Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G vs Note10 Lite: The Ultimate Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy Note series has long been synonymous with premium features and productivity. But with the Note10+ 5G and Note10 Lite, Samsung offers different tiers of this experience. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one best fits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Note10+ 5G delivers significantly more power, a superior camera system, and 5G connectivity. However, the Note10 Lite offers excellent value with a long-lasting battery and a more accessible price point. The choice depends on your priorities: performance and features versus affordability and endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite
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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands5, 71, 260, 261 NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA-
Launch
Announced2019, August. Released 2019, August2020, January 03
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, January 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~498 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Super AMOLED, HDR
 Always-on displayAlways-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 (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaExynos 9810 (10 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaMali-G72 MP18
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLED 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 video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)12 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)FM radio
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 2.0
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)ANT+
Battery
Charging45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4300 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura White, Aura BlackAura Glow, Aura Black, Aura Red
ModelsSM-N976F, SM-N976U, SM-N976, SM-N976B, SM-N976N, SM-N976V, SM-N9760, SM-N976QSM-N770F, SM-N770F/DS, SM-N770F/DSM
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 550 EUR
SAR-0.88 W/kg (head)     0.65 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.29 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -91.4dB
Battery life-Endurance rating 92h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 258484 (v7), 341212 (v8) GeekBench: 6103 (v4.4), 2027 (v5.1) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G

  • Superior Performance
  • Advanced Camera System
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Larger, Brighter Display
  • Faster Charging (45W)

  • Higher Price
  • Can be bulky
  • Potential for Exynos throttling (EMEA/LATAM)

Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite

  • Excellent Value
  • Long Battery Life
  • S Pen Functionality
  • Large Display
  • More Compact Design

  • Slower Performance
  • Less Advanced Camera
  • Slower Charging (25W)
  • Older Chipset

Display Comparison

The Note10+ 5G boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a higher resolution (3040 x 1440) and a brighter peak brightness (around 1200 nits). The Note10 Lite has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, offering excellent contrast and vibrant colors, but with a slightly lower resolution (1080 x 2400) and a measured peak brightness of 622 nits. Both offer a pleasant viewing experience, but the Note10+ 5G's display is noticeably more premium.

Camera Comparison

The Note10+ 5G has a more versatile and advanced camera system. It typically features a triple-lens setup (wide, ultrawide, telephoto) with higher resolution sensors and improved image processing. The Note10 Lite has a triple-lens setup as well, but with generally lower-resolution sensors and less sophisticated features. The Note10+ 5G excels in low-light photography and offers more creative options.

Performance

The Note10+ 5G, particularly the Snapdragon 855 variant, offers significantly faster performance than the Note10 Lite. The Exynos 9825 (EMEA/LATAM) is also faster than the Exynos 9810. The Note10+ 5G handles demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the Note10 Lite can occasionally show some lag with intensive tasks. The Note10+ 5G's superior chipset and RAM (typically 12GB vs 6GB) make a tangible difference.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings around 92 hours. However, the Note10 Lite's slightly larger battery capacity (4500 mAh vs 4300 mAh in the Note10+ 5G) and less power-hungry chipset contribute to slightly better real-world endurance. The Note10+ 5G supports 45W fast charging, while the Note10 Lite is limited to 25W.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G is ideal for power users, content creators, and those who demand the latest technology, including 5G. The Note10 Lite is a great choice for users who prioritize battery life, a large display, and a more budget-friendly price without sacrificing the core Note experience (S Pen, productivity features).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Note10+ 5G worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and 5G connectivity, then yes. The Note10+ 5G offers a significantly more premium experience. However, if you're on a budget, the Note10 Lite provides excellent value.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
While both offer excellent endurance, the Note10 Lite generally provides slightly better battery life due to its larger battery and less demanding chipset.