Our Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra overview discovered three clear causes to make the soar to this new flagship cellphone: Mystic Bronze, laser autofocus, and the S Pen’s new 8ms latency. And in the event you’re on the lookout for any causes to not, effectively, there are many these on this overview too—specifically, it’s gigantic, costly, and never an enormous improve over the S20 Ultra.
The 6.9-inch display on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra positively wants two arms to function.
But in the event you’re a Note fan, you realize precisely what you’re getting and you realize you need it: the most important, quickest, and strongest Android cellphone you should purchase. For everybody else, it’s not so easy.
Samsung’s flagships have gotten so good that evaluations of them are all mainly the identical: Yes they’ve the very best specs, however they’re additionally the costliest (though the Note 20 Ultra truly prices $100 lower than the S20 Ultra). The math is brutally clear: Even with trade-ins and provider provides, you’re nonetheless going to be paying extra for this cellphone than for another Note that got here earlier than it.
There’s little question that you just’re getting so much in your cash with the Note 20 Ultra. But Samsung has raised the bar so excessive, the very best won’t be well worth the worth of admission anymore.
Michael Simon/IDGSorry, Bixby lovers, the devoted button is gone for good.
Big, daring, shiny, and delightful
There’s no good strategy to say it: The Note 20 Ultra is essentially the most unwieldy cellphone I’ve ever used. Granted, it’s about 15 grams lighter than the S20 Ultra, three-quarters of a millimeter thinner, and solely a few millimeters wider, however that cellphone was already on the higher restrict of what my arms and pockets might deal with. The additional width on the Note 20 Ultra, together with its very boxy form, makes it really feel extremely uncomfortable to deal with and carry.
The unwieldiness is due in no small half to the digicam bump. You’ve seen it in photographs, and it’s each bit as obtrusive because it appears. The Note 20 Ultra’s spectacular thinness truly works towards it right here, making the bump really feel a lot thicker by comparability. The measurement additionally means it’s robust to make use of when resting on a desk. I even encountered some points with charging pads. A case would assist, however you wouldn’t need to use one.
Michael Simon/IDGThe bezels aren’t utterly gone on the Note 20 Ultra, however they’re not very seen.
Why? Because the Note 20 Ultra is flat-out beautiful. Samsung’s new colours are dubbed “Mystic,” and so they give the Note a refinement and dignity that contrasts with the pop-culture vibe one will get from the S20’s, shiny, iridescent “Cosmic” colorways.
The Note 20 Ultra has a luscious matte end that’s nicer than what I’ve seen on any Galaxy cellphone I’ve ever used. It doesn’t must develop on you just like the iPhone 11 Pro’s Midnight Green, or look forward to the precise gentle just like the Note 10’s Aura Glow. It repels fingerprints prefer it was manufactured from plastic, and it has a greater grip than the shiny S20 does. The new bronze colour’s matching, stainless-steel sides add a contact of sophistication, accentuated by the slivers of colour that peek out above and under the show. You’d be nuts to get another colour and much more nuts to place a case on it, even a transparent one.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Note 20 Ultra’s matte end is a large enchancment over the shiny S20 Ultra.
The entrance of the cellphone is equally fabulous. The bezels across the huge 6.9-inch display are about as skinny as they will get with out disappearing utterly. The curved edges distinction properly with the flat prime and backside.
Because it’s a Samsung flagship, it goes with out saying that the show is huge, shiny, and breathtaking. But I’ll say it anyway. Samsung by some means manages prime itself with every new flagship. If you go deep sufficient within the comparability with the S20 Ultra, you’ll see a extra constant white steadiness and the next max brightness (a whopping 1,500 nits utilizing adaptive brightness), however all you’ll discover are the colourful colours and deep blacks.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has the identical 120Hz show that Samsung launched with the S20, however right here it has an adaptive refresh charge to preserve battery life. So in the event you’re studying an article, the speed will drop to 60Hz, however in the event you’re enjoying a sport or watching a film, it’ll improve to 120Hz. Unfortunately, you continue to must drop the decision to Full HD to make use of it the 120Hz setting, but it surely’s a small sacrifice. Once you attempt it out, you received’t need to return.
Power to spare with some sparing components
The Note 20 Ultra won’t be a real “gamer” cellphone just like the Asus ROG Phone 3 or the Lenovo Legion Duel, but it surely packs simply as a lot of a punch. The Snapdragon 865+ mixed with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM produced the very best scores I’ve ever seen on an Android cellphone:
Geekbench 5
Single: 966
Multi: 3,067
Compute: 3,652
PCMark Work 2.0: 12,298
So you’re getting a cellphone that’ll run all the pieces at tip-top velocity, together with Microsoft’s new xCloud Xbox gaming service. I’m no gamer (my Candy Crush obsession however), and my Minecraft Dungeons-loving son was too younger to check out the preview together with his account, however Xbox followers will certainly be proud of the efficiency.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (prime) is just about three-quarters of a millimeter thinner than the S20 Ultra, however the distinction is noticeable.
You’ll additionally have the ability to obtain Fortnite with out side-loading, an sudden advantage of Epic’s current struggle with Google and Apple. Because Samsung runs its personal App Store and doesn’t have phrases as strict as Apple’s for builders, the brand new Epic Store with discounted V-Bucks is accessible at a faucet. My son reviews that whereas the on-screen controls have been somewhat complicated at first, gameplay on the Note 20 Ultra is “OP” (which means good), and he was capable of snipe some sweats.
The Snapdragon 865+ chip will get somewhat scorching, nonetheless. In Fortnite and different graphically intensive apps, the again of the cellphone grew to become noticeably heat to the contact, typically topping 100 levels Fahrenheit through the heaviest hundreds (per an infrared thermometer). It would possibly turn out to be a problem on scorching days. That’s most likely why the Asus ROG Phone 3 and Lenovo Legion Duel have specialised cooling techniques.
One factor players might want to carry to the Note 20 is a pair of earbuds. Samsung has quietly determined to nix them as freebies from variations of the Note 20 bought within the United States. That most likely received’t matter to most customers who’ve lengthy dumped the in-box buds for one thing higher, however on a $1,300 cellphone, it feels somewhat stingy. As does the 128GB of storage, which is half of what the Note 10+ begins at.
Michael Simon/IDGThe bezels are skinny, the digicam is centered, and the display is beautiful on the Note 20 Ultra.
Also somewhat on the skimpy aspect is the Note 20 Ultra’s 4,500mAh battery. While that’s larger than what you’ll discover on most telephones, it’s smaller than the 5,000mAh battery within the S20 Ultra. But don’t fear: Your Note Ultra continues to be going to make it by way of the day, even with heavy customers who need to hold 120Hz movement smoothness turned on.
Note 20 Ultra customers must accept second-best on the subject of battery life, nonetheless. In benchmarks, I received higher than 12 hours with 120Hz turned off, however solely round 9 hours with it on. My real-world experiences have been related: Even with the brand new adaptive refresh charge, the Note’s battery drained considerably sooner when movement smoothing was on, which is simply going to be a reality of life till it evolves. It’s the principle cause why the iPhone 12 most likely received’t embody a ProMovement show—it kills battery life.
When it is advisable to cost it, you’ll get 25W quick charging, however not the 45W charging on the Note 10+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra. It received’t make an enormous distinction—the Note 20 Ultra will nonetheless refill in lower than 90 minutes utilizing the 25W charger—but it surely’s unusual that Samsung eliminated help after only a 12 months.
The digicam bump additionally precipitated some points with charging pads. More than as soon as my cellphone didn’t cost as a result of the digicam lifted the cellphone up sufficient the place the coils weren’t touching.
A mighty note-taker
Because it is a Galaxy Note cellphone, it has an S Pen on board, although it’s not just like the styli of Note previous. For one, it’s been moved to the left aspect of the machine after residing its complete previous life on the precise aspect.
Michael Simon/IDGYou’ll need to take extra notes along with your Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen.
The placement isn’t the one factor that’s new. Samsung has accelerated the S Pen’s latency from 45ms to 8ms, which has a dramatic impact on writing and drawing. I by no means had a problem with the previous pen’s efficiency, however the brand new S Pen feels as pure as writing on an precise piece of paper. That latency is similar because the Apple Pencil’s, and it makes an enormous distinction when taking notes, marking up paperwork, or simply scribbling on the display. It’s even higher with the upper refresh charge. Samsung’s Notes app has been upgraded as effectively, with higher handwriting help and annotated audio. I believe you’ll be utilizing your Note to take notes extra typically than with earlier Notes.
The remainder of the S Pen’s tips aren’t practically as spectacular. Samsung turned its stylus right into a Bluetooth distant with the Note 9 and added app gestures final 12 months. Now the Note has much more “air actions” that allow you to management all features of the cellphone with again, recents, dwelling, and screenshot gestures. I might considerably see the attraction of utilizing the S Pen as a distant for the Camera or Gallery, however the use case for the brand new air actions is extraordinarily restricted.
Michael Simon/IDGThe digicam bump on the Note 20 Ultra may be very bumpy.
And that’s if you may get them to work. While I used to be capable of full the helpful tutorial that forces you observe every of the brand new gestures, getting them to work whereas utilizing the cellphone wasn’t so easy. I typically triggered the improper gesture or none in any respect.
I struggled to discover a cause to make use of them. Even once I was utilizing the S Pen, it was simply as simple to faucet the cellphone than wave my hand to return a display or change apps.
The new S Pen is joined by a brand new model of One UI (2.5) that brings minor digicam and interface tweaks, as Samsung continues to refine the most effective Android skins this aspect of the Pixel. Samsung has particularly designed One UI to be friendlier to large telephones. The menus, navigation, and format all make the Note 20 somewhat simpler to deal with. You’ll nonetheless want two arms, however One UI is a pleasure to make use of.
A extra reserved, extra refined digicam
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a digicam system rivaling that of any smartphone on the market, but it surely’s not fairly as extravagant because the S20 Ultra’s. That’s factor. The 100X Space Zoom that was plastered throughout the digicam array on the S20 Ultra has been lowered to 50X, and the DepthVision lens has been changed by laser autofocus.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Note 20 Ultra is impressively skinny at 8.1mm, however the digicam bump provides some girth.
Both adjustments serve the Note 20 Ultra effectively. While the 108MP lens continues to be largely pointless—I couldn’t inform the distinction between 108MP photos and 12MP “binned” photos—the Note 20 Ultra is unquestionably Samsung’s finest smartphone digicam. It’s no coincidence that it’s additionally the least gimmicky, eschewing options like Dual Exposure on the Note 9 for the issues that matter: improved night time mode, lightning-fast focus, and reasonable zoom.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has spectacular zoom, seen right here (clockwise from prime left) at 1X, 10X, 30X, and 50X.
The zoom has its limits. When pushed to 50X, the Note 20 Ultra nonetheless produces noisy photographs. Drop to 30X and so they’re useable, however 10X yields the very best outcomes. If I have been in change of the Note 30’s digicam, in truth, I’d make 30X the higher restrict and work on perfecting it. Samsung’s zoom is its largest benefit over Google and Apple (for now). Even with fewer megapixels in its telephoto lens (12MP vs 48MP on the S20 Ultra), the Note 20 Ultra takes higher zoom photographs.
Michael Simon/IDGEven and not using a devoted time-of-flight sensor, the Note 20 Ultra (left) takes portraits which are as crisp because the S20 Ultra’s.
The different huge enchancment is with autofocus. Focusing was a problem with the Galaxy S20 Ultra that has by no means been satisfactorily resolved. For the brand new era, Samsung added a laser autofocus sensor to the Note 20 Ultra. It makes an enormous distinction over the S20 Ultra and is a much more helpful fourth lens than a macro or depth one. I’ve by no means used a cellphone that targeted this shortly without having to faucet the display, and it helps all features of the Note.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Note 20 Ultra’s laser zoom is so quick and exact, the middle of topics are sometimes too in focus, leaving blurry edges.
However, at occasions it really works somewhat too effectively. When the foreground is just like what’s behind it, the Note 20 often locked onto the improper a part of the image. Other cameras have been smarter. When it received it proper, photographs typically had an aggressive bokeh impact even with out utilizing Live Focus. In the picture of the flower above, for instance, the again petals are out of focus. The identical shot with the Pixel 4a has all the pieces in focus.
Night mode additionally improves on the Note 20 Ultra, pulling it near equal footing with the iPhone 11 and Pixel 4. Shadows and lowlights aren’t blown out as they’re on different Galaxy telephones. Pictures have much less noise than on the S20 Ultra. It’s an excellent enchancment and places the Note 20 Ultra on agency footing with the night time mode champ.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Note 20 Ultra (left) takes sharper, extra balanced, and fewer over-exposed photographs in Night mode in comparison with the S20 Ultra. (It was very darkish once I took these photographs.)
Hands down, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is Samsung’s finest digicam cellphone. You’ll nonetheless get a wholesome serving of Samsung’s trademark oversaturation, and the app continues to be a bit extra complicated than it ought to be. But as a rule, you’re going to take your cellphone out of your pocket and snap an excellent pic with little or no fuss, whether or not you’re far-off or shrouded in darkness.
Should you purchase a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
Nothing I write right here goes to persuade you a couple of Note 20 Ultra both approach. If you may have $1,300 to spend on a cellphone and need the perfect of Android, you’ve most likely already determined to order one. And in the event you’re a Note lover, it’s seemingly already on the way in which.
For everybody else, nonetheless, it’s a troublesome advice. It’s undeniably the very best cellphone you should purchase, but it surely’s additionally most likely extra display and energy than most individuals want. No matter the way you slice it, $1,300 is a ton of cash to pay for a cellphone, even one as lovely because the Note 20 Ultra.