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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy Note20, being less expensive, is a budget-friendly option and offers a plastic body, a 6.7-inch screen without a curved edge, lower display resolution, a peak brightness of 1500 nits, 60Hz refresh rate, and 3 traditional cameras without periscope zoom but with a 64-megapixel telephoto lens. Its battery life is good, and it has essential features like wireless charging and a waterproof body. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is premium-priced with a glass body, a slightly larger 6.8-inch curved screen, higher display resolution, up to 1750 nits of peak brightness, a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, and includes a 200-megapixel main camera along with a periscope zoom lending powerful camera capabilities. It offers superior battery life and the latest connectivity options. If price is a major concern, go with the Note20, but if you want the best camera, display, and performance, the S23 Ultra is a superior choice. 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 Samsung Galaxy Note20
- The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Best in class for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.6
9.2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has excellent overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts very high-quality cameras with a very good software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, along with the best camera versatility and a very good selfie camera. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a camera system rated as fair for software experience, poor for dynamic range, fair for low light performance, good versatility, and fair selfie camera quality.
Photo Quality
6.4
9.5
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes excellent photos due to its superior selfie quality, enhanced photos software experience, greater dynamic range, and stronger low light performance; these elements combine to provide a more versatile camera system than the Galaxy Note20, which takes fair photos with fair selfie quality and good, but not as advanced, software support and dynamic range. While both devices offer a good overall photo experience, the S23 Ultra excels with its very good rating in critical areas for photo enthusiasts looking for high performance in various conditions, which the Note20's fair rating does not quite match.
Video Quality
5.9
8.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 delivers fair video performance due to good video stabilization and fair dynamic range but has limitations in video software, low light performance, and microphone quality. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra provides excellent video quality, with very good ratings across video software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality, making it a more capable device for video recording.
Battery
8.2 Hours
10.4 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has 8.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10.4 hours of battery life.
Cost
$286
$1,200
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a price of $286 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$286 | $1,200 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 21, 2020 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 393 | 501 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD865+ | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 6.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 200 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.2 Hours | 10.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4300 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.36" x 2.96" | 6.43" x 3.07" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.77 oz | 8.25 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 270 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Mystic Gray, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Green | Green, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy Note20
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Mike Lowe | October 2020
"We think pretty much anyone picking up the Note 20 to take photos will be very happy with the sharpness and appearance of the shots. If you're looking for a phone with an integrated stylus then there's little better than the note-taking potential of this phone. Sure, its 'glasstic' rear and lack of higher refrsh-rate screen are little red marks against its specification, but you can buy the step-up Ultra model if you see that as a problem - although we prefer the smaller price and smaller camera lump of this 'entry' Note model."
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Ryan Haines | March 2023
"The Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t just want a place at the top right now; it expects to stay there. Samsung’s excellent update commitment and connectivity standards will keep its flagship feeling fresh for years to come, and the high-end materials will put up with more than their share of wear and tear. It might be more than most users need in terms of size, power, and cost, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a glaring weakness."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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