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Samsung's Galaxy Home smart speaker is still alive, somehow
While Samsung's Unpacked event was mostly about the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+, a new S Pen and a Galaxy Book S laptop, plenty of observers expected some news on the fate of Galaxy Home. Samsung announced the smart speaker a year ago, but it's been beset by delays. Most recently, Samsung targeted a release window of the "mid-second half of the year" -- so perhaps sometime this quarter. The latest word is that Samsung is still working on the Bixby-powered device.
Why does the Galaxy Note still exist?
Watching the Galaxy Note 10 keynote, it became clear that the whole Note series has run out of runway. When it first launched, it was a wacky experiment to see if there was a market for an over-sized phone. But times have changed, and what was once transgressive is now the norm, only existing to wring cash out of the faithful.
Samsung's smaller Galaxy Note 10 5G model won't come to the US
Samsung is making 5G versions of both the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but only the latter version is coming to the US, according to a graphic spotted by The Verge. Meanwhile, a smaller 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 10 5G will definitely be built, but it will launch exclusively in Korea.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 event by the numbers
Samsung took to the stage on Wednesday to show off the latest advances in its Galaxy Note 10 line, including new iterations of the Note 10 and 10+, a slick game streaming feature, and a surprisingly long-lived laptop dubbed the Galaxy Book S. Here are five highlights from the event.
All the important news from Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 event
At its Galaxy Unpacked event today in Brooklyn, Samsung unveiled the latest additions to its Galaxy Note lineup -- the Note 10 and Note 10+. Unlike prior Note releases, Samsung's phone comes in two sizes to suit user preferences. The Note 10's display is 6.3 inches and the Note 10+, with a display that measures at a whopping 6.8 inches, is Samsung's largest phone screen to date. Samsung President and CEO DJ Koh in the keynote made the point that future innovations wouldn't be just about devices -- but also new services and ecosystems. That being said, as devices the Note 10 and Note 10+ hold up on their own. Both are packed with features and improvements not seen before in its predecessors, as well as a few significant omissions: Neither have the Bixby button or a headphone jack. The larger Note 10 has four cameras on the back, including one specifically for AR video and drawing. Note 10's stylus, the S Pen, got a significant upgrade -- including a 6-axis sensor that lets users take pictures, zoom in and switch camera perspective with a gesture. Priced at $949, the Note 10 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Note 10+ starts at $1,099 with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, or you can spend $100 more to get 512GB of storage. They're available in a prismatic color range; Aura Glow, Aura White and Aura Black. Both phones are available to pre-order today, and will be available for sale on August 23rd. Here's a rundown of all the major announcements from the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event today.
Samsung Galaxy Book S hands-on: The most stylish Snapdragon laptop yet
I wasn't expecting to like the Galaxy Book S as much as I did. After all, based on the teaser video Samsung showed during its Unpacked keynote today, the laptop looked pretty unassuming. Let that be a lesson to learn, though -- don't judge a book by its company-approved cover photo. After I picked up the computer at Samsung's demo area here at Unpacked, I was immediately impressed by how thin and premium it felt.
Samsung teams up with the UN on sustainability efforts
Today's Samsung event wasn't just about new gadgets. Near the end of today's presentation, Samsung president DJ Koh announced a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a way of putting more focus on the organization's Sustainable Development Goals, or the Global Goals for short. Specifically, Samsung is releasing a Global Goals application that'll come pre-installed on the Galaxy Note 10 series and will be available on other Galaxy devices soon.
The Galaxy Note 10 needs to be cheaper than $950
When I first held the Galaxy Note 10, I was mesmerized. It was the smaller of two new Notes that Samsung announced today, and although I had been expecting the new size (thanks to the hardworking leak mill), I was still pleasantly surprised. At last, a Galaxy Note that I could navigate with just one hand! I can finally get the excellent S Pen without having to be saddled with a giant handset.
The Galaxy Note 10+ vs. the competition: The behemoth gets bigger
The Galaxy Note originally distinguished itself by being a big phone for people who needed to get things done. But, with so many flagship handsets bearing huge screens and better cameras (including the S10+), the Note was starting to look like an also-ran. With the Note 10+, it looks like Samsung figured "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" by putting out a "plus" version with a screen size of almost seven inches — just when we thought phablets weren't really a thing anymore. (One trade-off: No more headphone jack.) To see how well this new enhanced size pays off spec-wise, check out our table comparing to some of the more noteworthy plus-size challengers out there, and swing by later this month to read our full review of this massive device.
The Galaxy Note 10 vs. the competition: Smaller screen
For its first few iterations it was easy for the Galaxy Note line to stand apart from other handsets. But as phones have gotten bigger and more advanced, the things that made the Note special have become fewer and fewer. In fact, last year there was very little to distinguish the Note 9 from its sibling S9+. A year later we're now looking at the Note 10: It's got a 6.3-inch screen, smaller bezels and a refined S Pen (with an accelerometer and gyroscope), but is that enough to make the phone something worth talking about in a world where its rivals also sport multiple rear cameras, wireless charging and bigger batteries? We've stacked up some of the more noteworthy challengers to the Galaxy Note 10 below, including its sibling S10, so take a peek and stay tuned later this month for our full review!
AR Doodle draws 'sticky' animations on your Galaxy Note 10 selfies
The Galaxy Note 10's S Pen doesn't just serve as a remote control wand for Samsung's newest phone, as we saw at Samsung's press conference today, it works its magic in the realm of AR as well. When used in conjunction with the Notes' AR Doodle feature, users will wield their stylus as a mixed reality paintbrush, adding drawings and animations to whatever scene the camera is pointed at.
Samsung's Galaxy Book S is a Windows 10 laptop that lasts all day
It wasn't just about the Note 10 and Note 10+ at today's Samsung Galaxy event in New York City. The company also took the opportunity to unveil a laptop, called the Samsung Galaxy Book S. As rumored, the Galaxy Book S ships with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx chip (7nm 64-bit Octa-core processor) and runs Windows 10. Interestingly, it features a traditional clamshell design, which is different from the 2-in-1 stylings of the Galaxy Book and Galaxy Book 2. It looks to have a thin, minimal design, with two USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
The Galaxy Note 10 can stream games from your PC
Samsung is keeping gamers in mind with the Galaxy Note 10. Though the PlayGalaxy Link P2P streaming service, you can stream PC games to your Note 10 and keep playing while you're on the move -- all without having to store games on your phone.
The Note 10s camera can can 'zoom-in' on sounds
The camera on Samsung's newly revealed Galaxy Note 10 features a "state of the art" camera system with overhauled video tools that allow users to focus on a particular part of a scene. Specifically, it features a "Zoom-In Mic" feature that can amplify audio and focus on sound happening in the frame while pushing out background noise. The feature was announced during Samsung's Unpacked 2019 event.
Samsung's DeX on Note 10 brings phone apps to your PC
Samsung's DeX is no longer limited to turning your mobile device into a computer -- it now works with your computer. The expanded version of DeX on the Galaxy Note 10 lets you transfer files (including photos), reply to messages and run mobile apps on your Mac or Windows PC. It's Samsung's rough equivalent to Windows 10's phone integration, just with a unified interface and broader PC operating system support.
The Galaxy Note 10 S Pen is also a wand that controls your phone
Today, Samsung confirmed a poorly kept secret. The Galaxy Note 10 S Pen will offer gesture controls, or "Air Actions." This goes one step further than the Note 9 S Pen, which acts as a remote control. Now, you'll be able to control the Note 10 (and Note 10+) with a wave of the stylus. The S Pen will allow you to activate shortcuts and perform specific actions by drawing shapes above the screen. As you can with the Galaxy Tab S6, you'll be able to swish-and-flick to switch between front- and rear-facing cameras and toggle through camera modes.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 doesn't have a headphone jack or Bixby button
Remember those Samsung ads mocking Apple's latest iPhones for not having a headphone jack? Well, it looks like the company is going to have to make some about itself. That's because, as leaks suggested, Samsung's new Galaxy Note 10 won't have one. Instead of a 3.5mm port, the smartphone will use USB-C for audio and basically anything else that requires physical connectivity. While the Note 10 comes with a pair of USB-C earbuds, the lack of a traditional 3.5mm jack means you'll need a dongle if you want to use your own, non-wireless headphones.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10+ has a huge 6.8-inch screen, optional 5G
For the first time ever, Samsung is launching two new Note phones at once: the 6.3-inch Note 10, which is actually smaller than last year's model, and the new creme de la creme, the Note 10+. It's a leap forward in almost every way: Its 6.8-inch screen is the biggest display Samsung has ever shoved into a Note device, and there's also a 5G version for people who just can't wait to jump on next-generation networks. While it's a bit confusing to see two new phablets from Samsung, especially when there's also the big-screen Galaxy S10 5G, it's yet another way the company can flex its smartphone muscle. [Check out our extensive hands-on of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note10+!]
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ hands-on
It's very clear to Samsung who typically buys a Galaxy Note. Usually, this is a person who knows how much RAM and which graphics processor are in their phone. The typical Note owner also loves using a stylus to jot down reminders or sketch on-the-go and appreciates the big screens that are characteristic of the series. In fact, Notes have only gotten larger since the first model with its 5.3-inch display. But with the release of the Note 10, Samsung wants to reach more people, and it's found a way to expand its appeal. For the first time, the Galaxy Note will be available in two sizes -- the Note 10 and the Note 10+.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 is a tiny bit smaller and costs less than before
At a typically lavish event in Brooklyn this afternoon, Samsung is making an announcement that surprises exactly no one: the Galaxy Note 10 is here. Well, almost. Samsung's largest, stylus-enabled flagship device will be available on August 23rd in the US, with pre-orders opening tomorrow. Just as the rumors predicted, Samsung made two sizes of the Galaxy Note 10 this year, but right now we're just focusing on the smaller option. (Details on the big guy can be found here.) [Check out our extensive hands-on of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note10+!]
