Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G vs. OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren: A 2024 Flagship Face-Off

Released within months of each other in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. While both aimed to deliver cutting-edge 5G connectivity, they differed significantly in chipset strategy, feature sets, and target audiences. Today, as these devices find a second life on the used market, understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for budget-conscious buyers.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 855+ consistently delivers superior performance and thermal management compared to the region-locked Exynos 9825 or Snapdragon 855 variants of the Note10+ 5G, and its 30W charging is a practical advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands5, 71, 260, 261 NSA/Sub671 SA
SpeedHSPA 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, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USACDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2019, August. Released 2019, August2019, October 23. Released 2019, November 05
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)206 g (7.27 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~498 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~516 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 108.8 cm2 (~88.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, 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 (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetExynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaAdreno 640 (700 MHz)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4Android 10, OxygenOS 10.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
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 video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAFMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless30W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4300 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4085 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura White, Aura BlackPapaya Orange
ModelsSM-N976F, SM-N976U, SM-N976, SM-N976B, SM-N976N, SM-N976V, SM-N9760, SM-N976QHD1925
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 800 EUR

Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G

  • Integrated S Pen stylus for productivity and creativity.
  • Larger battery capacity (4500mAh).
  • 45W fast charging and wireless charging support.

  • Regional chipset fragmentation (Exynos vs. Snapdragon).
  • Potential for thermal throttling with the Exynos variant.
  • Samsung’s One UI can feel bloated compared to OxygenOS.

OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren

  • Superior performance with the Snapdragon 855+.
  • More efficient power consumption.
  • Cleaner and faster software experience with OxygenOS.

  • Smaller battery capacity (4085mAh).
  • No wireless charging support.
  • Less versatile camera system compared to the Note10+ 5G.

Display Comparison

Both devices feature excellent displays, but subtle differences exist. The OnePlus 7T Pro 5G boasts a 6.65-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering a smoother visual experience than the Note10+ 5G’s 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, which is capped at 60Hz. While both displays are vibrant and color-accurate, the 90Hz refresh rate on the OnePlus provides a noticeable advantage in scrolling and gaming. Neither manufacturer explicitly details peak brightness, but real-world testing suggests the Note10+ 5G can achieve slightly higher peak brightness in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Note10+ 5G has a slight edge in overall versatility. The Note10+ 5G features a triple-camera setup with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 16MP ultrawide lens. The OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren features a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP telephoto lens, and a 16MP ultrawide lens. While the OnePlus boasts a higher megapixel count on its main sensor, the Note10+ 5G’s image processing and dynamic range are generally superior, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Note10+ 5G also benefits from Samsung’s Super Steady Video stabilization, offering smoother video recording. Both phones include a 2MP macro lens, which offers limited practical benefit due to its low resolution.

Performance

The core performance difference lies in the chipset. The OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren is powered exclusively by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, a refined version of the Snapdragon 855. This chip features a slightly higher clock speed (2.96 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the Snapdragon 855) and improved thermal management. The Note10+ 5G, however, suffers from regional fragmentation, utilizing either the Exynos 9825 (EMEA/LATAM) or the Snapdragon 855 (USA/China). The Exynos 9825, while powerful, is known to throttle under sustained load due to its less efficient 7nm process, impacting long gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 855+ in the OnePlus consistently outperforms both Note10+ 5G variants in benchmarks and real-world usage. Both phones utilize LPDDR4X RAM, but the OnePlus’s optimized software contributes to a snappier overall experience.

Battery Life

The Note10+ 5G packs a larger 4500mAh battery compared to the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G’s 4085mAh battery. However, the Snapdragon 855+ in the OnePlus is more power-efficient than either of the Note10+ 5G’s chipsets. This, combined with OnePlus’s optimized software, results in comparable real-world battery life. Crucially, the Note10+ 5G supports 45W wired charging with PD3.0, allowing for a full charge in approximately 60 minutes. The OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren is limited to 30W Warp Charge 30T, taking slightly longer to fully charge. The Note10+ 5G also offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the OnePlus.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G if you absolutely require the S Pen stylus for productivity or creative tasks and value Samsung’s DeX desktop experience. Buy the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren if you prioritize raw performance, faster charging, and a cleaner software experience without the added bloatware often associated with Samsung’s One UI.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9825 in the Note10+ 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 9825 variant of the Note10+ 5G is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, leading to reduced performance during extended gaming sessions. This is due to the chip's less efficient 7nm process compared to the Snapdragon 855+.
❓ Is the 90Hz display on the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren a significant upgrade over the Note10+ 5G’s 60Hz display?
Absolutely. The 90Hz refresh rate on the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren results in noticeably smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming. While not a revolutionary change, it significantly enhances the overall user experience.
❓ How does the charging speed of the Note10+ 5G’s 45W compare to the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren’s 30W in real-world use?
While the Note10+ 5G’s 45W charging is theoretically faster, the difference in charging times isn’t dramatic. The Note10+ 5G can charge from 0-100% in approximately 60 minutes, while the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren takes closer to 70-75 minutes. The convenience of faster charging is there, but not a game-changer.
❓ Is the S Pen on the Note10+ 5G worth the extra cost if I don't regularly use a stylus?
If you don't anticipate using the S Pen for note-taking, drawing, or controlling the phone remotely, it's likely not worth the premium. The OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren offers a comparable overall experience without the added cost and bulk of the stylus.