Samsung launched its Galaxy S20 series of phones and a plethora of others in 2020. During its August Unpacked event, the company announced the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This is the company’s second attempt in bringing out two Note phones at once. Unlike the first one though, only one of them actually makes sense. Read on to find out more.
What’s New with These Galaxy Note 20 Phones?
Let me get the common stuff out first. Both have punch hole displays, triple rear cameras, and even the same 10MP front-facing camera. They also have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (US) OR Exynos 990 processor (Philippines). Both have 5G support and the signature feature of the Note line: the S Pen. Lastly, both come in Samsung’s latest flavor-of-the-month color in Mystic Bronze.
That’s where the similarities end and the curious decisions made for these two begin.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is The True Note
Last year, the Note 10+ was the de facto Galaxy Note. Despite some flaws, it had a lot going for it. Now, we have the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. To me, it feels like the true Galaxy Note successor. This phone packs a lot of punch inside that premium glass and metal design. That includes a big 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, a 4500 mAh battery, and a 108MP main camera!
That main camera gets partnered with a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 12MP periscope telephoto camera. Besides Mystic Bronze, it comes in two other colors: Mystic Black and Mystic White. With the Ultra, the S Pen’s latency is now at an insane 9ms! (That’s down from 42ms on the Note 10 / Note 10+.)
Notice how I’ve been saying a lot of powerful specs up there? That’s what the Galaxy Note stands for. Despite its higher price tag, I feel like Samsung has maintained the image of what the Galaxy Note should be. The same can’t be said for its little brother.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes in two colors in the Philippines: Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Black. It is available in two configurations in the Philippines:
- 8GB/256GB/LTE – P67,990
- 12GB/256GB/5G – P72,990 (telco-exclusive)
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Still a Galaxy Note?
Samsung did it again. After making the Galaxy Note 10 feel like a Galaxy S10 with an S Pen, they made it even more so this time around. The Galaxy Note 20 may have the specs and the same S Pen, but it feels more overpriced than even the Note 10 starting at $999 / P53,990 (PH)!
I understand that having a plastic back makes it more durable. But even the Note 10 had Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back! This Note 20 has Gorilla Glass 5 in the front and a plastic back. If this move was to accommodate the updated S Pen and that Snapdragon 865 processor, then I’d rather just have the Note 20 Ultra. If you want a smaller phone, I’d just leave that S Pen be and go for the Galaxy S20 or S20+.
The Galaxy Note 20 comes in three colors here in PH: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Green, and Mystic Gray. It only comes with an 8GB RAM/256GB storage model with either LTE or 5G (telco-exclusive) for P53,990.
Galaxy Note 20 aside, I’m in LOVE with the coherent design language that Samsung’s going for here. The Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Watch 3 are really promising devices that are more worthy to check out! For details on pre-orders and availability of the newest Samsung devices, head over to YugaTech and JamOnline.PH!
What do you think of the Note 20 Ultra and its little brother? Have I gone mad with my thoughts on it? Sound off in the comments!
omg huhuhu nice jod kaayo ang note 10, i regret nga nag a series jod ko should have waited for this
note 20 rather lol
Not really fan of samsung.. but still a good phone.
Thanks for sharing this.. keneng murag makapalit ug makablik man tinagali ko ug samsung ani… pero really hope ang video stability nice na gyud kaayo para magamit na pud for vlogging..
Sure, the color looks premium but I’m not a fan. I can still remember when it was still Note 3 and I really wanted to buy it (minus the fact that I don’t have money for it, lol).
Smartphones nowadays are now into a game changer in the field of technology because of those revolutionizing specs such as RAM, Cameras, battery life, design, and also the speed/performance itself. There are a lot of new phones coming and excited to read about them on your blog! Keep it up, Julls! 😀 😀
Wowww! Just looking at the camera at the back, you would know it’s good!
All mobile phones/ brands are updating their features and catching up with the new Trend. I am using Apple now but the nice thing about Samsung is it is user friendly and makes less hassle. Great job writing about it. Byc
God! Thanks for this review ,I am thinking to buy an Iphone 7 but right now changing minds to get the Samsung Galaxy Note because of it’s feature and an upgrade versions of videography specs.
That’s another phone I could only dream of for now. Once I considered buying S10 Note but ditched the idea since I still have my old phone of 4 years. Phone technology is totally so fast and new models with respective specs come and go. But I am glad to read this review. I might convince myself to get a new one.
Been a while since I read tech reviews on devices. I’m not a SumSung user but I have been considering buying one since my vintage phone may give up on me anytime soon. 🙂 I’m drawn toward Mystic Green though. 😀
Nailed it! Amazing kaayo imong mga details. Ang price grabe kamahal pero grabe pod ang specs. Nice! Looking forward to experience it first hand.
ay nindot sya, the specs are awesome. medyo pricey lang jed. hahaha! I will share this to my sister who’s a Samsung fan.
I always wish I can get one from the Samsung Note line so I can also try another brand. But considering the price and how gradual their continued increase of high-end specifications (and of course, the price along with it), it turned out that this line up is not my cup of tea because it’s too expensive for me. I would have loved to try using a smartphone with a pen (in this case, the S Pen) because I used to have a Sony Ericsson P990i.
The only Samsung phone that I have used was a Samsung B2100 Waterproof phone, which I really love that I have it with me while white river rafting in Cagayan.
since I am planning to purchase a new phone maybe next year. i will consider this review which is very helpful to end user before spending any dime.