On paper, this should give it a little more battery life than the Galaxy Note 10+. But the Note 20 Ultra is also the first Note to feature a 120 Hz display.
120 Hz Refresh Rate
A higher refresh rate will give you a smoother display, at the expense of higher power consumption and consequently, lower battery life.
That’s why Samsung doesn’t keep the display running at 120 Hz all the time. Instead, they offer an Adaptive option, doubling the refresh rate to 120 Hz only when it’s “necessary”.
WQHD+ Resolution
The other “trick” that Samsung uses to keep power consumption lower is to use a lower display resolution by default – FHD+ (1080 x 2316 pixels).
You can switch to the full WQHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels, but that will increase power consumption and reduce battery life, because the GPU has to process more pixels.
Note : The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra only supports 120 Hz at the FHD+ or HD+ resolutions. Switching to WQHD+ limits you to just 60 Hz.
Let’s find out exactly how much both display options affect the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra‘s battery life!
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Battery Life Comparison
To test the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra‘s battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and picked the best result.
Resolution + Refresh Rate Comparison
First, we started with a resolution and refresh rate comparison. The
Work 2.0
FHD+ (60 Hz)
WQHD+ (60 Hz)
FHD+ (120 Hz)
Battery Capacity
4,500 mAh
4,500 mAh
4,500 mAh
Battery Life
10 hrs 9 mins
9 hrs 17 mins
7 hrs 34 mins
Battery Utilisation
5.91 mAh / min.
6.46 mAh / min.
7.93 mAh / min.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has pretty good battery life of just over 10 hours, but only if you keep it at the default FHD+ resolution and use the standard 60 Hz refresh rate.
Increasing the display resolution to WQHD+ reduced battery life by 52 minutes, or about 8.5%. Not too bad, since you still get 9+ hours.
Switching to Adaptive mode though will drastically reduce battery life by a whopping 155 minutes, which is a full quarter less than its maximum battery life!
When we increased the resolution to WQHD+, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra had a full hour shorter battery life than the Galaxy S10+, which has a 10% smaller battery.
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Samsung Malaysia just announced their Jimat, Snap & Menang Contest, with prizes worth RM 424,000!
Here are the full details of the Samsung Jimat, Snap & Menang Contest!
Samsung Jimat, Snap & Menang Contest : What Is It?
The Samsung Jimat, Snap & Menang Contest offers prizes worth RM 424,000 for those who purchase a qualifying Samsung Galaxy device from 1 May until 7 June 2020!
Samsung Jimat, Snap & Menang Contest : The Prizes!
Samsung Malaysia is giving away RM 424,000 worth of prizes :
10 x Samsung 65-inch Q800T QLED 8K Smart TV (2020) + RM500 Boost credit
In addition to the contest, Samsung Malaysia is offering these additional promotions for these devices.
You can also get an extra RM300 discount with the promo code HOME300, if you bundle these smartphones with any wearable device, with a minimum spend of RM 3,000 in a single transaction.
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If you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, its Link To Windows feature is a really great way to get more work done at home during the COVID-19 crisis!
In this guide, we will show you how to set-up Link To Windows, and use it to make your work-from-home life a LOT easier! 😀
Samsung Link To Windows : What Is It?
Link To Windows is a Microsoft feature that allows Samsung Galaxy smartphones to be directly linked to a Windows 10 computer – whether it’s a desktop or laptop.
Once you link your Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can directly access its data on your Windows 10 computer :
access up to 2,000 of the most recent photos,
view notifications,
send and receive text messages,
make calls from your computer,
copy and paste text and images, and
control your phone using your mouse!
Link To Windows is one of the features Samsung is promoting as part of their Stay Apart By Stay Together With Galaxy campaign to help users tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
Samsung Link To Windows : What Do You Need?
Samsung Link To Windows only requires you to have a Windows 10 computer, and one of these Samsung Galaxy smartphone models
Your Windows 10 computer should already have the Microsoft Your Phone app installed as part of the October 2018 Update. But on the off-chance you can’t find it, you can download it for FREE.
On Your Windows 10 PC
Open the Your Phone app (type Your Phone in the taskbar search box, and select it)
Select Android, and click Continue.
Click Sign in with Microsoft, and log in using your Microsoft account. You will be asked to provide your smartphone number, so Microsoft can send a text message to authenticate it.
Once you are done, you will see a screen saying “Please open Your Phone Companion – Link to Windows“.
On Your Samsung Galaxy Smartphone
Swipe downwards from the top of the display to reveal the Quick Panel.
Alternatively, go to Settings > Connections or Advanced features
If you can’t find it, you can download and install Your Phone Companion app from Google Play.
Tap Link to Windows.
In the welcome screen, tap the Sign in with Microsoft button.
Accept the app permissions.
When you see the screen “Set up the Your Phone app on your PC”, tap My PC is ready.
You will see the Link to Windows settings open up on your Galaxy smartphone.
Congratulations! Your Samsung Galaxy smartphone is now connected to your Windows 10 PC!
Samsung Link To Windows : How To Use
Reading + Sending Messages
Click on the Messages tab
You will see all of the text messages on your phone
Select a recipient to send your text message to
Type your message, and hit Send
Making Calls
You must first pair your PC and phone using Bluetooth
Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone (if it’s not already enabled)
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Bluetooth and other devices
Click Add Bluetooth or other device.
Select your Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Click on the Calls tab
You will see a log of your recent calls, as well as a bar to search your phone’s contacts
Select a contact to make your call
Using Phone Screen
Click on the Phone screen tab
You will be prompted to make sure your Galaxy smartphone and Windows 10 PC are on the same Wi-Fi network, if they are not already.
Once connected, you will be able to see your phone’s screen on your PC display and interact with it using your mouse or touchpad.
Copy + Paste
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Cross-device copy and paste
Make sure the toggle is On for Allow this app to access and transfer content I copy and paste between my phone and PC
You can now use the same shortcuts you normally use to copy and paste on both your Galaxy smartphone, and your Windows 10 PC.
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If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
We took the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ for a photography trip to Macau, where we took the opportunity to test it out at the Golden Reel at night!
Check out these Galaxy Note 10+ sample photos which will show you what you can expect from the Golden Reel at night!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : A Quick Primer
The Galaxy Note 10+ is the latest Samsung Note device. Think of it as an improved Galaxy S10+, with an S Pen stylus!
In addition to a flagship-class processor and a ton of memory and storage, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) boasts a quad-camera system.
12 MP Dual Aperture Camera (f/1.5 and f/2.4) :77°, Dual Pixel, OIS
16 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (f/2.2) :123°, 0.5X optical zoom
12 MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4) :45°, 2X optical zoom, OIS
3D DepthVision Camera : ToF emitter and sensor with VGA (320 x 240 pixels) resolution
The 3D DepthVision camera is actually a pair of ToF (Time of Flight) emitter and sensor that provide 3D data to the main camera for features like Video Bokeh and 3D scanning. It doesn’t take any photos.
Macau’s Golden Reel, the centrepiece attraction of Studio City, opened in October 2015. Towering 130 metres (427 feet) off the ground between the two Studio City towers, it is the highest Ferris wheel in Asia, and the world’s first to feature a figure-eight design.
Although everyone believes that the figure-eight design was an obvious nod to the Chinese belief that the number 8 brings good luck, Melco Crown (which runs Studio City) claims that it is based on “an epic Hollywood-inspired tale of two asteroids careering through Studio City’s two Art Deco hotel towers”
To get there, you can take a taxi, a public bus, or the free Studio City shuttle bus that goes from the Macau-Zhuhai Border Gate, Macau Ferry Terminal, Macau International Airport, Taipa Ferry Terminal, Macau Peninsula and Macau Tower.
Then you need to head up to the third floor to purchase your ticket, and ride up to the 23rd floor to hop into one of the Golden Reel’s 17 Steampunk-inspired cabins.
Golden Reel : Our Recommendations
Each Golden Reel cabin is air-conditioned, and seats up to 10 people. Every ride lasts about 15 minutes, and costs MOP 100 / HKD 100 per person, which works out to about RM 53 / S$ 17 / US$13 / £10 / A$18.
But if you are going in a group of 5 or more, it might make more sense to opt for their Private Cabin offer. For MOP 750 (HKD 750 / RM395 / S$130 / US$96 / £73 / A$137, you get :
the entire cabin to yourself (up to 10 people)
unlimited rides for 1 hour, which is 4 rounds
a free souvenir photo for the group
free cardboard binoculars for everyone in your group
People may call Macau the Las Vegas of the East, but the Cotai Strip is still not as extravagantly built-up as Las Vegas. So the best time to view is :
at night, if you are only going for a single ride, or
at sunset, if you opted for the Private Cabin and have one full hour to watch the Cotai Strip transition from evening to night.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : Golden Reel At Night!
As we did in our Senado Square night photography session, we used only the Auto mode, with no manual adjustments – because this is precisely how the vast majority of smartphone users take their photos!
And in case you are wondering, the Golden Wheel cabin does not actually go in a figure eight. It’s like two semi-circular Ferris wheels combined.
As the cabin lights are turned off once it leaves the platform, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) does a pretty good job of capturing the scenery with minimal reflections off the windows and glass floor.
Just make sure you don’t use any flash because it will not only blind your subjects, it will turn out really badly in your photos.
As long as you are focusing on the brightly-lit scenery below, you should be able to take some nice photos. The cabin moves rather slowly, so you won’t get too many blurry shots.
But it’s still way too dark inside the cabin to take good shots with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY). And you should NOT use your smartphone’s flash.
Instead, use an LED video camera light or another smartphone’s torchlight feature, to cast enough light on the subjects and not drown out the background.
Generally, you will want to hold the LED light / other smartphone high above your head so that the light casts downwards at your subjects.
This will help prevent the light from reflecting off the glass in the back, which you can see in the picture above but not this one below. You can also try bouncing the light off the low ceiling, for a more subtle glow.
For most people, the Golden Reel will be just something to check off the list while visiting Macau. It offers a nice view of the Cotai Strip at night, but I doubt people will want to revisit it.
But if you are there in a group, we highly recommend taking the Private Cabin option, because it buys you time and four rounds of this Ferris wheel to take some nice photos.
Just remember to use a source of extra lighting when taking photos inside the cabin. This will ensure that the faces of your subjects will be well-lit, without blow out the background.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : Where To Buy?
Here are the online purchase options in various countries :
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We took the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ for a photography trip to Macau, where we took some shots of the picturesque Senado Square at night.
Check out these sample photos which will show you what you can expect from the Galaxy Note 10+ at night!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : A Quick Primer
The Galaxy Note 10+ is the latest Samsung Note device. Think of it as an improved Galaxy S10+, with an S Pen stylus!
In addition to a flagship-class processor and a ton of memory and storage, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) boasts a quad-camera system.
12 MP Dual Aperture Camera (f/1.5 and f/2.4) :77°, Dual Pixel, OIS
16 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (f/2.2) :123°, 0.5X optical zoom
12 MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4) :45°, 2X optical zoom, OIS
3D DepthVision Camera : ToF emitter and sensor with VGA (320 x 240 pixels) resolution
The 3D DepthVision camera is actually a pair of ToF (Time of Flight) emitter and sensor that provide 3D data to the main camera for features like Video Bokeh and 3D scanning. It doesn’t take any photos.
Senado Square, also known as the Senate Square, is a famous landmark in Macau featuring beautiful Portuguese pavements. It is part of the Macau World Heritage Site.
Senado Square is always crowded during weekends, but it was especially crowded at night when we arrived as residents and tourists come to revel in the Christmas spirit.
It is also a popular start for many tourists, as the Portuguese pavements lead you past the Leal Senado Building, and the St. Dominic’s Church, on the way to the Ruins of St. Paul and the Monte Fort.
Much of this “trail” has been renovated, with brand new stores replacing old shops. But there is still plenty of great sights here, making it a must-see location for all visitors to Macau.
While the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has three cameras, we found ourselves using its 12 MP dual-aperture main camera and its 16 MP ultra-wide camera for all of these sample shots.
Its ultra-wide angle camera, which has a viewing angle of 123°, was really useful in taking in the expansive architecture as well as crowds of people.
Try to avoid placing people at the corners though – they end up looking really distorted!
What impressed us about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is how the shots turned out with any fancy manual adjustments.
In our photography samples, we believe in using Auto with no manual adjustments – because this is precisely how the vast majority of smartphone users take their photos!
In this shot of St. Dominic’s Church, note how it accurately captured the yellow facade and green doors in the limited light, while maintaining the proper exposure with a pitch black sky in the background!
With enough street lighting, you can capture decent photos of a fast moving crowd at night without excessive blurring, as this sample shot of nearby Rua de Sao Paulo demonstrates.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+‘s ability to capture great shots like this, with virtually no preparation, is why it is our favourite smartphone for our personal photos.
Just whip it out for a quick shot, and in almost all cases, you end up with a great shot!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : Where To Buy?
Here are the online purchase options in various countries :
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (SM-N975) is the latest evolution of the Samsung Galaxy Note line of premium smartphones designed for those who want or need a stylus.
We finally got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and here is our in-depth review!
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (SM-N975) Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (SM-N975) is the latest evolution of the Samsung Galaxy Note line of premium smartphones designed for those who want or need a stylus.
Powered by the latest Samsung and Qualcomm mobile platforms, it comes with a very large 6.8-inch Infinity-O display, 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.
The iconic S Pen now supports Air Gestures, and Samsung introduced both Video Bokeh and Audio Zoom capabilities. However, it drops the 3.5 mm audio port and iris scanner. Samsung giveth, and Samsung taketh away.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is available only in these FOUR colours, with Aura Blue as an exclusive option.
Aura Glow
Aura Blue
Aura Black
Aura White
Again, only two or three will be offered in most countries. Here in Malaysia, Samsung is only offering the Galaxy Note 10+ in Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura White, at least initially…
We got our hands on all three colours, so we can compare them in real-life :
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Specifications Compared
We compare the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) against last year’s Galaxy Note9, but do note that it is a larger version of the standard Note 10 model.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Display
6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display – 1440 x 3440 pixels (498 ppi)
– HDR10+ support
4,300 mAh 45 W wired charging 15 W wireless charging
4,000 mAh
18 W wired charging
10 W wireless charging
Dimensions
77.2 mm wide
162.3 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
76.4 mm wide
161.9 mm tall
8.8 mm thick
Weight
196 g
201 g
Unboxing The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes in a premium black cardboard box. Let’s take a quick look at the box, before we take a look inside!
Once you fully unbox it, you will find the following items :
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One Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone with S Pen
One Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Quick Start Guide
One Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus bumper case (not shown here)
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Hands On!
We were amongst the few to get our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) here in Malaysia.
And we managed to get three of them in the Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura White colours!
Let’s start with our hands-on videos of the three Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ models :
Samsung removed the Bixby button, and replaced it with the Power button. So you will find the Volume buttons and Power button now located on the left side.
You may recall that in the Galaxy Note9, the Power button was on the right side. Now, the right side is completely devoid of any buttons, which can be confusing initially for those upgrading from the Note9.
At the top, you will find the SIM tray, a microphone port and a speaker port.
The slightly larger hole is not an IR emitter, or the third microphone, as some sites have claimed. It is actually an extra speaker port for the top speaker.
At the bottom, you will find the S Pen port, a speaker port, a second microphone port and the USB Type C port.
The 3.5 mm audio port is gone. Unfortunately, the USB-C to 3.5mm dongle is not provided as part of the package.
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Faster Exynos / Snapdragon Platforms!
Globally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) will run on the new Samsung Exynos 9825 mobile SoC..
It is a refreshed version of the Exynos 9820 that powers the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones, fabricated on the smaller 7 nm process.
Here is a comparison of the Exynos 9825’s performance against other devices.
Geekbench
Samsung Galaxy
Note10
Samsung Galaxy
Note9
Apple iPhone
XS
HUAWEI
P30 Pro
Single Core
4495
3443
4821
3317
Multi-Core
10223
8778
11610
9819
In the United States, it will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 instead.
Whichever mobile platform your Note 10+ comes with, Samsung promises that it will have a 33% faster CPU and a 42% faster GPU than last year’s Galaxy Note 9.
More Memory + Faster Storage In Galaxy Note 10 Plus!
Along with a faster mobile platform, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with 12 GB of LPDDR4x memory, of which a full 8 GB (67%) is available for use!
This is a crazy amount of memory, most of which will not be used. After all, even high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
You can literally run 6 different copies of PUBG Mobile simultaneously and have 800 MB of free memory left! In other words, you will never have to worry about running out of memory.
Like last year’s Galaxy Note 9, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with a choice of 256 GB or 512 GB of internal storage. The main difference is that it uses UFS 3.0 storage, which is twice as fast as UFS 2.1 storage used in the Note 9.
Right out of the box, you will have 224.4 GB of available storage space. This should be more than enough to store 50,000 photos, or 27 hours of 1080p videos, or 10.5 hours of 4K videos.
256 GB of internal storage is definitely more than enough for the vast majority of users. If you need more space, you can add a microSD card for up to 1 TB of additional storage.
Unlike the smaller Galaxy Note 10, the Note 10+ comes with a hybrid SIM tray, where the second SIM slot can support a microSD card of up to 1 TB in capacity. If you don’t need the extra storage, you can use two nano SIM cards at the same time.
While some phones come with a dedicated microSD card tray, a hybrid SIM tray is generally good enough for most people. But if you need to use two SIM cards, you better opt for higher internal storage, because there is no way to add a microSD card.
Now, the internal storage should be more than enough for most users. But we personally prefer to use a microSD card to store our media for data safety reasons. In case anything happens to the phone, we can still retrieve the media stored on the microSD card.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Infinity-O Display
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with a 6.8-inch Infinity-O display, with a WQHD+ resolution and a punch hole for the front camera.
This would make it quite a bit larger than the 6.4-inch display of the Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy Note9, with a slightly higher display resolution but a slightly lower pixel density.
Its smaller brother, the Galaxy Note 10 has a smaller 6.3-inch display with Full HD+ display resolution.
The Infinity-O design, which was first introduced in the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones, allows Samsung to deliver a screen-to-body ratio in excess of 95%.
Instead of Galaxy Note9‘s thicker bezel, the Galaxy Note 10+ uses a round, central hole to accommodate its front camera. Functionally, it works like a waterdrop display, with the area adjacent to the punch hole reserved for notifications.
Including the notification area, the display has a WQHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3440. However, the Galaxy Note 10+ defaults to a Full HD+ resolution to reduce power consumption and extend battery life.
Dynamic AMOLED Panel
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) uses the latest HDR10+ certifiedDynamic AMOLED panel that was first introduced in the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones.
This is literally the best smartphone display in the industry right now, capable of producing 100% of the DCI-P3 colour range, with a maximum brightness of 1200 nits.
This Dynamic AMOLED panel was also engineered to reduce blue light by 42% without changing how colours appear. This would make for more comfortable viewing with less eyestrain, especially at night.
Gorilla Glass 6 Protection, Front + Back
Samsung started introducing Gorilla Glass 6 in the Galaxy S10 Plus (US | UK | MY), but even then, it was only in the front.
That changes with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus – both its front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass 6.
In case you are wondering, Gorilla Glass 6 is about twice as tough as Gorilla Glass 5. It will withstand over 15 drops from a height of 1 meter on a rough surface.
Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) borrows yet another Galaxy S10 Plus feature – the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.
In-display fingerprint sensors have already been introduced in smartphones like the OPPO R17 Pro, but these use optical sensors that basically take pictures for a 2D profile.
This in-display fingerprint sensor uses ultrasonic pulses to take 3D profiles of the user’s fingerprints. This allows it to be more accurate and secure.
In our tests, it proved to be surprisingly good. You just need to learn to press a little harder for the sensor to detect your fingerprint.
The bad news is – Samsung dropped the pressure sensor and haptic feedback for the virtual Home button. So you will need to tap twice on the Home button to activate it.
Iris Scanner + Intelligent Scan Removed
With the introduction of the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, Samsung removed the iris scanner. It was also removed to minimise the size of the punch hole in the display.
And with the iris scanner gone, there was no need for Intelligent Scan, which was first introduced in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.
Intelligent Scan, as you may recall, combines the iris scanner with facial recognition for faster identification in both bright and dark conditions.
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Improved S Pen With Air Gestures
The groundbreaking S Pen has been upgraded again, with the new version supporting Air Gestures.
It retains the single button, but comes with a built-in battery for about 10 hours of battery life, instead of a capacitor that powered the Note9 S Pen.
Now, Air Gestures is an interesting concept. However, after using it for 2 weeks, we have to be honest – it’s more gimmicky than useful.
For one thing – app support for Air Gestures is limited to a few built-in Samsung apps, like Camera, Gallery and Samsung Internet.
Secondly, control is pretty limited in certain instances – for example, it zooms in and out the camera in 0.1X increments. It’s much faster and more accurate to just pinch to zoom on the display!
Finally, it requires a fair bit of practice to get right. Otherwise, you will end up taking a photo, or flip the camera into selfie mode, when you want to just zoom in or out.
Overall, Air Gestures seem to be a solution looking for a problem. In our opinion, ignore it and use the S Pen for what it’s really meant to be – a stylus for writing and drawing!
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However, they reduced the aperture from f/1.9 to f/2.2, which would slightly reduce the amount of light and its low-light performance.
And as many critics have noted, a 10 MP front camera is puny in the Megapixel Wars, especially compared to the 48 MP front shooters in Samsung’s own Galaxy A70, or HUAWEI nova 4e and the HONOR 20 Lite.
However, this 10 MP front camera is arguably a superior shooter for two reasons :
it uses a Samsung S5K3J1 Dual Pixel sensor, which allows for faster and more accurate autofocus
that image sensor also has much larger 1.22 µm pixels, for lower noise levels and better low-light performance
Still, we wished Samsung stuck with the f/1.9 aperture from the S10 series, or even reused the f/1.7 aperture from the Galaxy Note9.
Triple Rear Cameras
In the back, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has a quad camera system, that is made up of :
12 MP Dual Aperture Camera (f/1.5 and f/2.4) :77°, Dual Pixel, OIS
16 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (f/2.2) :123°, 0.5X optical zoom
12 MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4) :45°, 2X optical zoom, OIS
3D DepthVision Camera : ToF emitter and sensor with VGA (320 x 240 pixels) resolution
The 3D DepthVision camera is actually a pair of ToF (Time of Flight) emitter and sensor that provide 3D data to the main camera for features like Video Bokeh and 3D scanning. It doesn’t take any photos.
Look at how useful the three cameras are in aiding your creative composition :
Note that only the main dual-aperture camera, and the telephoto camera (both with 12 MP sensors) support optical image stabilisation (OIS). The 16 MP ultra-wide angle camera does NOT support optical image stabilisation.
This is important when you take videos, because you will lose optical image stabilisation if you switch to the ultra-wide camera. Your video will still be stabilised by electronic image stabilisation though.
The Galaxy Note 10 Plus Camera vs The Competition
The 12 MP Samsung SAK2L4 image sensor used in the main and telephoto cameras is the fourth iteration of the S5K2L1 sensor from the Galaxy S7. It is still a great image sensor, but it is getting a little long in the tooth.
HUAWEI specifically pointed out how their recently-launched Mate 30 Pro uses far better image sensors. Not only do they have much higher resolutions, they are also much larger in size.
We should also point out that the 2X telephoto camera is also getting rather dated. The HUAWEI P30 Pro boasts a 5X optical zoom, and the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro comes with 3X optical zoom.
Now, megapixels are not important. Even 48 MP shooters used in the Xiaomi Mi 9 and the Samsung Galaxy A80 default to 12 MP, combining four pixels into one to reduce noise and improve low-light performance.
However, Samsung definitely needs to increase the sensor size and the zoom range in their next flagship smartphone, or they will get left behind in the photographic department…
Video Bokeh
This is a really exciting feature for those who record videos. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) with its DepthVision camera can blur out the background of your videos using the Video Bokeh feature.
This will give your videos a real cinematic flair with adjustable depth-of-field effects. You can also add special effects in real-time!
Later in this review, we will share with you a video sample to show you just how easy or difficult it is to get the Video Bokeh effect, and how the effect looks like in real life.
Audio Zoom Capability!
This is an incredibly important new feature, at least for those who do a lot of video recording without using external microphones.
In addition to the usual two microphones, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with a third microphone, which is hidden in the edge of the rear camera bump.
When you turn on Audio Zoom, the Galaxy Note 10+ will use the other two microphones to cancel out noise recorded by this third microphone.
The effect is adjusted on the fly, so it will change the range of sound captured as you “zoom” into the action, letting you “focus” on the subject that you are recording, and reducing ambient noise.
This is probably its most important video recording improvement over the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones. But we will share with you later in this review, how well Audio Zoom works in real life.
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Time To Hit The Road, Jack…
Even as Xiaomi resurrected the 3.5 mm audio port in the new Mi A3 smartphone, Samsung removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the Galaxy Note 10 series.
Unfortunately, they did not include the dongle for free. Instead, you are going to have to cough up $14.99 / £10 / ~A$ 21.99 / ~RM 62.99 for the dongle.
And if you are thinking of buying a third-party USB-C dongle, make sure you get one with a DAC. Otherwise, they won’t work. Here are some options to consider :
There is some good news though – the box includes a pair of AKG-tuned USB Type C active earphones. At the very least, you can listen to music right out of the box!
But again, if you intend to use another pair of USB-C earphones, you MUST make sure it has a built-in DAC, like these options :
While not mentioned at all by Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has built-in DeX capability, that was first introduced in the Galaxy Note9.
This mean it does not require a separate DeX Station or DeX Pad accessory. All it requires is a simple USB-C to HDMI adaptor or cable!
It does not even require a Samsung-branded adaptor (looking at you and your MFi bullshit, Apple!) – ANY USB-C to HDMI adaptor or cable will do.
After you use the USB-C to HDMI adaptor or cable to connect the Galaxy Note 10+ to a TV or monitor, you just need to link a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to use it like a PC.
Best of all – you can continue to use your Galaxy Note 10+ while Samsung DeX is running!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with a 4,300 mAh battery – 300 mAh or 7.5% larger than its predecessor, the Galaxy Note9.
What’s new though is its improved 45 watt Fast Charging capability, which brings it close to OPPO’s 50 watt SuperVOOC charging technology after years of sticking with a 15 watt fast adaptive charger.
The downside – you will need to purchase a separate 45W Samsung EP-TA845 fast charger (US | UK). Samsung only bundles a 25 W fast charger with the Note 10+.
Samsung also improved its wireless charging capability, boosting it by 50% from 10 watts to 15 watts.
Wireless PowerShare is also supported, which allows the Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) to can function as a wireless charger for any Qi-certified device!
However, its recharging speed is still rather slow, so it’s really only useful to recharge the Galaxy Buds or the Galaxy Watch on a regular basis; and other smartphones in an emergency.
IP68 Dust & Water Resistance
It was rumoured that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) would boast improved IP69 water-resistance.
That would have been able to withstand high-pressure water (80-100 bar) for at least 3 minutes at a distance of 10 to 15 cm.
In the end, Samsung stuck with IP68, which is good enough to withstand complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes.
This means you can take it for jogs in the rain, or reading in the bathtub. However, because it’s not designed to withstand water pressure, we do not recommend you take it into the shower or while you swim.
In fact, it is specifically in their IP68 guidelines that it should NOT be exposed to “water moving with force“.
Swimming or placing them under running water from a tap or a waterfall could result in water leaking into the chassis, and leaving you with a very expensive brick.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Ergonomics
Even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has a larger display and battery than the Galaxy Note9, it is actually about the same size and amazingly – thinner and lighter.
However, it is still a large phablet that requires two hands to use effectively. However, it comes with a One-handed assistance mode, if you prefer to use only one hand.
The Dynamic AMOLED display is just fabulous. Not only is it incredibly bright at up to 1200 nits, the display is HDR10+ certified with Dynamic Tone Mapping and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut.
To see how much better it is, you need to compare it side-by-side with the already impressive Super AMOLED display used in the Galaxy S9 Plus and the Galaxy Note9. In particular, compare them in bright sunlight.
The display has been stretched taller though, giving you a 21.5:9 aspect ratio. While the extra-wide view is great for games, it will result in significant pillar boxing – a black bar on each side of a video.
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Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) runs on Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5-7 minutes to finish the setup process.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Camera Performance
Samsung continued to use the excellent 12 MP dual-aperture camera from the Galaxy S9 Plus, and the Galaxy Note9, which automatically or manually switches between the f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures.
Its sensor, however, has been slightly upgraded to the 12 MP Samsung ISOCELL Fast SAK2L4, which should offer some improvements in image quality.
The maximum 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4032 x 3024 pixels, and a file size of between 3 MB and 5 MB.
Here are 10 high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
There is no doubt that this is still one of the better smartphone cameras in the market, even though it was introduced 1.5 years ago.
You can see the intricate detail of the cloves, the flower pollen, and even the individual buds of the broccoli florets.
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It also did a great job of bringing out the colour of the subject matter. Every colour is accurately rendered and automatically “amped up” by AI algorithms.
The f/1.5 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But if that’s not enough, you can use its Live Focus feature which allows you to create really awesome bokeh for the background.
No doubt, the Live Focus bokeh is artificially created, but the dual camera design allow for precise separation of the subject from the background. Live Focus also allows you to adjust the amount of bokeh for the background.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Recording Performance
Like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is capable of recording 4K videos from both front and back cameras.
Samsung no longer limits the 4K recording time to just 10 minutes. So you can take 4K videos for as long as you wish.
However, there is still the 4 GB limit – if your video grows beyond 4 GB, the Note 10+ will cut it to 4 GB chunks with a slight delay between the chunks.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #1 : Piano (1080p)
You can see the amount of detail the sensor captures, even at just 1080p. There was good control of the exposure, although the foreground was darker than we like.
You can also see how well its OIS capability worked, even when we switched between the main camera and the telephoto camera. Its ultra-wide camera does not support OIS, but still has good EIS capability.
Samsung appeared to have mostly eliminated the lag in switching between cameras that we saw in the Galaxy S10 Plus. But you can still see it sometimes, like at 0:15 when we switched from the wide-angle camera to the main camera.
The Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) still does not support Hi-Res Audio recording, but its new Audio Zoom capability helps to reduce background noise… a little. The effect could have been stronger IMHO, but it’s better than the Galaxy Note9 which lacks this feature.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #2 : Piano (4K)
The resolution at 4K is incredible. You can clearly read the notice outside the store, way behind Mr. Yang.
There is a slight lag and artifact issue at the 4K resolution when we switched cameras. You can see that at these points in the video :
0:14, 0:40 and 1:33, when we switched from the main camera to the telephoto camera
0:27, 1:16 and 2:16 when we switched from the main camera to the wide-angle camera
When we zoom right in, you can hear a drop in ambient noise. But again, it was milder than we would have liked. Perhaps Samsung can add the ability to adjust the Audio Zoom effect.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #3 : Video Bokeh
The new Video Bokeh feature uses its DepthVision ToF camera to judge the distance to the subject, and artificially apply a bokeh effect to the background.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) will automatically apply the effect when it is able to isolate the subject from the background.
However, the DepthVision ToF camera has a range of 150 cm – you must move in until the subject is closer than 1.5 m for Video Bokeh to work. And it is also limited to the 1080p resolution.
Notice how the effect is automatically turned off when the subject moves beyond range.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #4 : Street Market (1080p)
The main camera of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has great image stabilisation capability, minimising handshake to deliver a silky-smooth video.
We also did not notice any wind noise, which is still a problem for some smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #5 : Street Market (4K)
Its image stabilisation capabilities were not diminished with the higher resolution. Overall – very good OIS and EIS performance.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Video Sample #6 : Super Steady
Samsung introduced the Super Steady mode in the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones, which promises to deliver even better image stabilisation.
It does deliver better image stabilisation, but at the expense of resolution – you are limited to 1080p video recording with Super Steady turned on.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Work Performance
We tested the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
The Samsung Exynos 9825 is much faster than the Exynos 9820 used in the Galaxy S10+. However, it is still not as fast as the Snapdragon 855 used in the US version of the Galaxy Note 10+ and of course, the Xiaomi Mi 9.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Gaming Performance
We tested the Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
The Samsung Exynos 8925 was not only slower than the Snapdragon 855 in gaming performance, it was actually slightly slower than the Exynos 8920!
Samsung really needs to work harder on improving the gaming performance of their Exynos platforms.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Battery Life
We then tested the Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) uses slightly more power than the Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy Note9 smartphones, but its larger battery lets it last a bit longer.
10.5 hours of battery life is nothing to scoff at, but we should note that the Xiaomi Mi 9 lasts over 12 hours on a much smaller 3,300 mAh battery.
Battery Recharging Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus comes with a new adaptive fast charger with a power output of 25 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged its 4,300 mAh battery.
Thanks to its new 25 watt fast charger, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has significantly better battery charging performance.
It fully recharged its battery from 20% to 100% in just 63 minutes. That is 52.5% faster than the Galaxy S10+, and 82.6% faster than the Galaxy Note9.
That also gives it a much improved battery life : recharging ratio of 10:1. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, just charge it for 6 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 80% level. This took just 34 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 29 minutes to top up the last 20%.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus – Our Verdict + Award
Samsung continues to refine and improve the Galaxy Note phablet, and the Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is really quite impressive.
Adopting the punch hole design of the Galaxy S10 series, Samsung packed a larger 6.8-inch display and a larger 4,300 mAh battery into a thinner and lighter device!
Its Dynamic AMOLED display deserves special mention. It is incredibly bright at 1200 nits, with a wide colour gamut – 100% of DCI-P3 – and is HDR10+ certified! This is hands-down, the industry’s best display.
Credit also goes to Samsung for taking their time to perfect and introduce an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. This is definitely more secure and accurate than optical in-display fingerprint sensors. In our tests, it even works with damp fingers!
Samsung chose to reuse and enhance the triple camera system of the Galaxy S10+ with a ToF (Time of Flight) camera.
That gives you the Video Bokeh ability, as well as 3D scanning ability and a Quick Measure AR capability. However, that’s not as useful as the 5X or 3X telephoto camera in the HUAWEI P30 Pro and Mate 30 Pro.
The addition of an ultra-wide angle camera, however, is a nice upgrade from the Galaxy Note9. It’s not something you would appreciate until you actually start using it.
Its new Audio Zoom capability is a nice touch, although it’s much milder than what we would prefer. We hope Samsung will add the option to adjust the Audio Zoom strength.
One of the biggest upgrade is actually the greatly-improved fast charging capability. It now comes with a 25 watt wired charging capability, and a 15 watt wireless charging capability.
Unfortunately, the new S Pen Air Gestures feature is not practical… yet. We can see its potential, but its implementation still leaves much to be desired. Samsung needs to greatly improve its usability, and expand its support.
We should also point out the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack. This will greatly reduce its appeal to those who rely on 3.5 mm earphones or external microphones. Even more so since the required USB-C dongle is not included in the package.
More critically – the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) lacks a DAC. This means passive USB-C dongle or earphones that do not have a built-in DAC will fail to work. For more information on what you should buy, readour special article on this subject.
Now, if you are already using the excellent Samsung Galaxy Note9, it will be hard to justify upgrading to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. But that’s only because the Note9 continues to be an excellent phablet with a great S Pen.
We recommend upgrading to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, if you are using the Galaxy Note 7 or older. Or if you want to switch to a smartphone with a stylus.
Again, Samsung has a winning combination in the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and we have no qualms awarding it our Editor’s Choice Award. Great job, Samsung!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ : Where To Buy?
Here are the online purchase options in various countries :
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Samsung just announced two Galaxy 10th Anniversary Bundles to kick off the holiday sales! Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about these two great offers!
The Samsung Galaxy 10th Anniversary Bundles
The Samsung Galaxy 10th Anniversary Bundles are currently available only in Malaysia, although other countries may have similar bundles or holiday deals.
Samsung Malaysia announced two different Galaxy 10th Anniversary Bundles – an Eco Bundle, and a Premium Bundle.
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Here is a guide on what new features Samsung has just introduced into the Galaxy S10, S10e and S10+ smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e, S10+ Get Major Note10 Upgrade!
When the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy Note10+ launched, it came with a bevy of new software features. That made existing Galaxy S10, S10e and S10+ users wonder if they would ever receive those software features.
Wonder no longer, because Samsung is injecting a whole slew of those new software features into your Galaxy S10, S10e and S10+ smartphones!
Let’s take a look at what new features you will soon enjoy!
Better Camera Features!
Four new camera features have been added :
enhanced Super Steady video stabilisation
the selfie camera will now have Night Mode capability for better selfies in the dark
AR Doodle to let you create augmented reality drawings and messages
Live Focus Video recording capability that lets you apply bokeh effects to your videos from both front and rear cameras
Enhanced Samsung DeX Computing Experience!
The update also includes Samsung DeX for PC, which allows you to connect your Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ smartphone to your PC or Mac using a USB cable.
The enhanced Samsung DeX will also allow you to easier edit and transform your video clips using the built-in Samsung Video Editor!
They also added Link to Windows support, letting you wirelessly connect your devices to your Windows 10 PC, to view its contents, send and receive messages and sync your photos!
Improved Gallery
This major update also includes an improved Gallery that now allows you to search for and locate your favourite photos quickly using keywords.
Media & Devices In Quick Panel
A more subtle improvement is the addition of Media & Devices to the Quick Panel. It allows you to more easily connect to and control other devices using your Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ smartphone.
Auto Hotspot Capability
There is a new Auto Hotspot capability that will transform your Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ smartphone into a Wi-Fi hub.
After an initial setup, it lets your smartphone establish a hotspot automatically with other Samsung devices, if they share the same Samsung account, or family account.
Your Wi-Fi capability will also be improved somewhat by new Intelligent Wi-Fi Tips that offer troubleshooting guides and alerts to help ensure you have the best possible Wi-Fi connection.
Samsung started introducing the Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ mid-life upgrade in European markets beginning from 23 September 2019.
They will gradually introduce it worldwide, in various regions and countries.
Samsung Galaxy S10 | S10+ | S10e : Where To Buy
This brings us to what people forget – if you don’t need the S Pen, the Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ smartphones offer better value for money than the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy Note10+ smartphones.
And more so with the new software feature upgrades! So check out these current official prices of Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+ smartphones!
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Samsung just launched the second phase of their iChanged campaign, with a special promotion and four new videos on why this is the smart time to change.
Let’s take a look at the four videos that showcase the key features of the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy S10, and find out what Samsung is offering you!
To highlight the inherent but less-obvious capabilities of the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy S10 smartphone, Samsung created these four videos :
All-Day Intelligent Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy S10 has an Adaptive Power Saving Mode that adapts to how and when you use your phone. It lets both devices last a full day of use, without the need to recharge!
Samsung is also reminding everyone about Samsung Smart Switch, which allows for easy migration from other Android smartphones and even Apple iPhones!
Everything, from your files, photos, videos, music collection and apps, can be transferred over seamlessly from your old smartphone to the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy S10.
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Ever since Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S7 edgesmartphone, their flagship S and Note smartphones have all been IP68-certified to be dust- and water-resistant.
Let’s take a look at the engineering behind the Samsung’s IP68 rating, and clarify its limitations, so you can enjoy your Samsung smartphones for many years to come!
What Samsung introduced in their flagship smartphones from the Galaxy S7 edge onwards was IP68 dust- and water-resistance without prior preparation.
Unlike prior water-resistant smartphones, you don’t need to prepare it in any way before you dunk it into water. There is no need to cap the earphone and USB ports. It is dust- and water-resistant 24/7.
To achieve this feat, Samsung introduced a number of engineering improvements :
An unspecified “new type of water resistance technology” was used to seal the unit internally against the ingress of water,
An “exclusive type of water protective tape” was added to the back of the front and rear glass, as well as other internal parts,
Rubber linings were used on parts like the USB port, the earphone port, and the SIM card tray to prevent the ingress of water
Anti-corrosive materials like nickel and platinum and corrosive-resistant coating were used for all external metal parts and connectors like the earphone and USB ports,
The USB port has a short circuit sensor to cut-off power when it detects a short circuit due to water contact
Portable electronic vents were used to ensure a good flow of air and outflow of water and humidity
As you can see, a lot of engineering went into ensuring that Samsung smartphones are dust- and water-resistant, while remaining ultra-slim.
Teardowns by iFixit also showed considerable use of adhesive in subsequent models, all the way to the latest Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, to maintain this IP68-rated dust and water-resistance.
Is The Samsung S Pen IP68 Rated Too?
The S Pen of IP68-rated Galaxy Note devices are also IP68-rated against dust and water. However, the S Pen requires slightly different techniques to achieve such water-resistance :
its printed circuit board (PCB) is covered with a special epoxy material
rubber seals are used to seal off vulnerable passageways
important components like the pen pressure switch are also covered by rubber seals
This allows the pen tip to move as needed, while preventing the ingress of water that will damage the internal components of the S Pen.
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Samsung IP68 Rating Clarified
All Samsung smartphones that are IP68-rated can withstand complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes.
This means you can take it for jogs in the rain, or reading in the bathtub. However, we must point out that IP68 is a rating for water immersion.
IP68-rated devices are NOT designed to withstand water pressure. We therefore do not recommend you take it into the shower or while you swim.
The IP68 certification is based on a specific set of test conditions :
Temperature Range : 15-35 °C
Pressure Range : 86-106 kPa
Maximum Water Depth : 1.5 metre
Maximum Time of Immersion : 30 minutes
If you exceed those conditions, Samsung’s IP68 measures may not prevent the ingress of water.
In fact, if you check your User Guide, you will see that Samsung warns against exposing their IP68 smartphones to “water moving with force“.
This means you should not place them under running water from a tap or a waterfall. Even ocean waves may exert enough force to drive water into their chassis.
Summary : IP68 = Water-Resistance, NOT Waterproofing
The takeaway message is this – Samsung IP68 smartphones are water-resistant, not waterproof. You need to be gentle with them when they are exposed to water.
The biggest problem is water pressure, not depth. You can leave it at the bottom of a swimming pool without worry, but the force of water from a tap can exceed the IP68 pressure rating.
Do NOT do this!!! Never pour water on your device, because it exerts pressure!
Let’s consider a real-world scenario – taking photos and videos while snorkelling.
You won’t reach a depth of 1.5 m when you snorkel. But swinging your device underwater could literally force water into the chassis!
That doesn’t mean you cannot use your device underwater. You can, but you must make sure not to exert too much force. Take it in and out of the water gently, and if you have to move, do so gently.
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Everyone knows that the Samsung dropped the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the Galaxy Note 10, but did you know they also dropped the DAC too?
In this article, we will explain why the missing DAC is so important, and what all Galaxy Note 10 users should be aware of before they purchase any USB-C earphones or dongle.
What Is A DAC?
Generally, a DAC, short for Digital-to-Analog Converter, is a chip that converts digital signals into analog signals.
In smartphones, a DAC is used to convert the digital audio data into analog audio signals that are transmitted to the speakers or earphones.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Not Have A DAC?
When a smartphone designer removes the 3.5 mm audio jack, it opens up two possibilities :
keep the DAC to support any USB-C dongle or earphones the user may want to use
remove the DAC to save space and cost, and add it to the USB-C dongle instead
Samsung chose option B, so the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lacks a DAC for audio conversion.
So What If The Galaxy Note 10 Does Not Have A DAC?
Regular 3.5 mm earphones are passive – that means they rely on the DAC of your smartphone and music player to convert the digital signals.
They will NOT work with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, unless you use a USB-C to 3.5 mm dongle with a built-in DAC.
If you try using passive earphones and a passive USB-C dongle with your Galaxy Note 10, you will get a message that the dongle is not supported, and the audio will play through the speakers instead.
Who Cares? It’s Time To Upgrade To USB-C Earphones!
That may be true, but did you know that quite a few USB-C earphones are passive too, and lack a built-in DAC? These USB-C earphones will NOT work with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.
Fortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 comes with a nice pair of AKG-tuned active USB-C earphones.
Best of all, these AKG earphones will work with all USB-C smartphones and music players, because it has a built-in DAC!
What About External Microphones?
Those who use an external 3.5 mm microphone to improve the quality of their audio recording should take note too.
The lack of a DAC means you need a DAC-enabled dongle to record audio. Anything else, and you will end up with silence.
So Which Dongle Should I Buy For The Galaxy Note 10?
Samsung obviously would prefer you to buy their USB-C Headphone Jack Adaptor, which will provide “Ultra High Quality Audio by converting digital files to analog (up to 24-bit / 192 kHz)“.
However, it costs a pretty penny, with a recommended retail price of $14.99 / £10 / ~A$ 21.99 / ~RM 62.99.
If you prefer to purchase a third-party USB-C headphone jack adaptor for less, make sure it comes with a DAC.
What Earphones Should I Buy For The Galaxy Note 10?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 already comes with a really good pair of AKG-tuned active earphones. But in case you need another pair, make sure they are active earphones (with their own DAC) :
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