Samsung Galaxy Note20 / Note20 Ultra

[The_Interloper]

@Dave245 I've owned a few Samsung Exynos devices (I'm in the UK) and plenty of iPhones. The difference is almost certainly the 120Hz screen and, even more, the 5G modem.

If you turn both those features off you'll find the battery life is likely comparable to your 11 Pro Max (which only has a 60Hz display and 4G modem). They will then be like-for-like feature-wise.

You cannot expect a phone with those features to provide same or better battery than one without. Reports already indicate the 5G modem on the 12 Pro is knocking up to 2 hours off the previous 11 Pro battery life - and that's without a 120Hz screen.

I also concur that the iPhone has the 100% marker "sit there" for a while; when it gets below 50% it starts dropping like a stone. My SE2 does that. Samsung tends to just show a more genuine "real time" battery percentage.

 

[SteveJUAE]

What, of course it‘s about that! battery life is important. In my usage the Note 20 Ultra hasn’t even lasted me a full day. I can’t speak for everyone, people have different usage but I can say from my own experience.

The point I am making your usage is different and you have barely had the phone

You would be saying the exact same to me if it was reversed and I just got an Iphone

 

[Dave245]

@Dave245 I've owned a few Samsung Exynos devices (I'm in the UK) and plenty of iPhones. The difference is almost certainly the 120Hz screen and, even more, the 5G modem.

If you turn both those features off you'll find the battery life is likely comparable to your 11 Pro Max (which only has a 60Hz display and 4G modem). They will then be like-for-like feature-wise.

You cannot expect a phone with those features to provide same or better battery than one without. Reports already indicate the 5G modem on the 12 Pro is knocking up to 2 hours off the previous 11 Pro battery life - and that's without a 120Hz screen.

Yea I did see those reports and is also one of the reasons I wouldn’t buy the iPhone 12 or 12 Pro. I have turned off the 120ha screen (even tho I really didn’t want too) and 5G, we can’t get 5G here anyway. I will be seeing how it goes over the next few days before making my decision.

 

[yui4]

Same! Got my pre-order 12 PM Pacific Blue in this morning

I went for the graphite. I'm a bit boring and never really deviate from black or whatever colour is nearest.

This is the first iPhone that I'm not sure I'm definitely keeping. Just want to see the new size and design and then I'll decide

 

[Dave245]

The point I am making your usage is different and you have barely had the phone

You would be saying the exact same to me if it was reversed and I just got an Iphone

yea my usage is different in that I’m using the S-pen and playing around a bit more. My point is that I expect it to last a full day is all. I’m not for a second denying that it’s a great device, it really is. But when you have to turn features off it brings into question those features and there worth.

as boring as the iPhone as gotten (and it has) I can see why Apple choose what features they put in and what technology they put in. Can you imagine if they had put in 120hz and the 5G this year.

 

[SteveJUAE]

yea my usage is different in that I’m using the S-pen and playing around a bit more. My point is that I expect it to last a full day is all. I’m not for a second denying that it’s a great device, it really is. But when you have to turn features off it brings into question those features and there worth.

as boring as the iPhone as gotten (and it has) I can see why Apple choose what features they put in and what technology they put in. Can you imagine if they had put in 120hz and the 5G this year.

Yep you can't have it always unfortunately unless you want phones to be 2cm thick.

Its like our laptops we can make them last many hours longer easily by using lessor performance settings and new phones are now in similar territory where previous generations/iterations were always improving battery endurance as there were no large steps in battery hogging features ike 5G and 120hz etc

BTW Check your network settings and make sure you have 4G/LTE selected and not 5G and have you tried darkmode, Android users having this option longer are far more use to this to tweak a bit more battery saving

 

[The_Interloper]

I have turned off the 120ha screen (even tho I really didn’t want too) and 5G, we can’t get 5G here anyway.

There’s lots you can do to improve battery life but I would want the 120Hz left on - I’d be willing to take a slight battery hit for that feature alone. I’d turn off 5G though, it’s worthless in most parts of the UK right now.

Also, use Dark Mode as @SteveJUAE mentioned (means huge areas of the AMOLED screen aren’t being unnecessarily illuminated) and set the Always On Display to turn off when you’re in bed.

Again, it’s hard to compare like-for-like battery with iPhone as a lot of these features are simply missing - AOD, 120Hz etc. I remember the ads boasting of the battery life for the iPhone 11 while failing to mention it had a 720p LCD screen!

 

[Dave245]

There’s lots you can do to improve battery life but I would want the 120Hz left on - I’d be willing to take a slight battery hit for that feature alone. I’d turn off 5G though, it’s worthless in most parts of the UK right now.

Also, use Dark Mode as @SteveJUAE mentioned (means huge areas of the AMOLED screen aren’t being unnecessarily illuminated) and set the Always On Display to turn off when you’re in bed.

Again, it’s hard to compare like-for-like battery with iPhone as a lot of these features are simply missing - AOD, 120Hz etc. I remember the ads boasting of the battery life for the iPhone 11 while failing to mention it had a 720p LCD screen!

yea I have done all that.

I have 120hz turned off
Dark mode turned on (I just like dark mode anyway I have it on my iPhone)
5G and 4G turned off with Wifi on at home
Updates set to only install and download during the night while on charge.
I've even had the power mode on with processor at 70% and the always on display turned off.

Battery life is still no where near the 11 Pro Max which is now 12 months old.

 

[SteveJUAE]

yea I have done all that.

I have 120hz turned off
Dark mode turned on (I just like dark mode anyway I have it on my iPhone)
5G and 4G turned off with Wifi on at home
Updates set to only install and download during the night while on charge.
I've even had the power mode on with processor at 70% and the always on display turned off.

Battery life is still no where near the 11 Pro Max which is now 12 months old.

Dave

Your 11 Pro max will get on a like for like usage around 1 to 2 hours better endurance and the 12 Max probably more like just an hour over the Note 20 Ultra

I have no idea how you conduct your daily phone usage but at home working battery endurance is irrelevant but normal working I think it's exceptional that most would be requiring 6-8 hours SOT away from home. Most will get a full normal working day usage out of any current phone

I agree like my Razer 15 laptop I can only get 2.5 to 6 hours endurance compared to norms of 8 to 11 hours of many laptops but there is a whole heap of difference in capability.

So yes there are some compromises you have to accept with more advance and greater featured phones as no manufacture is making thicker phones anymore

If you did not want latest features you would not have been lured by the Note in the first instance , so no surprises there

 

[The_Interloper]

@Dave245 - Don't forget the Note 20U is also pushing 25 to 30% more pixels on that 3K/1440p screen. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is effectively a 1080p display (plus the extra bits around the notch). Not saying that Exynos processor isn't less power efficient, but these are all things to take into consideration.

Oh, and have you tried DeX yet? Its amazing!

I just tried the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra's coolest feature — and it's a big step forward

The wireless DeX mode on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra lets you do things the iPhone can't

www.tomsguide.com

 

[Dave245]

@Dave245 - Don't forget the Note 20U is also pushing 25 to 30% more pixels on that 3K/1440p screen. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is effectively a 1080p display (plus the extra bits around the notch). Not saying that Exynos processor isn't less power efficient, but these are all things to take into consideration.

Oh, and have you tried DeX yet? Its amazing!

I just tried the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra's coolest feature — and it's a big step forward

The wireless DeX mode on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra lets you do things the iPhone can't

www.tomsguide.com

I’m unable to try Dex as we don’t have a compatible TV. It looks like a really good feature tho.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I’m unable to try Dex as we don’t have a compatible TV. It looks like a really good feature tho.

It works on HDMI too and on Mac's if you DL the app and use a cable

 

[Dave245]

It works on HDMI too and on Mac's if you DL the app and use a cable

Did not know that, I will give it a try ??

 

[Dave245]

Dave

Your 11 Pro max will get on a like for like usage around 1 to 2 hours better endurance and the 12 Max probably more like just an hour over the Note 20 Ultra

I have no idea how you conduct your daily phone usage but at home working battery endurance is irrelevant but normal working I think it's exceptional that most would be requiring 6-8 hours SOT away from home. Most will get a full normal working day usage out of any current phone

Steve, my 11 Pro Max gets more than that. For example I can take it off charge at 5am, use it too read the daily news while eating Breakfast, go for a run, come back and check my health information on it. It will still sit at 100% (while the Note 20 Ultra is at 96% after that). I can then start to make calls, the iPhone will drop to around 97% (the Ultra drops to around 91%). Also the Ultra gets a lot warmer while doing this.

After making a few calls, sending a few emails and generally using the phone through the day, the Ultra’s battery life will die around 5pm. Meanwhile the iPhone 11 Pro Max will keep going until I go to bed later that evening, even having battery to spare.

That isn’t just an hour or two difference, that is a BIG difference! It’s also the difference between me being able to take calls on my way back from meetings and commutes (usually in London) and the journey back home, (usually around 5pm or later). At that point the Ultra‘s battery dies (around 5pm-ish most days).

obviously at the moment I’m not doing as much travel, but I’m still doing the same work (just at home) I’m still making phone calls, sending emails, writing and generally using the phone as I would with my iPhone.

Edit: It’s seems pointless going backwards and forwards with this, we might have to come to a point where respectfully agree to disagree on things.

 

[The_Interloper]

After making a few calls, sending a few emails and generally using the phone through the day, the Ultra’s battery life will die around 5pm.

That’s atrocious battery life! It sounds to me like there’s something running in the background excessively draining it. It has a 4500mah battery - no way should it be dead by 5pm with that usage.

 

[The Game 161]

There’s lots you can do to improve battery life but I would want the 120Hz left on - I’d be willing to take a slight battery hit for that feature alone. I’d turn off 5G though, it’s worthless in most parts of the UK right now.

Also, use Dark Mode as @SteveJUAE mentioned (means huge areas of the AMOLED screen aren’t being unnecessarily illuminated) and set the Always On Display to turn off when you’re in bed.

Again, it’s hard to compare like-for-like battery with iPhone as a lot of these features are simply missing - AOD, 120Hz etc. I remember the ads boasting of the battery life for the iPhone 11 while failing to mention it had a 720p LCD screen!

But you shouldn't need to do all that

My fold 2 I have everything on and lasts me all day easily. This is an exynos issue

If dave had a SD version he would be more than happy

 

[The Game 161]

Steve, my 11 Pro Max gets more than that. For example I can take it off charge at 5am, use it too read the daily news while eating Breakfast, go for a run, come back and check my health information on it. It will still sit at 100% (while the Note 20 Ultra is at 96% after that). I can then start to make calls, the iPhone will drop to around 97% (the Ultra drops to around 91%). Also the Ultra gets a lot warmer while doing this.

After making a few calls, sending a few emails and generally using the phone through the day, the Ultra’s battery life will die around 5pm. Meanwhile the iPhone 11 Pro Max will keep going until I go to bed later that evening, even having battery to spare.

That isn’t just an hour or two difference, that is a BIG difference! It’s also the difference between me being able to take calls on my way back from meetings and commutes (usually in London) and the journey back home, (usually around 5pm or later). At that point the Ultra‘s battery dies (around 5pm-ish most days).

obviously at the moment I’m not doing as much travel, but I’m still doing the same work (just at home) I’m still making phone calls, sending emails, writing and generally using the phone as I would with my iPhone.

Edit: It’s seems pointless going backwards and forwards with this, we might have to come to a point where respectfully agree to disagree on things.

As somebody who had the note ultra on exynos you're not wrong here.

I did everything to get me through long usage I turned alot off and had low power mode on by 50% to help I had dark mode on all the time and AOD off and tap to show to see if it helped. Some days it died at 9pm and some others on low usage I had about 10% left when I went bed. For me it was OK but if you making alot of calls I can imagine yours would die quicker

I did feel though I had to Watch what I was doing through the day so it lasts longer which yeah you shouldn't need to do

My usage is exactly the same on my fold 2 and on medium usage I went to bed on 46%. Heavy usage I can get a good 7 hours screen time with nothing turned off and I have dark mode to come on after 5pm

Exynos on S21 should mean far better battery life.

 

[Dave245]

As somebody who had the note ultra on exynos you're not wrong here.

I did everything to get me through long usage I turned alot off and had low power mode on by 50% to help I had dark mode on all the time and AOD off and tap to show to see if it helped. Some days it died at 9pm and some others on low usage I had about 10% left when I went bed. For me it was OK but if you making alot of calls I can imagine yours would die quicker

I did feel though I had to Watch what I was doing through the day so it lasts longer which yeah you shouldn't need to do

My usage is exactly the same on my fold 2 and on medium usage I went to bed on 46%. Heavy usage I can get a good 7 hours screen time with nothing turned off and I have dark mode to come on after 5pm

Exynos on S21 should mean far better battery life.

Yea that was my overall point. I think if you have to turn features off (the majority of them) and worry about how much the S-Pen is being used (as it recharges when put back into the phone) it's counterproductive. If in the future Samsung improve on the battery life, to the point where I can get all day battery life (much like my 11 Pro Max) then I will definitely be interested.

 

[The Game 161]

Yea that was my overall point. I think if you have to turn features off (the majority of them) and worry about how much the S-Pen is being used (as it recharges when put back into the phone) it's counterproductive. If in the future Samsung improve on the battery life, to the point where I can get all day battery life (much like my 11 Pro Max) then I will definitely be interested.

Maybe in a few months when S21 is out review the new exynos which is suppose to be alot better for battery life

 

[SteveJUAE]

Edit: It’s seems pointless going backwards and forwards with this, we might have to come to a point where respectfully agree to disagree on things.

Dave its not a point on agreeing to disagree there is something obviously adrift as @The_Interloper noted too you should not be seeing such a large difference

Whilst how one or another uses a phone is very subjective obviously light users do not have to scale anything back I do not see anything remarkable in your brief description of usage over my own and my Note 20U is Exynos so strange IMO

 

[Dave245]

Dave its not a point on agreeing to disagree there is something obviously adrift as @The_Interloper noted too you should not be seeing such a large difference

maybe it’s as @The Game 161 has said, the Exynos chip and the fact that I do a lot of calls in a day. I have tried to optimise it. i can’t think of what else too try. I’m thinking about contacting Samsung and seeing what they say about it.

 

[SteveJUAE]

maybe it’s as @The Game 161 has said, the Exynos chip and the fact that I do a lot of calls in a day. I have tried to optimise it. i can’t think of what else too try. I’m thinking about contacting Samsung and seeing what they say about it.

Are you using speaker phone with the screen always on and high adaptive brightness ?

 

[Dave245]

Are you using speaker phone with the screen always on and high adaptive brightness ?

No I don’t use speakerphone with work calls (for private reasons). The display is set to adaptive. Always on display is turned off. Altho i did like having it on because I could pin notes written with the S-Pen to it.

I can’t think of anything that I’ve done or anything more that I could do. I will contact Samsung and see what they have to say, as a last resort.

 

[SteveJUAE]

No I don’t use speakerphone with work calls (for private reasons). The display is set to adaptive. Always on display is turned off. Altho i did like having it on because I could pin notes written with the S-Pen to it.

I can’t think of anything that I’ve done or anything more that I could do. I will contact Samsung and see what they have to say, as a last resort.

You do know you can tap on battery usage and see a full breakdown of what apps are using the battery ?

That will show if it's your calls or something else

 

[Dave245]

You do know you can tap on battery usage and see a full breakdown of what apps are using the battery ?

That will show if it's your calls or something else

My Apple Music playing in the background and Calls seem to be the biggest battery hog ?