Samsung Galaxy Note 10

[hlfway2anywhere]

I was wondering if the advertisements were carrier specific. I have not experienced ads like that myself on my onlocked model.

That said, the Marketing Information setting is under Privacy and should be one of the first areas anyone explores on a new device. I can no longer recall if it was on or off by default, but either way I don't recall getting ads, so it would seem there is more to it than that setting.

I installed the Samsung firmware and turned off the marketing setting. Idk.

Don't get me wrong. Loved the phone and almost miss it. It's my fault for not realizing Apple music doesn't work with Google Assistant. If I had been willing to move my 20,000 photos and 25,000 songs off Apple services, I'd probably have the note 10 still. It's a gorgeous phone, the customization was awesome. But I use Siri and carplay on my 2 hours of commuting every day and to move everything was just way more than I'm committed to doing right now, so that was the tipping point for me. Maybe in the future I won't be trapped in apples hardware ecosystem.

 

[bubulol]

Fingerprint under screen + camera lock = its damn cool
I love it on Note 10+
I know Face ID is way more secured but its bit slower

 

[vine-boating]

Do you find sometimes your fingerprint sensor does not work? I feel its because I have really dry hands?

 

[bubulol]

Try again fingerprint recognition
Be careful, because i tried on my dad Note 10+, i had no problem with fingerprint unlocking and he did lol
I suggested him to try again and add more fingerprint

 

[bubulol]

I bought one on friday and returned my iPhone 11 Pro.

Here's the thing. Yeah, it's a beautiful phone. It's full of features and customization that blows iPhone out of the water. But I only lasted a day on it. I was completely open and willing to compromise on things but there were just so many compromises.

1. Messaging is compromised. On iMessage, I can have a nice, fluid experience that’s the same with everyone I talk to. I'm USA based and don't know people who really use other messaging apps like they do other places. The few people I know who have android devices I use FB messenger or whatsapp. Without iMessage, I become the reason that entire group chats lose iMessage support and become basic MMS conversations.

2. Smarthome is compromised. Samsung SmartThings requires a hub for all my stuff to work. I don't really want to buy something else. Google home was the best alternative I could found to HomeKit since it lets you organize by room and works with almost everything. BUT Google Assistant requires you to enable web activity tracking to do anything with it. The interface sucks compared to Apple Home. Alexa can’t organize my devices by room like I want it.

3. Bixby Sucks. It's like using Siri on the iPhone 4S. Slow, misunderstands a lot. And if you're gonna be getting a smart watch too, Bixby sucks on that too.

4. Ads. There. are. Ads. -- yep. The first party software has ads in it. On a $1099 phone.

5. Apple Music and iCloud photos -- without migrating them all over, the experience is compromised. Apple Music for Android is a great app but it doesn’t work with any of the Android assistants and I use siri for that in my car EVERY day.


I felt like the whole experience was like creating Frankenstein's monster out of software to create the comprehensive experience Apple has in their ecosystem. Maybe that works for some people. Pulling off the shelf parts to get the experience you're looking for sounds good. In reality, it felt like a mess after I got past the cool features and gimmicks that first drew me in.

I'm back to my XS Max now and i'm probably just gonna hold onto it for the year since the 11 Pro didn't blow my mind either.

Thanks for your point of view
My dad who is a senior asked my help to setup his Note 10+
It was painful lol
I am not saying Android is complicated but there are too many settings...
I was quite lost between all those setting options
Otherwhise most elegant phone, display is damn good, i like it but i still prefer iOS over Android
Perhaps by force of habit, i will be used to using Android again
Honestly i dont know, its neither so negative experience, nor wow effect
I am quite balanced and undecided...

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

Thanks for your point of view
My dad who is a senior asked my help to setup his Note 10+
It was painful lol
I am not saying Android is complicated but there are too many settings...
I was quite lost between all those setting options
Otherwhise most elegant phone, display is damn good, i like it but i still prefer iOS over Android
Perhaps by force of habit, i will be used to using Android again
Honestly i dont know, its neither so negative experience, nor wow effect
I am quite balanced and undecided...

I feel you. I'm still not convinced I shouldn't have stuck with the note 10. I keep thinking about it. I was and am still conflicted about it but ultimately right now decided to stay with iPhone and reevaluate next cycle.

 

[bubulol]

My dad is Galaxy fanboi lol
He couldn't use an iPhone anymore
He had 3GS then switched to Galaxy
I am much more flexible, i used in the past both iOS and Android, now i prefer iOS
I believe in the past, Apple integration and eco-system were limited that why i have switched more easily

 

[SDColorado]

I bought one on friday and returned my iPhone 11 Pro.

Here's the thing. Yeah, it's a beautiful phone. It's full of features and customization that blows iPhone out of the water. But I only lasted a day on it. I was completely open and willing to compromise on things but there were just so many compromises.

1. Messaging is compromised. On iMessage, I can have a nice, fluid experience that’s the same with everyone I talk to. I'm USA based and don't know people who really use other messaging apps like they do other places. The few people I know who have android devices I use FB messenger or whatsapp. Without iMessage, I become the reason that entire group chats lose iMessage support and become basic MMS conversations.

2. Smarthome is compromised. Samsung SmartThings requires a hub for all my stuff to work. I don't really want to buy something else. Google home was the best alternative I could found to HomeKit since it lets you organize by room and works with almost everything. BUT Google Assistant requires you to enable web activity tracking to do anything with it. The interface sucks compared to Apple Home. Alexa can’t organize my devices by room like I want it.

3. Bixby Sucks. It's like using Siri on the iPhone 4S. Slow, misunderstands a lot. And if you're gonna be getting a smart watch too, Bixby sucks on that too.

4. Ads. There. are. Ads. -- yep. The first party software has ads in it. On a $1099 phone.

5. Apple Music and iCloud photos -- without migrating them all over, the experience is compromised. Apple Music for Android is a great app but it doesn’t work with any of the Android assistants and I use siri for that in my car EVERY day.


I felt like the whole experience was like creating Frankenstein's monster out of software to create the comprehensive experience Apple has in their ecosystem. Maybe that works for some people. Pulling off the shelf parts to get the experience you're looking for sounds good. In reality, it felt like a mess after I got past the cool features and gimmicks that first drew me in.

I'm back to my XS Max now and i'm probably just gonna hold onto it for the year since the 11 Pro didn't blow my mind either.

Not intending to refute any of this, because everyone's experiences and needs are different. Just offering a different perspective from a first time switcher, who has been using nothing but iPhone since it's debut.

I actually found the switch really simple, haven't missed my iPhone X at all and haven't been at all tempted by the iPhone 11. We will see what next year brings, but I was comfortable with the Note 10+ at the end of the 14-day trial and had no hesitation in keeping it.

1. Messaging. The Samsung Messaging App is garbage imho, but I found that Google Messaging (Formerly Android Messaging) worked well with all my iPhone, Android and yes even BlackBerry friends. I have had no issues with it, but I have been playing around recently with both Textra and Pulse. I really like the customization available in both, particularly the ability of Textra to be able to customize the text color of every member of a group text. No more "Green Friends" and "Blue Friends." My friends now each have thier own unique color, so it is easy to tell who texted what at a glance.

2. I don't use Smarthome and have no idea about that. My needs in this regard are just operability with my Schlage locks, carrier thermostat and Arlo cameras and security system. Everything there works as expected, though I dumped Apple Homekit for the Schlage hub to get the Schlagesense locks to work. Not a biggie, about a 3 minute setup.

3. Bixby. Don't care about it, don't use it. Hey Google and Alexa work better than Bixby or Siri. Cortana may work better than either as well. But mostly what I use any of them for is to listen to music when riding on my motorcycle and for that "Hey Cardo" works for starting music on the Cardo helmet comms.

4. Ads. Can't think of any I have gotten other than an occasional one in the Samsung store. Eh, I don't visit there much anyway.

5. Apple Music and iCloud photos. I haven't used Apple Music in 3... maybe 4 years. Not a big fan of Apple Music these days and almost exclusively use Spotify. I suppose if I was going to try to get what I have purchased on iTunes to my phone, I would use iSyncr. I can imagine nothing short of Siri will launch it though. ICloud photos I have synced between my iMac, MBP, iPad, Surface Pro etc. already and have them backed up on internal drives, external drives, iCloud and One Drive. Synching them across hasn't been a problem.

Some things that I really like or prefer about the Note 10+ over my previous iPhones.

1) File system. It is really nice having an actual file system, divided into both internal memory and SD Card.

2) Secure Folder. A nice perk and probably something that requires a file system such as the Note's to implement.

3) Being able to set a default app for about everything you want to do/choosing your own app of choice rather than Apple's own, such as a browser. I was never a big fan of Safari on IOS but it was always a pain in the arse to use anything else.

4) Saving .DNG copies of images. I think that is kind of a cool feature of the camera's "Pro" mode, especially if you don't like Samsung's default processing.

5) S Pen I actually use quite a bit, particularly the off-screen notes. I use these a lot when I need to jot down a quit number, address or note.

6) Your Phone and Dex work for what I need with my Surface Pro, though the Note does lack the same compatibility with my Macs that the iPhones did. But since I use Windows for work, that was a reasonable trade-off.

7) The fast charging with the optional 45W charger is really nice to have when you need a fast charge from near empty to 80%

I realize my likes are likely unimportant to many others, but they contribute to why the Note 10+ transition worked for me.

 

[majkom]

After disapointing pixel event, we have a king of android phones for this year - hail the king note 10th

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

Not intending to refute any of this, because everyone's experiences and needs are different. Just offering a different perspective from a first time switcher, who has been using nothing but iPhone since it's debut.

I actually found the switch really simple, haven't missed my iPhone X at all and haven't been at all tempted by the iPhone 11. We will see what next year brings, but I was comfortable with the Note 10+ at the end of the 14-day trial and had no hesitation in keeping it.

1. Messaging. The Samsung Messaging App is garbage imho, but I found that Google Messaging (Formerly Android Messaging) worked well with all my iPhone, Android and yes even BlackBerry friends. I have had no issues with it, but I have been playing around recently with both Textra and Pulse. I really like the customization available in both, particularly the ability of Textra to be able to customize the text color of every member of a group text. No more "Green Friends" and "Blue Friends." My friends now each have thier own unique color, so it is easy to tell who texted what at a glance.

2. I don't use Smarthome and have no idea about that. My needs in this regard are just operability with my Schlage locks, carrier thermostat and Arlo cameras and security system. Everything there works as expected, though I dumped Apple Homekit for the Schlage hub to get the Schlagesense locks to work. Not a biggie, about a 3 minute setup.

3. Bixby. Don't care about it, don't use it. Hey Google and Alexa work better than Bixby or Siri. Cortana may work better than either as well. But mostly what I use any of them for is to listen to music when riding on my motorcycle and for that "Hey Cardo" works for starting music on the Cardo helmet comms.

4. Ads. Can't think of any I have gotten other than an occasional one in the Samsung store. Eh, I don't visit there much anyway.

5. Apple Music and iCloud photos. I haven't used Apple Music in 3... maybe 4 years. Not a big fan of Apple Music these days and almost exclusively use Spotify. I suppose if I was going to try to get what I have purchased on iTunes to my phone, I would use iSyncr. I can imagine nothing short of Siri will launch it though. ICloud photos I have synced between my iMac, MBP, iPad, Surface Pro etc. already and have them backed up on internal drives, external drives, iCloud and One Drive. Synching them across hasn't been a problem.

Some things that I really like or prefer about the Note 10+ over my previous iPhones.

1) File system. It is really nice having an actual file system, divided into both internal memory and SD Card.

2) Secure Folder. A nice perk and probably something that requires a file system such as the Note's to implement.

3) Being able to set a default app for about everything you want to do/choosing your own app of choice rather than Apple's own, such as a browser. I was never a big fan of Safari on IOS but it was always a pain in the arse to use anything else.

4) Saving .DNG copies of images. I think that is kind of a cool feature of the camera's "Pro" mode, especially if you don't like Samsung's default processing.

5) S Pen I actually use quite a bit, particularly the off-screen notes. I use these a lot when I need to jot down a quit number, address or note.

6) Your Phone and Dex work for what I need with my Surface Pro, though the Note does lack the same compatibility with my Macs that the iPhones did. But since I use Windows for work, that was a reasonable trade-off.

7) The fast charging with the optional 45W charger is really nice to have when you need a fast charge from near empty to 80%

I realize my likes are likely unimportant to many others, but they contribute to why the Note 10+ transition worked for me.

I actually agree with pretty much everything you just said. The biggest problem was me and my unwillingness to transition from Apple Music and iCloud Photos. But those are not small transitions when you have 20k items on both. I'm a DJ and my music library is literally the most important digital asset that I have. It's no small undertaking to move thousands of remixes that don't match anything available on streaming services over to a new service. It wouldn't be so bad to move my photos but it was just that on top of all the other little things that held me back.

Dex was awesome. I already miss it and only used the phone for 36 hours. I WISH Apple Music worked with Google Assistant. I think I probably would've stuck with it.

The other part I didn't mention is that my partner and I both switched and he had his own set of complaints with the Note 10 and the smartwatch. Phones and tech are one of our biggest things in common and we like to have the same platform for the sake of sharing and simplicity in the house. At the end of the day, we both agreed this wasn't the time. We bounced back and forth, taking turns who was on board and who wanted to switch back. It wasn't an easy decision. Flip flopping hourly.

I think we could've stuck it out and been okay. But everytime I picked up my iPhone it just felt like a relief. It felt like home. And for that reason, I decided to just stay for now.

 

[michael9891]

I actually agree with pretty much everything you just said. The biggest problem was me and my unwillingness to transition from Apple Music and iCloud Photos. But those are not small transitions when you have 20k items on both. I'm a DJ and my music library is literally the most important digital asset that I have. It's no small undertaking to move thousands of remixes that don't match anything available on streaming services over to a new service. It wouldn't be so bad to move my photos but it was just that on top of all the other little things that held me back.

Dex was awesome. I already miss it and only used the phone for 36 hours. I WISH Apple Music worked with Google Assistant. I think I probably would've stuck with it.

The other part I didn't mention is that my partner and I both switched and he had his own set of complaints with the Note 10 and the smartwatch. Phones and tech are one of our biggest things in common and we like to have the same platform for the sake of sharing and simplicity in the house. At the end of the day, we both agreed this wasn't the time. We bounced back and forth, taking turns who was on board and who wanted to switch back. It wasn't an easy decision. Flip flopping hourly.

I think we could've stuck it out and been okay. But everytime I picked up my iPhone it just felt like a relief. It felt like home. And for that reason, I decided to just stay for now.

As you say your dj mixes can't be found on streaming services, I'm assuming they're your own mixes and saved in iTunes playlists? That's then synced to Apple devices?

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

As you say your dj mixes can't be found on streaming services, I'm assuming they're your own mixes and saved in iTunes playlists? That's then synced to Apple devices?

They're mixes from all over the place. DJ pools, my own, other members of the DJ community. They're added to iTunes playlists and synced with iCloud Music Library to all my devices

 

[michael9891]

They're mixes from all over the place. DJ pools, my own, other members of the DJ community. They're added to iTunes playlists and synced with iCloud Music Library to all my devices

I use an Android app called iSyncer. Open the app on my phone, plug into my pc and it opens iTunes and let's you sync all your iTunes playlists.

I'd be lost without it because I've put a lot and time and effort into iTunes playlists since around 2003.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

I use an Android app called iSyncer. Open the app on my phone, plug into my pc and it opens iTunes and let's you sync all your iTunes playlists.

I'd be lost without it because I've put a lot and time and effort into iTunes playlists since around 2003.

What music player do you use on your phone?

 

[michael9891]

What music player do you use on your phone?

I did use Google Play Music. But it wouldn't sync playlists when I was using a beta version of Android 10. Switched to Rocket Player and prefer it.

 

[yui4]

I have returned to the note 10+. They just refunded when I returned my original rather than replace due to the earpiece fault. I’ve been on the Xs max for a week or 2 and even bought an Apple Watch series 5 but that’s going back and the wife is getting her iPhone back

I know it’s not for everyone but I missed some things from the Samsung that made a difference

 

[Zito Abroad]

I have returned to the note 10+. They just refunded when I returned my original rather than replace due to the earpiece fault. I’ve been on the Xs max for a week or 2 and even bought an Apple Watch series 5 but that’s going back and the wife is getting her iPhone back

I know it’s not for everyone but I missed some things from the Samsung that made a difference

Were you ever considering the Pixel 4 XL.

 

[yui4]

Were you ever considering the Pixel 4 XL.

Not for 1 minute. If it’s android I’m using, them it’s Samsung. Don’t care what anyone else thinks but all the extras that come with their software and the presence of a physical shop nearby are why I chose them

 

[Zito Abroad]

Not for 1 minute. If it’s android I’m using, them it’s Samsung. Don’t care what anyone else thinks but all the extras that come with their software and the presence of a physical shop nearby are why I chose them

I totally agree. Just look at the Android 10 gestures. One Hand Operation+ absolutely kills those stock Android gestures. For Galaxy users, the upcoming Android 10 update, really offers nothing new or exciting.

 

[SDColorado]

I actually agree with pretty much everything you just said. The biggest problem was me and my unwillingness to transition from Apple Music and iCloud Photos. But those are not small transitions when you have 20k items on both. I'm a DJ and my music library is literally the most important digital asset that I have. It's no small undertaking to move thousands of remixes that don't match anything available on streaming services over to a new service. It wouldn't be so bad to move my photos but it was just that on top of all the other little things that held me back.

Dex was awesome. I already miss it and only used the phone for 36 hours. I WISH Apple Music worked with Google Assistant. I think I probably would've stuck with it.

The other part I didn't mention is that my partner and I both switched and he had his own set of complaints with the Note 10 and the smartwatch. Phones and tech are one of our biggest things in common and we like to have the same platform for the sake of sharing and simplicity in the house. At the end of the day, we both agreed this wasn't the time. We bounced back and forth, taking turns who was on board and who wanted to switch back. It wasn't an easy decision. Flip flopping hourly.

I think we could've stuck it out and been okay. But everytime I picked up my iPhone it just felt like a relief. It felt like home. And for that reason, I decided to just stay for now.

I can see the music being a harder issue to get around. Photos I have a crazy amount of, but I didn't have an issue with those due to the amount of redundancy I have in that area.

But I didn't have any music in Apple Music that was irreplaceable, unreplicatable. So that was never an issue for me.

In my own experience both the iPhone/IOS and Samsung/Android have their own sets of annoyances and short comings. I kind of like the challenge much as I did when I picked up a Surface Pro after having not used Windows since XP.

I have a friend in the same spectrum that has used nothing but Galaxy's and won't even consider an iPhone. When I asked her what she had against iPhone she replied "nothing. I just don't like change." Fair enough we all have our own reasons for changing or deciding not to.

But for many "better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

 

[SteveJUAE]

I can see the music being a harder issue to get around. Photos I have a crazy amount of, but I didn't have an issue with those due to the amount of redundancy I have in that area.

But I didn't have any music in Apple Music that was irreplaceable, unreplicatable. So that was never an issue for me.

In my own experience both the iPhone/IOS and Samsung/Android have their own sets of annoyances and short comings. I kind of like the challenge much as I did when I picked up a Surface Pro after having not used Windows since XP.

I have a friend in the same spectrum that has used nothing but Galaxy's and won't even consider an iPhone. When I asked her what she had against iPhone she replied "nothing. I just don't like change." Fair enough we all have our own reasons for changing or deciding not to.

But for many "better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

Well I like change of a sort I just picked up a Galaxy Fold yesterday

 

[SDColorado]

Well I like change of a sort I just picked up a Galaxy Fold yesterday

I hear ya. I like change. I like challenges. I like the smell of something new. Let us know how you get along with the Fold. It's a curious phone for sure. I hope they keep going with it. Even if it isn't an initial success. Didn't Microsoft lose money year after year on the Surface Pro until maybe SP5 before it turned the corner and began making money?

 

[jamezr]

Well I like change of a sort I just picked up a Galaxy Fold yesterday

would love to read your thoughts on the Fold!

 

[5105973]

When I log into Amazon on my Samsung phones, even via the website, I find myself in an environment more heavy on marketing with more curated products thrown at me on the intro page than I see when logging in on my iPhone.

I also sometimes noticed more attention aimed specifically at me when I visited a Samsung partner site like Sephora on a Samsung. It’s not terribly overdone or intrusive. There will just be more products presented upfront that clearly were based on data they got from me somehow at some point. I’ll also see a lot of offers on my notifications. I can see it unnerving people who have been on iPhones exclusively.

I’m not sure I noticed quite that on my Pixel. I think it’s less an ad tracking thing and more tied to Samsung and sharing of data with their partnerships. If you go all in with Bixby they do disclose that this will happen.

It’s not that difficult to opt out and dial back the attention and offers. Some of it is done on Samsung’s website when you log into your Samsung account.

There have been times I liked the offers and kept them coming.

 

[SteveJUAE]

would love to read your thoughts on the Fold!

I know this is a Note 10 thread so will keep non related thoughts to a minimum and more what you gain and loose vs our Note's

Make no mistake the Fold is a premium device with a weightyness that compliments it when folded.

It's not big in the pocket if anything it's less obtrusive being narrow re easier to stuff a rolled up newspaper in a pocket, the Note width is noticeably more when sitting down in your front pocket by comparison

The main screen bezels are big yet small proportionally to screen but a bit shinny plastic and would deteriorate and ping off if you dare to keep this for say 5 years, a bit like the old white macbooks lol.

The main screen feel under your finger tip feels identical to our Note's with stock screen protector on but the fold/crease is noticeable when you scroll across screen. The screen is big and bright because there is simply more of it.

The fold and notch also disappear from conscious thought rapidly especially in landscape mode , not all apps go to the edge to you do not see it as a cutout and the loss or real estate is not relevant when your already that big

The front screen is small by today's standards and if you use the free/supplied case it is nicely framed and the big chins are not apparent.

The front screen has full customisation independent of the main so double the fun

I thought i would miss the in screen fingerprint but the side scanner is the correct choice for this device and super quick. I would of liked the case to have framed it more like the S9's cases but muscle memory will take over soon

I was an avid side bar user with a minimalist home page layout but this has change on the Fold. The side bar is now a tray for launching the various split screen modes (will post some screen shots). This means I have change my once only folder app trays to the first tray being my top 20 apps and my 2nd tray to lessor used apps in their folders, still. This approach for different reasons is more important on the front screen due to available screen size.

The front screen when configured correctly is a great notification and app launcher re see whats urgent tap on it and unfold to reply in luxury or for privacy and quick replies stay on the front screen.

It is possible to access all functions from the front screen and I wonder what battery endurance you would get just using that on an extended trip

Make no mistake this is not a one handed device although some functions are possible and with the front screen more so, its best 2 handed. If like me you are always a flip case user there is no transition.

The sticker price is a bit off putting but with free buds and it can eliminate a small tablet or kindle from your inventory it starts to look more reasonable given storage 512GB

Fragility may be a show stopper for some but given most are likely to trade in on the next Samsung release I don't see an issue with that and the bundled screen replacement gives some peace

I have only come across one simple app that the next arrow was obscure by another piece of text due to display not being optimal, but a quick flip back to front screen solved that

There is little between the S10/Fold and the Note's cameras other than DOF and the 3d scanner is not really working as of yet and who needs doodles LOL

The big screen is great for media, email, photo's etc, that's a given and the whole purpose. However the split screen mode and pop ups/floating windows similarly get a boost.

The double split from the task tray is the best with say email on one side primary and your favourite message app on the other. where replies are easy to accomplish, if you go to 3 apps ie mail and 2 messenger apps the 2 become more of a notification/viewer than actually useful IMO. Other apps that stream or just need viewing may be better.

The loss of the Note's pen is really more about note taking, it's still possible because of screen size to annotate accurately with a fine line, but adding notes not so easy with your finger.

I will post some screen shots of apps spilt: