The Galaxy Note 20, left, and the Note 20 Ultra.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Take a take a look at the photograph 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 software, digital pen and extra. You see fast variations, too — digital camera mounts that look wildly completely 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 price and no microSD card slot, as an example. In order to create a extra approachable mannequin, the usual Note 20 — like final 12 months’s Note 10 — seems to be extra about trimming down the marquee system than anything.
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To be utterly clear, I have not seen the Note 20 in particular person, and so far as I do know, no telephone reviewer has. I could also be (and hope I’m!) pleasantly stunned after I do see the completed product, whose 6.7-inch display screen and smaller total dimension may be a greater match for my fingers. 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 with no vaccine and an eviction disaster looming within the US, it is an uncommon time to launch a $1,000 telephone. The Note 20 sequence was within the works lengthy earlier than the coronavirus modified the whole lot, however one thing concerning the sequence — and all of the options it gives — feels out of step with these instances when extra individuals than ever are working and dwelling at residence. The complete level of the Note sequence is to raised bridge work and play for individuals who dwell life on the go. I do not learn about you, however I’m not going a lot of anyplace today. 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 do not forget the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on Wednesday, which matches on preorder Sept. 1.)Read additionally: Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra: All the specs which might be the identical and completely 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 concept of a extra entry-level Note telephone in 2019, however this 12 months, there is a huge gulf between the usual Galaxy Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra. (Scroll to the top for the complete 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 12 months) and small options are lacking. There are stepped-down digital camera specs (together with no professional video mode), a much less superior display screen expertise with no 120Hz refresh price choice, 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 digital camera module appears smaller, but additionally much less stylized, and the system 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 metallic body and Gorilla Glass 5 on the entrance, not the newest Gorilla Glass Victus. The Note 20 shares the identical core specs because the Note 20 Ultra. The 10-megapixel selfie digital camera, 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 telephone household that is usually about showcasing the perfect of the perfect Samsung has to supply. Without having reviewed the telephone but, a $1,000 telephone with a plastic again appears arduous to swallow. Maybe I’ll change my thoughts. Writing is one factor Galaxy Note telephones do greatest.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Note 20 digital camera: Premium, simply not the higher shelf The digital camera array is the place Samsung needs the Note 20 telephones to shine. The customary Note 20 digital camera has greater than respectable digital camera 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 individuals really need or will use.The similar goes for the Ultra’s 108-megapixel digital camera choice, which you faucet to show it on if you need the complete decision, after which crop in for extra particulars. Results have been various, and it is a fringe characteristic for certain. The autofocus seemingly 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 need to tinker with handbook controls, you will not miss it.Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra digital camera
Galaxy Note 20
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Main digital camera
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 digital camera
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 identical, 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 price 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 particularly noticeable in the case of a pen mark lagging behind the S Pen’s level. Otherwise, the Pen is similar between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra and features the identical on a Note 10 sequence telephone because it does on the Note 20 Ultra (sure, I checked on each telephones with each styluses).In normal, I can get by simply nice with out the S Pen, however after I do have it on a telephone, I instantly respect over again the way in which that I can use it to complement the telephone 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 need to seize your entire display screen simply to crop it in, each… single… time?Here are some new S Pen methods:New S Pen navigation gestures you’ll be able to totally customise to open apps or go residence, again and so forth.A brand new autostraighten software for handwriting.Samsung Notes has a brand new structure and dwell autosyncing that pairs an audio recording so you’ll be able to hearken to the identical a part of the word. This appears particularly helpful for the boardroom, and requires a Samsung account.Import a PDF into Notes — that is automated and an excellent, timesaving software. 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 dimension, 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 digital camera
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; waterproof (IP68)
5x optical zoom, UWB sharing, S Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; waterproof (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