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Samsung Galaxy Note 20

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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series
Company typeProduct line
IndustryConsumer electronics
FoundedAugust 5, 2020; 6 years ago (2020-08-05)
FounderSamsung Electronics
Headquarters
Suwon
,
South Korea
ProductsAndroid phablets (Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra)
Websitewww.samsung.com/galaxy-note20/

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (marketed as Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra) represent a line of premium Android phablets engineered, manufactured, and distributed by Samsung Electronics as part of the Samsung Galaxy Note series. These models succeed the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lineup.[1] Officially introduced on August 5, 2020, the unveiling occurred alongside other Samsung products such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 during the company's Unpacked event.[2] Marking the final installment in the Galaxy Note family, Samsung transitioned Note features into its S series "Ultra" variants, beginning with the launch of the Galaxy S22 Ultra in February 2022.

Due to limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on gatherings, the Note 20 series was revealed through a virtual presentation hosted from Samsung’s newsroom in Suwon, South Korea. Both devices support 5G connectivity, delivering enhanced bandwidth and reduced latency where networks permit. Notably, the S Pen stylus incorporated with these models boasts latency improvements up to four times faster than previous generations. The standard Note 20 is available in Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Grey finishes, while the Note 20 Ultra comes in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. Unlike earlier releases, this generation does not include a "+" variant.[3]

This series introduces several new software capabilities aimed at enhancing user experience. These enhancements include optimized performance for mobile gaming, seamless wireless synchronization with desktop and laptop computers, and expanded DeX functionality for remote connections to compatible devices.[4]

Design

The Galaxy Note 20 series continues the design language seen in the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S20, featuring an Infinity-O display—initially debuted with the Galaxy S10—that incorporates a centrally positioned circular cutout at the top for the front-facing selfie camera. Positioned at the rear corner, the camera module protrudes in a rectangular shape similar to that of the Galaxy S20 and contains three camera lenses.

Departing from previous models, the Note 20 Ultra is Samsung's first smartphone to employ a stainless steel frame, while the standard Note 20 retains the traditional anodized aluminum frame. The Note 20’s screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, and its back panel is constructed from reinforced polycarbonate, a material not used on Note series phones since the Note 4 and Note Edge, except for the Note 10 Lite. This generation is also unique within the Galaxy Note lineup for completely eliminating the 3.5mm headphone jack. The Note 20 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Victus on its display.

Available worldwide in several colors—Mystic Bronze, Mystic Grey, Mystic Green, Mystic Black, and Mystic White—the finishes vary between models. The Note 20 offers a matte finish on Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Grey variants, whereas only the Mystic Bronze version of the Note 20 Ultra has a matte coating. Both models share Mystic Bronze as an option; however, Mystic Grey and Mystic Green are exclusive to the Note 20, while Mystic Black and Mystic Crush White are reserved for the Note 20 Ultra. In South Korea, Aura Red with 256 GB storage is an SK Telecom exclusive for the Note 20, replacing Mystic Green; Prism Blue was available exclusively in India.

Chipsets

The Galaxy Note 20 lineup consists of two variants equipped with distinct hardware configurations: international versions of the Note 20 run on the Exynos 990 SoC, while models sold in the United States, South Korea, and China utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+. Both processors are manufactured using an advanced 7 nm+ fabrication process. The Exynos variant incorporates a Mali-G77 MP11 GPU, whereas the Snapdragon model features an Adreno 650 GPU.

Display

Unlike the curved screen found on the Note 20 Ultra, the standard Galaxy Note 20 sports a flat display. The screen sizes measure 6.7 inches with a 1080p resolution for the Note 20 and 6.9 inches with 1440p resolution for the Note 20 Ultra. Both devices utilize AMOLED technology supporting HDR10+ along with "dynamic tone mapping," branded as Super AMOLED Plus on the Note 20 and Dynamic AMOLED 2X on the Ultra model. The refresh rate on the Note 20 is fixed at 60 Hz, whereas the Note 20 Ultra supports a variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz. Users can toggle between two settings: a constant 60 Hz or Adaptive mode, which dynamically adjusts refresh rate based on displayed content,[5] enabled by an energy-efficient LTPO backplane design. In contrast to the S20 series, this display sustains its peak refresh rate of 120 Hz regardless of battery status and tolerates higher operating temperatures before dropping to 60 Hz.[6] Adaptive mode is limited to Full HD (FHD) resolution; to access Quad HD (QHD) at 1440p, users must switch to a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz. Both models incorporate an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.[7]

Storage

The standard configuration starts with 8 GB of RAM alongside either 128 or 256 GB of built-in storage. The Note 20 Ultra offers options of 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS storage, with the capacity to expand storage up to 1 TB via the microSD card slot.

Batteries

Both the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are equipped with non-removable Li-Ion batteries, rated at 4300 mAh and 4500 mAh respectively.

They support Qi wireless charging, as well as the ability to wirelessly charge other Qi-enabled devices using the phone's battery through Samsung’s "PowerShare" feature. Wired charging is facilitated via USB-C with a maximum power delivery of 25 W.

Connectivity

Standard 5G connectivity is included on both models, though certain regions may receive variants limited to LTE or sub-6 GHz only networks. Notably, both phones do not feature a traditional audio jack.

Additional connectivity features include NFC, eSIM, and Ultra-wideband technology.

On April 14, 2021, T-Mobile released a software update for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G enabling support for eSIM and dual SIM dual standby (DSDS). However, other carriers have yet to activate these functionalities despite the device’s inherent eSIM capability.

Cameras

File:Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Mystic Bronze.jpg
Rear view of Note 20 Ultra Mystic Bronze

The Note 20’s camera setup closely resembles that of the Samsung Galaxy S20, featuring a 12 MP wide sensor with an aperture of Template:F/1.8, a 64 MP telephoto sensor with Template:F/2.0 aperture, and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor with a focal length equivalent to 12 mm in 35mm terms. Its telephoto lens supports a hybrid optical zoom of 3× and digital zoom up to 10×, combining for an overall hybrid zoom capability of up to 30×.

In contrast, the Note 20 Ultra boasts a more sophisticated camera array: a 108 MP wide sensor, a 12 MP periscope-style telephoto lens, and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor. The telephoto lens offers a focal length equivalent to 120 mm (35mm equivalent), providing an optical zoom level of 5× and hybrid zoom extending to 50× with digital assistance. This model replaces the S20 Ultra’s time-of-flight sensor with laser autofocus technology.

Both the Note 20’s telephoto sensor and the Note 20 Ultra’s wide sensor employ pixel binning techniques to produce higher quality images at standard resolutions. The wide-angle sensor incorporates Nonacell technology, which merges a cluster of nine pixels (3x3) to enhance light capture.

The front-facing camera consists of a 10 MP sensor capable of recording video in 4K resolution.

The Single Take feature, initially introduced with the S20 series, allows simultaneous photo or video capture utilizing multiple sensors automatically. Both devices support recording video in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second. On the Note 20, this functionality is enabled through its 64 MP telephoto sensor, while on the Note 20 Ultra it is natively supported by its 108 MP wide sensor.

S Pen

Latency for the S Pen has been significantly reduced, measuring 26ms on the Note 20 and an even faster 9ms on the Note 20 Ultra, compared to the 42ms latency found in the Note 10 and Note 10+. Furthermore, it introduces five additional Air gestures that operate throughout the interface by leveraging the device’s accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, alongside an 'AI-driven point prediction' feature. The S Pen’s battery endurance has also seen a notable increase, extending from 10 hours to 24 hours.

Accessories

In certain markets like the United Kingdom, earbuds are included in the package, whereas in others such as the United States, they are not provided as part of the standard bundle.

Software

The Galaxy Note 20 series launched with Android 10 paired with Samsung’s One UI version 2.5. These models are expected to benefit from three major Android operating system upgrades and receive security patches for four years. Later in the release cycle, a beta version of Android 11 was made available. By January 2021, most Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra units had been updated over-the-air to Android 11 featuring One UI 3.0. Subsequently, both devices were upgraded to Android 12 with One UI 4.0 by January 2022. As of May 2024, the final significant update delivered to these phones was One UI 5.1, built on Android 13. Although official updates ceased after this point, users can install Android 14 with One UI 6 and subsequent versions via custom modifications. In 2024, Samsung extended support for the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series into a fifth year, transitioning their security patch schedule from monthly to quarterly releases.

Xbox Game Pass

Samsung has collaborated with Xbox to bring Xbox gaming to the Galaxy Note 20. In select regionsTemplate:Fix/category[vague], customers received three months of complimentary Xbox Game Pass access bundled with an Xbox controller when purchasing the Note 20; this allows users to stream Xbox games from their phone directly to a television.[8] Over 90 titles from the Xbox library are accessible on the Note 20.[9]

Reception

The Galaxy Note 20 garnered a range of critical responses. Technology outlets such as TechRadar and The Verge commended the series for enhancements in the S-Pen design and camera capabilities. Conversely, the standard Note 20 faced criticism due to its use of a lower-grade display and plastic rear casing, which seemed incongruent with its premium price.[10][11] James Peckham of TechRadar summarized his review by stating, "the Galaxy Note 20 represents Samsung's more affordable stylus-equipped smartphone option for 2020, yet it may not excite long-time Note enthusiasts. It offers budget-conscious features compared to its more premium Ultra counterpart but remains a solid choice for those unwilling to pay top-tier prices."[10] Notably, there was a significant performance gap between the two processor options, raising concerns that Exynos variants might be inferior—a disparity that was less evident in earlier models. Additionally, the advanced cooling system featured in the Galaxy Note 10 was omitted from Snapdragon-powered versions of the Note 20 lineup.

See also

References

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  3. ↑ Various sources
  4. ↑ Various sources
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  11. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

Preceded by Samsung Galaxy Note 20
2020
Succeeded by

Template:Samsung Galaxy Note Template:Samsung phones Template:Android tablets