For the first time ever, Samsung released not one, but two new Galaxy Note devices this year.
We have the new Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus. These two devices will finally give long-time Note fans two options. And if you can’t decide which between the two to get, you can check out our comparison here.
But, if you already own the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, should you upgrade? Or if this is the first time you’re purchasing a Note device, should you really pick the new one, or get the predecessor instead to save money?
Here in our Samsung Galaxy Note 10 vs Galaxy Note 9 specs comparison, we shall see which between these two devices is right for you. Let’s start.
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 | Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie Samsung One UI | Android 9 Pie Samsung One UI |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM Hybrid |
| Display | 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2280 x 1080 pixel resolution ~403ppi Infinity-O notch HDR10+ | 6.4-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED 2960 x 1440 pixel resolution ~516ppi HDR10 |
| Processor | 2.7GHz Exynos 9825 octa-core | 2.7GHz Exynos 9810 octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP12 | Mali-G72 MP18 |
| Storage | 256GB Non expandable | 128GB/512GB expandable via microSD card up to 512GB |
| Front camera | 10-megapixel Dual-Pixel AF f/2.2 | 8-megapixel f/1.7 |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel (Dual-Pixel AF, OIS, f/1.5/2.4) 16-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 12-megapixel (2x telephoto, f/2.1, OIS) Dual-tone flash 4K video recording 960fps @720p AI scene optimizer 960fps @720p Live focus video Super Steady | 12-megapixel (Dual-Pixel AF, OIS, f/1.5-f/2.4) 12-megapixel (2x telephoto, OIS) Dual-tone flash 4K video recording 960fps @720p AI scene optimizer |
| Audio | AKG-tuned stereo speakers Dolby Atmos No headphone jack | AKG-tuned stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Headphone jack |
| Security | Ultrasonic Fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Iris scanner Rear-mounted Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE Cat.20 WiFi 802.11 ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.0 NFC GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS USB Type-C | 4G LTE, Cat. 18 WiFi 802.11 ac, Hotspot Bluetooth 5.0 NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C |
| Others | S-Pen (6-axis sensor for gestures) Bixby IP68 dust and water-resistant Built-in Samsung DeX | S Pen with Bluetooth Bixby IP68 dust and water-resistant Built-in Samsung DeX |
| Dimensions | 151.0 x 71.8 x 7.9mm | 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm |
| Weight | 168g | 201g |
| Colors | Aura Glow Aura Black Aura White Aura Pink Aura Red | Ocean Blue Midnight Black Metallic Copper |
| Battery | 3,500mAh Reverse wireless charging | 4,000mah Reverse wireless charging |
| Price | Php53,990 | 128GB: Php39,990 512GB: Php49,990 |
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 surely brings a lot of new features on the table. But as ironic as it may sound, the Galaxy Note 9 offers better numbers in some key areas.
One of which is in the display department. The Note 10 might have a cleaner look with its ultra-thin bezels and punch-hole for the camera, but, it only has an FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+. That’s really disappointing, especially for a device at this price.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 also has a smaller 3,500mAh battery compared to the 4,000mAh capacity that the Note 9 has.
The latter also lacks a microSD card slot for storage expansion. Plus, it’s only limited to 256GB of storage. If you want bigger memory, go with 512GB models of the Galaxy Note 9 or Note 10 Plus.
If a straight-up powerful smartphone for productivity is all you’re up for, then you might be better settling with the Galaxy Note 9. This one already has a large display, powerful processor, bigger battery, and S-Pen support for your power-users out there.
Related
But if you are really considering the Note 10, then you might find these extra features worth it to justify your move.
For starters, the Galaxy Note 10 has a better set of cameras. In fact, it was just hailed as the best smartphone camera in the market as of writing.
Both devices have an identical 12-megapixel wide and telephoto cameras. But with the Galaxy Note 10, you’re getting an extra 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle shooter. Plus other software extras like Live Focus support on videos, and a Super Steady feature that greatly stabilizes handheld videos.
The front camera sensor was also bumped up to 10-megapixel from the 8-megapixel of the former.
Of course, we also have a new and faster processor. The Galaxy Note 10 is the first device to come with the new Exynos 9825 chipset, which shall deliver better performance in basic tasks and gaming.
The S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 10 has also learned a couple of new tricks. This now has a 6-axis sensor so it can take gesture commands when you flick it like a magic wand.
There are also the little things like the improved Samsung DeX, which you can now mirror directly to your PC or Mac and copy files directly. Although since this is a software feature, it may also arrive in the Note 9 sometime in the future.
The Galaxy Note 10 also features a faster 4G LTE connectivity at it levels up from category 18 to 20.
So, if all those extras really matter to you, then, by all means, go with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.
But if just a reliable workhorse is what you’re after, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 can still be worth your money. The best part is, you’d also be saving cash by doing so.