Samsung Galaxy Note10 arrives in Malaysia

• Samsung continues to strive to be innovator of new mobile experiences 
• Strong video features including screen recorder where users can record on-screen activity

WE KNOW that it’s arriving. Pre-orders for Malaysians were opened mere hours after its New York announcement. But for an added measure of finality, Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy Note10 in Malaysia.

Not that there’s any real need to add to the fanfare. The aforementioned pre-order programme was supposed to last until Aug 18, but demand was so good that Samsung Malaysia says that the pre-order allocations on its official website are all sold out before the date.

Those that still want to pre-order the phones can reach out to participating retailers and telcos for stock availability.

“The Galaxy Note10 is proving that Samsung continues to strive and to be the innovator of new mobile experiences across all platforms and devices,” says Samsung Malaysia Electronics president Yoonsoo Kim.

“For the first time ever, Samsung is introducing not one, but two Note devices. These devices come with four revolutionary innovations in terms of design, creativity, productivity and performance. With all these features packed into one powerful phone, we now have the capabilities to seize our moment and charge forward into a future of endless possibilities.”

Indeed, there are two versions here – the regular Note10, and the larger Note10+. The former comes in a more compact form factor (6.3-inches), while the Note10+ features a 6.8-inch Cinematic Infinity Display, making it the largest Note display yet.

The Note10 (with 256GB of storage) prices at US$885.24 (RM3,699), while the Note10+ has two variants to choose from – the 256GB version, which prices at US$1,005 (RM4,199) and a 512GB version, at US$1,148.50 (RM4,799).

Premium parts

You can head over to our early impressions to get a sense of how the Note10 looks and feels, but here are some specification appetisers for you to devour.

Both Note10s are running a 7nm 64-bit Octa-core processor, and have dual-SIM capabilities. The regular Note10 provides 8GB RAM, while the Note10+ has 12GB. As for battery, the Note10 sports a 3,500mAh battery, while the Note10+ carries a hefty 4,300mAh version.

The Note10+ supports “super-fast charging”, where the use of an optional 45W wired charger can charge a day’s worth of battery on the device in just 30 minutes. Both devices also come with Wireless PowerShare, which essentially lets you charge the wireless Galaxy Buds on the device.

There are also differences when it comes to the camera. The regular Note10 has a triple-rear-camera setup consisting of a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, a 12MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP telephoto lens. The Note10+ carries an additional DepthVision Camera for some additional features.

The Note10’s 6.3-inch display features 2,280 x 1,080 resolution at 401ppi, while the Note10+’s massive screen is a 3,040 x 1,440 resolution display with 498ppi. Both are Dynamic AMOLED displays with HDR+ certification and Dynamic Tone Mapping.

The Note10s also feature what Samsung touts as the world’s slimmest vapour chamber cooling system, which is to provide optimal performance while video gaming without affecting the device’s slim design.

Video magic

As mentioned in our impressions, the Note10 seems to be pushing its video capabilities further. Live Focus Video is a feature that adds depth-of-field adjustments so you can blur the backgrounds to focus on your subject in video, while Zoom-In Mic can amplify the audio in frame while pushing background noise aside.

The phone also comes with a pre-installed video editor that makes use of the S Pen to allow for easy, quick video editing. There’s also a screen recorder that lets users record their on-screen activity. By turning the front camera to provide picture-in-picture footage, the phone basically lets users record their reactions while using the phone or playing games (great for streamers).

The Note10+’s DepthVision camera also allows for an AR Doodle feature. With this, users can doodle on the screen with the S Pen while recording video, which lets you add illustrations that track with the image. The DepthVision camera also allows users to take a scan of an object and instantly turn it into a movable 3D rendering.

The S Pen has been given a few upgrades, including a six-axis sensor that allows the user to flick and swish the Pen to navigate the phone. You can, for instance, swipe through PowerPoint presentations by flicking the S Pen.

There is also handwriting to text functionality, letting you easily convert writing on the S Pen to text with just a tap.

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ will be available for purchase on Aug 23.