The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra have been a big question since the phones were available in 2020. If you’re trying to decide whether the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is still a smart buy or how that model compared to the Note 20 Ultra, which was released simultaneously, we can help. Here’s a closer look at the Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra-so that you can see how both phones measure up.
These two devices are flagship Samsung phones announced in August last year. The Note 20 ultra, as the name might suggest, is the pricier model, and it comes in duo sizes. While the Note 20 is more affordable and only available with a 6.7″ screen.
Of course, this is just the introduction to the review. These phones are all pretty distinctive and will most likely appeal to diverse audiences. Continue reading to find the best one for you.
Galaxy Note 20 vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – Specs
| Price | ||
| Display | 6.7-inch AMOLED (FHD; 60Hz) | 6.9-inch AMOLED (QHD; 120Hz) |
| CPU | Snapdragon 865 Plus | Snapdragon 865 Plus |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB, 512GB |
| microSD Slot? | No | Yes |
| Rear camera | 12MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 64MP telephoto with 3x lossless zoom (ƒ/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2) | 108MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom (ƒ/3.0); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2) |
| Front camera | 10MP (ƒ/2.2) | 10MP (ƒ/2.2) |
| Battery | 4,300 MAH | 4,500 MAH |
| Battery life (Hrs:Mins) | Not yet tested | 10:26 (60Hz) / 7:59 (120Hz) |
| Charging | 25W wired; 15W wireless | 25W wired; 15W wireless |
| OS | Android 10 with One UI 2.0 | Android 10 with One UI 2.0 |
| Colors | Mystic Gray, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze | Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White |
| Size | 6.36 x 2.96 x 0.32 inches | 6.48 x 3.04 x 0.32 inches |
| Weight | 6.84 ounces | 7.33 ounces |
Galaxy Note 20 vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – Look and feel
If you pick up the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, you’ll notice a difference right away. The Note 20 Ultra is a sophisticated phablet with a fingerprint-resistant haze coating. The Galaxy 20 takes a different path.
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The Note 20 is made of “reinforced polycarbonate” rather than metal which appears to be an unusual option for a high-end phone. However, Samsung claims it’s as tough as glass. While the Note 20 uses plastic, the Ultra has a glass backing Gorilla Glass Victus. Even though the specs are strong, plastic makes it feel cheaper than its price tag.
It’s once again a tale of two screens for the Galaxy Note 20 models. The Note 20 Ultra has a Quad HD display, slightly bigger at 6.9″ than the Note 20’s Full HD at 6.7″. Across the board, both phones have Quad HD resolution displays and giant screens. The S20 models also support a 120Hz refresh rate, though the resolution must be reduced to 1080p. Meanwhile, the Note 20 Ultra is the only device with a faster refresh rate.
The Note 20 Ultra was perhaps the best-looking smartphone of 2021, especially in Mystic Bronze. It the most stunning gold-ish tone we’d seen currently. If you were bored, you could have it in Mystic Black and White.
Note 20 vs. Note 20 ultra – Specs and Performance
While these Samsung Galaxy Note’s don’t look too much different in design, there are many differences inside. Samsung’s seven㎚ 64-bit Octa-Core Processor powers all two, come with Android 10 installed, and boast loads of improvements to the cameras.
There’s no noticeable difference as far as RAM and storage are concerned. The Note 20 comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage, while the Ultra has 12GB RAM with 128GB storage. You have the option to bump the Note 20 up to 256GB of RAM and the Ultra to 512GB of storage. The international edition of the Galaxy Note 20 phones also comes with 128GB of primary storage, which is an excellent addition.
There’s little to separate the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra models. The Samsung Octa-Core Processor powers all two. And the best chipset you’ll find in any Android smartphone, Snapdragon 865, powering the Notes 20 series models to challenge Apple’s iPhone 11
Note 20 vs. Note 20 ultra – Camera
The Note 20 has a 12mp ultra-wide camera setup with two other dedicated ultra-wide lenses sitting next to the more standard 12mp camera. The triple camera adds an extra degree of versatility to the pictures you can capture.
On the Note 20 Ultra model, you have the same three cameras. However, a sophisticated 4Laser AF Sensor makes it faster and more precise to focus on the subpixel. The triple camera on the back of the Note 20 Ultra consists of 12mp ultra-wide (Pixel size: 1.4μm, FOV/120˚, F.No (aperture): F2.2), 108MP Wide-angle camera (PDAF, OIS, Pixel size: 0.8μm, FOV: 79˚, F.No (aperture): F1.8, 1/1.33″ image sensor size), 12mp telephoto (Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 20˚, F.No (aperture): F3.0) and 4Laser AF Sensor.
The Note 20 Ultra shoots superior images, and the 5x optical zoom wins out overall. It can not only produce highly excellent telephoto photographs up to 5x, but it can even go up to 50x. However, regardless of the phone you choose, you will get a fantastic phone.
Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra – Battery life and charging.
Battery life between these two phones may also be closer than expected. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series has one of the long-lasting batteries ever built by Samsung. It turned in 11 hours, 17 minutes, which was nearly two hours better than the Note 20 result.
The Note 20 has a 4,300 mAh battery vs. the Note 20 Ultra 4,500 mAh power pack. That’s not a tremendous difference, especially since the Note 20 Ultra has a bigger screen to power up — and one that will occasionally stress the battery with a quicker refresh rate.
The Note 20 series charges quickly right out of the box. These models ship with a 25W charger. According to Samsung, on the Note 20 strings, you get the battery up to 50% after 30 minutes of charging. In addition, both series enable 15W wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging.
Note 20 vs. Note 20 Ultra: How much do they cost?
The Galaxy S20 smartphones were released with a somewhat high price tag. The Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, unsurprisingly, follow other Samsung Galaxy flagship kin footsteps.
The Note 20 starts at $799.99, vs. the Note 20 Ultra starts at $1,099.99. Prices will continue to rise as more storage is added.
Which one should you buy?
After reviewing both phones, it’s clear that the Note 20 Ultra was the best phone you could purchase at the time. And it’s also one of the best smartphones overall, owing to its stunning design, features, and long battery life.
So, it’s good that the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is less expensive and has comparable performance and battery life. Finally, the lower price and the fact that Samsung still offers the Note 20 may be the most crucial criteria in picking between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.
Most upgraders will look to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for their next smartphone, at least until the Samsung update becomes available. However, the Note 20 remains an appealing alternative since its features are still relevant more than a year later.
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