Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications equipment |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1, 1938 in Daegu, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, tablets, consumer electronics |
| Website | www |
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series Overview
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (marketed as Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra) represent a lineup of premium Android-based phablet smartphones engineered, manufactured, and distributed by Samsung Electronics. They form part of the Samsung Galaxy Note series, succeeding the previous Samsung Galaxy Note 10 generation. These models were officially introduced on August 5, 2020, during Samsung’s Unpacked event, which also showcased the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7.[1] This release marked the final installment in the Galaxy Note series before Samsung began integrating Note functionalities into its S series "Ultra" devices, starting with the Galaxy S22 Ultra launched in February 2022.
Because of limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on gatherings, the launch occurred through a virtual presentation from Samsung’s newsroom in Suwon, South Korea. At this event, Samsung highlighted the inclusion of 5G connectivity capabilities in these smartphones, enabling faster data speeds and reduced latency where supported networks exist. The S Pen stylus featured on the Note 20 offers latency improvements up to four times better than earlier versions. Color variants for the Note 20 include Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Grey, whereas the Note 20 Ultra is available in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. Notably, unlike its predecessor, this generation does not include a "+" variant.[2]
The Galaxy Note 20 series introduces several software enhancements such as optimized performance tailored for mobile gaming experiences, seamless wireless synchronization with desktop and laptop computers, and upgraded DeX functionality for remote connections to compatible devices.[3]
Design
The design of the Galaxy Note 20 series closely resembles that of the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S20, featuring an Infinity-O display—a design first introduced with the Galaxy S10—that incorporates a circular cutout at the top center for the front-facing selfie camera. Positioned in the corner on the back is a rectangular camera module, similar to the Galaxy S20, which houses a triple-camera setup.
A notable change in materials is seen with the Note 20 Ultra, which is Samsung's first smartphone to utilize 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 rear panel is constructed from reinforced polycarbonate, marking a return to this material since the Note 4 and Note Edge, aside from the Note 10 Lite. This generation is unique within the Galaxy Note series as it completely eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack. The Note 20 Ultra, on the other hand, features Gorilla Glass Victus on its display. Available worldwide color variants include Mystic Bronze, Mystic Grey, Mystic Green, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. Among these, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Grey on the Note 20 have a matte texture, whereas only Mystic Bronze on the Note 20 Ultra features a matte finish. Mystic Bronze is offered for both models; Mystic Grey and Mystic Green are exclusive to the Note 20; while Mystic Black and Mystic Crush White are exclusive to the Note 20 Ultra. In South Korea, Aura Red with 256 GB storage replaces Mystic Green on the Note 20 and is exclusive to SK Telecom. Additionally, Prism Blue was offered specifically in India.
Chipsets
The Galaxy Note 20 series consists of two variants with differing hardware configurations: international versions of the Note 20 are equipped with the Exynos 990 SoC, whereas models sold in the United States, Korea, and China come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+ processor. Both chipsets are manufactured using an advanced 7 nm+ fabrication technology. The Exynos variant integrates a Mali-G77 MP11 GPU, while the Snapdragon version utilizes an Adreno 650 GPU.
Display
Unlike the curved screen featured on the Note 20 Ultra, the standard Galaxy Note 20 has a flat display. The two models differ in size and resolution: the Note 20 sports a 6.7-inch 1080p panel, whereas the Note 20 Ultra offers a larger 6.9-inch 1440p screen. Both utilize AMOLED technology with support for HDR10+ and include "dynamic tone mapping" capabilities; Samsung markets these as Super AMOLED Plus for the Note 20 and Dynamic AMOLED 2X for the Ultra variant. The standard model supports a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz, but the Ultra model provides a variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz. Users can select between two modes: a constant 60 Hz or an Adaptive option that dynamically adjusts refresh rates based on displayed content,[4] enabled through an energy-efficient LTPO backplane technology. Unlike devices in the S20 lineup, this display maintains its maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz regardless of battery charge level and can tolerate higher operating temperatures before reverting to 60 Hz.[5] It should be noted that Adaptive mode is restricted to Full HD resolution; users must switch to fixed 60 Hz mode to enable QHD (1440p) resolution. Both models incorporate an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded beneath their displays.[6]
Storage
The standard configuration includes 8 GB of RAM along with either 128 or 256 GB of built-in storage. The Note 20 Ultra offers enhanced options with 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS storage, further expandable by as much as 1 TB through the microSD 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 and feature the capability to wirelessly power other Qi-enabled devices via "Samsung PowerShare." Wired charging is available through USB-C with a maximum output of 25 W.
Connectivity
Standard connectivity on both devices includes 5G, although certain regions receive variants limited to LTE or sub-6 GHz bands exclusively. The traditional audio jack is omitted from both models.
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 eSIM functionality and dual SIM dual standby (DSDS). However, other carriers have yet to activate these features despite native eSIM support on the device.
Cameras
The Note 20’s camera system closely resembles that of the Samsung Galaxy S20, comprising a 12 MP wide lens with an Template:F/1.8 aperture, a 64 MP telephoto lens at Template:F/2.0, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens with a focal length equivalent to 12 mm in 35mm terms. Its telephoto lens supports hybrid optical zoom up to 3× and digital zoom up to 10×, combining for a total hybrid zoom capability of 30×.
In contrast, the Note 20 Ultra boasts a more sophisticated camera array featuring a 108 MP wide sensor, a 12 MP "periscope" telephoto sensor, and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor. The telephoto lens offers a focal length equivalent to 120 mm (35mm), delivering 5× optical zoom and up to 50× hybrid zoom when combined with digital zoom. Instead of the S20 Ultra’s time-of-flight sensor, this model employs laser autofocus technology.
Both the Note 20’s telephoto sensor and the Note 20 Ultra’s wide sensor utilize pixel binning to enhance image quality at standard resolution. The wide-angle sensor incorporates Nonacell technology, which merges a block of nine pixels (3x3) to capture increased light intensity.
The front-facing camera features a 10 MP sensor capable of recording video in 4K resolution.
Introduced with the S20 lineup, Single Take mode enables simultaneous capture of photos or videos using multiple sensors automatically. Both models support recording video in 8K at 24 frames per second: on the Note 20 this is facilitated by its 64 MP telephoto lens, while on the Note 20 Ultra it is natively supported by its 108 MP wide sensor.
S Pen
The S Pen latency has been significantly enhanced, dropping to 26ms on the Note 20 and an impressive 9ms on the Note 20 Ultra, compared to the 42ms latency found on the Note 10 and Note 10+. Furthermore, it introduces five additional Air gestures that function throughout the user interface by leveraging the device's accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, alongside an 'AI-driven point prediction' feature. The pen's battery endurance has also seen a notable increase, extending from 10 hours up to 24 hours.
Accessories
In certain markets such as the United Kingdom, earbuds are included in the package, whereas in others like the United States, they are not provided as standard.
Software
The Galaxy Note 20 series launched with Android 10 paired with One UI version 2.5. Samsung committed to delivering approximately three years of Android operating system updates along with four years of security patches. Later in the release cycle, a beta version of Android 11 became available for these models. By January 2021, most Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra units received an over-the-air update to Android 11 accompanied by One UI 3.0. Subsequently, both devices were upgraded to Android 12 featuring One UI 4.0 by January 2022.
As of May 2024, the Note 20 lineup obtained its final major software revision, One UI 5.1, built on Android 13. While official support for Android 14 and One UI 6 is not provided, these versions can be installed through custom modifications. In 2024, Samsung extended support for both the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series into a fifth year, transitioning from monthly to quarterly security updates.
Xbox Game Pass
Samsung has collaborated with Xbox to integrate Xbox gaming on the Note 20. In select regionsTemplate:Fix/category[vague], the Galaxy Note 20 was bundled with a complimentary three-month Xbox Game Pass subscription and an Xbox game controller; this enables users to stream Xbox games from their phone directly to their television.[7] Over 90 Xbox titles are accessible for play on the Note 20.[8]
Reception
The Galaxy Note 20 garnered a range of responses from critics. Technology outlets like TechRadar and The Verge commended the series for enhancements to 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 inconsistent with its premium price.[9][10] In his review for TechRadar, James Peckham concluded that "the Galaxy Note 20 represents Samsung's more affordable stylus-equipped smartphone option for 2020, though it may not captivate the traditional Note enthusiasts. While it offers cost-effective features compared to its more premium Ultra counterpart, it remains a solid choice for users seeking value without premium pricing."[9] Notably, significant performance disparities between the two available processors raised concerns regarding the Exynos versions being less capable—a contrast to earlier models where differences were less pronounced. Additionally, the cooling mechanism featured in the Galaxy Note 10 was omitted from the Snapdragon variants within the Note 20 lineup.
See also
References
- ↑ Various sources
- ↑ Various sources
- ↑ Various sources
- ↑ Siddiqui, Aamir (12 August 2020). "The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the first phone with Samsung's new VRR OLED display". xda-developers. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ↑ "The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra does 120 Hz a lot better than the S20 series". SamMobile. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAndroid Authority specs - ↑ Petrov, Daniel (3 August 2020). "Samsung bringing its game to the Galaxy Note 20, the XBOX Pass game". Phone Arena. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- ↑ SamMobile (22 July 2020). "Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to get Xbox Game Pass via Microsoft Project xCloud". SamMobile. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 August 2020, James Peckham 05. "Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Samsung Galaxy Note 20: Is it okay to sell a $1,000 plastic phone?". Android Authority. 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
External links
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