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    Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s new Gorilla Glass is tough, but we still broke it

    Samsung went all-out for the Note 20 Ultra, placing a robust digital camera and lovely display in its most premium design but with what Samsung claims is the strongest glass ever used on a cellphone. It’s the primary cellphone, and the one one in all Samsung’s new line-up to have the newest Gorilla Glass Victus on each the back and front which is extra resistant towards each scratches and drops, based on Corning. The common Note 20 has Gorilla Glass 5 (now two generations outdated) on the entrance, and plastic on the again, but it surely prices virtually $300 lower than the $1,300 (£1,180, AU$1,890) Ultra. To check this declare, we needed to topic the brand new Note 20 Ultra to our personal scratch and drop assessments.

    Discover the newest information and finest opinions in smartphones and carriers from CNET’s cellular consultants.

    Scratch check 1: The pocket and purse check The very first thing I seen about our model new Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was that it was lacking the standard display protector that often comes preinstalled, as an alternative it simply had the normal packaging plastic with a tab to take away it. Samsung has included a display protector on a few of its flagship units over the past couple of years just like the S20 and S10. I peeled off all of the plastic earlier than beginning our sturdiness assessments. For the primary check I put a set of keys, a pen, and about 5 completely different cash in a small make-up bag, together with a model new Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.I zipped up the bag and shook it vigorously for a couple of minute to imitate the actual world put on and tear your cellphone would get from bouncing round in your purse or pocket.The cellphone had a little bit of particles from the bag after I pulled it out, however after wiping it down with a microfiber material, the cellphone appeared to be utterly unscathed. Even on nearer inspection, I could not discover a lot as a scratch. The cellphone went right into a bag with a set of keys, cash and pens to check out the scratch resistance. 
    Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
    Scratch check 2: The tile check Next up, I positioned the cellphone on a slab of tough ceramic tile to see what would occur if it had been to slip on a toilet or kitchen ground. Because I solely had one tile to check it on, and never a whole ground to slip it throughout, I rubbed it, screen-side down on the tile in a round movement for about 30 seconds.  Again, I needed to wipe down the display with a material to do away with the unfastened, powder-like particles that had come off each the cellphone and the tile to show some fairly vital harm. The cellphone had some scratches alongside the left hand facet of the display, a pair superficial scrapes in direction of the middle and a few deep scratches operating via the highest and backside. Apart from beauty harm, the display nonetheless labored fantastic.The tough tile induced some deep scratches on the display of the Note 20 Ultra. 
    Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
    Scratch check 3: The sandpaper testWith the display scratched, I turned the cellphone over to see how the again would maintain up. Corning makes use of grit sandpaper to check the sturdiness of its glass as a result of it carefully resembles the tough floor of sidewalk. Instead of utilizing the 180-grit sandpaper that Corning makes use of, I made a decision to take it up a notch and use 80-grit sandpaper to see how the again glass and digital camera module would maintain up below excessive circumstances. The digital camera is roofed in Gorilla Glass 6, the earlier technology of Corning’s glass. I rubbed the cellphone throughout the sandpaper for about 10 seconds, however the digital camera bump makes it inconceivable to put the cellphone down totally flat so there was little harm on each the again glass and digital camera, with just a few minor scrapes on the body across the digital camera. I then utilized extra stress on the cellphone when rubbing it forwards and backwards on the sandpaper. This time, there have been a number of deep scratches on the digital camera glass that made it virtually look damaged on the backside, however they had been low sufficient on the glass that they did not intrude with any of the cellphone’s three lenses. The glass overlaying the again remained unscathed. The sandpaper induced some deep scratches to the glass overlaying the digital camera, however the glass on the again of the cellphone barely had any harm. 
    Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
    To make certain the again glass was making full contact with the sandpaper, I rubbed the cellphone one final time with the digital camera bump hanging off the desk. This time, I used to be capable of trigger some harm to the perimeters of the glass, however the scratches did not look as deep as those on the display and the matte end of the glass made the scratches much less noticeable. Scratching the cellphone makes it far more susceptible to breaks and our check cellphone was positively compromised. So to check sturdiness from drops, my colleague, CNET producer Chris Parker, used one other model new Note 20 Ultra. Drop check 1: Pocket peak (3 foot), screen-side-down to sidewalk Most drops occur from about hip peak, like whenever you take your cellphone out and in of your pocket. While the cellphone could survive a drop on a clean floor, touchdown on the sidewalk is a distinct story.The Note teetered a bit on its sides earlier than lastly touchdown screen-side-down on the sidewalk. The display appeared to be comparatively unscathed, however on nearer inspection we seen the cellphone had two small dents on opposing corners, doubtless the primary factors of affect. The backside dent induced a hairline fracture that prolonged outward throughout the display. The one on the highest of the cellphone was primarily on the metallic body which did not trigger an excessive amount of harm to the glass and the display nonetheless labored.The first drop from hip-height induced a small dent on the nook of the display. 
    Chris Parker/CNET
    Drop check 2: Pocket peak (3 foot), again facet right down to sidewalk For the subsequent check, Chris dropped the Note 20 Ultra with the display dealing with up.This time the cellphone landed flat on its again with a loud thump. It sounded as dangerous because the harm: The glass again was utterly damaged, with seen fractures overlaying the complete floor. But even with all of the seen cracks, the cellphone felt comparatively clean to the contact and did not have glass falling off the again as we have skilled in earlier drop assessments (such because the S20 Ultra).  The again of the cellphone shattered on the primary drop from hip-height. 
    Chris Parker/CNET
    The digital camera remained intact, with simply two tiny scratches on the perimeters of the body. Final drop check: 6 foot, 6 inch drop, display facet right down to sidewalk This is the utmost drop peak at which Corning has examined Victus, however the efficiency of the glass could be affected by different elements comparable to thickness and form, that are decided by the producer (on this case Samsung). For our final check, we determined to check the declare on the display of the Note 20 Ultra which was nonetheless in respectable situation.The cellphone landed screen-side down once more, however this time it cracked throughout. The dent on the underside had continued to interrupt outwards and there have been fractures throughout the center and high of the display. But even with all this harm, the display nonetheless felt comparatively clean to the contact and solely noticeable after I traced them with my fingernail.The closing drop from 2 meters (6 ft, 6 in) fractured the complete display. 
    Chris Parker/CNET
    The breakdown: Better, however removed from invincible We put the Note 20 Ultra via the ringer, and went far past what’s thought of “normal use”. It survived with out a lot as a scratch after tumbling round in a bag stuffed with keys and cash, and the display sustained minimal harm after falling from hip peak to tough sidewalk. Our Galaxy S20 Ultra against this, cracked on the primary drop from hip-height regardless of the preinstalled display protector, so it will seem to be the Note is a bit harder. We cannot know that for a truth as a result of nature of our real-world assessments, which make it exhausting to copy the very same drop situations with every cellphone. And even when the Ultra is a harder than its predecessors, I’d nonetheless advocate placing a case on this $1,300 cellphone (and possibly a display protector too). If you wish to stay on the sting and nonetheless wish to go case-free after studying this text, at the least take into account insuring your new Note to cowl this kind of harm. Samsung gives its Care Plus service for $11.99 a month, or you will get it insured straight via your wi-fi supplier. 

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