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So far, 2019 has been a big year for Samsung smartphones, with multiple Galaxy S10 phones. But the year is far from over. Samsung is readying a big launch this summer for the Galaxy Note 10. And, based on the rumors, you can expect more than one model.
Read on through our rumor roundup and be sure to check back often to find out what Samsung could ultimately deliver when it’s time to showcase the Galaxy Note 10.
Latest News (Updated May 21)
- A leaked benchmark from html5test suggests the Note 10 will feature a 19:9 display, amidst rumors that Samsung's trademark Infinity-O screen design will incorporate a new center hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera.
- A new rumor suggest Samsung will not embed its 64-megapixel ISOCELL image sensor inside the Note 10, opting for a less-complex unit instead.
- The Galaxy Note 10 Pro, one of two rumored models that Samsung is reportedly working on, could feature a 4,500 mAh battery, according to a new rumor. However, a noted phone leaker is backing off earlier claims that the Note 10 will feature 25-watt fast charging.
Galaxy Note 10 price and availability
According to most reports, the Galaxy Note 10 will be unveiled sometime in August and make its way to store shelves in September. That certainly fits Samsung's recent release pattern for the Galaxy Note 8 and 9, which both appeared in August allowing the company to get the jump on the September debut of Apple's new iPhones.
Considering that the Galaxy S10 Plus — arguably the best comparison to the Galaxy Note 10 — costs $999, there's a good chance the device will be on the pricey side. That also happens to be the price at which the Galaxy Note 9 debuted last year, so $999 seems a likely ballpark for this year's model.
Two Versions: Extra large and large
According to a report out of Korea from iGeekphone.com, the Galaxy Note 10 could ship with a whopping 6.7-inch screen, making it much larger than the 6.4-inch Galaxy Note 9 display and notably larger than the 6.5-inch screen in the iPhone XS Max. There’s some precedent for Samsung to produce a device with such a massive display: The Galaxy S10 5G, arriving on Verizon's network on May 16, has a screen that same size.
A report from Korea's The Bell says that Samsung is working on two versions of the Galaxy Note 10. One of the phone would have a large 6.7-inch display, while another model would have a smaller 6.4-inch screen. However, the report indicates that the smaller Note 10 may be slated for release in Europe only. (ETNews, in its report on Samsung's plans, places the screen sizes at 6.3 and 6.8 inches.)
However, a SamMobile report followed that and pointed to two model numbers Samsung have been assigned to the Galaxy Note 10. Those model numbers, SM-N970 and SM-N975, haven't been confirmed by Samsung. However, they follow the syntax Samsung has used in the past. And if accurate, the model numbers all but point to two models.
Interestingly, SamMobile also tipped two other models — SM-N971 and SM-N976. Those won't actually be distinct models, according to the report. Instead, they'll be 5G versions of the 970 and 975.
So, for now, it appears Samsung will be planning one large and one extra large model and then 5G variants for each, for a total of four versions. A subsequent report from leaker Ice Universe suggests that Samsung will call the larger of the two models the Galaxy Note 10 Pro. In a follow-up tweet, Ice Universe claimed the Note 10 Pro would sport a 4,500 mAh battery, which is the same size as the power pack in the Galaxy S10 5G.
However, don't expect that battery to charge super fast. Ice Universe had predicted 25-watt fast charging for the Note 10, but now appears to be dismissing that idea. Instead, the Note 10 would likely have the same charging speeds as the current Galaxy S10 lineup, which would put Samsung's phablet behind rival devices from OnePlus and Huawei.
A new kind of Infinity
Samsung's Infinity-O display technology, which allows for a cutout for the front facing camera within an OLED screen, debuted in earnest with the Galaxy S10. For that reason, it's not surprising that rumors have suggested the company will utilize that same design in the Galaxy Note 10. However, what we've heard so far suggests the implementation could be a bit different.
For one, that hole punch might be shifted over to the center. To be honest, it's difficult to track down exactly where this rumor began — PhoneArena suggested it in a mockup (seen above), and T3 reported it alongside a new story that mentioned the Note 10 will feature a 19:9 display, based on a leaked benchmark from html5test discovered by Dutch blog Mobielkopen. For those keeping track, the aspect ratio of the Note 9's panel was 18.5:9, so it appears Samsung's next-gen phablet could carry a screen that's a bit taller than the current iteration. As for that center-mounted selfie camera — like all rumors, take it with a grain of salt.
No buttons?
Here's one Note 10 development you might not expect: Samsung could decide to ditch the buttons in its Galaxy Note 10 and go with a buttonless design.
The claim comes from ETNews, one of the more reliable sources out of Samsung's home base in South Korea. The site's sources say that Samsung is mulling the possibility of ditching the volume, power and Bixby keys, replacing them with gestures.
MORE: Galaxy Note 10 Could Have This Huge Design Change
Interestingly, Samsung has patented technology that places sensors on the sides of the device to activate certain features. It's also possible that the way you touch or squeeze the Galaxy Note 10's sides could prompt an action.
Plenty of cameras
Samsung could try to top its Galaxy S10 models with a Galaxy Note 10 that offers not three, but four cameras on the rear. That would match a feature Huawei just introduced with its flagship P30 Pro phone.
According to SamMobile, the quad-camera setup would pave the way for Samsung to offer a standard camera, a telephoto lens and an ultrawide snapper like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus. It's unclear what the fourth camera would offer, but it could be similar to the rear-facing depth sensor Samsung has bundled with the Galaxy S10 5G.
However, the primary sensor might not be as powerful as we initially hoped. Samsung's new 64-megapixel ISOCELL sensor will not appear in the Galaxy Note 10, according to a tweet from well-known leaker Ice Universe. This could prove to be something of a setback for the handset's camera, as other companies like Huawei and OnePlus have been employing sensors with astronomically high megapixel counts in recent years. It is unknown what type of sensor Samsung will toss in instead — Samsung does offer a 48-MP ISOCELL option as a possible alternative, according to SlashGear — though Ice Universe seems quite certain that the 64-MP variety won't be it.
5G versions
There might 4G and 5G Galaxy Note 10 versions in the works, if a recent XDA Developers leak is any indication.
The site recently discovered some code baked into Samsung's kernel that points to a "davinci5G." At first blush, that might not mean much, but Da Vinci is believed to be the code-name for Samsung's Galaxy Note 10. And the 5G mention is obviously a reference to a 5G version.
MORE: Hands-on Galaxy S10 5G Review: Now This Is Big
Snapdragon 855
Samsung is expected to deliver the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 you can find in the Galaxy S10 lineup in the Galaxy Note 10.
We don't have any concrete rumors on this one yet, but Samsung in the past has used the same processor it delivers in the Galaxy S lineup in its Galaxy Note device. And there's no reason to suggest Samsung would change tack here, since the Snapdragon 855 is still the most powerful Qualcomm smartphone chip on the market.
In-display fingerprint sensor
Again, this one hasn't been confirmed by Samsung, but all signs point to the company bringing the same in-display fingerprint sensor it offered in the Galaxy S10 to the Galaxy Note 10. The feature is one of the biggest upgrades in the Galaxy S10, and since the Galaxy Note 10 will aim for the same high-end market segment, it makes sense to look for it in Samsung's next flagship.
The S Pen gets a refresh
Some people believe that Samsung's use of the "Da Vinci" code-name points to some big upgrades for the S Pen and its performance with drawing and art. There's not much else to go on in a Softpedia report on the Da Vinci name and the S Pen, but the Galaxy Note does deliver S Pen upgrades each year — with the Note 9, Samsung added Bluetooth connectivity — so clearly something big could be in the works for artists.
So long, headphone jack?
This one might not go over so well, but the Galaxy Note 10 could be the first Samsung smartphone not to ship with a headphone jack, according to a report from ETNews. The move could mean that future Samsung devices could similarly ship without a headphone jack. Bring on the adapters!
Credit: Tom's Guide
