Galaxy Note 20 Ultra first impressions: practical luxury
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The new Note features a boxy, rectangular body that makes it instantly recognizable and different than Samsung’s S series of phones. Its new design cuts down on the bezels further so it really feels like you are holding just one giant screen, with no interruption. The screen is 6.9 inches in size and it’s vast. The previous Note had a 6.8-inch screen, and Samsung has managed to somehow cram in a slightly bigger display, even though the Note 20 Ultra is just a hair taller, but otherwise identical to last year’s Note.
But the big difference is in the camera: when you hold last year’s Note against the new one, the contrast is striking. The new one protrudes from the back in a way that is bold and noticeable, it alone makes a statement.
There are a few other tiny changes: the buttons are now on the right hand side where they belong and the S Pen is on the left. A few other things haven’t changed: the screen is still slightly curved (something that is less noticeable on such a giant display by the way), and there is still no headphone jack.
You have three colors to choose from, all of them neutral and far less striking than the explosion of colors that we had on the Note 10 Plus. The signature one is called Mystic Bronze, and then you have a white model, and then the one you see in the photos here is the Mystic Black one, which in reality looks more like space gray on iPhones. This particular finish was still glossy and got stained with fingerprint smudges, even though it was not quite as noticeable as on the S20 Ultra which is an absolute fingerprint magnet. Another cool thing the Note has is a glass body that is tougher than on any other phone. The technology goes by the name Gorilla Glass Victus and ups the scratch and drop resistance (theoretically, the Note should be able to survive a head-high drop, just don’t try this on purpose).
The reason why I would buy a Note, however, is not the S Pen: it’s the screen. A 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED screen that is all about those colors. This is the best screen that I have seen on a smartphone so far. It displays incredibly rich colors and it gets super bright at up 1,500 nits, so you can use it outdoors without any worries. Plus, it supports Quad HD resolution, but not if you use the 120Hz refresh rate option. Then, the maximum resolution is 1080p, which is a bit of a bummer as other phones can do that. Samsung, however, seems to think that would draw too much battery. If you ask me, I’d always go with 120Hz over Quad HD, the difference the higher refresh rate makes is game changing. Also, unlike the S20 Ultra, the high refresh rates kicks in only when needed and not all of the time, so it’s far less of a strain on the battery.
One thing that hasn’t changed much is the fingerprint scanner: it’s an ultrasonic one embedded in the screen, and at first try, it’s still a step behind optical fingerprint sensors on most other Android phones that feel faster. It’s not a dealbreaker, but definitely feels like the one area where this Note feels compromised.
Finally, you have two new tricks: DEX wireless which allows you to quickly mirror your phone on a Samsung TV made after 2019 (or some other screens), and Nearby Sharing, a feature that leverages the new ultra-wideband chip inside the Note and allows you to point the phone at another compatible device and quickly beam large files.
So there you have it, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It’s a phone to get if you want to spoil yourself with the very best, it’s practical luxury. And with Samsung’s promise for three major software updates, it’s also perfectly future-proof. And as for excitement and innovation? Well, the Note might feel just a tad bit boring compared to an upcoming folding giant: the Galaxy Z Fold 2. But you know what, innovation comes with its own share of risks and issues, and if you want a no-risk phone that you can rely on, the Note 20 Ultra is one of the finest around.