Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra review
The Note20 Ultra suits someone who values the stylus for work, the telephoto zoom for photography, and the large smooth display for content creation or reading, and who can live with a 2020 chipset and a battery that requires a daily charge. Everyone else should look at a newer phone—the Galaxy S23 or S24 offer better all-round value, faster processors, longer battery life, and faster charging."
This review is written with AI assistance from Samsung’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a 2020 flagship that still feels well-built and thoughtful—a large, smooth AMOLED display, capable telephoto camera, and included stylus with minimal latency give it real strengths for productivity and creative work. But the 4500 mAh battery drains within a day under moderate use, the Exynos 990 chipset is now three years old, and 25W charging lags what rivals offer; it's a phone for someone who values the tools it provides, not someone chasing raw performance or all-day battery."
Design & build
At 208g and 8.1mm thick, the Note20 Ultra is a substantial device—noticeably heavier than modern flagships, but the stainless steel frame and Gorilla Glass Victus front and back feel deliberate rather than cheap. The IP68 rating allowing 1.5m submersion for 30 minutes is useful for outdoor work, and the stylus slots in flush with negligible bulk. The engineering here was thoughtful; it does not feel like a relic, despite the 2020 date. The weight and size will dominate your hand, though—not everyone wants a device this large.
Display
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh is a genuine strength that has aged well. At 1440×3088 and 496 ppi, text remains crisp and scrolling is fluid even compared to 2024 phones. HDR10+ support and the brightness boost from Victus glass mean outdoor readability is fine. The aspect ratio (19.3:9) makes the display tall and narrow, which is ideal for reading and splitting apps side-by-side, but makes one-handed use a stretch. This screen alone justifies keeping the phone around if you do a lot of media consumption or document work.
Performance
The Exynos 990 (or Snapdragon 865 in the US model) was competitive in 2020 but is now showing its age. Everyday tasks—email, messaging, light browsing, social media—feel snappy, and One UI 5 runs without stuttering. However, demanding 3D games and heavy video encoding are noticeably slower than current flagships, and the chipset will not receive the latest optimization patches for games and apps designed for 2024 and beyond. Paired with 8 or 12 GB of RAM and UFS 3.0 storage, the Note20 Ultra handles multitasking without faltering, but do not expect flagship-level speed in processor-heavy workloads.
Camera
The 108MP f/1.8 main sensor is genuinely good for low-light scenes and close-range detail, and the 5x periscope telephoto with OIS separates this from budget phones. You can frame distant subjects without the digital zoom artifacts that ruin standard tele lenses, and the 50x hybrid zoom, while exaggerated, still yields usable stills in bright daylight. The 12MP ultrawide is serviceable but uninspired—nothing remarkable for a phone at this price tier. Video caps at 8K 24fps, which is a spec rather than a practical everyday feature. For someone whose primary camera need is reaching far-away subjects or shooting in dim conditions, the telephoto justifies the package; for casual snapshots, it is overkill.
Battery & charging
The 4500 mAh battery is the phone's Achilles heel. With mixed use—video, browsing, apps, light photography—expect 1 full day of moderate use, stretching to the evening if you are disciplined. Heavy users will drain it by mid-afternoon. Compared to 5000+ mAh batteries now standard in this price bracket, this feels stingy for a 6.9-inch device. The 25W wired charging takes about 60–75 minutes to reach 100% and 15W wireless takes roughly 2–2.5 hours, both of which are slow by 2024 standards, where 60–100W wired is the norm at this price. If you need all-day battery life without thinking about it, this is not your phone.
Software
One UI 5 is mature and largely sensible, offering One-handed mode, gesture controls, and a degree of customization without the junk that bloated early Samsung skins. Android 13 support means you get recent security patches and API improvements, though future version updates are unlikely after 2024. The stylus integrates seamlessly with Air Command and Note features, making tasks like handwriting-to-text and quick annotations smooth. Bixby remains present but does not intrude, and Samsung's own apps (Samsung Notes, DeX for desktop use) are genuinely useful if you use them.
Value & verdict
At around 1250 EUR in 2020, the Note20 Ultra was aggressively priced for what it offered. In 2024, it is a deeply aging flagship in a market flooded with cheaper phones that offer better batteries and faster processors. The main reason to buy used is if you specifically value the stylus, the telephoto, and the large AMOLED display for productivity work. The Exynos 990 and 4500 mAh battery will feel like compromises if you are coming from a 2023 flagship, and the phone's heft may exhaust your hand if you are used to lighter devices. It is not obsolete, but it is not a good value as a main phone unless you are shopping second-hand and specifically need the tools it provides.
Verdict
The Note20 Ultra suits someone who values the stylus for work, the telephoto zoom for photography, and the large smooth display for content creation or reading, and who can live with a 2020 chipset and a battery that requires a daily charge. Everyone else should look at a newer phone—the Galaxy S23 or S24 offer better all-round value, faster processors, longer battery life, and faster charging."
- 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate and 496 ppi density is still sharp and smooth for scrolling and media
- 5x optical periscope telephoto with OIS and 108MP wide sensor deliver genuine telephoto reach and low-light clarity without relying on aggressive crops
- Stylus with 9ms latency and IP68 water resistance built in, making it practical for note-taking and sketching outdoors
- One UI 5 on Android 13 adds recent features and polish without bloat, and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor remains reliable
- 4500 mAh battery barely clears a full day with moderate mixed use (video, browsing, apps), forcing a daily charge habit on heavier users
- Exynos 990 chipset is three years old and no longer handles demanding 3D games or heavy video encoding with the speed of current processors
- 25W wired charging takes about 60–75 minutes and is now standard at this price tier; rivals often hit 60–100W
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2020, August 05 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9 inches, 116.7 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~496 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) - USA |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.0, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 50x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm |
| Selfie camera | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.015W wireless (Qi)4.5W reverse wireless |
| Software | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), stainless steel frame |
| Durability | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 9ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra support 5G?
No. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra tops out at GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra use?
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra runs on the Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) - USA.
What display does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra have?
A 6.9 inches, 116.7 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~496 ppi density).
How big is the Galaxy Note20 Ultra battery?
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a 4500 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 25W wired, PD3.015W wireless (Qi)4.5W reverse wireless.
Does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra have NFC?
Yes, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra has NFC.
Is the Galaxy Note20 Ultra water resistant?
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra carries a IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 9ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) rating.
Does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra support a microSD card?
Yes, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Does the Galaxy Note20 Ultra have a headphone jack?
No, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Galaxy Note20 Ultra isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
Galaxy Note20 5G
Galaxy Note20
iPhone 12 Pro Max
