Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra specs: You give a little, get a little

Today, Samsung formally launched the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. Each year, the Note family represents the best-of-the-best when it comes to Samsung flagships. To know that, all you need to do is check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs.

Just like last year, the two devices in the Note 20 line are designed to act as foils to one another. The vanilla Note 20 represents a cheaper way to enter the Note ecosystem while the Note 20 Ultra is the “true� Note device of the year.

However, this year, some of the specs you’ll find on the Note 20 might be ones you wished came with the Note 20 Ultra, and vice versa. Check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs below to see for yourself!

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra specs

  Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Display 6.7-inch AMOLED Infinity-O
FHD+ resolution
20:9 aspect ratio
60Hz refresh rate
6.9-inch AMOLED Infinity-O
WQHD+ resolution
19.3:9 aspect ratio
120Hz refresh rate
Construction Plastic (aka Glasstic) body
Flat display
Gorilla Glass 5 display cover
Metal and glass body
Curved (Edge) display
Gorilla Glass 7 display cover
CPU NA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
Global: Samsung Exynos 990
NA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
Global: Samsung Exynos 990
Storage NA: 128GB internal
No microSD card support

Global: 256GB internal
No microSD card support

NA: 128GB or 512GB internal
microSD card support up to 2TB

Global: 256GB or 512GB internal
microSD card support up to 2TB

RAM 8GB
LPDDR5
12GB
LPDDR5
Power 4,300mAh battery
25W wired charging
15W wireless charging
4.5W reverse wireless charging
4,500mAh battery
25W wired charging
15W wireless charging
4.5W reverse wireless charging
Cameras Rear:
12MP 2PD OIS wide-angle (ƒ/1.8, 1.8μm)
64MP telephoto (ƒ/2.0, 0.8μm, hybrid 3x zoom)
12MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2, 1.4μm)

Front:
10MP 2PD AF (ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm)

Rear:
108MP PD OIS wide-angle (ƒ/1.8, 0.8μm)
12MP telephoto (ƒ/3.0, 1.0μm, optical 5x zoom)
12MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2, 1.4μm)
Laser AF

Front:
10MP 2PD AF (ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm)

Video 8K at 24fps in 16×9 or 21:9 8K at 24fps in 16×9 or 21:9
Security In-display fingerprint sensor
Ultrasonic technology
In-display fingerprint sensor
Ultrasonic technology
Durability IP68 certified IP68 certified
Connectivity 5G (separate sub-6GHz and mmWave models)
Wi-Fi 6

4G only model available in selected markets

5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave)
Wi-Fi 6
Colors Mystic Gray
Mystic Green
Mystic Bronze
Mystic Black
Mystic White
Mystic Bronze
Dimensions & weight 75.2 x 161.6 x 8.3mm
192g (sub-6GHz only)
194g (mmWave supported)
77.2 x 164.8 x 8.1mm
208g

The most notable differences between the two phones are the display, construction, and cameras. There are some other differences, clearly (such as the slightly smaller battery in the Galaxy Note 20), but otherwise the devices are pretty similar.

For the display, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs seem to be the superior choice. It’s larger, has a higher resolution, a higher refresh rate, and a stronger glass covering (in fact, the Note 20 Ultra is the very first commercial smartphone with Gorilla Glass 7).

Related: The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is here: Everything you need to know

However, the differences in overall construction for the two phones are not as clear cut. The Note 20 is made of plastic instead of the metal/glass hybrid of the Note 20 Ultra. For many folks, plastic is a better, more practical material for smartphones, so they might actually prefer the vanilla Note 20 here. Similarly, the Note 20 has a flat display, something which many of our readers clamor for in flagships. The Note 20 Ultra sticks with the usual curved display trend.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra together

Credit: Eric Zeman/ Android Authority

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs boast some incredible numbers in the camera department. The 108MP main sensor is the same we saw in the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and the 5x optical zoom will be a nice feature for many. However, we’ve seen mixed results from the S20 Ultra camera, so the 64MP shooter on the vanilla Note 20, ironically, might deliver overall better photos. We’ll need to pit the two systems against one another to be sure.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will start at $999 while the Note 20 Ultra starts at $1,299. Both phones will be available on August 21, but pre-orders open at 12:01 AM tomorrow. For all the latest on the Note 20 series, check out our other content below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20
A “cheaper” Note
Samsung’s Galaxy Note line has always been for the power users, and this year’s models are no different. The standard Galaxy Note 20 has some trade-offs to hit a lower price point, but it should still satisfy many Note users.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Bigger, better, and pricier
Samsung’s Galaxy Note line has always been for the power users, and this year’s models are no different — especially the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This new ultra-premium phone is Samsung’s most refined device yet.

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