Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite is jack of all trades, and master of none.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite is a phone for no-one, at least on the surface. Chopped together from parts and pieces Samsung found lying around its Wonka-like factory, the handset is something of a Frankenstein’s monster.

Its arrival was a little odd too, seeing as how it was launched months after the rest of the range, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite. That it then succeeds in being such an attractive all around package is a testament to the design chops of its creator.

To begin, the raison d’etre of the Note series is present and correct, the S Pen – it is still an interesting feature to have, and one which offers some unique functionality. For some, the ability to sign PDF documents on the fly will be a lifesaver, and using the device as a miniature graphics tablet for some on-the-go drawing is always fun. For just as many and more, however, the pen may never leave its silo.

Beyond the pen though, this is a Note, which means that even though it is a ‘Lite’ version, made of recycled parts, it still comes with an attractive shopping list of specifications – including a big battery, triple camera array, and Super AMOLED screen.

Some omissions are notable however. No specific toughened glass layer on the screen is mentioned, no kind of waterproofing is present, and the plastic rear feels as though it belongs on a device costing a fifth as much - but these drawbacks are met by myriad positives.

Chief among these is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is no longer a guarantee, and we also appreciated the flat screen – there are no contentious side-curves here. Though the Note 10 Lite could never be confused with a $1,000+ flagship, it certainly feels worth the price of entry. Part of this is down to the user experience offered.

Samsung’s One UI is a breath of fresh air following the death of TouchWiz, and with 6GB of RAM

Reviews $999, oppo.com/au/

Along with its price tag, the other key point in the Nokia 5.3’s favor is that it’s part of the Android One program.

You’ll get an insane 12GB of RAM which, coupled with the 90Hz refresh rate in the display and plenty capable chipset, makes for a solid gaming platform.

$349, www.nokia.com

Reviews $1,000, www.synology.com/en-au

$599, www.jbl.com