The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is launching very soon, bringing a decent set of improvements to Samsung's flagship stylus-powered superphone. For Windows Central readers, perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the Note 10 was Microsoft's presence at its reveal, with CEO Satya Nadella on-stage to talk productivity and partnership.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will use Outlook as its default mailing client, replacing Gmail for the first time. Additionally, Samsung will integrate OneDrive directly into the Gallery app for seamless cloud backups, and leverage Your Phone for integration with connected Windows PCs. Samsung will also benefit from full DeX support for Microsoft Office.
The best of Samsung in a single phone.
Samsung improved on the Note 9 in every way … except for removing the headphone jack. But the big display, top-end specs, wide-angle camera, and huge battery could make up for it.
Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 review at Android Central
We may never get another phone from Microsoft again, or at least not until a significant paradigm shift in the user experience that might allow for Microsoft to carve out a niche. It's looking increasingly like Android, or specifically, Samsung's Android, is becoming Microsoft's replacement for its dead phone platform. But are you interested? We'd like to hear from you.
To buy or not to buy
I've been a Galaxy Note 9 user for some time. As a huge tech nerd who struggles to resist the latest shiny things, the Note 10 doesn't seem to be what I'd describe as "mind-blowing," besides the price that is. I got my Note 9 for around 700 euros, admittedly a few months after launch. But the Note 10 starts at an eyewatering 950 euros, for what is arguably a pretty comparable set of hardware features. Some specs are actually a downgrade, with a smaller battery compared to my current handset. To get a bigger battery, I'd have to upgrade to the Note 10+, which is over 1050 euros. Oof.
I'm also a bit disappointed Samsung doesn't seem to have done a great deal to meet Huawei and Google Pixel in terms of camera innovation. The Samsung cameras are excellent and rarely let me down, but some of the camera samples coming out of the Huawei P30 Pro are just on an another level.
Its integrations with Microsoft represent the most attractive aspects of the Note 10, but you can get those yourself simply by, well, downloading those apps and setting them to default. It doesn't seem as though some of the exclusive integrations such as OneDrive in the Gallery app will come to the Note 9, which is a shame. Since it's just a software update, it feels like this is more to do with the deal between Samsung and Microsoft rather than serving its users. Oh, and it sucks that the headphone jack is gone. I will die mad about the headphone jack.
Even if I don't buy the Note 10 (firmly on the fence right now), the partnership between Samsung and Microsoft does have tons of potential. Envision a world where Microsoft persuades them to kill Bixby in favor of Cortana. It might give Cortana a vague chance at achieving some sort of market penetration, in a world where devices that shipped with Cortana are actually indignantly cutting her out in favor of Alexa. Samsung has things Microsoft needs, and Microsoft has things Samsung needs. I see this as an absolute win.
Regardless, we want to hear your thoughts. So be sure to vote in our poll, drop a comment, and let your voice be heard. Be kind though. Phones are serious business, obviously. We'll loop back around with the poll results in a week or so.
The best of Samsung in a single phone.
Samsung improved on the Note 9 in every way … except for removing the headphone jack. But the big display, top-end specs, wide-angle camera, and huge battery could make up for it.
