For the first time, the Galaxy Note series includes a Lite version. Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy Note 10 Lite, a smartphone offering the key feature of the Note line-up at a finally affordable price. We are talking about the S Pen, for which finally people will not be forced to spend a fortune. But if we exclude the S Pen, are its other specifications nice enough for the money asked? Let’s try to find it out together by comparing it with other high-end devices in a similar price range: Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and OnePlus 7T.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi Note 10 vs OnePlus 7T
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro | OnePlus 7T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7 mm, 199 g | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm, 208 grams | 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.1 mm, 190 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.7 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.47 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.55 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Fluid AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Samsung Exynos 9810, octa-core 2.7 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 8 GB RAM, 256 GB | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, One UI | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 10, Oxygen OS |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 12 + 12 + 12 MP, f/1.7, f/2.4 and f/2.2 32 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Penta 108 + 5 + 12 + 20 MP, f/1.7, f/2.0, f/2.2 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Triple 48 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.6, f/2.2 and f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4500 mAh, fast charging | 5260 mAh, fast charging 30W | 3800 mAh, fast charging 30W with Warp Charge 30T |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Design
If you need the most futuristic and trendy design, you should go for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite. It is the only to boast a punch-hole display, while Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and OnePlus 7T both come with a waterdrop notch. But you should not underestimate the beauty of the Mi Note 10 with its amazing curved screen. In each case, you get a glass + metal premium design, but none of these devices is water resistant.
Display
Samsung is usually known for making the best display, but it did not opt for one of its best panels with the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. With a 90 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10+ certification, OnePlus 7T has a better panel and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite takes the silver medal. But the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite’s display supports something you will never find on an affordable flagship: the S Pen for handwriting and drawing. A must for many professional users. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 still has a very nice display.
Hardware/Software
The only real flagship when it comes to the performance here is the OnePlus 7T. It is one of the fastest smartphones you can currently find in the market, thanks to a Snapdragon 855+ chipset and an amazing software optimization. The second place goes to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ boasting an Exynos 9810 chipset and up to 8 GB of RAM, as well as expandable internal storage. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is just a mid-ranger with its Snapdragon 730G, OnePlus 7T is a lot faster and smoother. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite and OnePlus 7T offer Android 10 out of the box, while Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is still based on Pie. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite is a better device for professional users not only because of the S Pen but also due to Samsung DeX providing a desktop experience while the phone is connected to an external monitor.
Camera
The camera award goes to the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and its 108 MP penta-camera. There is no chance its opponents can compete with it. It supports OIS, up to 5x optical zoom and even a dedicated macro camera. In most of the situations, Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is able to capture stunning photos with a high level of detail, a low amount of digital noise and a high dynamic range. Right after, there is Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite with an amazing optical stabilization and a bright focal aperture. OnePlus 7T is all but the best camera phone, however, it still offers a pretty nice photo quality thanks to a high-end sensor and OIS.
Battery
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 has a huge 5260 mAh battery, one of the biggest found on high-end smartphones. And it lasts a lot on a single charge: it reaches two days even with pretty intensive usage. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is right behind with its 4500 mAh battery, while OnePlus 7T is not among the best battery phones due to its 3800 mAh unit.
Price
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite will land in the market before the end of Q1 2020 with a starting price of €599/$669. That is the same price as the Xiaomi Mi Note 10, but now the Mi Note 10 is available for about €450/$502 thanks to online street prices. With a bit of luck, you can find the OnePlus 7T for less than €450/$502. If we exclude the S Pen, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite does not have a lot more to offer if compared to the Xiaomi Mi Note 10. Just slightly better performance and a few other minor things. So if you do not care about the S Pen at all, choose the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 if you want the best camera and battery, or go for the OnePlus 7T if you prefer having the best performance and display. But do not forget that Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite offers a way better camera and longer battery life than OnePlus 7T. I would personally prefer the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite for the S Pen, but I admit it will be a definitely more interesting choice when its price will drop like the ones of its rivals.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi Note 10 vs OnePlus 7T: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi Mi Note 10
PROS
- Amazing cameras
- Huge battery
- Good price
- Nice display
CONS
- Lower-end hardware
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite
PROS
- Good cameras
- S Pen
- Nice battery life
CONS
- Price
OnePlus 7T
PROS
- Amazing display
- Higher performance
- Nearly stock Android
CONS
- Inferior cameras
