If the camera is a priority for you, the Sony Xperia 1 V offers superior photo and video quality. However, if you're looking for a device that comes with a stylus and has a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is the one to go for, with the added benefit of being more budget-friendly. If battery life is important, the Sony Xperia 1 V lasts longer on a single charge. Both phones offer glass bodies, OLED displays with high refresh rates, and are 5G capable. The Xperia, being a more recent release, may have some newer features and performance improvements, but the Galaxy Note20 Ultra provides a large screen and S Pen which could be significant for productivity tasks, all at a lower 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 Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
Good for taking photos
Poor for recording videos
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 V
Very good battery life
Key differences
Battery
6.4 Hours
8.2 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 V has 8.2 hours of battery life.
Cost
$450
$1,099
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a price of $450 and the Sony Xperia 1 V costs $1,099.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 V both have good overall cameras quality.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has fair cameras with a good versatility score and a fair selfie quality, suitable for various photography needs including a notable 5x optical zoom for distance shots. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia 1 V possesses fair camera qualities as well, with a very good selfie score, but it falls short in dynamic range which is key for capturing detail in contrasting light conditions.
Photo Quality
7.3/10
6.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra to have good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 V takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes fair photos with its selfie camera, reflecting a balance between different qualities like resolution and low light performance. The Sony Xperia 1 V also produces fair selfies, potentially due to similar limitations in software, dynamic range, and versatility, even though it has a slightly higher overall photo resolution.
Video Quality
5.9/10
6.4/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony Xperia 1 V to have only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a better video software experience and microphone quality, but a lower video stabilization performance compared to the Sony Xperia 1 V, which has a very good video stabilization but lacks in dynamic range and struggles in low light conditions, leading to just fair videos on both phones.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a screen size of 6.9 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 V is 6.5 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 V 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 Sony Xperia 1 V is unlike anything else you'll find on the market today. With an ultra-tall 4K OLED panel, a textured glass back for added grip, and all of the manual controls Alpha fans could ask for, this is nothing like modern Android flagships — something that might win over some old-school smartphone fans."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 V
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.
About Sony
Sony has had a long history in the mobile market, entering the scene all the way back in 1993 with its first commercially available phone, the CM-H333. Nowadays, their Xperia line of phones provide well-rounded and sometimes expensive devices with a focus on camera software that includes extensive support for manual tweaking of settings. Sony's dedication to audio quality is also evident in its smartphones, which often feature high-resolution audio support while also being one of the few remaining manufacturers that consistently provide headphone jacks in their phones. The company's version of Android is also considered to be close to stock, enabling a bloatware-free experience for its users.
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
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.