The S Pen writes higher and quicker on the Note 20 Ultra.
Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra (full evaluate) are highly effective smartphones that deliver a swell of recent options to the Note line for energy customers. For instance, the Note 20 Ultra has a formidable 6.9-inch show, quicker refresh charge, larger battery and a microSD card slot. Over the course of testing out the telephone (the usual Note 20 evaluate unit continues to be to return) I’ve discovered some implausible hidden options that make the Note 20 expertise that a lot better. For occasion, you may activate an alarm that permits you to know should you left your S Pen behind. Or do you know you may lock your home-screen format so it would not get tousled after you hung out getting every part precisely the place you needed?
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Below are 10 hidden options that make the Note 20 so a lot better than it already is.
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1. Take benefit of that quicker showThe Note 20 Ultra has a variable display refresh charge of as much as 120Hz. That means when your telephone detects you are doing one thing like scrolling by means of a protracted e mail or web site, it makes use of the quicker refresh charge, making the scrolling expertise buttery easy. The customary Note 20 has a 60Hz show, with no 120Hz possibility in any respect. When you are simply a photograph, or doing one thing else that does not require plenty 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 try this, open Settings > Display > Motion smoothness and ensure Adaptive is chosen. As Samsung factors out, the elevated refresh charge will use extra battery, however that is a worth I’m prepared 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 refresh charge menu and level out Samsung’s acknowledgement that the setting will cut 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 certainly one of its flagship options, but it surely’s additionally very simple to go away 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 will discover an possibility referred to as Pen proximity alert. Turn it on. Now, whenever 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.
Samsung’s Note 20 Ultra 5G is placing from each angle
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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 may shortly have a look at your telephone to test 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 possibility, however out of the field means you will have to wake your telephone’s display earlier than it can present up. It’s counterproductive. Change that by going into Settings > Lock display > Always on show. Don’t faucet on the button to show it on, as an alternative faucet on the textual content so you may customise the way it works. Go by means of every setting and part, selecting out the clock and shade you want, and even setting 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 app shortcutsWhen you have a look at your telephone’s lock display, you will see an app icon that gives a fast approach to launch an app in every nook. Samsung units the telephone and digital camera apps because the default shortcuts, however can change which apps you may open and the way you entry the shortcut. Open Settings > Lock display > Shortcuts and choose Floating button. While there, you can also change the apps proven in your lock display to no matter you need. With the floating button turned on, there might be a three-dot icon that exhibits up simply above the fingerprint sensor in your lock display. 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 could 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 may change the standing bar to indicate a quantity for all pending notifications (which may really feel overwhelming, should you ask me), your three most up-to-date, or my private favourite, all notifications. Of course, there’s solely a lot room within the standing bar, so in case you have a bunch of alerts from a lot of apps, not all of them will present up, however helped me to have greater than three current. The Note 20’s homescreen could be locked in place.
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6. Lock your homescreen format to maintain it trying tidyIf you are like me, you spend plenty of time shifting app icons and widgets round your homescreen. There’s a rhyme and motive for which apps go the place, and when issues get moved, it throws your complete move off. Samsung permits you to lock your homescreen format, protecting every part 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 format and faucet on the swap to show the characteristic On. When it is enabled, you will see a reminder present up in your display anytime you attempt to transfer an app icon. If you usually hand your telephone to your child to observe movies, this characteristic is your new finest good friend.Just swipe as much as go dwelling.
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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, dwelling and examine the app switcher. It’s time to make the swap to Android 10’s gesture-based navigation. After a couple of days of swiping round your telephone, you will neglect all in regards to the buttons and respect the added display 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 a couple of days when you be taught the brand new navigation approach. If you end up struggling, we’ve got a whole information to Android 10’s gesture navigation characteristic, full with animated photographs that present you precisely what to do. The S Pen is certainly one of our favourite Note 20 options.
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8. Use the brand new S Pen Air InstructionsYour S Pen can accomplish that way more than act as a stylus to put in writing or draw in your Note’s show. Starting with the Note 20 line, you now can use the S Pen to manage your system from throughout the room. All you will have to do is take away the S Pen, maintain down the button and use one of many 5 new gestures to return a display, go to your homescreen and extra. We cowl the brand new S Pen methods in full element, so you’ll want to test that out.Live Caption on the Galaxy S20 Plus appears to be like and works identical to it does on the Note 20.
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9. Live transcriptions for any audio in your NoteGoogle’s Live Caption characteristic — which is able to transcribe movies, podcasts and even telephone calls in actual time — is accessible on the Note 20. All it’s good to do is slide down the fast settings panel, discover the tile labeled Live Caption and faucet on it. A black bar will seem with the reside textual content taken straight from the audio. Turn off Live Caption by repeating the identical steps within the fast settings panel.10. Add further safety to pick apps utilizing Secure FolderIf you are utilizing a piece telephone, however have private or non-public data that you simply wish to lock down with one other passcode or sample, you may benefit from the Notes Secure Folder characteristic. Open Settings > Biometrics and safety > Secure folder to stroll by means of the setup course of. You can set up apps and retailer information and photographs. It’s such as you’re utilizing a totally completely different telephone.If you are still making an attempt to resolve whether or not or not you must preorder the Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra, be certain to take a look at our full Galaxy Note 20 Ultra evaluate. Or should you’ve already made up your thoughts, you may preorder proper now. The telephone will formally be accessible on Aug. 21.