The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra have arrived — here's what you need to know!

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When it comes to Android smartphones, few companies attract as much buzz and attention as Samsung does. Samsung has established itself as the market leader in the space, and it's continuing that dominance yet again with the Galaxy Note 20 series.

2020 is treating us to two new Note devices, taking the form of the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. The former delivers the core Note experience without a lot of flashy features, whereas the latter packs all of the highest-end specs and components that Samsung could get its hands on.

The Note used to be the series in which Samsung debuted exciting new technologies and features, and while that's changed in recent years, it doesn't make new Notes any less exciting. Whether you're looking for specs, pricing info, or anything else in between, here's what you need to know about the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

Noteworthy

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra


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The Note that does it all

Samsung's Galaxy Note is always an exciting phone to look forward to, and this year, we have the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This is a phone that has everything you could want in a 2020 flagship — such as a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 120Hz display, powerful cameras, and more. It's not a cheap phone by any means, but you certainly get what you pay for.

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How much does the Galaxy Note 20 cost?


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Galaxy Note phones are always rather pricey, and that's no different this time around. In fact, these are the most expensive Notes yet.

The regular Galaxy Note 20 costs $1000, and if you want to upgrade to the Note 20 Ultra, it starts at $1300 for the 128GB model (there's also a 512GB one for more money). That's a lot to spend for a new phone, and thankfully, Samsung cuts down the prices considerably if you trade-in your current device.

Trade-ins are valued up to $650, and if you take advantage of that with Samsung's monthly installment plans, that works out to $9.73/month for the Note 20 and $18.07/month for the Note 20 Ultra. Additionally, if you purchase either phone with a Samsung Money by SoFi account, you can get another 7.5% discount on top of that.

Can I buy the Galaxy Note 20 right now?


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If you're eager to get your hands on a Galaxy Note 20 for yourself, you'll need to wait a little bit longer. Sales don't officially begin until August 21, and on that date, you'll be able to get the Note 20 series in unlocked and carrier versions.

Leading up to that date, pre-orders for the Note 20 will be active between August 6 and August 20. If you place your order between those two dates, you can get a credit to Samsung's online store for use on "curated bundles" or "select products like Samsung TVs, Galaxy Buds Live, tablets, and more."

You'll get a $100 credit if you pre-order the Galaxy Note 20, and if you step up to the Note 20 Ultra, the credit is increased to $150.

Have we reviewed the Galaxy Note 20?


We aren't ready to share our full thoughts on the Galaxy Note 20 series quite yet, but we have had some time to use the phones and get an early look at what they're bringing to the table.

The Note 20 Ultra is definitely the most interesting of the two, offering flagship features like a 120Hz display, 108MP camera, and more. It's a lot like the S20 Ultra with an S Pen, and that's not a bad thing at all.

You get a lower price with the baseline Note 20, but in doing so, it makes quite a few compromises — even more so than last year's Note 10 compared to the Note 10+. It's a particularly odd device, especially when stacked up against the Galaxy S20 from earlier in the year.

Our full reviews of both phones will be ready soon, so keep an eye out here for them to be added!

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What kind of specs does the Galaxy Note 20 have?


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We've come to expect the Galaxy Note to feature top-of-the-line specs in every regard, and this year, things are a little bit different. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has all of the specs/features you could ask for in a 2020 flagship, but with the Note 20, you'll notice that some things are absent.

Here's a quick breakdown of the key specs you should know:

CategoryGalaxy Note 20Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Operating SystemAndroid 10
One UI 2.5
Android 10
One UI 2.5
Display6.7-inch
AMOLED
2400 x 1080
60Hz refresh rate
6.9-inch
AMOLED
3088 x 1440
120Hz refresh rate
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 865+Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
Memory8GB LPDDR512GB LPDDR5
Storage128GB128GB
512GB
Expandable Storage❌✔️
Rear Camera 112MP primary
f/1.8
OIS
108MP primary
f/1.8
OIS
Rear Camera 264MP telephoto
f/2.0
3x hybrid zoom
12MP telephoto
f/3.0
5x optical zoom
Rear Camera 312MP ultra-wide
f/2.2
12MP ultra-wide
f/2.2
Front Camera10MP
f/2.2
10MP
f/2.2
Battery4,300 mAh4,500 mAH

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How are the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra different?


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We've hinted a lot at the differences between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, but what makes these so significant? It all starts with the displays — specifically, the refresh rate supported by each phone.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes equipped with a 120Hz screen, as you'd expect for a flagship smartphone. This gives you the buttery smooth animations you'd expect from a 120Hz panel, and it looks great. Comparatively, the regular Note 20 is limited to the standard 60Hz rate. 60Hz screens aren't unusable in 2020, but the fact that the Note 20 costs as much as it does and is stuck at 60Hz is pretty disappointing.

There's also a big difference in regards to build quality. You get the standard treatment of a metal and glass construction for the Note 20 Ultra, but the Note 20 drops the glass back in favor of a plastic one. As you'd expect, it makes the phone feel noticeably cheaper. Add that together with differences in RAM, storage, battery life, and cameras, and the Note 20 almost feels like a completely different device compared to the Ultra.

Samsung stripped a few features from last year's Note 10 that were offered on the more expensive Note 10+, but nowhere to the same extent that we have this year.

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Are there fun colors for the Galaxy Note 20?


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With every phone that it releases, Samsung uses this time to stretch its creative muscles and create new colors. This time around, Samsung is debuting its "Mystic" color series that features a "textured haze effect."

There are five of these Mystic colors available for the Note series, including Mystic Bronze, Mystic Green, Mystic Gray, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. Some are available for both the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, whereas others are limited to just one of the phones.

These aren't the most boastful colors we've ever seen from Samsung, but that doesn't mean they look bad. Mystic Bronze and Mystic Green are particularly pretty, and thanks to the new texture Samsung is using, fingerprints shouldn't be as big of a pain as they were for the Note 10.

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Should I get any accessories for the Galaxy Note 20?


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The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are incredibly capable phones on their own, but that doesn't mean they should be used without any accessories. At the very least, you owe it to yourself to pick up a case and screen protector.

Whether you get the plastic Note 20 or the glass Note 20 Ultra, both phones will be well-served by a durable case. It takes just one drop to cause serious damage, and with a case, you can prevent that from happening. Also, as much as we love some of the Note 20 colors that are available, a case is the best way to really personalize and customize your device.

Screen protectors aren't as fun to talk about as cases, but they're just as important — if not more so. Both the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra have gorgeous-looking displays, and nothing would ruin them more than a nasty scratch or crack.

Also, if you decide to splurge for the Note 20 Ultra, it's worth picking up a microSD card to take advantage of its expandable storage.

Noteworthy

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra


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The Note that does it all

Samsung's Galaxy Note is always an exciting phone to look forward to, and this year, we have the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This is a phone that has everything you could want in a 2020 flagship — such as a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 120Hz display, powerful cameras, and more. It's not a cheap phone by any means, but you certainly get what you pay for.

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