
EDITOR'S NOTE: Since their release dates in 2018 and 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 and Note10 have been replaced by newer Pixel and Galaxy S-series models. The Note9 and Note10 are no longer supported with the latest Android software updates, and the Note series has been discontinued completely.
The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the devices' releases, and availability will differ from when we first reviewed them. You can upgrade to a new Galaxy phone, or you may still be able to find refurbished models of this device through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.
We're pitting the Samsung Galaxy Note10 against the Samsung Galaxy Note9. Even though the Galaxy Note9 is a year older than the Galaxy Note10, both phones are priced around the same, but each phone has unique selling points:
- The Galaxy Note9 has a slightly bigger and better display, more memory, and a bigger battery.
- The Galaxy Note10 has an added camera, a faster processor, and more features.
If you're looking for a complete comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and the Samsung Galaxy Note9, then take a look below. This guide will give you all the information you need to make up your mind about the best Samsung smartphone for you.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Samsung Galaxy Note9
| Feature | Galaxy Note10 | Galaxy Note9 |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Winner Extra 16MP camera with more features |
Cameras and image processing features are inferior |
| Speed | Winner Android's fastest processor yet |
Slower processor that can't handle multiple applications as well as the Note10 |
| Battery Life | Battery will die 5 hours earlier than a Note10 |
Winner Offers up to 40 hours of talk time |
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Specs
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 is more than just an incremental upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy Note9. The Galaxy Note10 offers an improved S Pen, the addition of a fourth camera, and lots of other cool new features—but is it a better phone? Take a look below for a spec-to-spec comparison.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Samsung Galaxy Note9
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Cameras
Samsung made some significant upgrades to the cameras on the Galaxy Note10. We'll first go over the Galaxy Note9's cameras, and then we'll talk about the Samsung Galaxy Note10's cameras.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Samsung Galaxy Note9: Cameras
| Feature | Galaxy Note10 | Galaxy Note9 |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Cameras | 16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide-angle, and 12MP telephoto |
12MP wide-angle, and 12MP telephoto |
| Front Camera | 10MP wide-angle | 8MP wide-angle |
| Video | up to 4K@60fps | up to 4K@60fps |
| S Pen | Switch between front and back cameras, snap photos, zoom, switch angles, change filter | Switch between front and back cameras, snap photos |
| Key Features | Audio-zoom to silence background noise, bokeh photo-effect, super steady action video capture, up to 123 degree field of vision, and full editing studio | Bokeh photo-effect (pictured below), image stabilization, dual aperture, HDR for low light shots, and flaw detection notifies you when you've taken a bad shot |

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note10
The new camera, video, and audio features that Samsung added to the Galaxy Note10 are just too good to ignore. Plus, the Galaxy Note10 has a 16MP ultra-wide camera that the Galaxy Note9 lacks.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Speed
There are three major specs you need to pay attention to when it comes to the speed of your phone:
- Processor, which handles your requests instantly (such as opening an app)
- Cores, which split up your requests to be handled by different processes to ensure that each one runs as fast and efficiently as possible
- RAM, which remembers each of your requests and ensures that they're handled quickly and efficiently
Let's see how the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and the Samsung Galaxy Note9 stack up.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Samsung Galaxy Note9
| Galaxy Note10 | Galaxy Note9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 845 |
| Cores | 8 | 8 |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB with 128GB model 8GB with 512GB model |
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note10
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 has the brand new Snapdragon 855 chipset, which processes your requests much faster than last year's Snapdragon 845.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 comes with a 3,500mAh battery and the Samsung Galaxy Note9 comes with a 4,000mAh battery—but what does that mean in the real world? Take a look below to find out.
Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Battery Life
| Galaxy Note10 | Galaxy Note9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Talk time | up to 35 hours | up to 40 hours |
| Standby time | up to 12.6 days | up to 12 days |
| Audio playback with headset | up to 60 hours | up to 95 hours |
| Time to charge 0-100% with stock charger |
about 90 minutes | about 107 minutes |
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note9
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 won here, that bigger battery will keep you powered up for longer.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 vs Galaxy Note9: Conclusion and Pricing
Overall Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note10
For some, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 is the perfect phone. This release is a smaller, less expensive, version of Samsung's typical Galaxy Note release, but it still has all the features, and the S Pen included.
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 is more suitable for you if you want:
- More cameras
- Faster processing
- A faster charge
- More audio, video, and camera features
- A multi-functional S Pen with gesture control
- A cheaper phone ($50 less than the Galaxy Noe9)
For others, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is the better choice. Again, it's about $50 more than the Samsung Galaxy Note10, but it offers some key benefits for power-users that the Galaxy Note9 doesn't provide. Those benefits include:
- A bigger and brighter display
- Memory options up to 1TB
- A bigger battery
- A headphone jack
In the end, it's a matter of picking the phone that offers you everything you need, but we'd choose the Samsung Galaxy Note10.
Of course, no matter which phone you choose, we're here to help you find the best deal on it, and the perfect carrier too. To get your next phone, take a look at our list of BOGO deals, trade-in deals, and carrier deals below or head over to our state-of-the-art comparison engine.
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer