Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G vs. Sony Xperia 10 VII: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G, while now several generations old, represents a peak in flagship Android power. The Sony Xperia 10 VII, conversely, focuses on delivering a refined, long-lasting experience in a more accessible package. This comparison dissects these contrasting philosophies, examining where each phone excels and who will benefit most from their distinct strengths.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and 5G connectivity, the Galaxy Note10 5G remains a compelling choice, especially at current discounted prices. However, the Sony Xperia 10 VII wins for battery longevity and efficiency, making it ideal for users who value all-day (and beyond) usage without frequent charging.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G	Sony Xperia 10 VII

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	78 NSA/Sub6	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - USA	-

Launch
Announced	2019, August. Released 2019, August	2025, September 12
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2025, September 19

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	151 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)	153 x 72 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	168 g (5.93 oz)	168 g (5.93 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 6	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution	1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)
Size	6.3 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR
	Always-on display	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Exynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China	Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU	Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China	Adreno 710
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4	Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.0	-

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0"
Features	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.1, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30/60fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	-
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX	5.4, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Radio	FM radio (USA & Canada only)	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)	-

Battery
Charging	25W wired, PD3.0 12W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless	Wired, PD, QC
Type	Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black, Aura Pink, Aura Red	White, Turquoise, Charcoal
Models	SM-N971U, SM-N971N	XQ-FE54, XQZ-CBFE, xqfe54eukcl.gc, xqfe54eukcw.gc, xqfe54eukcb.gc
Price	About 1100 EUR	$ 459.99 / £ 329.00 / € 379.00

EU LABEL
Battery	-	48:10h endurance, 1400 cycles
Energy	-	Class B
Free fall	-	Class C (90 falls)
Repairability	-	Class D

Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G

Significantly faster processor for demanding tasks
5G connectivity for faster data speeds
Potentially more versatile camera system
Reverse wireless charging capability

Likely shorter battery life
Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Older generation technology

Sony Xperia 10 VII

Exceptional battery life and endurance
Brighter display for outdoor visibility
More efficient processor with less throttling
Long-lasting battery health (1400 cycles)

Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
No 5G connectivity
Potentially less versatile camera system

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 10 VII boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1064 nits, compared to the Note10 5G’s unspecified peak brightness (though typically around 800 nits for Samsung flagships of that era). This translates to superior outdoor visibility for the Xperia. While the Note10 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s color science and potentially a higher refresh rate (though not specified), the Xperia 10 VII’s brightness advantage is a clear win for users frequently exposed to sunlight. Both devices likely employ OLED panels, but the Xperia’s brightness is a standout feature.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for the Note10 5G beyond its flagship status, it’s safe to assume a more versatile camera system with features like multiple lenses and advanced image processing. The Xperia 10 VII’s camera system is likely more focused on practicality. While the Xperia 10 VII may lack the Note10 5G’s advanced features, Sony’s image processing is known for its natural color reproduction, appealing to users who prefer a less saturated look. The Note10 5G’s superior processing power allows for more complex computational photography features, but the Xperia 10 VII’s efficiency may result in faster image capture times.

Performance

The Galaxy Note10 5G, equipped with either the Exynos 9825 or Snapdragon 855, offers substantially higher peak performance than the Xperia 10 VII’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. The Snapdragon 855 (USA/China variant) features a Kryo 485 core clocked up to 2.84 GHz, while the Exynos 9825 (EMEA/LATAM) reaches 2.73 GHz. In contrast, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 tops out at 2.4 GHz. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding applications and gaming. However, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3’s 4nm process offers improved thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads compared to the 7nm Exynos or Snapdragon 855. The Note10 5G’s LPDDR4X RAM is also slower than the Xperia 10 VII’s likely LPDDR5 RAM, though the Note10’s larger cache may mitigate some of this difference.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 10 VII truly shines in battery performance. Its reported 48:10h endurance and 12:57h active use score are exceptional, indicating significantly longer battery life than the Note10 5G. While the Note10 5G offers 25W wired charging with PD3.0 and 12W wireless charging, the Xperia 10 VII’s charging speed is unspecified but likely slower. However, the Xperia’s superior battery capacity and efficiency mean users will rely on charging less frequently. The Note10 5G’s 4.5W reverse wireless charging is a niche feature the Xperia 10 VII lacks, but its practical use is limited.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G if you need a powerful processor for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, and require 5G connectivity for faster data speeds. Buy the Sony Xperia 10 VII if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a bright and clear display for media consumption, and a more streamlined, efficient Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9825 chip in the Note10 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?

The Exynos 9825 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 855, and can experience thermal throttling during extended gaming. While not crippling, users may notice reduced performance after 30-45 minutes of intensive gameplay. The Xperia 10 VII’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, with its 4nm process, is less prone to overheating.

❓ How does the battery health of the Xperia 10 VII hold up over time?

Sony claims the Xperia 10 VII’s battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its capacity after 1400 charge cycles. This is a significant advantage over many smartphones, suggesting the Xperia 10 VII will maintain its excellent battery life for a longer period.

❓ Is the lack of 5G on the Xperia 10 VII a significant drawback in 2024?

For users in areas with widespread 5G coverage and a need for the fastest possible data speeds, the lack of 5G on the Xperia 10 VII is a limitation. However, for many users, 4G LTE remains sufficient, and the benefits of the Xperia 10 VII’s battery life and efficiency may outweigh the absence of 5G.