use the Galaxy Note 10 Lite with a U.S. carrier, you will want to search for the SM-N770F/DS variant, which is the global unlocked version. But it is important to note that this is a global unlocked version, and may not be fully supported on all U.S. carriers, so you will want to double-check with your carrier to ensure compatibility.
That said, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite was introduced as a lower-priced version of the Note 10 lineup. But given current prices as of September 2021, we recommend looking at the Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10 Plus instead.
Swappa’s Buyer’s Guide for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus can be found using the following links:
Buy your gently used Galaxy Note 10 on Swappa
Now that we’ve outlined the differences between the Galaxy Note 10 variants — you should know the best model to choose for your needs — regardless of whether you’ve decided to go with a carrier-specific model or an unlocked model.
Swappa is the safest marketplace to buy and sell gently used tech. Swappa is also an active marketplace, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the gently used Galaxy Note 10 that you’ve been dreaming of. Get started on your search by tapping any of the three widgets below.