The Most Interesting Features in Samsung's New Galaxy Note 10+ Flagship Smartphone

[MacRumors]

Samsung recently released its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+, which will be two of Apple's main competitors for the upcoming 2019 iPhones.

The new Galaxy Note smartphones have impressive edge-to-edge displays with pinhole camera cutouts, S Pen support, and a long list of additional features that are designed to make them stand out. In our latest YouTube video, we go hands-on with the Note 10+ to check out what Samsung has added to try to compete with the iPhone lineup.

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S Pen

iPhones don't support a stylus, and we're not expecting the Apple Pencil to work with the 2019 lineup, but Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 devices do work with a stylus called the S Pen, which has long been one of the main Note features.

The S Pen has a new look in 2019, but it's mostly the same. You can use it for taking notes, writing on the screen, sending live messages, and more. It's basically like the Apple Pencil for the iPad.

With the Galaxy Note 10 and the S Pen, handwritten notes can be turned into text, and you're also able to search through your handwritten notes. It's a feature that worked well in our testing.

AR Doodle

One major new S Pen feature that's a little bit fun and a little bit gimmicky is AR Doodle, designed to let users write text or create drawings on top of what's being viewed through the camera.

It's essentially drawing in augmented reality, which is neat, but probably not something most people are going to use on a regular basis.

3D Scanner

The larger version of the Galaxy Note 10 (the Note 10+) is equipped with an extra DepthVision camera that enables some interesting 3D scanning functionality.

Samsung on stage used this feature to scan a plush toy to make a correct, 3D digital version of it, which is what it's supposed to do. Unfortunately, in our testing, the 3D scanner is mediocre.

We couldn't get anything to scan accurately, with limbs getting cut off, designs being warped, and other problems, even when testing all kinds of lighting conditions. Maybe it'll get better in the future, but as is, this feature isn't useful.

Live Focus Video

A camera feature that is useful is the new Live Focus Video option that brings the Live Focus available in Samsung photos to the video camera, so you can adjust the depth of field while you're filming.

Zoom In Audio

Another camera feature we liked as the zoom-in audio option. When you zoom in on a subject that you're filming, the microphone is able to isolate that subject and amplify the sound, which is neat. When you zoom back out, the audio returns to normal.

DeX for macOS

Samsung devices have a feature called DeX, which is basically designed to let you dock your Samsung smartphone to a PC to turn it into a mobile workstation.

You used to need an external monitor, but with the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+, DeX works with both Mac and Windows machines. Mac users can download the DeX app for the Mac, plug the Note 10 in, and then control smartphone functions on the big screen.

On some Macs, though, the resolution is poor, which can make it a bit hard to see what you're doing.

Aura Glow Design

One of the coolest Galaxy Note 10 features is the color. Samsung is offering the Note 10 and Note 10+ in this rainbow-like shade called Aura Glow. It stands out and really catches the eye, especially when compared to the standard Silver, Space Gray, and Gold that most iPhones come in.

Fingerprint Sensor

Samsung's new smartphones use an under-display fingerprint sensor which is about as accurate as the fingerprint sensor in the S10+. It works decently, but its positioning on the screen might take some adjustment.

Battery Life

iPhone users who always feel like their devices die quickly might be jealous of the battery in the Note 10+ - it's 4,300mAh, which is massive. It can also take advantage of a 45W charger that can fast charge it from zero to full in just about an hour.

Samsung's not including a 45W charger in the box, but since it charges over USB-C, you might already have one laying around.

What do you think of Samsung's new Galaxy Note 10 smartphones? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: The Most Interesting Features in Samsung's New Galaxy Note 10+ Flagship Smartphone

 

[69Mustang]

Thread gonna catch fire.

 

[ilikewhey]

first time i'm considering a stylus, i can see that camera function on the stylus be very useful. no need to ask for anyone to take a picture for you.

 

[Christian 5G]

Don't know about you people, but I find this design very nice (externally) . Wouldn't get it though because it's Samsung (internally)

 

[bmustaf]

I have used every Note device since the 7, every iPad, and had both revs of the Pencil. I also use an iPad Pro (current gen) with the Pencil 2 and nothing is further from the truth than the below quote.

While I like Apple's Pencil 2 and iPad Pro combo, the S-Pen is a MUCH more feature-rich and robust solution in some ways.

Remote for picture taking, actually stows in device, notification when it's missing, etc. The tech in the pen is a lot more sophisticated. Not saying better, necessarily, but you can do a lot more with it and it isn't basically an Apple Pencil at all IMO.

That being said, the Samsung devices collect dust for me and I actually use my Apple kit, but the S-Pen does a lot more than the Pencil even if it's not the "better" solution (for me at least).

The S Pen has a new look in 2019, but it's mostly the same. You can use it for taking notes, writing on the screen, sending live messages, and more. It's basically like the Apple Pencil for the iPad.

 

[dannys1]

The only thing I'd take is the under screen finger print sensor.

 

[BarrettF77]

It's still android at the end of the day and you can put a lamborgini frame on the ground but a pinto motor inside of it and you ultimately still have a pinto on the road.

Why are you guys even reviewing this on an Apple site?

Don't you know we are diehard apple fanbois who know Apple will never do anything wrong?! LOL

 

[now i see it]

MR might as well review Dell, HP, ASUS Windows PCs while they're at it

 

[badatusernames]

Idk. But that rainbow finish is really ugly IMO.

 

[dannys1]

first time i'm considering a stylus, i can see that camera function on the stylus be very useful. no need to ask for anyone to take a picture for you.

Apple Watch.

 

[BarrettF77]

MR might as well review Dell, HP, ASUS Windows PCs while they're at it

Next on Dell/HP/ASUS Rumors....

 

[-DMN-]

It's all about the software for me and hardware is just an added bonus. I buy my Apple Computers reburished and several years old. Point being I won't buy anything that's not running an Apple OS.

 

[The Don Onez]

That thing is gorgeous. I'll wait to see what Apple releases next month.

 

[dshelby]

I really appreciate seeing the Samsung devices reviewed on here. Even though my kit is all Apple at this point I never want to be complacent in thinking that nobody else can create excellent hardware or software. I want to know what else there is. I want to see the advances and decide if my family and I should move with them. Thank you MacRumors!

 

[s15119]

Android OS? hard no.

 

[sirozha]

It's still android at the end of the day and you can put a lamborgini frame on the ground but a pinto motor inside of it and you ultimately still have a pinto on the road.

Why are you guys even reviewing this on an Apple site?

Don't you know we are diehard apple fanbois who know Apple will never do anything wrong?! LOL

When did you use Android last? Ever?

 

[jonnysods]

I've always liked the smaller bezels on the S series phones, starting with the S8.

Looking forward to the updated iPhone in a few weeks to see what the form factor is like.

 

[chasonstone]

Idk. But that rainbow finish is really ugly IMO.

I agree. Everyone seems to be freaking out and loving it but it just looks cheap to me. Maybe it looks better in person?

 

[Techwatcher]

It's still android at the end of the day and you can put a lamborgini frame on the ground but a pinto motor inside of it and you ultimately still have a pinto on the road.

Why are you guys even reviewing this on an Apple site?

Don't you know we are diehard apple fanbois who know Apple will never do anything wrong?! LOL

lmao. I don't mind the review since Samsung is direct competition and a supplier for Apple.

 

[alpi123]

All gimmick features that Samsung will forget about the next year and won't take their time to improve.

 

[ilikewhey]

Apple Watch.

400 bucks vs something that comes with a phone, literally apple vs orange here lol

 

[BarrettF77]

When did you use Android last? Ever?

Friend's device a year ago, in the store for 20 minutes waiting on someone a couple months ago... It's not as smooth, don't care for the layout, and the hardware itself feels cheap and like plastic... Oh wait a minute, it WAS plastic on some of it and the rest of the materials just felt low quality.

 

[dannyyankou]

If it ran iOS I’d be interested.

 

[ilikewhey]

Don't know about you people, but I find this design very nice (externally) . Wouldn't get it though because it's Samsung (internally)

u mean google software, cause internally iphone has samsung parts too

 

[jjohnstonjr]

I remember watching the Samsung announcement and I was blown away by the phone. It's a beast of a phone. The camera on it is amazing, the battery life appears to be amazing and the storage is nice too. Long story less this is an amazing phone. It's good to see what the competition offers. As for me I love Apple's iOS because it is easy to use.