The Note 20 has lots of methods up its sleeve.
Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
Announced earlier this week, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra each of them seem like nice telephones. The Ultra is dearer, nevertheless it brings a bigger show with a sooner refresh price, an even bigger battery and a microSD card slot. I’ve been utilizing the Note 20 Ultra for about 24 hours now, and whereas I have not found each new characteristic and setting, I’ve discovered some incredible hidden options that make the Note 20 expertise that a lot better.
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For occasion, you possibly can activate an alarm that allows you to know should you left your S Pen behind. Or do you know you possibly can lock your homescreen structure so it would not get tousled after you frolicked getting all the things precisely the place you needed? Below are seven hidden options that make the Note 20 so a lot better than it already is.
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First Look: Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
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1. Take benefit of that sooner showThe Note 20 Ultra has a variable display screen refresh price of as much as 120Hz. That means when your telephone detects you are doing one thing like scrolling by way of a protracted e-mail or web site, it makes use of the sooner refresh price, making the scrolling expertise buttery clean. The normal Note 20 has a 60Hz show, with no 120Hz choice in any respect. When you are simply taking a look at a photograph, or doing one thing else that does not require lots of onscreen movement, your Note 20 Ultra will default to 60Hz. It’s a good suggestion to double-check that your telephone has its Motion Smoothness characteristic turned on. To do this, open Settings > Display > Motion smoothness and ensure Adaptive is chosen. As Samsung factors out, the elevated refresh price will use extra battery, however that is a worth I’m keen to pay for a greater expertise.
Just thought I’d use the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen to make a GIF of the 120Hz display screen refresh price menu and level out Samsung’s acknowledgement that the setting will scale back battery life pic.twitter.com/7sWvdxGUuP— Jessica Dolcourt (@jdolcourt) August 6, 2020
2. Don’t neglect your S PenThe Note’s S Pen is one among its flagship options, nevertheless it’s additionally very simple to depart it sitting someplace, by no means to be seen once more. Thankfully, should you go to Settings > Advanced options > S Pen and scroll all the way down to the Removal part, you may discover an choice referred to as Pen proximity alert. Turn it on. Now, while you depart your S Pen sitting in your desk, or it falls between your sofa cushions and also you begin to stroll away, your telephone will beep as you get out of vary. 3. Always-on show places data a look awayOne of my favourite options about any Android telephone is the Always-On Display (AOD). With AOD turned on, you possibly can shortly have a look at your telephone to examine the time, see any pending notifications, battery share and even management music playback all with out having to wake your telephone up or unlock it. The Note 20 has an Always-On Display choice, however out of the field means you may have to wake your telephone’s display screen earlier than it’s going to present up. It’s counterproductive. Change that by going into Settings > Lock display screen > Always on show. Don’t faucet on the button to show it on, as an alternative faucet on the textual content so you possibly can customise the way it works. Go by way of every setting and part, choosing out the clock and coloration you want, and even set a schedule if you would like. See? Much higher. You actually do not wish to lose that S Pen, do you?
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4. Switch up your lock display screen app shortcutsWhen you have a look at your telephone’s lock display screen, you may see an app icon that gives a fast approach to launch an app in every nook. Samsung units the telephone and digicam apps because the default shortcuts, however can change which apps you possibly can open and the way you entry the shortcut. Open Settings > Lock display screen > Shortcuts and choose Floating button. While there, you can also change the apps proven in your lock display screen to no matter you need. With the floating button turned on, there can be a three-dot icon that exhibits up simply above the fingerprint sensor in your lock display screen. Long-press on that button to view your app shortcuts, after which drag your finger to the app you wish to launch. 5. Change the variety of notifications proven within the standing barIt may be laborious to maintain up the numerous alerts our telephones obtain all day lengthy. It’s much more of a battle when the standing bar in your Note 20 limits the variety of icons for app notifications. The Note 20 Ultra I’m testing has a restrict of three app icons within the standing bar, which is not near sufficient. If you open Settings > Notifications > Status Bar, you possibly can change the standing bar to point out a quantity for all pending notifications (which may really feel overwhelming, should you ask me), your 3 most up-to-date, or my private favourite, all notifications. Of course, there’s solely a lot room within the standing bar, so if in case you have a bunch of alerts from numerous apps, not all of them will present up, however helped me to have greater than three current. The Note 20’s homescreen may be locked in place.
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6. Lock your homescreen structure to maintain it trying tidyIf you are like me, you spend lots of time transferring app icons and widgets round your homescreen. There’s a rhyme and purpose for which apps go the place, and when issues get moved, it throws your whole circulation off. Samsung lets you lock your homescreen structure, preserving all the things precisely the place you left it. Long-press on a clean spot of your homescreen, then faucet on Home Screen Settings when the choices popup. Find Lock Home display screen structure and faucet on the swap to show the characteristic On. When it is enabled, you may see a reminder present up in your display screen anytime you attempt to transfer an app icon. If you typically hand your telephone to your child to look at movies, this characteristic is your new finest pal.Just swipe as much as go house.
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7. Ditch the quaint button navigation setupOut of the field, your Galaxy Note 20 will default to Android’s conventional three-button navigation. There’ll be buttons to return, house and examine the app switcher. It’s time to make the swap to Android 10’s gesture-based navigation. After just a few days of swiping round your telephone, you may neglect all in regards to the buttons and recognize the added display screen actual property. To flip it on, go to Settings > Display > Navigation Bar and choose Swipe gestures. I like to recommend turning on gesture hints for just a few days when you be taught the brand new navigation approach. If you end up struggling, we’ve got an entire information to Android 10’s gesture navigation characteristic, full with animated pictures that present you precisely what to do. If you are still attempting to determine whether or not or not it’s best to preorder the Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra, make certain to take a look at our ongoing evaluation the place we’re overlaying all the nice and unhealthy in regards to the telephone. Or should you already made up your thoughts, you possibly can preorder proper now. The telephone will formally be out there on Aug. 21.