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Updated January 10, 2024·
For better camera features, including higher quality photos and videos, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is superior, but if you prefer a more compact phone that fits easily in your hand or pocket, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) with its smaller screen would be the better choice. If battery life is a priority, Note20 Ultra should last longer on a single charge. Note20 Ultra also has a significantly larger and sharper screen which is great for media consumption, but it’s larger and heavier, which could be a downside for portability. Additionally, the iPhone SE will provide you with iOS, while the Note20 Ultra has the Android operating system, so consider which ecosystem you're more invested in or prefer. If cost is a concern, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is generally less expensive and gives you more features for the price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- Good for taking photos
- Poor for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.7
7.3
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) is known for its capable performance, but its selfie camera only provides fair quality, suggesting that while it can capture decent self-portraits, they might not be as detailed or vibrant compared to higher-rated cameras; other factors such as dynamic range and low light performance for photos are also rated poorly, indicating lower performance in varied lighting conditions. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, despite having similar fair selfie quality, offers better photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, alongside more versatile camera options, which translates to a generally better photography experience especially in complex shooting scenarios.
Photo Quality
5.5
7.3
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes good photos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have selfie cameras that provide acceptable performance, with the iPhone SE (2022) leaning towards a lower-quality experience due to less advanced software and hardware capabilities for selfie photography. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers better results with its selfie camera taking advantage of higher resolution and more sophisticated processing, which generally delivers better detailing and dynamic range, making its selfies slightly more appealing overall.
Video Quality
6.6
5.9
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) delivers fair videos largely due to its average video stabilization and limited dynamic range, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers fair videos, with superior dynamic range and video stabilization but offset by only average mic quality and low-light performance. Both phones have strengths in video software experience and resolution/framerate but face challenges in achieving excellent video quality in all conditions due to their individual limitations.
Battery
4.9 Hours
6.4 Hours
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has 4.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has a screen size of 4.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
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Key similarities
Cost
$429
$450
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has a price of $429 and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra costs $450.
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How the Apple iPhone SE (2022) and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 18, 2022 | August 21, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 4.7" | 6.9" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 326 | 496 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | LCD | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD865+ | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6.6/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.9 Hours | 6.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2018 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 7.5 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.45" x 2.65" | 6.49" x 3.04" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.08 oz | 7.34 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Front | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Midnight, Starlight, Red | Mystic Black, White, Mystic Bronze | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Ars Technica
Samuel Axon | March 2022
"Thanks to the inclusion of the A15 chip, the SE is likely to be supported for years to come. That makes it the best deal in smartphones today for folks who just want something simple and don't care about the frills. The iPhone SE is a great deal if you're more interested in the basics than the latest flashy features.. It's also a great option for people who prefer to use their phones one-handed—a dying breed, we know."
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Matt Swider | July 2021
"The Note 20 Ultra has it all – almost: a big screen, superb camera, high refresh rate, the S Pen, in-screen fingerprint sensor, super-fast specs, 5G speeds, a fancy curved display. This phone is built for power users who want everything but the fastest charging speeds."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone SE (2022) or the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Recommendations made
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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