Design
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra boast a sleek and stylish design, with the Note 20 Ultra taking the lead in terms of aesthetics. The Note 20 Ultra features a color-rich back panel with a fingerprint-resistant finish, embossed logo, and a glossy camera module. The S20 Ultra, on the other hand, features a plain glass back, giving it a bland look. In terms of thickness, the Note 20 Ultra is slimmer than the S20 Ultra, measuring 8.1mm compared to 8.8mm. Both phones are sealed against water and dust, and the Note 20 Ultra is the first phone in the world to be fitted with Gorilla Glass 7, which is 1.2 times more drop-resistant and 2 times more scratch-resistant than Gorilla Glass 6.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra both feature a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display. The Note 20 Ultra has a higher resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz, while the S20 Ultra has a resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The Note 20 Ultra also has a higher peak brightness of 1,300 nits, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 1,200 nits.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra both feature a quad-camera setup on the rear. The Note 20 Ultra has a 108MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a laser autofocus sensor. The S20 Ultra has a 108MP primary camera, a 48MP telephoto camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a time-of-flight sensor. The Note 20 Ultra also has a 10MP front-facing camera, while the S20 Ultra has a 40MP front-facing camera.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra are both powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor and 8GB of RAM. The Note 20 Ultra has a larger battery capacity of 4,500mAh, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 4,000mAh battery. The Note 20 Ultra also supports faster charging speeds of up to 25W, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 15W charging speeds.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra both run on the Android 10 operating system. The Note 20 Ultra has the latest version of Samsung’s One UI 2.5 software, while the S20 Ultra has the older version of One UI 2.0. The Note 20 Ultra also has access to Samsung’s new DeX wireless feature, which allows users to connect their phone to a compatible TV or monitor without the need for a cable.
Ergonomics
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra have a distinct design aesthetic, with the former featuring razor sharp corners to make it look boxier and visually separate from the S series. This design choice has been made to make the Note feel more like a pad for writing on, but the sharp corners can be uncomfortable to hold.
Design
The Note 20 Ultra is a winner in terms of design, with its 6.9-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This display has the highest screen-to-body ratio Samsung has ever put on a phone, and is 25% brighter than the S20 Ultra, with a peak brightness of 1,500 nits. The curved sides have been reduced to make the entire screen area usable.
Camera
The Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra have a similar camera setup, with the former featuring a triple-lens rear camera system with a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 108MP wide-angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The S20 Ultra has a quad-lens rear camera system with a 48MP ultra-wide lens, a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 48MP telephoto lens, and a time-of-flight sensor. Both phones have a 10MP front-facing camera.
Performance
The Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra have the same processor, the Snapdragon 865 Plus, and both come with 8GB of RAM. The Note 20 Ultra has a slightly larger battery, at 4,500mAh, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 4,000mAh battery. The Note 20 Ultra also has faster charging, with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 25W wired charging and 11W wireless charging.
Software
The Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra both run the latest version of Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI 2.5. The Note 20 Ultra has a few extra features, such as Samsung Notes, Samsung DeX, and the S Pen, which allows users to take notes, draw, and navigate the phone with the stylus. The S20 Ultra does not have these features.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy S20 Ultra: Camera
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra are both equipped with a powerful camera system, boasting 8K video recording, a 108 megapixel main camera, 100 times space zoom, an ultra wide camera, and a depth-sensing camera. However, the Note 20 Ultra has a few key advantages over its predecessor.
Dynamic Range
The S20 Ultra had a hard time capturing dynamic range, with its 108 megapixel sensor not performing as well as more affordable phones. The Note 20 Ultra, however, has seen software improvements that have improved its dynamic range.
8K Video
The 8K video on the S20 Ultra was incredibly detailed, but came with a few compromises. The Note 20 Ultra has the same 8K video capabilities, but with fewer compromises.
100 Times Zoom
The 100 times zoom on the S20 Ultra was impressive, but beyond 30 times the quality was not great. The Note 20 Ultra has the same zoom capabilities, but with improved quality.
Laser Autofocus
The S20 Ultra had some focusing issues, which were improved through software updates. The Note 20 Ultra, however, has a hardware solution – a specialized laser autofocus module. This module does everything the depth camera did, but with improved speed and accuracy.
Camera Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra both offer impressive camera capabilities. The Note 20 Ultra offers a 40 megapixel selfie camera, while the S20 Ultra offers a 10 megapixel selfie camera. However, in real-world testing, the two cameras appear to be very comparable.
The Note 20 Ultra has a 12 megapixel five times optical zoom telephoto camera, while the S20 Ultra has a 48 megapixel four times optical zoom telephoto camera. Interestingly, when tested at 50 times zoom, the Note 20 Ultra’s photos appeared more detailed than the S20 Ultra’s. This suggests that the Note 20 Ultra’s telephoto camera is actually better than the S20 Ultra’s, despite the lower megapixel count.
Video Mode
The Note 20 Ultra has a few more options baked into its pro video mode than the S20 Ultra. It allows users to select where they want their phone to pick up audio from – all around them, or just focus in front or behind. It also lets users shoot 120 frames per second video at 1080p, which is a feature that has been seen on other phones, but with a lower quality hit.
Marketing
The Note 20 Ultra is marketed differently than the S20 Ultra. The Note 20 Ultra is focused on its productivity features, and as such, Samsung has limited the 100 times zoom feature to a 50 times zoom. This is likely because they don’t need to market it as a 100 times zoom camera, and instead they are focusing on features that make the Note 20 Ultra better.
1 versus ufs 3.0.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra are both premium devices with a glass and metal construction. The Note 20 Ultra has a slightly larger display, measuring 6.9 inches compared to the 6.7-inch display of the S20 Ultra. The Note 20 Ultra also has a more curved design, which gives it a more modern look.
Display
Both phones have a Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Note 20 Ultra has a slightly higher resolution, with a 3200 x 1440 resolution compared to the S20 Ultra’s 3200 x 1440 resolution. The Note 20 Ultra also has a higher peak brightness of 1,300 nits compared to the S20 Ultra’s 1,200 nits.
Camera
The Note 20 Ultra has a triple-camera setup, with a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera. The S20 Ultra has a quad-camera setup, with a 108MP main camera, a 48MP telephoto camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 0.3MP depth sensor. The Note 20 Ultra has a higher resolution for its telephoto camera, which allows it to take better zoomed-in photos.
Performance
The Note 20 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 865+ processor, while the S20 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 865 processor. The Note 20 Ultra has 12GB of RAM compared to the S20 Ultra’s 16GB of RAM. The Note 20 Ultra also has a faster UFS 3.1 storage compared to the S20 Ultra’s UFS 3.0 storage.
Battery
The Note 20 Ultra has a 4,500mAh battery compared to the S20 Ultra’s 5,000mAh battery. Both phones support fast charging and wireless charging.
Price
The Note 20 Ultra is priced at 1179 in the UK, while the S20 Ultra is priced at 1199. However, the S20 Ultra is available at a discounted price due to its age, so it is possible to find it for a lower price than the Note 20 Ultra.
Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra both feature UFS 3.0 storage, which is up to 60% faster than the UFS 2.1 storage found in the Galaxy Note 10. This faster storage allows for less RAM to be used, as RAM is essentially a short-term memory, with data being shifted to the faster long-term memory.
Pricing
In terms of pricing, both the Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra are similarly priced, making it difficult to determine which one is better value for money.
Battery
The Note 20 Ultra has a battery capacity of 4500 mAh, which is 500 mAh less than the S20 Ultra. Additionally, the max charging wattage of the Note 20 Ultra is capped at 25 watts, compared to the 45 watts of the S20 Ultra.
Exynos
Samsung produces two different versions of their flagship phones for different regions, with the Exynos 990 powered phones lagging behind the Snapdragon 865 powered phones by up to 20% in terms of performance and battery life. The Note 20 Ultra presents an opportunity for Samsung to put this behind them and create a more powerful Exynos chip to level the playing field.
5 and its also got the s-pen, which is a great tool for productivity and creativity.
Snapdragon 865 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra both feature the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, however, the regions that are getting the superior chip have been upgraded to the 865 Plus, which is approximately 10% faster. In contrast, those in the UK and India have been left with the same Exynos chip, which is not particularly conducive to battery life.
Adaptive Refresh Rate
The Note 20 Ultra has a feature called Adaptive Refresh Rate, which allows the screen to refresh anywhere from 1 to 120 times per second. In comparison, the S20 Ultra can only flick between 60 and 120. By having full control of the refresh rate, the Note is able to conserve battery by reducing the refresh rate to match the application. According to Samsung, this combination of the display, faster and more efficient UFS 3.1 storage, and the new One UI 2.5 software, will result in improved battery life.
Software
Both phones offer a fast, responsive UI, with fantastic haptics. However, the Note 20 Ultra has the advantage of starting with the new One UI 2.5, and it also has the S-Pen, which is a great tool for productivity and creativity. Unfortunately, both phones come with a large amount of bloatware, which users are unlikely to use.
Updates
The Note 20 Ultra is likely to receive updates for longer than the S20 Ultra, as it is the newer phone. This is an important perk for users who want to keep their device up-to-date with the latest software.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra are both sleek and stylish devices, with the Note 20 Ultra boasting a slightly more lightweight design. The Note 20 Ultra is 5.9mm thick, compared to the 8.8mm thickness of the S20 Ultra. This difference in thickness is not particularly significant, but it does give the Note 20 Ultra a slightly more comfortable feel in the hand.
Performance
The Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra both offer impressive performance, with the Note 20 Ultra having a slight edge. The Note 20 Ultra is equipped with more efficient software that allows for faster app opening and camera shutter times. Both phones can connect to a display with Samsung DeX, but the Note 20 Ultra can do so wirelessly. Additionally, the Note 20 Ultra is equipped with an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) chip, which gives the phone a spatial awareness that past phones did not have. This chip allows users to send files to other UWB users simply by pointing their phone at them and flicking it towards them.
S Pen
The Note 20 Ultra’s trump card is the S Pen, which has been upgraded with a significantly lower latency. The latency of the S Pen has been reduced from 42 milliseconds to 9, making it incredibly responsive and precise. The subtle pencil sound effects make the experience even more enjoyable.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra both feature a 6.9-inch display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440. The Note 20 Ultra has a slightly brighter display with a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 1,200 nits. The Note 20 Ultra also has a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 60 Hz.
Camera
The Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra both feature a triple camera setup, with the main camera being a 108 MP sensor. The Note 20 Ultra has a laser autofocus system, which allows for faster and more accurate focusing. The S20 Ultra does not have this feature. The Note 20 Ultra also has a brighter f/1.8 aperture lens, compared to the S20 Ultra’s f/2.2 lens.
Battery
The Note 20 Ultra has a 4,500 mAh battery, while the S20 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery. The Note 20 Ultra also supports fast charging, while the S20 Ultra supports faster charging.
RAM and Storage
The Note 20 Ultra has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, while the S20 Ultra has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra both offer impressive camera capabilities. The Note 20 Ultra has a few more options baked into its pro video mode, and its telephoto camera appears to be better than the S20 Ultra’s despite the lower megapixel count. The Note 20 Ultra is marketed differently than the S20 Ultra, focusing on its productivity features rather than its 100 times zoom feature.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra are both impressive devices, with the Note 20 Ultra offering a few key advantages over the S20 Ultra. The Note 20 Ultra has a brighter display, a laser autofocus system, and a brighter f/1.8 aperture lens. The S20 Ultra has a larger battery and more RAM and storage. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and which features are most important to you.