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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you are looking for a phone with a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals, the Samsung Galaxy S21 with a 120Hz screen is a better choice than the Note10 which has a 60Hz screen. The S21 also has a more recent processor, which may translate to better overall performance. However, the Galaxy Note10 offers a longer battery life and comes with more storage space out of the box. It also includes a stylus, which the S21 lacks. The S21 has higher camera quality, supports 5G, and is slightly lighter, but has a plastic back compared to the glass back of the Note10. Both are at a budget price, so if cost is a concern, the Note10 may save you some money while still delivering solid features. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note10
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.6
7.2
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a good selfie camera, which is very important, and overall provides a very good photo software experience, with good marks in photo dynamic range and low light performance, making it superior to the Samsung Galaxy Note10, which has poorer scores in these same categories including a poor selfie camera performance, reflecting a significant discrepancy in camera quality. Additionally, the S21's camera versatility is noted to be good compared to the Note10's fair score, indicating the S21 offers a broader range of photographic options.
Photo Quality
5.5
7.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes better photos than the Galaxy Note10 largely due to advancements in photos software experience and improvements in camera features, such as versatility and low light performance, and specifically, the S21 has a significantly better selfie camera quality, which is a critical aspect for photo enthusiasts. While the Note10 has generally lower performance across photo-related aspects, including resolution, dynamic range, and low light capabilities, these shortcomings are especially pronounced in its poor selfie quality compared to the very good selfie performance of the S21.
Video Quality
5.5
6.6
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 produces poorer video quality primarily because it has lower ratings in critical areas such as video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers good video quality with higher performance in video software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light shooting, which are essential for capturing better videos.
Cost
$249
$145
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 has a price of $249 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 has a screen size of 6.3 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note10 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 23, 2019 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.3" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2280 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 401 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD855 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.6/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3500 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.94" x 2.83" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 oz | 5.96 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | N/A | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Aura Red, Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy Note10
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Adam Ismail, Mark Spoonauer | June 2021
"The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 delivers epic battery life and a super-bright screen in a phenomenally compact design. The regular Note 10 should be a very special phablet — precisely because there's never been one this compact and easy to live with before."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note10 or the Samsung Galaxy S21
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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