It's not hard to compare the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus since these phones are supposed to be nearly identical. They're both excellent smartphones; the Note 10 is basically just smaller than the Note 10 Plus. Due to the larger display and bigger battery, the Note 10 Plus will attract those looking for the "better" smartphone. However, the Note 10 is nothing to scoff at either, and it'll definitely satisfy most users today.

The Samsung Galaxy Note series are smartphone models known for their gigantic sizes. With the Note 10, Samsung tried convincing users who usually like smaller phones to give it a try. 

• Note 10 Plus size: the usual 6.8-inch screen. 77.2 x 162.3 x 7.9mm (3.04 x 6.39 x 0.31 inches). 196g weight.
• Note 10 size: a new smaller 6.3-inch screen. 71.8 x 151.0 x 7.9mm (2.83 x 5.94 x 0.31 inches). 168g weight. 

Of course, both these phones are still big "phablets" (phone-tablets). We're not so sure Samsung understands what a small phone is. 

It's also worth mentioning that not only is the Note 10 Plus bigger, but the screen also has a better resolution (1440p vs 1080p). However, while it does have a higher pixel density, the Note 10 looks just as sharp in person. 

In truth, if you put these two devices in a side-by-side test, you won't see any significant differences in performance. Both are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip; both have great cameras; both are great devices.

Since the Note 10 Plus is a larger device, it does have a larger battery - 4300mAh compared to 3500mAh for the standard Note 10. This will give the Note 10 Plus at least a few more hours of browsing time on an average day of use. 

There are a few other features that the Note 10 Plus has, namely an option for 512GB of storage (vs 256GB only Note 10), compatibility with the Samsung super-fast 45W charger, an extra camera sensor for improved depth-of-field, a microSD card slot and more RAM. 

But for the most part, it comes down to the size difference. Don't buy the Note 10 Plus just because it looks a lot better on paper. Buy the Galaxy device that best suits the way you use your phone, namely if you like a big screen or compact form factor. 

When you're trying to decide whether to buy the Note 10 or the Note 10 Plus, leave out the list of technical features. Just ask yourself how you use your smartphone and whether you like the Plus size phones.

If you're a relatively average smartphone user who does a bit of music streaming, texting, browsing, checking the weather and watching a few short YouTube videos, a refurbished Note 10 will probably be more than enough for your needs.

However, if you watch 2-hour movies on your device or spend countless hours playing mobile video games or reading ebooks on your phone, you might want to consider a refurbished Note 10 Plus instead.