I understand that you're considering two Samsung phones—the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 FE. The Note20 Ultra is generally more affordable than the S23 FE. If you're looking for a phone with a larger screen, the Note20 Ultra offers that, as well as a built-in stylus which can be very useful for note-taking or drawing. However, the Galaxy S23 FE has a newer processor and may have a longer support lifespan in terms of software updates. The camera systems on both are likely to be excellent, but the S23 FE will have more current camera technology. The Note20 Ultra could offer slightly better battery life. If you prioritize a larger screen and stylus while also saving money, the Note20 Ultra would be your pick. On the other hand, if having the latest processor and camera improvements is more important, and you don't mind spending extra, the S23 FE is the way to go. 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
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.
Key differences
Video Quality
5.9/10
7.2/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes better videos than the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra because it has superior video software, dynamic range, and low light performance. While the Note20 Ultra's stabilization and resolution/framerate are rated as fair, the S23 FE is noted for good stabilization and very good software experience and dynamic range, along with a marked advantage in low light situations.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a screen size of 6.9 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$450
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a price of $450 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE costs $600.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have good overall cameras quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE boasts a better selfie camera, as indicated by its superior performance in categories that assess the selfie camera's capabilities. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, despite having an overall strong camera system, falls behind the S23 FE specifically in the selfie department and certain aspects like camera versatility and low light photo performance that are more advanced in the S23 FE.
Photo Quality
7.3/10
7.7/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra only manages fair photos partly because its selfie capabilities are judged merely good, which is a very important factor, while aspects like photo software experience and dynamic range are just fair. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes very good photos as it has a higher selfie quality and its photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance also receive higher evaluations.
Battery
6.4 Hours
6.4 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has 6.4 hours of battery life.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S23 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 S23 FE is easily one of the best midrange Android phones on the market. The S23 FE has some appealing features you won't find on the Pixel 8 like a dedicated telephoto camera, a bigger screen, and the ability to use it like a computer via Samsung's Dex mode. So if productivity is more important to you than camera tricks, you won't find a better phone than the Galaxy S23 FE."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S23 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
68
Phones evaluated
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8
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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
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
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.