Written by 5:16 pm Samsung, Tech Views: 0

Galaxy Note 20 / Ultra | Incremental upgrades, and confusing downgrades

Samsung really doesn’t seem to care about their phones leaking out even months before launch, and that shows. The Note 20 / Ultra is exactly what the leaks told us they would be, and both improves and strays away from the great formula that created the Note 10 series.

Let’s start with the “cheaper” Note 20. Featuring the brand new Snapdragon 865+ (and the Exynos 990 for us unlucky folks outside the US), 8GB RAM, 256GB non-expandable storage (128 too for the 5G version), and a 4300mAh battery (with 25W Fast charging), the Note 20 has the standard internals expected from a flagship. The S-Pen input latency is now reduced to 26ms. The triple-camera rear setup features a 12MP Main, a 64MP 3X telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The headline-grabbing but unnecessary 8K video from the S20 is here as well. But, the next two points feature some questionable decisions from Samsung.

The display features a 6.7″ 1080p OLED panel, which only comes with 60Hz — so while the S20 comes with 120Hz for the same price, the flagship Samsung Note doesn’t. The bezels are thicker and gives and S20 look to the phone. Build quality has also seen a downgrade, featuring an aluminum frame but with a “reinforced polycarbonate” (since Samsung is ashamed to use the word plastic) back. For a phone costing $999, especially when the competition offers much better experiences, I have my doubts about this product.

The Note 20 Ultra, on the other hand, feels like a real note. The thinner bezels give it a much more premium look compared to the Note 20, and the Stainless Steel frame, glass back and new premium colors in matte finishes add to the experience. It also features Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Victus, which is supposed to have much better impact and scratch resistance compared to previous generations. It has the same processor configurations as the Note 20, but has 12GB RAM (8GB only for 4G) and 128/256/512GB storage (256GB only for 4G) with MicroSD expansion, and a 4500mAh battery (with 25W Fast charging). The display features a 6.9″ 1440p OLED panel, with 120Hz (at 1080p). The S-Pen input latency here is a crazy low 9ms, making writing on the phone feel effortless and smooth. The triple camera setup on the back features a 108MP Main, a 12MP 5X telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide with 8K video support.

The Note was supposed to be Samsung’s flagship device — and that was true until the Note 9. With the Note 10 series, they separated the devices into one ultimate flagship and one with compromises. While the compromises were bearable with the 10, I feel like the larger compromises of the Note 20 make it unworthy of the flagship Note brand. The Ultra looks like a beast thought, and I hope Samsung has ironed out the flaws from their last Ultra release.

Starting at $999 for the Note 20 and $1299 for the UItra, Samsung has undercut the pricing compared to the S20 Ultra. The 4G variants are expected to cost a bit less as well (in the regions they sell in, like India). If you really want the best flagship experience from Samsung with the productivity features of the S-Pen, go for the Ultra. The Note 20 just doesn’t cut it.

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Last modified: August 5, 2020

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