Computer Shopper - UK (2019-12)

ISSUE 382|COMPUTER SHOPPER|DECEMBER 2019 39

The Note10+ also benefits from a
generous 12GBof RAM formultitasking,
rather than the 8GBof RAM in the regular
model. Asforstorage,you’re restrictedto
256GB, but with the optionto expand thisby
afurther 1TB via microSD.The Not e10+
battery is also larger,at4 ,200mAh, and
supports charging speeds upto 45W,
although the included charger is only 25W.
Unsurprisingly,the Not e10+ eases past
last year’s Note9(Shopper370) on speed,
although its Geekbench4scores of 4,557 in
the single-coretest and 10,367 in the
multicoretest put it oneven terms with the
Galaxy S10+, so the Exynos 9825 isn’tamajor
advancementforSamsung handsets in
general.Still, there’s no shame in that, as the
both the Note10+ and Galaxy S10+ are
about the most powerful Android
handsets on the market.
Gaming performance is equally
impressive,even on the high-resolution
screen. This is another area where the
Galaxy Note10+ is much improvedover
the Note9,m anaginganear-perfect
57fps average in the GFXBench
Manhattan onscreentest.
Stamina hasn’t takenahit, either.
In our video rundowntest, with the
screen setto the phone’s native
resolution and at 170cd/m2 brightness,
the Note10+ lasted 19h 56m on a
single charge.Dial the resolution
down to FHD+, and we managedto
squeeze out almost an extra hour
under the same conditions.

IMITATION GAME
Equally impressive as the phone’s
performance and battery lifeist he
simplicity and responsivenessof the
phone’s user interface.The Not e10+
uses Android9.0–anupgrade to
Android 10 is pencilled inforthe near
future –but with Samsung’s own One
UI launcher placedover the top.
We first tapped awayatt his new
interface with Samsung’s trioof Galaxy
S10 phones earlier in the year,and it
remains the best software Samsung
has ever used on anyof its phones.
The UI hasaclean, simple lookto it

and is remarkably easyto navigat e. It can

also be customisedto your liking, allowing

you to adjust the phone’s vibration intensity

and the sizeof the app icons, which are a

little largeby default.

There are stillafew minor issues in some

areas, and it doesn’t quitematch the sheer

simplicityof the Google Pixel 3’s Pixel

Launcher.For one thing, Samsung insists on

preloading the phone with its own versionsof

applications–such as the browser,email and

calendar apps–which simply aren’t anywhere

near as good as the default Google apps.

GOWIDE

Along vertical stripof cameras can be

found on the back, which includes the same

dual-aperture (f/1.5, f/2.4) 12-megapixel

sensor and 2xtelephotozoom lens

from last year’s handset. What’s new

is the additionof a123° wide-angle

camera, as well asaspecial depth-

sensing unitformore effective blurred

background photography,which is

exclusiveto the Note10+.

Most importantly,image quality is

sublime: pictures are packed with

detail, texture and punchy colours.

No matter the lighting conditions, the

Note10+ is capableof capturing some

truly exceptional photos, especially

when you use the wide-angle lensfor

your scenery shots.

There’s no shortageof shooting

modes, either.You can easily adjust

the levelof background blur with the

Live focus modeforstills and video,

record 240fps super-slow-mofootage,

brighten up images with the Night

mode,and tinker with more intricate

settings in the Pro mode.That’s not

forgetting about the new filters you

can applyto images and video,too,

such as the black and white‘colour

pop’and avaporwave-inspired

‘glitch ’filter.

We particularly enjoyed playing with

the new ‘AR doodle’feature,which

allows youto draw whatever you like

on the screen with theSPen be fore

recording your video.Draw glasses and

asilly moustache on someone’sface,

forinstance,and your doodles will accurately

track the person andfollow them around as

soon as you tap the shutter button.

STABLE HAND

In fact, there’s so much stuff onoffer here

that it can bealittle bit daunting at first.

It’s clear that Samsung is tryingto squeeze

as manyfeatures intoits native camera app

as possible,but we think that most, if not

all, of these different shooting modes can

serve auseful purpose.

When it comesto video,the Galaxy Note

10+ can record 4Kfootage at 60fps, although

optical image stabilisation is onlyavailable at

1080p.You can, however,enable Samsung’s

‘Super steady’feature in the camera settings,

which essentially applies electronic image

stabilisationto all recording modes.

The footage isn’t quiteasr ock-steady as

if it was strappedto adedicated gimbal,

but it does the job.

The recording quality,ont he other hand, is

superb.Footage is crisp and detailed, with

excellent dynamic range,especially if you film

in 4K with HDR 10+ enabled. However,this

feature is restrictedto 30fps, and most

third-party video players don’t support HDR

10+ playback at the timeof writing.

GRAND STATURE

It’s abundantly clear that the Galaxy Note10+

is Samsung’s best phone yet. Withevery day

of using it, we’re also increasingly convinced

that it might be the finest smartphoneever

made,bya ny manufacturer: nothing else

takes as well-rounded an approach as this.

It looks gorgeous, the screen is sharp and

vibrant, performance is superlative,battery

lifeist remendous and the cameras take great

photos. The Note10+ might require two hands

and amountainof cash, butfornow,Android

handsets don’t get much better than this.

NathanSpendelow

Batterylife

0% -50 Reference + 50 + 100

Seepage84f orperformancedetails

PROCESSOROcta -core2.4GHzSamsung Exynos9825•

SCREENSIZE6.8in•SCREENRESOLUTION3,040x1,440•

REARCAMERAS12megapixel s,16megapixel s,12megapixels•

STORAGE256GB•WIRELESSDATA4G•NFCYes•

DIMENSI ONS162x77x7.9mm•WEIGHT196g•OPER ATING

SYSTEMAndroi d9.0•WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILS

http://www.samsung.com•PARTCO DESM-N975FZSDBTU

SPECIFICATIONS

19h56m

Withevery dayofusing it,we’reconvinced thatthis might

be the finestsmartphoneever made,byany manufacturer