Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs. Huawei P30 Pro New Edition: A Detailed Comparison

Released initially in 2019, both the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent a peak in flagship Android development. While newer models have since arrived, these devices remain compelling options, particularly as prices have fallen. This comparison focuses on the core differences between the two, examining performance, camera capabilities, and battery life to determine which phone offers the best value in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a mature software ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 855 (in US/China models) or Exynos 9825 offers a more refined experience, while the P30 Pro New Edition excels primarily in charging speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10 Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global, LATAMLTE
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - Canada-
Launch
Announced2019, August 07. Released 2019, August 232020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions151 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+OLED, HDR10
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-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/ChinaOcta-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaKirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaMali-G76 MP10
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple12 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 video40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), 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
Charging25W wired, PD3.0 12W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black, Aura Pink, Aura RedAurora, Black, Silver Frost
ModelsSM-N970F, SM-N970U, SM-N970U1, SM-N9700, SM-N970W, SM-N9700, SM-N970N, SM-N970X-
PriceAbout 590 EURAbout 820 EUR
SAR0.85 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.21 W/kg (head)     1.52 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -92.8dB / Crosstalk -94.0dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 92h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.2 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 344442 (v7), 452400 (v8) GeekBench: 10353 (v4.4), 2241 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Samsung Galaxy Note10

  • Stronger overall performance (Snapdragon variant)
  • Versatile camera system with excellent video capabilities
  • S Pen functionality adds unique productivity features

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the P30 Pro
  • Exynos variant can exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load

Huawei P30 Pro New Edition

  • Extremely fast 40W wired charging
  • Excellent low-light photography
  • Competitive price point

  • Kirin 980 chipset is less powerful than Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9825
  • Potential limitations with Google Mobile Services

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 boasts a display capable of reaching 789 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the P30 Pro’s brightness isn’t specified, Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology delivers superior contrast – an ‘Infinite’ (nominal) ratio versus the P30 Pro’s likely lower value. Both lack high refresh rate displays, a common feature in modern flagships, but the Note10’s color accuracy and overall viewing experience are generally considered superior due to Samsung’s display expertise.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. The P30 Pro New Edition gained notoriety for its low-light capabilities, leveraging its large sensor and advanced image processing. However, the Note10 offers a more versatile camera system, capable of both excellent photos and high-quality video recording. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the Note10’s camera suite is more balanced, offering a wider range of shooting modes and features. The P30 Pro’s 2MP macro camera is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit compared to the Note10’s more robust camera system.

Performance

The performance landscape is complex. The Note10 ships with either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in the US/China or the Exynos 9825 (7nm) in EMEA/LATAM. The Snapdragon variant generally offers slightly better sustained performance and thermal management. The P30 Pro New Edition utilizes the Kirin 980 (7nm). While the Kirin 980 is a capable chip, the Snapdragon 855 and Exynos 9825 feature more powerful GPUs and CPUs, particularly in multi-core tasks. The Note10’s CPU, with its octa-core configuration (varying by region), provides a noticeable edge in demanding applications. The P30 Pro’s Cortex-A76 cores are competitive, but the Note10’s Mongoose M4 (Snapdragon) or custom cores (Exynos) offer a performance advantage.

Battery Life

The Note10 achieves an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the P30 Pro New Edition shines in charging speed, offering 40W wired charging capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The Note10’s 25W wired charging with PD3.0 is significantly slower. While the Note10 supports 12W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless, the P30 Pro New Edition offers 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. The P30 Pro’s faster charging mitigates its potentially lower overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10 if you need a versatile device with a reliable ecosystem, strong performance for everyday tasks and content creation, and access to Samsung’s S Pen features. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you prioritize extremely fast charging and are comfortable with the potential limitations of the Huawei ecosystem, particularly regarding Google Mobile Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9825 chip in the Note10 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9825 is known to throttle under sustained heavy load, particularly in warmer environments. While not a deal-breaker, users who frequently engage in extended gaming sessions may experience performance dips. The Snapdragon 855 variant mitigates this issue significantly.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the P30 Pro New Edition actually useful for detailed close-up shots?
The 2MP macro camera on the P30 Pro New Edition is largely a marketing feature. Its low resolution and limited dynamic range result in images that lack detail and clarity. The Note10’s primary camera offers superior close-up capabilities.
❓ Does the Note10 support 90fps gameplay in popular titles like PUBG Mobile?
The Note10 can achieve high frame rates in PUBG Mobile, but consistently maintaining 90fps depends on the graphics settings and the specific variant (Snapdragon or Exynos). Lowering graphics settings is often necessary to achieve a smooth 90fps experience.
❓ What is the impact of lacking Google Mobile Services on the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition?
The absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS) means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store and core Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. Huawei provides its own ecosystem (HMS) with the AppGallery, but app availability is limited compared to GMS. Workarounds exist, but require technical knowledge.