Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The Verdict
Both flagship Note devices deliver premium experiences, but the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra edges ahead with meaningful upgrades. Its 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display at 1500 nits offers noticeably smoother scrolling and superior brightness compared to the Note 10 Plus's 60Hz panel. Camera performance shows dramatic improvement: the 108MP main sensor with laser autofocus and periscope 5x zoom outperform the Note 10 Plus's 12MP setup, while 8K video recording demonstrates forward-thinking capability. Snapdragon 865+ processing and 5G connectivity provide faster performance and future-proofing. Battery capacity increases slightly to 4500mAh, though slower 25W charging is disappointing versus 45W. The Note 10 Plus remains competent and costs $200 less, making it solid value for those prioritizing savings. However, the Note 20 Ultra's superior display, camera system, processor, and 5G justify the premium for demanding users seeking longevity. Recommend the Note 20 Ultra for most buyers.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ if…
- →S Pen with air gesture controls and Bluetooth LE
- →Gorgeous 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display
- →45W super fast charging for rapid top-ups
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if…
- →S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- →120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- →108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Pros
- S Pen with air gesture controls and Bluetooth LE
- Gorgeous 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display
- 45W super fast charging for rapid top-ups
- 12 GB RAM handles multitasking effortlessly
- Versatile quad-camera system with ToF depth sensor
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors were moving to high refresh rates
- No headphone jack — a first for the Note series
- Exynos variant has weaker GPU performance than Snapdragon
- Glass back is slippery and fragile without a case
- Samsung software updates have ended
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Pros
- S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- 120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- 108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
- 5x optical periscope telephoto
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
Cons
- Slow 25W charging for a $1299 device
- No charger in the box in some regions
- Large and heavy
- S Pen silo location changed
- microSD slot removed
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 196 g | 208 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF |
| Depth | VGA ToF 3D sensor | — |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Super Steady | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4300 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.8 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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