Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10+ delivers a larger 6.8-inch display with exceptional 1200-nit brightness and quad camera system including versatile zoom options, yet runs older Android 9 software. Sony's Xperia 1 IV counters with a more refined 6.5-inch 4K OLED panel supporting 120Hz refresh, newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 5G connectivity, and superior 4K video at 120fps through Cinema Pro. Battery capacity favors Sony at 5000 mAh versus 4300 mAh, though Samsung charges faster at 45W. At $500 more, the Xperia 1 IV justifies premium pricing through significantly newer hardware, better display tech, video capabilities, and future-proofing with 5G. However, Note 10+ remains excellent for S Pen productivity and those prioritizing screen size and brightness. For most users seeking cutting-edge performance and display quality, Sony edges ahead.
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 Sony Xperia 1 IV if…
- →True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- →4K 120Hz OLED display
- →Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
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
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Pros
- True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- 4K 120Hz OLED display
- Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- microSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons
- $1599 was the most expensive mainstream phone
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 overheating problems
- 12 MP sensors felt dated versus competition
- Slow 30W charging
- Point-and-shoot camera results behind rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 196 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Depth | VGA ToF 3D sensor | — |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Super Steady | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Ultrawide | 16 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4300 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.8 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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