Configure Galaxy Note20 Ultra
– CPU: Exynos 990
– RAM: 8GB (Note20 Ultra) / 12GB (Note20 Ultra 5G)
– Internal memory: 256GB, support expandable memory card
– Screen: 6.9 inches, Super AMOLED, 120Hz (FHD) / 60Hz (WQHD), Infinity-O, Gorilla Glass Victus
– Main camera:
+ Normal angle: 108 MP, f / 1.8, OIS, laser focus
+ Super wide angle: 12MP, f / 2.2
+ Tele: 12MP, f / 3.0, 5X optical zoom, 50X digital zoom, OIS, periscope
– Battery: 4500mAh, fast charging 25W
– Connectivity: USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, 5G (optional), no headphone jack
Advantages of Galaxy Note20 Ultra
Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a device with a flashy, luxurious, and premium design.
Not only beautiful on the outside, but the finishing quality of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is also among the best today. From the curved glass, the buttons to the small details such as speaker slots, mic slots … are meticulously made.
Among the color versions of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the bronze color version (Mystic Bronze) is worth the attention of users, not only because of the noble color but also the matte glass back, giving the feeling of holding a comfortable grip and no fingerprints. The remaining black and white color versions still use glossy glass, so there is no inheritance of the above advantage.
The screen of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is one of the biggest strengths of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. All factors of size, technology, resolution, scanning frequency … are ranked top in the market. The Infinity-O design is also appreciated by us for aesthetics, especially when compared to the “rabbit ears” or “pills” of rival iPhone and Huawei.
Talking more about the 120Hz refresh rate of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, this is the first smartphone in the world with the ability to automatically adjust the scanning frequency based on the content displayed on the screen. This technology will help improve the battery life of the device.
Not only the screen but the dual speaker system of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is also the top quality today. When combined with the screen above, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers a great entertainment experience.
Another important upgrade of this years Galaxy Note20 Ultra , compared to last years Galaxy Note10, is the camera . It kinda inherits the technology from the S20 Ultra , so Galaxy Note20 can reach a camera resolution up to 108MP, plus you get the option to zoom as far as 50X.
Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is the first smartphone from Samsung in Vietnam that supports 5G. Right now , since Vietnam hasn’t fully implemented this technology yet, users probably wont feel much advantage from having the 5G version. In the future, though, 5G will become a must-have capability for every high end smartphone , no exceptions.
The in-screen fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is ultrasonic, so it provides a higher level of security than other in-screen fingerprint sensors that work in optical form.
And yes, the S-Pen, which kind of sets the Galaxy Note apart from other models, gets a meaningful upgrade on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra . With latency reduced to 9ms (compared to the previous 45ms), the writing, drawing, and note taking experience is noticeably smoother and better.
One UI of Galaxy Note20 Ultra in particular and Samsung devices, in general, is one of the most complete software suites on Android today. Not only has the interface designed harmoniously and modernly, but One UI is also packed with many useful features for both casual and advanced users.
Not only smartphones, but Samsung also has a very rich product ecosystem from accessories (watches, wireless headphones) to other consumer products such as TVs, laptops, tablets … created for people use a consistent experience. This is something that very few firms can do.
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The downside of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra
The 6.9-inch screen of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra gives a very “good” user experience but creates a nuisance in holding and carrying. Compared to competitors like last year’s Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Note10 + (which is already very large), the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is even larger.
The most critical point on the design of the Note20 Ultra is the camera cluster: it convex a lot and is beveled very sharply. This is also one of the reasons why the Galaxy Note20 Ultra feels uncomfortable in the pocket.
Although the Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers a relatively smooth experience but compared to other products in the same segment using Apple A13 chip (iPhone 11 series) or Snapdragon 865 (OnePlus 8, Oppo Find X2, Xiaomi Mi 10 .. .), the Exynos 990 chip proved to be inferior in terms of performance. Although only using basic tasks (surfing the web, chatting, surfing social media), the Galaxy Note20 Ultra we tested often heated up confusingly.
Not only the CPU, but the 4G version of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is also reduced to 8GB of RAM (compared to 12GB of Note10 +). Users who want 12GB of RAM are required to purchase the 5G version.
Another technology that’s cut down is fast charging. If Note10 + supports fast charging with a capacity of 45W, on Galaxy Note20 Ultra, this number is only 25W.
Who is the rival of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra?
The OnePlus 8 Pro is kinda a machine that brings a lot of advantages compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, like smoothness i mean (Snapdragon 865 chip, OxygenOS), that 120Hz WQHD display, and the whole Warp Charge support thing. Yet the OnePlus 8 Pro camera feels pretty much worse, honestly, compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.
Then we have the Huawei P40 Pro +, which is in a way somewhat better than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra for the camera, battery duration, and that ceramic case. Still, the missing Google services is the dealbreaker, so the P40 Pro / Pro + isn’t worth buying, whatever anyone says about how much better it performs, in practice.
The Mi 10 Ultra is quite comprehensive in terms of performance, camera, and battery life. However, the design of this device is quite grotesque, besides, the fact that Xiaomi only distributes this device in China gives users some problems with software and after-sales mode.
Pixel 4 / 4XL is superior to Galaxy Note20 Ultra in software, namely smooth, smart stock Android and AI camera with some features like HDR +, Night Sight, or taking photos to remove fonts. However, the Pixel 4’s hardware is too much behind the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, from design, configuration, screen, camera to battery.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is the only device that kinda can truly compete with the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Yeah okay, there are not so many cult technologies, like 120Hz display, super-fast charging, or that super zoom camera, but still iPhone 11 Pro Max is pretty appreciated for its smoothness. It feels steady, stable and easy to use, if you know what I mean.
But the real rival of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra for 2020-2021, will be the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, and honestly, we will need to wait ,for the iPhone 12 launch to conclude anything.
Summary: Not perfect, but still the best high-end Android phone
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is one of those most expensive smartphones on the market today. Still, for such a high price, users run into some downsides, in particular with the Exynos 990 chip performance, or maybe the reduced RAM capacity. Also the fast charging tech is kinda weaker compared to its predecessor.
However, when considering the general context of the whole market, Galaxy Note20 Ultra is still the only possible choice in the high-end segment. As mentioned above, the products of OnePlus, Huawei, Google, or Xiaomi all have critical weaknesses and make them unable to keep up with the Galaxy Note20 Ultra as a whole.
Maybe the performance of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is slightly worse than the competition, but on the market, there is no other high-end Android smartphone that fully converges elements of design, screen, camera, ecosystem, mode. After-sales and distribution network … like Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Not to mention, the S-Pen is also a “worth” feature of the Galaxy Note series that users cannot find in any other product line.
Basically, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is still, the top-tier Android phone that’s worth grabbing right now, even if the market is kinda loud. At the same time though, it’s smarter for people to pause a little and think about waiting for the iPhone 12 Pro Max launch, because that one is also its primary competitor, and yeah it can shift the balance. Only then can users make the most fair, and accurate overall judgment without rushing.
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.
