Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is really a $1,000 Note 20 Lite — here's why

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Samsung Galaxy Note xx is really a $one,000 Note xx Calorie-free — hither's why

(Epitome credit: Tom'southward Guide)

Samsung unveiled a flurry of new products at its Samsung Unpacked event yesterday, from the Milky way Z Fold 2 and a pair of Galaxy Tab S7 tablets to the Galaxy Buds Live and a new Galaxy Sentinel 3. All the same, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was the true star of the testify — and the regular Galaxy Note xx incomparably wasn't.

Don't get me wrong: At $999, the half dozen.7-inch Galaxy Note 20 has enough going for it, from its triple rear cameras to new S Pen actions and deep integration with Microsoft services, similar Xbox Game Pass. Simply one time you study the differences between the Notation twenty and Note xx Ultra, the former begins to feel like an reconsideration.

• Samsung Galaxy Notation twenty Ultra preview: See the ultimate big screen telephone
• Comparison what'due south new: Samsung Milky way Note 20 vs. Galaxy Note ten
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In the by, you could buy a Milky way South, Galaxy Note or iPhone-branded device and know that you were getting the absolute best in mobile hardware offered that year. Then, a couple years ago, tech companies introduced bigger, plus-sized versions of their products, to accommodate those wanting roomier screens and longer bombardment life.

Somewhen, certain luxuries started being reserved for the larger model in the range — an extra camera lens here, some more than RAM there — leading u.s. to the present, where the Note xx and Notation twenty Ultra are ostensibly two completely unlike devices: i a reflection of the past, and the other a look into the future.

The trouble is, the two models take diverged so dramatically with this new generation that the vast majority of features Samsung hyped during its presser belong exclusively to the $i,299 Annotation 20 Ultra — leaving the regular Annotation 20 feeling like a "Lite" model by another name. Particularly, the 120Hz LTPO display, improved 9ms Southward Pen latency, expandable storage support, primary 108-MP photographic camera and 12GB of RAM are all absent from the $999 version.

Like the Note 20 Ultra's metal-and-glass design and 108-megapixel main camera? It isn't on the cheaper model. (Prototype credit: Tom'south Guide)

Milky way Annotation 20 vs. Annotation 20 Ultra: What'southward missing

This is everything you lose by opting for the Milky way Note xx over the Notation 20 Ultra:

• Quad-HD display with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate: The Note twenty Ultra'southward larger 6.9-inch panel features new engineering that allows it to scale its refresh rate dynamically depending on what's on screen, rather than forcing it to run at peak speeds at all times. This makes it more efficient on a accuse. Meanwhile, the smaller Note twenty makes practise with a lower resolution, 60Hz display.
• A much more avant-garde camera organization: Not only does the Galaxy Notation xx have a sharper 108-MP master camera to the regular model's ordinary 12-MP stack — it as well offers dedicated light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation auto focus and 5x optical zoom via a telescopic lens. In fact, the Ultra'southward digital zoom tin can go every bit high equally 50x, compared to the regular Note twenty's 30x limit.
• Far less S Pen latency: In both Note twenty models, Samsung has reduced the delay betwixt cartoon with the S Pen and your actions actualization on screen. Yet, the Notation 20 Ultra's latency is downward to 9ms, while the cheaper model'south has only been improved to 26ms. This partially due to the difference in screen technologies.
• A glass back: The Notation xx uses what Samsung's termed "reinforced polycarbonate," which is an elaborate way of describing plastic. There's nothing strictly incorrect with plastic on phones (when done well, anyway), but the company confesses it'southward a alter made with cost-cut in mind.
• Expandable storage: The Notation 20 comes with 128GB of storage built-in, but Samsung isn't selling a higher-chapters configuration, and the phone doesn't accept a microSD card slot. For that privilege, y'all need to buy a Note 20 Ultra.
• 12GB of RAM: The regular Notation 20 comes with 8GB of RAM. And while that's fine, it'southward actually on the lower end among premium Android phones, which can go on more apps running in memory and therefore move more swiftly between tasks. Even the OnePlus Nord has 12GB of RAM, and that phone is half the cost of the new Note.
• Ultra wideband support: Ultra wideband technology allows you to use your device as a digital key, be it for a car that supports the feature, smart locks in your habitation, and so on. It also enables Nearby Share — think AirDrop on steroids — allowing you lot to send media and files to other UWB-equipped Galaxy products simply by pointing them at each other.

Almost the only good thing the two Annotation 20 models exercise take in common is Qualcomm'south Snapdragon 865 Plus processor. That chip volition deliver the finest functioning of any Android telephone in 2020 when all is said and washed, and has already offered much promise in Asus' ROG Telephone iii. Kudos where information technology's due there.

But smartphones are about more than silicon these days. In one sense, I'd actually rather have a Milky way Annotation 10 over the Note xx. The new Notation comes in merely one configuration, with 128GB of storage, and y'all can't pop a microSD card in when you need more. Last year'southward Note 10 lacked expandable storage as well, merely at to the lowest degree came with 256GB standard, offering far more peace of mind. And when you're already spending four digits on a phone, I'd argue peace of mind should come standard. What good is a phone that can capture 8K video if you can just tape for 20 minutes before running out of space?

To me, the Milky way Note 20 line starts and ends with the Note twenty Ultra. The $1,299 model has clearly received the bulk of Samsung's care and innovation. Sure, you go the aforementioned processor no thing which Annotation you choose, simply the truly groundbreaking features that distinguish Samsung'south mobile tech from its rivals — namely the adaptive 120Hz brandish, crazy-loftier megapixel main camera and 5x optical zoom — are all Ultra exclusives. The regular Annotation 20 has no answer to them; for $one,000, it only promises more of the same.

Adam Ismail is a staff writer at Jalopnik and previously worked on Tom's Guide roofing smartphones, car tech and gaming. His love for all things mobile began with the original Motorola Droid; since so he's endemic a variety of Android and iOS-powered handsets, refusing to stay loyal to one platform. His work has also appeared on Digital Trends and GTPlanet. When he's non fiddling with the latest devices, he's at an indie pop show, recording a podcast or playing Sega Dreamcast.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-20-is-really-a-dollar1000-note-20-lite-heres-why

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