Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 10 lineup on August 7, 2019. The Note 10 family includes the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+ and these models served as the successors to the Galaxy Note 9.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ and whether you should buy one in 2021 — or if you should buy a gently used Note 20 instead.
Table of contents:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Spec Overview
- Display, Design & Colors
- S Pen Features
- Front & Rear Facing Camera
- Carrier Compatibility
- How much does the Galaxy Note 10 cost in 2021?
- Should you buy a Galaxy Note 10 in 2021?
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specs
Samsung made some design changes going from the Note 9 to the Note 10. As a starting point, the bezels around the display shrunk down in size as Samsung moved to a hole-punch style front-facing camera. Samsung also improved the S Pen, which now features a one-piece design.
The Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus launched with Android 9.0 Pie and Samsung’s One UI. The Galaxy Note 10 lineup was then updated to Android 10 in March 2020. The hardware specs for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus are outlined 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 |
As shown above, there are quite a few similarities between the Note 10 and Note 20 5G, and between the Note 10 Plus and the Note 20 Ultra 5G. One notable difference is the 5G support in the Note 20 lineup, which could potentially push some buyers away from the Note 10. But the Note 10 does have some perks, including being a physically smaller device.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus Comparison Guides
Shifting away from the comparisons, and looking deeper into the features of the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
Galaxy Note 10 Display, Design & Colors
The Galaxy Note 10 has a 6.3-inch display and the Note 10 Plus has a 6.8-inch display. The Note 10 display is FHD+ with a 2280 x 1080 resolution and 401 ppi. The Note 10 Plus display is Quad HD+ with a 3040 x 1440 resolution and 498 ppi.
Both models are HDR10+ certified, and they both feature an Infinity-O display, which means slimmer bezels around the display and a hole-punch style front-facing camera. Other hardware design features include an in-screen, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a programmable button on the left side of the phone.
Does the Galaxy Note 10 have a headphone jack?
No, the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ do not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. In fact, they are the first Samsung flagships (and the first models in the Note series) to not have this feature. Fortunately, you can use an adapter cable or wireless headphones without much difficulty.
The Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus are available in several color options including Aura Glow, Aura Black, and Aura White. The Galaxy Note 10 is also available in Aura Pink and Aura Red, and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is also available in Aura Blue.
Galaxy Note 10 S Pen Features
The S Pen is a key feature of the Galaxy Note series, and there were several S Pen improvements that arrived with the Galaxy Note 10. As a starting point, the Galaxy Note 10 S Pen is now a single piece of plastic. It also supports more advanced Air Actions, which includes being able to control features such as changing the camera settings from a distance of up to about 10 meters. Features of the S Pen include:
- IP68 rating for water and dust resistance
- Battery life of up to 10 hours standby time
- 4096 pressure levels
- 0.7mm pen tip diameter
Along with Air Actions, some other key S Pen features include use with Live Message, Samsung Notes, Text export, Screen off memo, Smart select, Screen write, Translate, Glance, Magnify, and more.
Galaxy Note 10 Camera
The Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus each feature a 10MP Selfie camera on the front with an 80-degree field of view, a 1.22um pixel size, and f/2.2 aperture. Features of the front-facing camera include Live focus and Live focus video. These two models share a similar rear-facing camera setup, however, the Note 10 Plus does have one additional camera. The shared rear-facing camera setup includes;
- 16MP Ultra wide with 1.0um pixel size, 123-degree field of view, f/2.2 aperture
- 12MP Wide with 1.4um pixel size, 77-degree field of view, dual aperture with f/1.5 and f/2.4
- 12MP Telephoto with 1.0um pixel size, 45-degree field of view, f/2.1 aperture
The additional camera on the Note 10 Plus is a VGA-quality DepthVision camera. Highlights of the rear-facing camera include Night Mode, and what Samsung has dubbed “Premium Video Technology” which includes Live focus video for adding depth-of-field adjustments to blur the background, a Zoom-In Mic to amplify the audio, and Super Steady mode to stabilize video footage.
Galaxy Note 10 Carrier Compatibility
The model number format of the Galaxy Note 10 is SM-N970x, and the Note 10 Plus is SM–N975x. The “x” portion of the model number varies by market and carrier. The most popular models for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus are as follows:
- Galaxy Note 10: SM-N970U
- Galaxy Note 10: SM-N970U1
- Galaxy Note 10 Plus: SM-N975U
- Galaxy Note 10 Plus: SM-N975U1
The “U” branded models of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus are factory unlocked, and the “U1” branded models of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus are specific for US wireless carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). If you’re planning to buy a Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10 Plus and think you may want to switch carriers at some point in the future, the “U” model is the way to go.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus Network Compatibility Guides
How much does the Galaxy Note 10 cost in 2021?
The Galaxy Note 10 launched with an MSRP of $949 and the Note 10 Plus was originally priced at $1,099. In other words, both phones were fairly expensive when they were originally released.
Fortunately, you can buy a gently used Note 10 on Swappa for just a fraction of its original price. Gently used Galaxy Note 10 prices currently start at around $300 in July 2021, and Galaxy Note 10 Plus prices are around $400.
Prices for gently used phones on Swappa vary based on several factors, such as the condition and the amount of internal storage. You can check the current prices for each of these models, and also view the currently available listings by tapping either of the widgets below.
Should you buy a Galaxy Note 10 in 2021?
The Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus are great phones in 2021. The current prices are much lower as compared to the original retail price, and both models should easily last several years into the future. The Note 10 is also great if you are a fan of the S Pen but want something a bit smaller than a typical Galaxy Note.
Of course, the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra both feature 5G support for sub6 and mmWave networks, which would be nice to have as 5G networks are becoming more and more prominent. The Note 20 is also powered by the newer Snapdragon 865+ processor, which is a nice bump from the Snapdragon 855 that is powering the Note 10.
Whether you end up getting a Note 10 or you decide to step up to a Note 20, you’ll always get the best deals on Swappa. Our safe and easy-to-use marketplace directly connects buyers and sellers, so buyers get the best deals, and sellers make the most money. Check current prices for the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra by tapping the widget below.
If you’re still unsure which model best fits your needs, or want to dive a bit deeper into the differences between the models covered in this post, or any of the other Galaxy Note smartphones — you should tap the green button below.