Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Clash of Titans

Samsung consistently delivers top-tier smartphones, and the Note10+ 5G and S23 Ultra are prime examples. But with significant generational differences, which device truly stands out? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall value to help you make an informed decision.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner. While the Note10+ 5G remains a capable device, the S23 Ultra boasts a vastly superior chipset, significantly improved camera system, brighter display, and longer battery life, justifying its higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands5, 71, 260, 261 NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2019, August. Released 2019, August2023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)234 g (8.25 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) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~498 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 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 (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetExynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaAdreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, HDR10+
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), 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)Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4300 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura White, Aura BlackPhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsSM-N976F, SM-N976U, SM-N976, SM-N976B, SM-N976N, SM-N976V, SM-N9760, SM-N976QSM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 700 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR-1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 126h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G

  • Integrated S Pen
  • Slightly more affordable
  • Good display
  • Decent camera

  • Older chipset
  • Shorter battery life
  • Less impressive camera compared to S23 Ultra
  • Lower brightness display

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Long battery life
  • Premium design

  • Higher price
  • Larger size and weight

Display Comparison

The S23 Ultra's display is a significant upgrade. Its 1274 nits peak brightness blows the Note10+'s display out of the water, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. The S23 Ultra also boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, providing richer blacks and more vibrant colors. While the Note10+ 5G has a good display, it simply can't compete with the S23 Ultra's advancements.

Camera Comparison

The S23 Ultra's camera system is a major highlight. Its advanced sensors and image processing algorithms deliver stunning photos and videos in various lighting conditions. The Note10+ 5G's camera is still capable, but it lacks the detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance of the S23 Ultra.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra is a generational leap over the Exynos 9825/Snapdragon 855 in the Note10+ 5G. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the S23 Ultra. The S23 Ultra's CPU architecture is also more efficient, contributing to better battery life.

Battery Life

The S23 Ultra offers significantly better battery life. Its endurance rating of 126h is a testament to its efficient chipset and optimized software. The Note10+ 5G's battery life is decent, but it doesn't hold a candle to the S23 Ultra's longevity.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G is a good option for users seeking a slightly more affordable flagship with a built-in S Pen and a familiar Samsung experience. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is ideal for power users, photography enthusiasts, and those who demand the absolute best in performance, camera quality, and battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Note10+ 5G still a good phone in 2024?
Yes, the Note10+ 5G remains a capable device, especially if you value the S Pen. However, it's showing its age compared to newer flagships like the S23 Ultra.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will receive longer software and security updates than the Note10+ 5G.