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The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is Samsung’s latest flagship phablet, but it wasn’t all that long ago that the company launched the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, which is also big and also high-end.

1. Note 9 Vs S10+ Specs
2. Note 9 Vs S10 Phone Arena
3. Note 9 Vs S10+

Editors' Note: Updated March 8 now that the Galaxy S10 is shipping.

There used to be no dispute as to which Samsung phone was the company's big-screen beast. The Galaxy Note series featured the largest displays, the most processing oomph, and the features most obviously geared toward anyone who subscribed to the theory that Bigger Is Almost Always Better.

The newly released Galaxy S10 Plus, one of a trio of S10 models rolled out by Samsung, shakes things up by quite a bit. This new phone's display is every bit as big as what you'd find on the Galaxy Note 9, and the 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 isn't that much smaller. What's more, Samsung has packed the kind of features into the Galaxy S10 that used to be firmly in the Note's domain. As a result, the choice of which big-screen Samsung phone to get isn't as clear as it was before.

We've posted our review of the S10 Plus, and we're awaiting our chance to test the S10, but we've had enough hands-on time with the new devices to compare and contrast them with the Note 9. We'll update this article with a final verdict once we've completed our S10 testing, but here's how these big-screen Samsung phones compare at this point.

Design and Display

When comparing the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy Note 9, it's hard to start anywhere other than the displays. That's because the S10 Plus model now features a 6.4-inch OLED panel stretching from edge to edge, just like the Note 9.

But there are some key differences with that screen. The resolution on the S10 Plus is a bit sharper at 3040 x 1440 to the Note 9's 2960 x 1440. The S10 Plus also uses Samsung's new Dynamic OLED panel, which should feature a wider range of colors due to its support for dynamic-tone mapping. The 6.1-inch S10 offers the same resolution as the S10 Plus on its Dynamic OLED screen

That said, when we tested the S10 Plus' display, it registered 136.5 percent of the sRGB color gamut, compared to 224 percent for the Note 9. The S10 Plus displays colors more accurately, with a Delta-E score of 0.29 to the Note 9's 0.34. (Numbers closer to zero are better.) The S10 Plus has a slightly brighter screen as well (625 nits versus 604 nits for the Note 9), though we got that number by shining a flashlight at the S10's sensor.

Samsung's phones also achieve their edge-to-edge displays in different ways. The Note 9 features a bezel at the top to house its front-facing camera. But the S10 and S10 Plus opt for Samsung's new Infinity O display and its punch-hole design, where the camera is housed in a cutout in the middle of the screen. (In the S10 Plus's case, that cutout contains two front cameras, as we'll discuss in a moment.) The end result is that the S10 Plus squeezes more screen into a smaller form factor than the Note 9, but that punch hole could stand out when you're using apps or watching videos that fill the whole screen.

Regarding form factor, the S10 Plus is a little shorter and less wide than the Note 9 at 6.2 x 2.91 x 0.3 inches. It weighs less, too, tipping the scales at 6.17 ounces to the Note 9's 7.1 ounces. With its smaller screen, the S10 is the most compact of the bunch at 5.9 x 2.77 x 0.3 inches and 5.5 ounces. (There's an even smaller version, the Galaxy S10E, but it lacks some of the higher-end features of the S10 and S10 Plus and really isn't much of an alternative to the Note 9.)

Another big design change becomes apparent when you spend some time with the phones. The S10 and S10 Plus use an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that fits underneath their displays. (A modest cutout gives you a clue as to where to place your finger to unlock your phone.) The Note 9, like other recent Samsung phones, puts the fingerprint sensor on the back. (Though thankfully, it's beneath the dual cameras instead of next to the lenses.)

MORE: Best Galaxy S10 Deals Right Now

You'll get contrasting choices in colors depending on which phone you favor. The Note 9 comes in four shades — Lavender Purple, Ocean Blue, Cloud Silver and Midnight Black. S10 shoppers can choose between Flamingo Pink (unless you're in the U.K.), Prism Black, Prism White and Prism Blue. (If you're outside the U.S., add Prism Green to the mix.) Higher-capacity versions of the S10 Plus come in Ceramic Black or Ceramic White.

Cameras

Samsung introduced dual cameras to its flagship phones with the Note 8, and the Note 9 continued that tradition with a pair of 12-megapixel shooters. The S10 and S10 Plus up the ante by adding a third lens to the back — a 16-MP ultra-wide-angle camera joins the 12-MP main lens and 12-MP telephoto shooter. (The 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 features this triple-lens setup, too.)

That means either S10 model will give you the option of pulling back when you want a shot that captures more of the surrounding details, while also letting you zoom in as you can with the Note 9. The S10 main dual-pixel camera has the same variable aperture as the Note 9 that lets in more light when you're taking pictures in the dark.

The secret sauce to the Note 9's camera was artificial intelligence, capable of recognizing different scenes and adjusting camera settings accordingly. The S10 models add more smarts to now recognize 30 different scenes, compared with the Note 9's 20.

Up front, you get more lenses on the S10 Plus, too. There's an 8-MP depth-sensing camera joining the 10-MP selfie cam on Samsung's newest phone. The Note 9 gets by with a single 8-MP lens up front. Samsung says the two lens on the S10 Plus can improve the bokeh effects on portrait shots, and that the new phone's front cameras can capture Ultra-HD video, too.

MORE: Galaxy S10 vs. Pixel 3 Camera Face-off

We'll have to pit the assorted cameras in a face-off to see if these promised improvements in the S10 pan out, but so far, the S10 Plus compared well with the Pixel 3, our current pick for best camera in a smartphone.

Performance

We have a pretty clear sense of how the S10 performs compared to the Note 9, at least when it comes to the S10 Plus. The Note 9 is no performance slouch, running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, the chipset of choice for 2018's flagship Android devices. But all the Galaxy S10 models feature a new system-on-chip, the Snapdragon 855, which Qualcomm says benefits from the biggest performance increase ever for a Snapdragon update. And that makes a big difference in our initial Galaxy S10 benchmarks. (We've just tested an S10 Plus, but the S10 has the same processor and RAM, so we'd expect similar results once we test that phone.)

On Geekbench 4, which gauges overall performance, the Galaxy S10 Plus scored 10,732, the best number we've ever seen from an Android device on that test. The Galaxy Note 9 scored 8,876 on Geekbench 4, so the S10 Plus improved on that result by 21 percent.

The S10 Plus also topped the Note 9 when we tested graphics using 3DMark's Sling Shot Extreme benchmark. The latest Samsung phone turned in a 5,648 score, besting the Note 9's 4,639 result by 22 percent. We plan to run additional tests and log real-world use to see if these initial numbers favoring the S10 Plus hold up.

The S10 Plus enjoys an extra advantage when measuring performance because its base model features more RAM. It ships with 8GB of memory, compared with 6GB in the Note 9's base model. You could upgrade to 8GB in the Note 9, but the S10 Plus's variations include a model with up to 12GB of RAM.

MORE: First Galaxy S10 Benchmarks: Meet the Fastest Android Ever

The S10 Plus comes with the same amount of storage in its base model as the Note 9 — 128GB. And while both phones feature a 512GB option, only the S10 Plus lets you buy a phone with 1TB of storage.

Battery

The 4,000 mAh battery in the Note 9 was the biggest power pack ever included with a Samsung phone. The operative word there is 'was,' as the S10 Plus features a 4,100 mAh battery. The S10, meanwhile, gets by with a 3,400 mAh battery.

The S10 Plus makes use of its bigger battery, lasting 12 hours and 35 minutes on our battery test, where the phone continuously surfs the web over T-Mobile's LTE network until it runs out of power. The Note 9 lasted for 11:26 on that test, and that was with the phone's adaptive display feature turned off. So you can expect the S10 Plus to last more than hour longer than its big-screen sibling.

The S10 and S10 Plus boast one power management feature you won't find on the Note 9. The new phones' Wireless PowerShare feature lets you use any S10 as a reverse charger to wirelessly power up other devices — including the Note 9.

Software and Special Features

The S10 lineup introduces Samsung's new OneUI skin for Android, which is marked by rounder icons and a redesigned layout meant to make it easier to use large phones with just one hand. That last point is relevant to the S10 Plus and its 6.4-inch screen. Of course, Note 9 users have been able to get the OneUI beta since last year, so they're not missing out on this new interface. And the Android 9 Pie update has been rolling out to the Note 9, bringing that phone in line with the OS version that ships on Samsung's new S10 phones.

If there's one area where the Note enjoys a big advantage over the Galaxy S lineup, it's the S Pen that comes with Samsung's phablet. The Note 9 saw a particularly welcome improvement to its stylus, as you can now use the S Pen as a remote control.

By turning the pen into a remote shutter, you can control music playback or even snap a photo. Even with the improvements to the S10 and S10 Plus, Samsung's latest flagships don't offer anything quite like the S Pen that comes with the Note 9.

Price and Availability

The S10 Plus is the most expensive phone in the new S10 lineup, with a starting price of $999 for the 128GB model with 8GB of RAM. Upgrading your storage to 512GB or 1TB will set you back $1,249, or $1,599. The S10 is a comparative bargain at $899, with an upgrade to 512GB available for $1,149.

The S10 Plus's asking price is in line with what Samsung charged for the Note 9 when it debuted last August. Then, the base model cost $999, while a 512GB Note 9 cost you $1,249. Carriers occasionally offer discounts on the Note 9 — anywhere from $100 to $300 off — so check the latest Note 9 deals to see if there are any chances to save on the cost of this phone.

As of March 8, the Galaxy S10 is now widely available — you can buy it from Samsung, all four major U.S. carriers, regional carrier US Cellular, Xfinity Mobile and retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Several prepaid carriers, including Metro by T-Mobile, Boost and Cricket, now offer the phones, too. The Note 9 has been on sale since last year.

Outlook

Note 9 Vs S10+ Specs

We'll have a definitive verdict once we've spent more time with the Galaxy S10. But after reviewing the S10 Plus, the larger of Samsung's two new phones give the Note 9 some serious competition for Samsung's big-screen phone of choice. The display is just as large as what you get on a Note 9, you'll enjoy better performance, and the new phone's battery lasts longer on a charge.

If you're a big-phone fan, you've never had a better range of choices for your next handset. And at this early stage, the Galaxy S10 Plus looks like the big phone to beat.

Credit: Tom's Guide

Samsung clearly put a lot of effort into improving the cameras on its new Galaxy S10 lineup, going with a triple-lens setup on the back of the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus, while also making software improvements aimed at producing better photos. It's enough to place Samsung's latest phones among the best options for smartphone cameras. But is the S10 even the best camera phone that Samsung makes?

After all, the Galaxy Note 9 isn't that much older than the S10, and it sports its own array of AI-powered features along with a pair of dual rear cameras that previously set the standard for Samsung's smartphones. Can it hold its own against more recent phones from the same manufacturer?

To find out, we took a Note 9 and pitted against the Galaxy S10 Plus in a camera face-off. Here's how these two Samsung phones fared.

How the cameras compare

You can break down the camera differences between the Galaxy S10 Plus and the Note 9 into two categories — lenses and artificial intelligence.

Regarding lenses, the Note 9 sports two rear shooters, with its main 12-megapixel lens able to switch between apertures of f/1.5 or f/2.4 depending on available lighting or whether you want crisper shots. A second 12-MP telephoto lens supports a 2x optical zoom.

Those same cameras are on the back of the Galaxy S10 Plus (as well as the Galaxy S10), but Samsung added a third lens to its newer phones — a 16-MP ultra-wide lens joins the two 12-MP shooters. That extra lens lets you pull back to add in more details you wouldn't be able to capture with the Galaxy Note 9's dual-lens setup.

MORE: Galaxy S10 vs Pixel 3 Camera Shootout: Which Phone Wins?

As for AI, the Scene Optimizer feature introduced with the Note 9 helped the phone recognize the kind of scene you were shooting — food, portraits, sunrises and more — and adapt settings on the fly so that exposure, white balance, contrast and brightness are fine-tuned for that particular photo. The feature is supported on the Galaxy S10, too, only Samsung's new phones recognize 30 different scenes to the 20 that the Note 9 can spot.

We also picked the S10 Plus for this face-off because it differs from the Note 9 in one other substantial way. The S10 Plus adds an 8-MP depth-sensing camera alongside a 10-MP selfie cam on the phone's front. There's just one front camera on the Note 9 — an 8-MP shooter.

What do these changes mean when it comes to the respective images that the Galaxy S10 Plus and Note 9 produce? Here's what we shot using both Samsung phones.

Outdoors

There's not much separating the shots of this New York City Park captured by the Galaxy S10 Plus and the Note 9. Apart from a lens flare producing a rainbow streak on the middle left side of the S10 Plus shot, it would be hard to spot any significant differences between the two photos. The blue sky is a little bit richer in the S10's photo, and the Note 9 dulls the brown building on the left a bit when compared with the S10's shot. But these are very minor differences.

But the S10 Plus has another trick up its sleeve, thanks to that ultra-wide lens. When we pull back with that lens, we add more details to the shot, such as additional buildings and people seated around the park's green grass (which is a more vivid shade of green in this shot). The ultra-wide lens on the S10 Plus adds a noticeable fisheye effect to the shot — objects at the edge of the frame tend to bend inward — and that might detract from the shot for some people. But there's no arguing that the S10 Plus is capable of capturing more detail than the Note 9 when it comes to landscapes.

Winner: Galaxy S10 Plus

2x Zoom

Once again, you'd be hard-pressed to really pick out differences between the shots Samsung's two phones produced when we zoomed in on a tulip. The optical zoom really picks up the tiny details of the tulip — you can make out the textures and wrinkles on the petals, and the color shifts from bright red to a softer pink in both shots.

In the S10 Plus' shot, the purple flowers in the background to the tulip's immediate right aren't lost in shadow the way they are when photographed by the Note 9, but that's a marginal difference. We think the S10 Plus produces a better shot overall, but it's a whisker-thin difference.

Winner: Galaxy S10 Plus

Indoors

The Note 9 upstages Samsung's newer phone when we headed inside to snap a photo at a coffee-shop counter. The baked goods in the Note 9's photo have richer, warmer colors, and even the shadows captured in the shot provide a good contrast, highlighting the brownies and cookies at the heart of the photo. The edges of the Galaxy S10 Plus are better exposed, with the coffee cake in particular standing out. But the less saturated colors in the S10's photo don't feel as inviting, and the food looks less appealing as a result.

Winner: Note 9

Low-Light

All we can say about the photos produced when we went back into our studio and turned out the lights is that we wish we had a Pixel 3 XL and its pace-setting Night Sight feature to capture this shot. Neither the Galaxy S10 Plus nor the Note 9 produced a very compelling photo — surprising since the S10 adds a Bright Night mode to its Scene Optimizer capabilities that's supposed to improve photos when the lights are low.

Even more surprising, the Note 9 does a better job in this situation, relatively speaking. You can make out the complete heart on the wrapping around the bottle in the Note 9's shot, whereas that detail gets subsumed by shadows in the S10's photo. The S10 Plus also struggled to keep the flowers on the left side of the photo, and everything in the middle of the shot looks like an inky smudge. You can at least see where the globe ends and the bush begins in the Note 9's effort.

Winner: Note 9

Portrait

When it came time to take a portrait shot of my colleague Caitlin, the Note 9 produced the better effort. The S10 Plus captured more of the background details, including more trees, buildings and passersby. But that works to the photo's disadvantage, as it calls more attention to the background blur instead of keeping the focus on Caitlin. The blur effect in the S10 shot also doesn't completely obscure a passerby to Caitlin's right, making his jacket seem like part of her left arm. The S10 does do a better job at making Caitlin's hair stand out from the background, though.

What really distinguishes the Note 9's shot, though, is how bright it is. The colors make everything pop, whether it's the green grass in the background or Caitlin's jacket. Her face is better illuminated in the Note 9's photo, too, and that's what you want to see in a portrait shot.

Winner: Note 9

Group Portrait

Add more people to the mix in your portrait shot, and the Galaxy S10 Plus gets a little bit of its own back. Once again, Samsung's newer phone captures a wider background, though here it's more effective, with more people to fit into the shot. The colors are brighter in this effort, too, though the S10's blur effect failed to catch a passerby standing just behind the left shoulder of my colleague Phillip.

That would normally give more of an edge to the Note 9's photo, but there's a problem with light in that shot. There's too much of a glare on half of Phillip's face, and Caitlin's skin tone has an unnaturally pale cast.

Note 9 Vs S10 Phone Arena

Winner: Galaxy S10 Plus

Selfie

My colleague Adam turned the phones' cameras on himself, and the Galaxy S10 Plus emerges as the better choice for self-portraits. Both shots had to deal with challenging sunlight coming in from the left and potentially washing out Adam's face. That happens to some extent in the Note 9's photo, particularly on his forehead and the areas around his cheekbone not bathed in shadow. But those parts of his face remain well-defined in the S10 Plus selfie, even though they're also in sunlight. The flowers in the background are sharper and more distinct in the S10's photo, too.

Winner: Galaxy S10 Plus

Bottom line

Note 9 Vs S10+

It's close, as you'd expect from two flagship phones made by the same manufacturer and released within six months of each other. But the Galaxy S10 Plus just edges the Note 9, thanks in part to that extra rear lens and improved AI. You're still getting a top-notch camera phone with the Note 9, but if you really place a premium on a handset that can take superior photos, the S10 Plus is the better bet.

The Galaxy S10 Plus has the same $999 list price as the Note 9 (though with deals for either the Note 9 or S10, you can probably find both devices for cheaper). The Galaxy S10 sells for $100 less at $899 while offering the same triple lens setup as the S10 Plus. You'll give up a little with self-portraits — there's just a single front lens on the S10 and it didn't perform as well as the S10 Plus' two front cameras in our tests — but for the most part, you can expect the same strong results when it's time to shoot a photo.

Credit: Tom's Guide