The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a larger screen and more photography features, making it ideal if you prefer a bigger display and taking higher quality photos; however, its battery life is shorter than the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which may be a better choice if battery longevity is important to you. While the Note20 Ultra has a higher refresh rate and more detailed screen resolution which is great for video quality, the Galaxy S20 FE has a plastic back which can be more durable than the glass back of the Note20 Ultra. If budget is a concern, the Note20 Ultra is less expensive. Both phones offer expandable storage and similar operating systems, but only the Note20 Ultra comes with a built-in stylus for productivity tasks. 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 Ultra
Good for taking photos
Poor for recording videos
Very good display quality
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3/10
6.2/10
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a good camera system with the capability to take well-detailed selfies, supplemented by strong performance in low light conditions, dynamic range, and camera versatility, including a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. In comparison, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE also has a fair capability for selfies, it falls short in areas like low light performance and dynamic range, although it holds its own with good versatility and an effective telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom.
Photo Quality
7.3/10
6.3/10
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra delivers fair photo quality, partially due to its decent low light performance and dynamic range, but its selfie photo quality shines compared to many other phones. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, while providing a fair experience in software handling and low light, falls behind due to its poorer dynamic range and less impressive selfie photo capabilities.
Battery
6.4 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$450
$198
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a price of $450 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE costs $198.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both have poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra provides a superior video experience due to its higher ratings in video resolution/framerate, video software experience, and video stabilization which contribute to its classification as taking "best" videos. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, while still rated as "good" for the same attributes, has lower performance in video dynamic range and video low light performance which may lead to a less optimal video quality compared to the Note20 Ultra.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a screen size of 6.9 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is 6.5 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE compare to other phones
"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."
"The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a fine phone. The flat display glass may turn off some, but the 120Hz refresh rate turned me on. I really liked the overall size and usability of the phone, and the six different colors mean you’ll likely find a version to suit your personal style. Other pros include solid performance, excellent battery life, and straightforward software."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
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.
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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About the phone team
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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