Phones Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra

[mjschabow]

Finally got my hands on the s20 series today...

Honestly if a phone is going to be worth $1400 it's the Ultra. It doesn't have a single weakness and the screen is insane. With that said, if you already have a Note 10 plus I'm not sure it's worth the upgrade. And after seeing the Ultra in person I don't see how Samsung is going to justify the Note other than the Spen. From a hardware standpoint there's nothing they can significantly improve other than better biometrics.

With that said, it felt a little bland. The device itself is pretty boring and plain looking. Samsung UI felt really smooth but nothing special. I could try out the cameras too much because the device was tethered but it took fast sharp pictures. It all felt very iPhone like, which is not to say a bad thing.

I will say the s20 plus felt very sleek for such a big phone. If you don't need the insane cameras on the Ultra the S20 plus looks like a great value with the trade ins.

I placed an order for the Ultra in 128GB but I might cancel depending on what the reviews say. My guess would be that the Ultra is easily the best Android phone right now but I'm not sure the cameras will be the giant leap forward everyone is expecting.

Yeah and with the 512gb Note 10+ currently $550 cheaper than the 512gb S20 Ultra, the decision is pretty easy, IMO. I had some thoughts about it but with the price difference with the Note 10+, you can pick up Galaxy Buds + and the LTE Watch Active 2 and break even.

 

[HALE101]

I switched from the note 10 plus too the iPhone Pro Max about a month ago, many reasons why I switched but mainly because I can't stand the curved display Samsung implements on their flagships. I preorded my gf the s20 ultra cause she likes to customize her user interface and many other benefits android provides over Apple. But still the 2.5D glass screen is still curved , when samsung makes a flagship that has a actual flat screen and supports more than 2 years of updates I'd consider going back in a heartbeat.

 

[Awesomesince86]

The curve on the s20 line is much less drastic than on the S10s. It's noticeably flatter.

Also, the camera hump on the Ultra is really huge. Pictures don't do it justice. It really sticks out. The back of that device is not good looking if that's something that bothers you. The gloss makes it a fingerprint magnet and the housing for the cameras is massive in person. But build quality felt top notch and the display is excellent. There would be no going back to 60hz after using that screen with 120hz.

 

[The Game 161]

The curve on the s20 line is much less drastic than on the S10s. It's noticeably flatter.

Also, the camera hump on the Ultra is really huge. Pictures don't do it justice. It really sticks out. The back of that device is not good looking if that's something that bothers you. The gloss makes it a fingerprint magnet and the housing for the cameras is massive in person. But build quality felt top notch and the display is excellent. There would be no going back to 60hz after using that screen with 120hz.

Think it needs a case to hide the hump

I just hope the camera is truely great as for a camera that big and in your face it needs to be..just hope it isn’t all marketing

 

[Awesomesince86]

Think it needs a case to hide the hump

I just hope the camera is truely great as for a camera that big and in your face it needs to be..just hope it isn’t all marketing

Just watched a video comparing it to the iPhone Pro Max. Results are actually pretty good.

 

[The Game 161]

Just watched a video comparing it to the iPhone Pro Max. Results are actually pretty good.

Thanks for that

Very impressive based on that video for sure

 

[HALE101]

The curve on the s20 line is much less drastic than on the S10s. It's noticeably flatter.

Also, the camera hump on the Ultra is really huge. Pictures don't do it justice. It really sticks out. The back of that device is not good looking if that's something that bothers you. The gloss makes it a fingerprint magnet and the housing for the cameras is massive in person. But build quality felt top notch and the display is excellent. There would be no going back to 60hz after using that screen with 120hz.

Yeah the back of these supposed flagships are horrible and look like cheap plastic
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Just watched a video comparing it to the iPhone Pro Max. Results are actually pretty good.

Not a hater but I don't think they should be comparing last year's iPhone 11 too the Ultra , I know for tech reviewers it gets tons of views and it does indeed help some customers who are on the fence on which phone to buy. Unfortunately many flagship android devices are released in the first 5 -6 months of the year so the 11 PM is the only comparison you can do.

Let's wait for the 12 and see how they match up

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Not a hater but I don't think they should be comparing last year's iPhone 11 too the Ultra , I know for tech reviewers it gets tons of views and it does indeed help some customers who are on the fence on which phone to buy. Unfortunately many flagship android devices are released in the first 5 -6 months of the year so the 11 PM is the only comparison you can do.

Let's wait for the 12 and see how they match up

I think it's a fair match up. It's only about a 5 1/2 month difference in release date. Both the next iPhone and Note 20 will have only minor camera differences compared to their predecessors.

 

[HALE101]

I think it's a fair match up. It's only about a 5 1/2 month difference in release date. Both the next iPhone and Note 20 will have only minor camera differences compared to their predecessors.

Yes the S series is basically the trial run for the upcoming Note 20 which always bothered me knowing people (in 2020) are paying 1500 for a phone that will be surpassed spec wise on the Note in 6 months . But I suppose most people don't look at the specs & benchmarks under a microscope like some of us do.

 

[michael9891]

Yeah the back of these supposed flagships are horrible and look like cheap plastic
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Not a hater but I don't think they should be comparing last year's iPhone 11 too the Ultra , I know for tech reviewers it gets tons of views and it does indeed help some customers who are on the fence on which phone to buy. Unfortunately many flagship android devices are released in the first 5 -6 months of the year so the 11 PM is the only comparison you can do.

Let's wait for the 12 and see how they match up

But then you'll be comparing a 6 month old phone to a brand new iPhone. You compare to what's available now.

And calling the S range a trial run for the Note is nonsense.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Yes the S series is basically the trial run for the upcoming Note 20 which always bothered me knowing people (in 2020) are paying 1500 for a phone that will be surpassed spec wise on the Note in 6 months . But I suppose most people don't look at the specs & benchmarks under a microscope like some of us do.

What spec is the Note series going improve?

 

[mjschabow]

What spec is the Note series going improve?

I wonder if the punch hole will be gone and the camera is under the display.

 

[nfl46]

Yeah the back of these supposed flagships are horrible and look like cheap plastic
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Not a hater but I don't think they should be comparing last year's iPhone 11 too the Ultra , I know for tech reviewers it gets tons of views and it does indeed help some customers who are on the fence on which phone to buy. Unfortunately many flagship android devices are released in the first 5 -6 months of the year so the 11 PM is the only comparison you can do.

Let's wait for the 12 and see how they match up

Yeah, I agree. I’m always interested in the Note vs iPhone camera reviews since they are released a few weeks apart. That’s completely fair at that point.

 

[samplez]

This is pretty sad...

 

[nfl46]

Just watched a video comparing it to the iPhone Pro Max. Results are actually pretty good.

Solid camera on the Ultra!

 

[HALE101]

But then you'll be comparing a 6 month old phone to a brand new iPhone. You compare to what's available now.

And calling the S range a trial run for the Note is nonsense.

Good point

 

[The Game 161]

I think it's a fair match up. It's only about a 5 1/2 month difference in release date. Both the next iPhone and Note 20 will have only minor camera differences compared to their predecessors.

Who knows, the next iPhone is suppose to have bigger sensors and TOF and I’m sure Apple will make that look even better with their software

 

[The Game 161]

View attachment 895462

View attachment 895464

This is pretty sad...

Because iPhone doesn’t have night mode for selfie. Night mode wise the maybe the best mode last year

 

[jamezr]

Who knows, the next iPhone is suppose to have bigger sensors and TOF and I’m sure Apple will make that look even better with their software

Exactly..... who knows!!!! Apple could a lot of things. Then so could Samsung with the Note 20.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Oh, I wasn't familiar with the dex box.. until I looked up Dex Pad. Wish there was need for any additional accessories. But cool nevertheless.

You don’t even need a dock or pad anymore you can just use a cable to connect to the screen and your up and away.
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Okay my husband came across an article mentioning an ad for DirectTV got embedded in the reviewer’s phone app on the dialer of a Z Flip. I discuss it here because I’m considering the S20 and am afraid of running into such a horror on it. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/18/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-review.html

I’ve never run across that before. The dialing pad is pretty important. I carry two phones because I have dealt with medical emergencies. It goes with having elderly parents and having some accidents and issues myself. I don’t want to be dealing with an ad when I’m trying to call someone during an emergency. What is Samsung thinking?

Has anyone ever seen this on an S series phone? Here’s the ad which is credited to Todd Haselton CNBC.

View attachment 894999

Adverts in the dialler or not on but I can’t say Apple are any better. They kept advertising Apple Arcade with big adverts that Popped up right across my home screen, in the widgets panel and notifications panel. It’s only stopped now because I signed up to it, mostly because it that moment I just wanted that pop up off my screen!
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True but 4x looks awesome , 5x optical zoom is still pretty useful.

Everything I’ve seen up to 10x looks really good. 30x goes either way. There was a video that was posted some pages back in this thread and in that scenario even the 100x zoom was useful. I think the 100x is more useful for videos than for still shots.

 

[Awesomesince86]

Frankly if the only upgrade from the Ultra to the Note is a better biometric or under display front camera, that wont be enough to justify an upgrade to me. I was going to sit out the Ultra but really I dont see any device beating this for a while unless Google gets serious. Thats not to say the next iPhone wont be great, but Im done with iOS for a bit. I just find I get bored with it too easily.

The Ultra might be the first phone I keep for a while barring any major pitfalls or if the camera quality ends up being poor.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Finally got my hands on the s20 series today...

Honestly if a phone is going to be worth $1400 it's the Ultra. It doesn't have a single weakness and the screen is insane. With that said, if you already have a Note 10 plus I'm not sure it's worth the upgrade. And after seeing the Ultra in person I don't see how Samsung is going to justify the Note other than the Spen. From a hardware standpoint there's nothing they can significantly improve other than better biometrics.

With that said, it felt a little bland. The device itself is pretty boring and plain looking. Samsung UI felt really smooth but nothing special. I could try out the cameras too much because the device was tethered but it took fast sharp pictures. It all felt very iPhone like, which is not to say a bad thing.

I will say the s20 plus felt very sleek for such a big phone. If you don't need the insane cameras on the Ultra the S20 plus looks like a great value with the trade ins.

I placed an order for the Ultra in 128GB but I might cancel depending on what the reviews say. My guess would be that the Ultra is easily the best Android phone right now but I'm not sure the cameras will be the giant leap forward everyone is expecting.

The camera alone is worth the admission price. The 120Hz refresh rate and the 6.9 inch screen and 12GB of ram are just icing on the cake.

I paid £1,300 for my 11 pro max. I have no complaints about an asking price of £1,199 for the ultra.

 

[Healer Flame]

£1,199 for the ultra.

Oouch! AU$2200. You can feel the sting with that price.

 

[bobsamm]

Oouch! AU$2200. You can feel the sting with that price.

Less than 3 months will be $1500.

 

[Awesomesince86]

The camera alone is worth the admission price. The 120Hz refresh rate and the 6.9 inch screen and 12GB of ram are just icing on the cake.

I paid £1,300 for my 11 pro max. I have no complaints about an asking price of £1,199 for the ultra.

I'm holding off on judging the camera until some more tech reviews come out or until I can get some time on one myself.