With Samsung’s Unpacked event concluding virtually on August 5, users were introduced with some of the flagship Galaxy models like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. As the tech world buzzes about these new devices, you have the time to revisit the lineup put forward and decide which one gives you the most in return for your investment.
In this article, we will be comparing the two devices Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra, so you can decide which one should you get. We’ll start with the main differences among the models, the greatest benefits of each, and which one excels at the most important categories. Scroll down to read more.
The Specs Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | Galaxy S20 Ultra |
| Price | $1299, $1449 | $1399, $1599 |
| Display Size | 6.9” (3096*1444) | 6.9” (3200*1440) |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz Dynamic | 120 Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 865 Plus/ Exynos 990 | Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Rear Camera | 108MP main, 12 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultra-wide, LASER focus sensor | 108MP main, 48 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultra-wide, VGA ToF |
| Zoom | 5X Optical, 50X Digital | 4X Optical, 100X Space Zoom |
| Front Camera | 10MP | 40MP |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charge | 25W | 25W/ 45W |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Size | 6.48*3.04*0.32 inches | 6.6*2.7*0.34 inches |
| Weight | 7.33oz | 7.77oz |
Price
The Samsung Note 20 Ultra is priced at $1299 for the 128 GB version and goes up to $1499 for the 512 GB one. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is the expensive of these two handsets starting at $1399 for the 128 GB model and $1599 for the 512 GB one.
Design
The screen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra measures 6.9” corner to corner. Where the Note 20 Ultra measures 6.48*3.04*0.32 inches and weighs 7.33 Oz the S20 is 6.6*2.7*0.34 inches and 7.77 ounces.
The Note 20 Ultra is sleek looking and is available in three colors Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, and Mystic black where the S20 Ultra comes in just two colors the Cosmic Gray and the Cosmic Black.
Display
The displays on the Note 20 Ultra and S20 Ultra measure 6.9-inch and have a 120Hz refresh rate. Note 20 Ultra among the two, has a dynamic panel and is smart enough to adjust the refresh rate real-time based on the content which is displayed on-screen. Whereas, on the S20 Ultra, one has to manually toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates.
Although, both OLED displays are refined and stand out, the S20 Ultra’s screen gets sharper at 3200*1440 pixels than that of the 3096*1444 on the Note 20 Ultra. One thing that stands common between the two is the wide color range and ultra-wide viewing angles.
Camera
Note 20 Ultra takes a different approach when it comes to the Camera. While both devices offer the same camera, it complements it with a LASER focus for steady shorts, whereas, the S20 Ultra lacks this feature.
The S20 Ultra has a bigger Space Zoom feature allowing users to go beyond 100X compared to the 50X zoom on the Note 20 Ultra. Still, the 5X optical zoom on Note 20 Ultra is better than the 4X optical zoom on the S20 Ultra. Furthermore, the S20 Ultra has a sharper selfie camera at 40 MP compared to the 10 MP on the Note 20 Ultra.
The S Pen
One of the biggest differences between these two devices is that the Note 20 Ultra has the S Pen and the S20 doesn’t. This stylus/ pen lets you take notes, draw, sketch, and do more while allowing you to increase productivity. The new Samsung Notes app syncs your notes with the cloud so they are accessible from any location. Even if you are taking voice memos, your recordings will be synced with your cloud recordings which makes it convenient for you to access during future meetings and classes. The new S Pen also supports some new gestures for things like returning to the home screen and taking screenshots.
Performance
The most important aspect that needs to be considered here is the performance. And, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has an edge here. Thanks to the new Snapdragon 865 Plus chip which provides a clock speed bump over 3GHz while improving graphics performance by 10%. Though it is not a huge leap, power users will probably appreciate the extra oomph.
Both the Note 20 Ultra and the S20 Ultra come with a robust 12 GB RAM as well as 128GB of storage. You can upgrade to 512 GB if you can afford the same.
Battery life
When it comes to battery longevity and backup, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra clearly stands out. It packs a 5000mAh battery whereas, the Note 20 Ultra comes with a 4500mAh power source.
Still, the Note 20 Ultra may come efficient overall, due to its dynamic 120Hz display. When we tested the device, we found that the Note 20 Ultra lasted 3 hours less on a charge with 120Hz engaged. So, the Note 20 Ultra can automatically adjust its refresh rate based on the things you are doing.
When it comes to charging, both the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and Note 20 Ultra can support 25W of fast charging, but the S20 Ultra can support even faster 45W charging as an option.
Conclusion
With all the features discussed above, we hope you are able to select the best for yourself. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the best choice overall. For $100 less, you can get a dynamic 120Hz display, a LASER auto-focus sensor for the camera, an S-Pen for taking notes, and a smaller than lighter design.
The device has some of the things going for it with its powerful space Zoom feature and a bigger battery, but when it comes to overall performance and ergonomics, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra stands out as a clear winner.
