The Galaxy Note 20, left, and the Note 20 Ultra.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Take a take a look at the picture above and what do you see? Two Galaxy Note telephones for energy customers that price $1,000 or extra, with a stylus to wield as a navigation instrument, digital pen and extra. You see speedy variations, too — digicam mounts that look wildly totally different and finishes that are not fairly the identical. That’s precisely how Samsung meant the usual Galaxy Note 20 ($1,000, £849, AU$1,499) and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra ($1,300, £1,179, AU$1,849) to be. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is designed to be the standard-bearer, checking off all of the bins anybody would need on their wishlist. On the opposite hand, the Note 20 has distinctly much less “premium” options, a plastic backing, no 120Hz display screen refresh fee and no microSD card slot, as an example. In order to create a extra approachable mannequin, the usual Note 20 — like final yr’s Note 10 — seems to be extra about trimming down the marquee machine than the rest.To be fully clear, I have never seen the Note 20 in individual, and so far as I do know, no cellphone reviewer has. I could also be (and hope I’m!) pleasantly stunned once I do see the completed product, whose 6.7-inch display screen and smaller total measurement may be a greater match for my fingers. 

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There’s additionally yet another level to name out, and that is the elephant within the room. With a lethal pandemic that will not appear to finish and not using a vaccine and an eviction disaster looming within the US, it is an uncommon time to launch a $1,000 cellphone. The Note 20 sequence was within the works lengthy earlier than the coronavirus modified the whole lot, however one thing in regards to the sequence — and all of the options it affords — feels out of step with these instances when extra folks than ever are working and residing at residence. The entire level of the Note sequence is to higher bridge work and play for individuals who reside life on the go. I do not learn about you, however I’m not going a lot of wherever nowadays. Still, I’ve had a blast reviewing the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and I’m excited to see what the Note 20 brings. Read on for all the main points. (And remember the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which fits on preorder Sept. 1.)Read additionally: Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra: All the specs which might be the identical and totally different
Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are available a hanging bronze shade
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Galaxy Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra: Surprising variations Samsung eased us into the thought of a extra entry-level Note cellphone in 2019, however this yr, there is a huge gulf between the usual Galaxy Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra. (Scroll to the top for the total specs comparability.)For instance, the usual Note 20 has a 6.7-inch flat display screen (versus a 6.9-inch display screen) with no curved sides, a staple on the Note line for years. But this is the clincher — it has a plastic again, which Samsung prefers to name “polycarbonate.” There’s no microSD card slot (similar as final yr) and small options are lacking. There are stepped-down digicam specs (together with no professional video mode), a much less superior display screen know-how with no 120Hz refresh fee possibility, a smaller battery capability (4,300 mAh versus 4,500 mAh), much less RAM (8GB versus 12GB) and no UWB sharing.

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Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Hands-on first impressions

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The digicam module appears to be like smaller, but in addition much less stylized, and the machine has extra rounded edges, versus the Note 20 Ultra’s extra aggressive corners.Embracing pastel, the Note 20’s mystic inexperienced, mystic bronze and mystic grey tones all include a matte end. It makes use of a steel body and Gorilla Glass 5 on the entrance, not the latest Gorilla Glass Victus (which held up properly in our Galaxy Note 20 Ultra drop and scratch checks).The Note 20 shares the identical core specs because the Note 20 Ultra. The 10-megapixel selfie digicam, new S Pen gestures and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor are a part of each telephones.  But again to the Note 20’s plastic backing: That feels out of character for a cellphone household that is sometimes about showcasing the most effective of the most effective Samsung has to supply. Without having reviewed the cellphone but, a $1,000 cellphone with a plastic again appears arduous to swallow. Maybe I’ll change my thoughts. Writing is one factor Galaxy Note telephones do finest.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Note 20 digicam: Premium, simply not the higher shelf The digicam array is the place Samsung desires the Note 20 telephones to shine. The normal Note 20 digicam has greater than respectable digicam specs by itself. They’re simply not as flashy because the Note 20 Ultra’s 5x optical zoom (which is sharp) and full diploma of zoom, which I believe few folks really need or will use.The similar goes for the Ultra’s 108-megapixel digicam possibility, which you faucet to show it on once you need the total decision, after which crop in for extra particulars. Results have been diversified, and it is a fringe characteristic for certain. The autofocus probably will not be as snappy as it’s on the Ultra, however will in any other case stay unchanged from the S20 sequence launched in March. You will not discover Pro Video Mode, both, but when you do not have a want to tinker with guide controls, you will not miss it.Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra digicam

Galaxy Note 20

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Main digicam

12-megapixel (f1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, 1.8μm, 79-degree FOV, 1/1.76 inch picture sensor)

108-megapixel (f1.8, OIS, 0.8μm, 79-degree FOV, 1/1.33 inch picture sensor)

Ultrawide angle

12-megapixel (F2.2, 1.4μm, 120-degree FOV)

12-megapixel (F2.2, 1.4μm, 120-degree FOV)

Telephoto

64-megapixel (F2.0, 0.8μm, 76-degree FOV)

12-megapixel (F3.0, 1.0μm, 20-degree FOV)

Front-facing digicam

10-megapixel (F2.2, 1.22μm, 80-degree FOV)

10-megapixel (F2.2, 1.22μm, 80-degree FOV)

Zoom

3x hybrid

5x optical

Super Zoom

30x

50x

Laser autofocus sensor

No

Yes

Video seize

8K

8K, Pro Video Mode

The S Pen stylus is similar, with one exceptionThere’s one perk for utilizing an S Pen on the Note 20 Ultra, and that is responsiveness. When the Ultra’s display screen refresh fee hits 120Hz — that is when display screen pixels refresh 120 instances per second relatively than the usual 60 — something you do on the S Pen, from writing to navigating round, is quicker than it might be at 60Hz. The distinction is very noticeable in relation to a pen mark lagging behind the S Pen’s level. Otherwise, the Pen is an identical between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra and features the identical on a Note 10 sequence cellphone because it does on the Note 20 Ultra (sure, I checked on each telephones with each styluses).In basic, I can get by simply fantastic with out the S Pen, however once I do have it on a cellphone, I instantly respect over again the way in which that I can use it to complement the cellphone expertise, like magnifying tiny font on the display screen by hovering the pen or taking an ultraprecise screenshot, as a result of why do you wish to seize your complete display screen simply to crop it in, each… single… time?Here are some new S Pen tips:New S Pen navigation gestures you may totally customise to open apps or go residence, again and so forth.A brand new autostraighten instrument for handwriting.Samsung Notes has a brand new format and reside autosyncing that pairs an audio recording so you may take heed to the identical a part of the be aware. This appears particularly helpful for the boardroom, and requires a Samsung account.Import a PDF into Notes — that is computerized and a terrific, timesaving instrument. Just import the PDF to signal with the S Pen. Done. Read up on all of the Note 20 specs that dovetail with the Note 20 Ultra specs right here. Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra specs Galaxy Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Display measurement, decision

6.7 inches; 2,400×1,080 pixels

6.9 inches; 3,088×1,440 pixels

Pixel density

393 ppi

496 ppi

Dimensions (Inches)

6.36×2.96×0.33 in

6.49×3.04×0.31 in

Dimensions (Millimeters)

161.6×75.2×8.3 mm

164.8×77.2×8.1mm

Weight (Ounces, Grams)

6.84 oz, 194g

7.33 oz, 208g

Mobile software program

Android 10

Android 10

Camera

12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto)

12-megapixel (ultrawide), 108-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto)

Front-facing digicam

10-megapixel

10-megapixel

Video seize

8K

8K

Processor

Snapdragon 865 Plus

Snapdragon 865 Plus

Storage

128GB

128GB, 512GB

RAM

8GB

12GB

Expandable storage

No

Up to 1TB

Battery

4,300 mAh

4,500 mAh

Fingerprint sensor

In-screen

In-screen

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

Headphone jack

No

No

Special options

S Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water-resistant (IP68)

5x optical zoom, UWB sharing, S Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water-resistant (IP68)

Price off-contract (USD)

$1,000

$1,300 (128GB); $1,450 (512GB)

Price (GBP)

£849

£1,179

Price (AUD)

AU$1,499

AU$1,849