Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G vs Google Pixel 4 XL: Which Flagship Still Reigns?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user in 2024, the Google Pixel 4 XL emerges as the stronger recommendation. While the Note10+ 5G boasts faster charging and potentially more RAM, the Pixel 4 XL’s consistently excellent camera and optimized software experience, coupled with its lower price point, provide a superior overall package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| 5G bands | 5, 71, 260, 261 NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, August. Released 2019, August | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 193 g (6.81 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 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~498 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| Always-on display | 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 (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| 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, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio (USA & Canada only) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | SM-N976F, SM-N976U, SM-N976, SM-N976B, SM-N976N, SM-N976V, SM-N9760, SM-N976Q | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G
- Faster 45W charging
- S Pen stylus for productivity
- Larger display for media consumption
- Available with up to 12GB RAM
- Exynos variant may exhibit thermal throttling
- More complex software experience
- Larger size may be less comfortable for some
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Exceptional camera quality (especially in low light)
- Clean and optimized Android experience
- More compact and ergonomic design
- Lower price point in 2024
- Slower 18W charging
- No S Pen support
- Smaller display size
Display Comparison
Both devices feature OLED panels, but key differences exist. While specific nit brightness isn't provided, the Note10+ 5G’s larger 6.8-inch display offers more screen real estate. The Pixel 4 XL, with its 6.3-inch display, prioritizes one-handed usability. Both likely achieve excellent color accuracy for their time, but the Note10+ 5G’s larger size may impact pixel density. The Pixel 4 XL’s 90Hz refresh rate, though not explicitly stated in the data, was a key selling point, offering smoother scrolling compared to the standard 60Hz of the Note10+ 5G.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 4 XL’s strength lies in its computational photography. While both phones offer capable photo and video recording, Google’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver exceptional dynamic range and detail, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 4 XL’s camera relies heavily on software, making it a standout despite potentially having a smaller sensor than the Note10+ 5G. The Note10+ 5G offers more versatility with its multiple lenses, but the Pixel 4 XL’s single lens setup, combined with Google’s software prowess, often produces superior results. The 2MP macro camera on the Note10+ 5G is largely a marketing gimmick and offers minimal real-world benefit.
Performance
The performance landscape is complex. The USA/China Note10+ 5G and the Pixel 4 XL both utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm). However, the EMEA/LATAM Note10+ 5G uses the Exynos 9825 (7nm). While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon 855 generally exhibits superior sustained performance and thermal management. The Note10+ 5G’s CPU configuration (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4, 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A75, 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 vs 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) suggests a slight edge in multi-core tasks for the Exynos variant, but the Snapdragon’s architecture is more efficient. Both phones share 6GB of RAM, but the Note10+ 5G was available with up to 12GB, offering a potential advantage for multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite the Note10+ 5G’s larger battery capacity (specific mAh not provided). However, charging speeds differ significantly. The Note10+ 5G supports 45W wired charging with PD3.0, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge compared to the Pixel 4 XL’s 18W wired charging with PD2.0. The Note10+ 5G also offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel 4 XL. This makes the Note10+ 5G a better choice for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G if you prioritize fast charging (45W vs 18W) and require the S Pen stylus for productivity. Its larger display also benefits media consumers. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you value computational photography, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates (at the time of release), and a more compact form factor. The Pixel 4 XL is ideal for users who prioritize camera quality and software simplicity over raw power.