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Galaxy Note 10, Note 10 Plus, and Note 10 Plus 5G: Prices and everything you need to know

The new-look Note line has grown, in size and number of devices.
Written by Jason Cipriani, Contributing Writer

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus. It's the first time Samsung has released two different Note models, and there's more than just screen size differentiating the two. 

The new approach should help Samsung expand the Note line to enterprise and consumers alike, through a smaller form factor and lower price. 

Some key facts you should know:

  • The Galaxy Note 10 doesn't have a microSD card support, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus does.
  • The Galaxy Note 10's display is 6.3 inches; the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is 6.8 inches.
  • Storage is locked to 256GB for the Galaxy Note 10. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus will come in 256GB or 512GB configurations.
  • Pricing starts at $949.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Release date

  • Preorders start Aug. 8 at 12am ET
  • Orders arrive Aug. 23

Preorders for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus begin on Thursday, Aug, 8, at 12am ET/9 pm PT. Orders will arrive Aug. 23, the same day as retail availability.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Pricing

  • We still haven't hit a pricing ceiling, it seems

Galaxy Note 10 starts at $949 for 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which includes SD Card support and 256GB of internal storage starts at $1,049. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G starts at $1,299 and tops out at $1,399. Ouch. 

At some point, consumers will refuse to pay four-figures for a smartphone. Until then, manufacturers will continue to push the price higher and higher. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: in pictures

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Design

  • New hole-punch display
  • So long, Bixby button
  • No headphone jack

Samsung, after years of touting its ability to design a phone that keeps the headphone jack and still give users everything they want, and yet the Galaxy Note 10 has ditched the headphone jack. 

The display on the Galaxy Note 10 features a single cutout, or hole punch, located in the middle of the screen near the top. That hole is for the front-facing camera, taking up as little space as possible. 

Overall, the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus are thinner and lighter than the Note 9, and despite having a larger display, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is only slightly taller than the Note 9 thanks to the new display. 

Along with ditching the headphone jack, Samsung has also done away with a dedicated Bixby button on the Galaxy Note 10. Instead, the sleep/wake button will double as a way to activate Bixby -- similar to how iPhone XS users activate Siri -- with a long-press. 

On the back of the Galaxy Note 10, you'll now find three different cameras, similar to the Galaxy S10 Plus. The three cameras add difference field-of-view options, and new AR features. There is no fingerprint sensor on the back of the Galaxy Note 10. 

galaxy-note-10-9.jpg
Matthew Miller/ZDNet

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Features

  • The fingerprint sensor is now under the display
  • S Pen
  • DeX improvements
  • Camera improvements
  • Fast charging

The fingerprint sensor is no under the display, just like the Galaxy S10 line. Iris scanning has been removed from the Note line. 

The S Pen is still present and gaining new features. Samsung's Notes app is getting a major update, with new capabilities that should make note-taking on the Note more appealing and easier to deal with after the fact. Air Gestures also gained the ability to switch between camera modes and better presentation controls thanks to a new 6-axis sensor that includes gyroscope and acceleration sensors. 

DeX is likely to make the biggest splash with enterprise users. Samsung and Microsoft teamed up, and now include Office apps on the Galaxy Note 10. Those apps are integrated with DeX, allowing users to share files between a PC or Mac while using DeX on their Galaxy Note 10. 

Instead of requiring a dedicated monitor, Galaxy Note 10 users will now be able to use DeX on a Mac or PC, using both Galaxy Note 10 apps and computer apps alongside each other.

With three cameras -- telephoto, wide-angle and ultra-wide -- the Galaxy Note 10's camera will provide various shooting modes that can combine to take unique shots. Samsung has added the bokeh-effect to the video feature of the Galaxy Note 10's camera and included video editing software on the device. 

AR Doodle uses the Galaxy Note 10's camera to capture a physical environment and allow you to draw AR objects that will stay in place when watching the video. AR Doodle looks fun, but likely will be more useful for enterprise users who need to annotate a physical object while doing site surveys, for example. 

The Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus support Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, which we first saw with the Galaxy S10. Additionally, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus supports up to 45W wired charging, 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: 5G

For a limited time, Verizon Wireless will be the only carrier selling the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G. However, once that exclusive (exact timing wasn't announced) expires, more carriers will carry the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10. The Galaxy Note 10 5G will have similar specs to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Specifications

  • OS: Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung One UI
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  • Screen size: 6.3-inch 2,280x1080 AMOLED for Galaxy Note 10, 6.8-inch 3,040x1440 AMOLED for Galaxy Note 10 Plus
  • Memory: 8GB or 12GB for Galaxy Note 10, 12GB for Galaxy Note 10 Plus, Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G
  • Storage: 256GB for Galaxy Note 10, 256GB or 512GB for Galaxy Note 10 Plus, Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G
  • External storage: Galaxy Note 10 Plus, Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G
  • Rear Cameras: 12-megapixel rear f/2.1 telephoto, f/1.5 and f/2.4 super speed dual pixel dual aperture camera, 16-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera. 3D depth vision camera on Galaxy Note 10 Plus only. 
  • Front camera: 10-megapixel f/2.2 front-facing camera
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0 LE
  • Battery: Galaxy Note 10 3,500mAh, Galaxy Note 10 Plus 4,300mAh
  • Dimensions (Galaxy Note 10): 151.0 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm and 168 grams
  • Dimensions (Galaxy Note 10 Plus): 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm and 196 grams
  • Colors: Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black, and Aura Blue (Galaxy Note 10 Plus only)
galaxy-note-10-4.jpg

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: How and where to buy

  • Pre-orders start at 9 pm PT on Aug. 7
  • Full availability starts Aug. 23
  • Deals available at Samsung, Verizon, T-Mobile, and elsewhere

Samsung

If you want to buy the Galaxy Note 10 unlocked, you can pre-order it directly from Samsung beginning Aug. 7. If you buy one between Aug. 8 and Aug. 22,  you'll get a $150 Samsung credit card for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus or Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G. Alternatively, you can get $100 for the standard Galaxy Note 10. And if you trade in an eligible phone, you'll get up to $60 credit.

  • Galaxy Note 10: $950
  • Galaxy Note 10 Plus 256GB: $1,100
  • Galaxy Note 10 Plus 512GB: $1,200

After the Note 10 becomes fully available on Aug. 23, the Galaxy Note 10 will also be listed at other popular retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart. 

Verizon

Verizon is offering all three Galaxy Note 10 models, along with some pretty impressive discounts. For instance, if you buy a Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G on a payment plan, you'll get a second Galaxy Note 10 for free (or $950 toward a second Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy S10 model). A new line of service and an unlimited plan are required, and the credit is applied over 24 or 36 months.

Also, if you pre-order a Galaxy Note 10, you'll get a $100 gift card for Samsung.com for the Note 10, $150 for the Note 10 Plus, or Note 10 Plus 5G. Finally, if you trade-in, you can get you up to $450 of credit toward a Galaxy Note 10 on a Verizon payment plan -- if the plan is unlimited. Keep in mind you can't use this deal with the BOGO deal Verizon is also offering.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile, too, will carry the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G will arrive at a later date. If you buy a Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10 Plus, T-Mobile will give you a second Note 10 for free -- or $950 toward a Note 10 Plus if you open a new line. You can also trade-in for up to $300 credit toward a Note 10 or Note 10 Plus.

AT&T

AT&T will have the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus right away, and it expects to have the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G in the coming months. From what we can tell, AT&T is not offering any special deals, though you can get any model on AT&T Next.

Sprint

Last but not least, Sprint is offering the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus as well -- and you can get them on a lease at half price. That price is only available during the pre-order phase, however.


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