The Note 10+ had barely begun making waves through the discount circuit and even on Black Friday you couldn't get one for totally free with a new carrier line.
Fret not, though, as a the rumored Note 10 Lite just made a cameo, and it wasn't even issued as an update to Samsung's upper midrange A series (aka the rumored Galaxy A81) but Samsung straight out titled it "Lite," with an expected price of less than $700.
It represents something that has never been done before by Samsung - a Lite series/S Pen hybrid that will likely come at a much lower price point than the Note 10+, but still sports the signature Note line stylus. Moreover, it is joined by a Galaxy S10 Lite, which, again surprisingly, didn't land as the eventual Galaxy A91 (a step higher than the Note 10 Lite) but other than that the rumors were spot on.
If you are wondering why the S10 Lite will be over $700 and the Note 10 Lite will be under, we have rounded up all the specs below for comparison with their spring chicken predecessors.
Perhaps the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite has caught your eyes already, what with the big camera island on the back, and punch-hole display. If that is the case, then Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 will probably sweeten the pot, whereas the Note 10 Lite's aging Exynos partially explains its lower price. After all, Samsung's models with S Pen have always had somewhat of a niche and underground status, so Samsung concluded that there is no need to go all-out on a budget model.
Galaxy Note 10 vs 10 Lite (A81) and S10 vs S10 Lite (A91) specs comparison
Note10+
Note10 Lite
Galaxy S10+
S10 Lite
Display
6.8" 1440p curved Premium Hole Infinity Display
6.7" 1080p flat Premium Hole Infinity Display
6.4" 1440p curved Infinity-O Display
6.7" 1080p flat Premium Hole Infinity Display
Dimensions and weight
6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 inches (162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm), 6.91 oz (196 g)
6.44 x 3.00 x 0.34 inches (163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7 mm), 7.02 oz (199 g)
6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 inches (157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm), 6.17 oz (175 g)
6.40 x 2.98 x 0.32 inches (162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm), 6.56 oz (186 g)
Processor
Snapdragon 855
Exynos 9810
Snapdragon 855
Snapdragon 855
Memory
12GB RAM/ up to 512GB storage
from 6GB RAM/128GB storage
8GB RAM/up to 512GB storage
from 6GB RAM/128GB storage
Camera(s)
12MP main (f/1,5-2.4 aperture) 16MP ultrawide 12MP telephoto
As you can see, the main differences between the Note 10 Lite and S10 Lite are the chipsets and the camera setup. The latter boils down to a preference which one you'd use more - a macro lens or a telephoto camera, as both have ultrawide lenses. These are pretty much the only segways between the two, save for the S-Pen, of course, and the slightly thicker bezels on the Note model.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Galaxy Note 10 Lite and S10 Lite prices and release date
Samsung is yet to peg the pricing for Europe, but previous leaks and pricing in Russia and other places indicate that the Galaxy Note 10 Lite will be priced at €629.99 in Spain and Portugal at launch. These countries have slightly higher tax rates than some neighboring markets, meaning the phone could be available for €609.99 in a handful of other European countries, bringing us to said sub-$700 price point. With the Exynos processor, though, the Note 10 Lite has no chance to make it stateside.
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For reference, the premium Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ retailed at €949 and €1,209, respectively, when sales began. The standard Galaxy S10, on the other hand, has been permanently discounted down to €779 and the compact Galaxy S10e now costs €599.
This would make the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite at its current €679.99 (~$761) price a tougher sell when it launches in mid-January alongside the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. It’s initially going to be available in India and other Asian markets, where it’ll be known as the Galaxy A91, before expanding to Europe and potentially the United States. Once shipments commence, the Galaxy S10 Lite is going to be available in black, white, and blue.
Still, if you are eyeing handsets with the traditionally good cameras of the Samsung branding but flat screens and much better battery life than the non-Lite versions due to the higher capacity and lower pixel density, the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite will seemingly fit the bill, what do you think?
Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Galaxy S10 Lite
from €609.99 (~$683)
€679.99 (~$761)
announced, mid-January launch
announced, mid-January launch
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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