The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is one of the largest and most expensive smartphones that you can buy at the moment. Does that make him one of the best choices? Yes, but for a selected audience. Secretly we had expected more innovation from this 1299 euro phone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
MSRP € 1299, –
OS Android 10 (One UI)
Screen 6.9 inches (3088 x 1440)
Processor Exynos 990
RAM 12GB
Storage 256GB or 512 (with micro-sd)
Battery 4,500 mAh
Connectivity WiFi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, E-SIM, 5G
Format 16.5 x 7.7 x 0.8 cm
Weight 208 grams
Other Water and dust proof, wireless charging, S-Pent
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- S-Pen for drawings and on drawings
- User-friendly software
- Future-proof hardware
- Fantastic screen
- Negatives
- Particularly pricey
- Disappointing battery life
- Not the best specifications
The Note 20 Ultra has a 6.9-inch screen, which is much larger than usual. You can therefore not operate the smartphone with one hand and you may experience problems with storage in a tight pocket. The large screen also offers advantages. Photos, movies and games look better and typing with two hands is more pleasant. The screen quality is also excellent, especially thanks to the beautiful OLED display and the high refresh rate of 120 Hz. It delivers a smooth image but does put pressure on the battery life. With more intensive use, we have to put the Note 20 Ultra on the charger already with dinner. With the standard refresh rate of 60 Hz, the picture is less smooth but the battery lasts a few hours longer. The housing contains a removable pen to make drawings. It works well and is a reason for some to buy a Note phone. If you find the S-Pen less useful, it won’t get in the way.
Specifications
Other specifications also leave a mixed impression, mainly because there are many similarities with the cheaper S20 series. The Note 20 Ultra uses the same, fast Exynos 990 processor, the same amount of RAM (12 GB) and charges the battery just as quickly; via usb-c with 25 Watt and wireless with 15 Watt. The triple camera is reminiscent of that of the S20 Ultra, with a special zoom camera that brings the image considerably closer with relatively little loss of quality. The photo quality is good but differs little from the S20 Ultra. The latest Google Pixel and Apple iPhone take better pictures, especially in the dark. That’s a shame, especially since the Note 20 Ultra is more expensive.
Longer updates
Samsung’s software also remains a point of attention. The manufacturer supplies the phone with Android 10 and its OneUI shell, which is visually quite different and includes all kinds of apps from commercial partners. Samsung promotes its own services even more, mainly through buttons, menus and notifications. We don’t like that. The update policy has – finally – been improved. Samsung no longer guarantees two but three major Android updates. That’s in line with Google and OnePlus and better than many other Android brands. However, an iPhone will receive iOS updates for four to five years.
Conclusion
With the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Samsung delivers an impressive device that is especially interesting for those looking for a high-end smartphone with a large screen. However, we think the suggested retail price of 1299 euros is very high, especially because the Note 20 Ultra performs less well than cheaper competitors on some points. Secretly, we also expected more innovation from the most popular smartphone manufacturer.
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