LikeBrilliant screenSolid digicam with 3x optical zoomPowerful, high-end efficiency featuresAll-day battery life
Don’t LikeLacks premium look and feelPlastic backing can really feel sharp and poorly constructedToo costly at full retail worth
Samsung has a knack for turning out highly effective telephones, particularly in its Galaxy Note line. This yr, it has two, the usual Galaxy Note 20 5G at $1,000 (£849, AU$1,499, each 4G) and the Note 20 Ultra at $1,300 (£1,179, AU$1,849, once more each 4G). Both have sharp shows, glorious cameras, all-day battery life and spectacular inside efficiency, together with an S Pen stylus that makes the Note distinctive. But you may solely purchase one, so which can it’s?This Galaxy Note 20 assessment focuses on the variations between 2020’s Note telephones within the hopes it’s going to assist reply your questions whereas you decide — or simply drool over Samsung’s large-screen gadgets. On the entire, I can suggest each Notes, simply not at their retail costs.
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I counsel protecting a watch out for offers, bundled provides, reductions and trade-in values that carry the costs down by $300 or extra. Samsung costs are inclined to fall because the months go on, so your probability of snagging a deal are excessive. Plus, a shock advice on the finish in the event you’re not bought on utilizing the S Pen stylus day by day.Design variations matter: Screen, plastic versus glass, extraThe Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra clearly seem like completely different gadgets, however not simply due to the Note 20’s barely smaller 6.7-inch display to the Note 20 Ultra’s 6.9-inch show. It’s obvious that the Ultra has a glass backing (Gorilla Glass Victus, in reality,) whereas the Note 20 makes use of polycarbonate (that is plastic). If you employ a case, it won’t make a distinction to you, however in spite of everything these years of being conditioned to equate a premium, $1,000 machine with glass development, plastic makes it really feel cheaper than its price ticket, though the specs are robust. I additionally seen a pointy edge the place the Note 20’s plastic backing joins the metallic body, assembly in a niche sufficiently big to run my fingernail all the way in which round. If you are going to use a case, it won’t hassle you, however Samsung can and will do higher.Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 in mystic inexperienced.
Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
There’s no curved display on the Note 20 the way in which there may be on the Ultra. That does not hassle me, however the edge-to-edge show on each telephones means there are nonetheless loads of unintended display presses if you’re merely holding the cellphone. For instance, in the event you’re passively watching a video and shift your finger to discover a extra comfy grip, it’s possible you’ll wind up inadvertently triggering a button.The ultimate design distinction price noting is the 120Hz display refresh charge on Ultra, in comparison with the usual 60Hz charge on the Note 20. It will not make a distinction in the event you’re switching from a 60Hz cellphone, however it may possibly really feel comparatively “slow” in the event you’re switching from a cellphone with a 90Hz or 120Hz show.The Galaxy Note 20, left, has a plastic again, in comparison with the Note 20 Ultra, proper, which has a glass again.
John Kim/CNET
The Note 20 Ultra is the clear digicam winnerThe Ultra’s has a large and protruding digicam array on its again to accommodate bigger sensors and maybe assist it stand out. Meanwhile, the Note 20’s digicam bump makes the cellphone much less top-heavy and susceptible to rocking if you write on it whereas it is on a flat floor.But the Note 20 Ultra took higher pictures total. You’re going to get nice nice photographs regardless of which cellphone you employ, if you’re taking pictures in brightly lit situations: saturated coloration, crisp edges, the works. But in the event you’re in any respect keen on zoom pictures, the Ultra’s 5x optical zoom takes the crown. Not solely does it get you excellent telephoto pictures as much as 5x, it may possibly additionally go as much as 50x. This cute harbor seal was photographed at 30x on the usual Note 20.
Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
Same seal, shot on Galaxy Note 20 Ultra at 50x zoom.
Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
The Note 20’s 3x optical to 30x AI-assisted zoom remains to be good as nicely, and higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (which has 2x optical zoom), however picture high quality at 30x was higher on the Ultra than on the common Note 20. Most of the time the Note 20 will fulfill your photographic wants. But after I took them each to the moody Northern California coast, lots of my nature photographs have been merely higher on the Ultra and I finished reaching for the be aware 20 altogether.The Ultra has a 108-megapixel digicam you should use to crop into photographs for extra element, a function I’ve discovered to have uneven outcomes.Camera: Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra
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)
Ultra-wide 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 auto-focus sensor
No
Yes
Video seize
8K
8K
Features the Note 20 and Ultra share5G knowledge speeds (some areas have 4G fashions)Signature Note S Pen stylusAndroid 10 out of the fieldSnapdragon 865+ processor (different markets use a Samsung Exynos chip)Extras like quick wi-fi chargingOther notable variationsScreen measurement, battery (4,300 vs. 4,500)MicroSD card512GB possibility with Ultra8GB RAM versus 12GB RAM on Ultra
Samsung’s Note 20 Ultra 5G is putting from each angle
See all pictures
Should you purchase the Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, or a special cellphone?The Note 20 Ultra is simply too large, too heavy and too costly. But I’d nonetheless personally purchase it over the Note 20 as a result of I do discover myself utilizing the additional digicam options. However, I do not truly suppose it is price $300 greater than the Note 20 simply to have a 120Hz display, 5x optical zoom as an alternative of 3x, a glass backing and a microSD card storage possibility — plus all the opposite extras.Most individuals will likely be happier with the cheaper Note 20 over the Ultra, however once more, I believe Samsung has overcharged for each telephones at their full retail worth, and I discover the Note 20’s $1,000 price ticket for what is actually a plastic cellphone cheeky at greatest and insulting at worst. For both cellphone, search for a deal. I’d be happier to pay $1,000 for the Ultra and $700 for the usual Note 20, if we’re protecting Samsung’s $300 worth delta intact.The Galaxy S20 FE is available in a spread of colours.
Angela Lang/CNET
Here’s one other various throughout the Samsung cosmos. The model new Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) is a center approach. It merges a few of the Ultra’s greatest options with the Note 20’s cost-cutting trade-offs, bringing you a 6.5-inch show with a quick 120Hz refresh charge, a giant $4,500-mAh battery, 3x optical zoom and a rear plastic backing. There’s expandable storage, too, and naturally, help for 5G knowledge speeds. While the cameras will not be fairly nearly as good, and there isn’t any S Pen stylus, the Galaxy S20 FE is the perfect purchase by way of worth, if not a standing image — although it does are available in enjoyable colours.Best but, it begins at $700 full retail and was already on sale for $600 in some shops by the point it hit the market. With trade-in values and seasonal offers, I anticipate that worth to fall.Galaxy Note 20 vs Note 20 Ultra vs S20 FE
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Display measurement, decision
6.7-inch; 2,400×1,080 pixels
6.9-inch; 3,088×1,440 pixels
6.5-inch tremendous AMOLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels
Pixel density
393ppi
496ppi
405ppi
Dimensions (Inches)
6.36 x 2.96 x 0.33 in
6.49 x 3.04 x 0.31 in
6.29 x 2.97 x 0.33 inches
Dimensions (Millimeters)
161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm
164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm
159.8 x 75.5 x 8.4mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)
6.84 oz, 194g
7.33 oz, 208g
190g
Mobile software program
Android 10
Android 10
Android 10
Camera
12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 108-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (customary), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto)
Front-facing digicam
10-megapixel
10-megapixel
32-megapixel
Video seize
8K
8K
4K
Processor
Snapdragon 865+
Snapdragon 865+
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (5G) Samsung Exynos 990 (4G)
Storage
128GB
128GB, 512GB
128GB
RAM
8GB
12GB
6GB
Expandable storage
No
Up to 1TB
1TB
Battery
4,300mAh
4,500mAh
4,500mAh
Fingerprint sensor
In-screen
In-screen
In-screen
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
No
No
No
Special options
S Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water-proof (IP68)
120Hz display refresh charge, 5x optical zoom, UWB sharing, S Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water-proof (IP68)
120Hz display refresh charge, help for 30W quick charging and 15W quick wi-fi charging
Price off-contract (USD)
$1,000
$1,300 (128GB), $1,450 (512GB)
$699
Price (GBP)
£849 (4G), £949 (5G)
£1,179
£599 (4G), £699 (5G)
Price (AUD)
AU$1,499 (4G), AU$1,649 (5G)
AU$1,849 (4G), $AU$1,999 (5G)
AU$999 (4G), AU$1,149 (5G)