34 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 66HANDS-ON
especially on the top and bottom where a lot of
space has now become display. Despite having a
bigger screen compared to the Note9, the device as
a whole is a very similar size. This is largely due to
Samsung embedding the front camera in the screen
like it did with the S10 phone. Here, though, the
sensor is central to get a better angle of your face
and to look more appealing.
We really like the design of the Note10, which
still has the usual sort of mix of materials and
craftsmanship, including an IP68 waterproof rating.
However, it’s not all plain sailing.
Over the past couple of years it’s become normal
for phones to ditch the headphone jack and that’s
what’s happened here. Samsung says this is partly
to slim the design down (it’s just 7.9mm) and to
leave room for the battery. Whether that’s okay
with you depends on your stance on using wired
headphones.We’dratherhavetheoptiontoplug
someold‑fashioned cans in, though. Unlike a lot of
itsrivals,theNote10+doesn’tcomewitha dongle,
butsomeUSB‑C headphones instead.
Some changes with the physical buttons are worth
pointing out, too. There’s no dedicated Bixby button,
but you can long press the power key to summon the
digital assistant. The power and volume keys are now
on the left, which is unusual on Android phones.
The Note10+ comes in a different set of colours to
the regular model, so while the Note10 is available in
an exclusive Aura Pink, the bigger smartphone comes
in Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura White – the latter
being the exclusive.