Samsung unveils new Galaxy Note phone
Samsung has just dropped its newest phones — wowing the world with hi-tech features. But a controversial change has everyone talking.
Samsung has dropped two new cutting-edge phones — and in a controversial move killed off the headphone jack and micro SD card.
The Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+, unveiled this morning, have been called “stunning” and “beautiful” by tech reporters.
The Note10+ has a bigger screen, more grunt and a fast-charging battery, promising a full day of use from just 30 minutes of charging.
Samsung has also removed the much-hated Bixby button.
For years Samsung has relentlessly pushed the voice-assistant button despite complaints from users who accidentally push it while reaching for the power or volume buttons.
Small but vital things you should know about the #samsunggalaxynote10:
— Jen Dudley-Nicholson (@jendudley) August 7, 2019
- It has no Bixby button
- The top model will come with 5G
- There’s only one camera on the front
- There are four cameras out back
- The screen is large but doesn’t feel it
- Handwriting-to-text is handy
The Bixby button is gone, replaced by a power button about halfway down the left side of the phone, underneath the volume button.
The Bixby assistant can still be activated with a long press of the power button, but that can also be disabled.
Well, the Bixby button is gone, but so are the microSD slot and headphone jack. Also, a display notch.
— Linus Tech Tips (@LinusTech) August 7, 2019
Guess I'm saving $1000 :D pic.twitter.com/WpMexbt3gL
The Galaxy Note 10 gets rid of the Bixby button, finally - CNET https://t.co/0KqEDN3Z4O pic.twitter.com/InRKlhNxPW
— Márcio M. Silva (@marciojmsilva) August 7, 2019
HEADPHONE JACK
Samsung executives have long poked fun at rivals for ditching the headphone jack in smartphones. But with the new Galaxy Note 10, the company is now doing the same thing.
The Note 10, announced at the Unpacked event in New York, squeezes in more battery power and other goodies but at the cost of the familiar old jack.
So now the company is doing an about-face and declaring that many people use wireless headphones anyway.
Samsung, which for years has pushed bigger and bigger displays, is also introducing a smaller version of the Note for those who think phones have just gotten too big.
The new Note models will come out on August 23.
KEY DETAILS
• The latest Galaxy Note will be released in two models — the standard 6.3 inch Galaxy Note10 and the Note10+ which has a larger 6.8 inch display
• Pre-orders open August 8 in Australia from 9am, with the handset going on sale on August 23
• Prices range from $1499 to $1999
• In Australia, the Galaxy Note range is available in two colours — Aura Glow and Aura Black
The main model is being called the Note 10 Plus and will have a display measuring 6.8 inches diagonally. Though the display is bigger, the overall size is about the same as last year’s 6.4-inch Note 9. To accomplish that, Samsung shrank down even more of the bezel surrounding the display.
The smaller, 6.3-inch version will be called the Note 10. It’s designed for those who want the Note’s signature stylus without its once-signature size.
“You hit a certain point where you can’t get much bigger without being physically too large to hold,” Technalysis Research analyst Bob O’Donnell said. “That’s the challenge they are running into.”
Hardware innovation in mobile devices has been slowing for years. Samsung is addressing that with a foldable model, with twice the display when unfolded. The Samsung Fold is coming in September after Samsung made a few design changes to address problems with reviewers’ phones breaking.
Apple is expected to release new iPhones next month. A version that works with next-generation 5G cellular networks isn’t expected. Samsung will have a 5G version of the Note 10 Plus for an undisclosed price.
The Note 10 Plus will have a 7.5 per cent boost in battery capacity over the Note 9, though Samsung’s high-end phones have already been promising all-day battery life.
Company officials say that while the 3.5-millimetre headphone jack might seem small, every smidgeon of saved space can help extend battery life.
Samsung is including wired headphones that plug into the phone’s USB-C data and charging port. An adaptor for other wired headphones is sold separately for AU$15. Apple and Google also have ditched the standard headphone jack.
But Mr O’Donnell noted the irony: “If you guys gave everybody else grief for doing it, why are you doing it?”
The feedback on social media has been quick — and the lack of a headphone jack has been a major disappointment.
Im extremely disappointed by the #Note10
— Ù‹ (@uraverageboy) August 7, 2019
The "No Compromises Phone" that lacks a headphone jack, expandable memory and 4000 mah battery
Meanwhile the previous Note 9 has all three of those. @Samsung cmon!
So, it's official. Samsung has joined the dark side with the Note 10. No headphone jack. What is the problem all these companies have with headphone jacks? Is this literally only because Apple did it?
— Andy 🎮 (@Itachi9695) August 7, 2019
The power button is also the bixby button; no headphone jack???!!! What were you thinking @Samsung???
— Dominique (@drobitson) August 7, 2019
Actually considered going back to wired headphones for my phone because of the lag issues I have with bluetooth. Samsung has always been my go to for phones but no headphone jack is a deal breaker.
— MsErica (@ms_warpig) August 7, 2019
Beyond that, the Note 10 phones introduce new stylus features, including the ability to flip through music and photo libraries by gesturing with the stylus in the air.
The phones bring a wider-angle lens already found in the S10 and use software to make audio appear louder — and thus closer — in video recordings when zooming in. And by connecting a Note 10 to a Windows or Mac computer with a USB cable, users can interact with phone apps there and drag and drop files between devices.
KEY FEATURES
• The redesigned S Pen allows for handwritten notes taken on the device to be converted to text and exported in various formats including PDF and Microsoft Word.
• The redesigned S Pen will have the ability control elements of the phone by waving it in the air.
• An expansion of its DeX app which will allow users to drag and drop files between devices using a new USB plug. It will be compatible with both PC and Mac.
• New video features, including Live Focus, which allows the user to blur the background and focus the video entirely on its subject in the foreground.
• A ‘zoom in’ mic which allows for audio being recorded to be amplified.
• A revamped video editor which allows users to cut and alter their footage using the S Pen.
• New augmented reality and 3D features with the ability to personalise photos using the S Pen
• 3D Scanner which comes on the Note10+. It can scan objects and create a 3D model which displays on-screen.
• The Note10+ can change to full battery in just 30 minutes.
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