Samsung unveils new Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra mobile devices

Aug 5 2020, 4:03 pm

Samsung revealed its new series of Galaxy Note mobile devices to the world on Wednesday, featuring updated tools, internal components, and a refreshed look.

There is a lot of talk from Samsung about how technology — and mobile devices in particular — have been used to an amplified degree since the COVID-19 pandemic began back at the beginning of the year.

Newly freshened up, Samsung believes that the Note 20, and it’s slightly bigger and more powerful sibling the Note 20 Ultra, will be stronger tools in the hands of those who need one.

Best of all, they are chic and modern, and wondrous pieces of tech to look at.

Samsung

PENultimate device

The Note 20 Series features an update for the Note S Pen, which has become a major feature in the line of large phones since Samsung first launched the device line-up in the early 2010s.

This year’s version makes major strides with a decreased latency (40% improvement on Note 20, and 90% improvement on Note 20 Ultra) in the Enhanced S Pen for Note 20. Fitting a more versatile tool into everyday use for writing, drawing, and more.

The air gesture inputs are back for the Note 20 series, letting users control navigation and quick-actions simply by moving your S Pen in the air.

Notably, this line of Samsung devices has always been one of the most powerful and useful modern mobile phones for business, and that tradition doesn’t look to be slowing down with this new generation. Pairing this refreshed S Pen with newly optimized audio sync notation technology will make it easy for users to keep track of everything.

Samsung

While writing in the notepad, the Galaxy Note 20 series allows you to record audio simulations. This recording syncs up with the timeframe in which you write your notes. If you tap on a word you wrote during a synced note, the audio recording from that note will leap to the point of the audio file that was recorded when you wrote that word.

Features like these feel like a no brainer but can drastically add to the efficiency of how we do things.

An Office family

In a special partnership, revealed during the press preview event, Samsung detailed its latest partnership with Microsoft, bringing the full suite of Office products to the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

The hands-on partnership has helped optimize these applications and their day-to-day use specifically for the Note series.

In addition to a full Office suite, the first 1,500 pre-orders for the phone line-up, give customers three months of free game pass ultimate, which will see the new Xbox xCloud gaming service bring cloud-based gaming to mobile and web devices everywhere.

The heart of the new Galaxy Note line-up is the Snapdragon 865+ chip, which will provide immense processing power for the multi-taskers, mobile gamers, and workhorses out there that need a phone with that bit of extra juice.

This chipset means that owners will have the opportunity and capability of matching their work, with play.

New look, new lens

Samsung hasn’t been leading the game when it comes to the mobile world’s photographic and video capabilities, but that hasn’t stopped it from adapting to modern perks, and upgrading devices when and where it can.

The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra feature stunning displays, and refreshed internal camera components that will make easy work of both still and moving images.

The star of the show, however, is the updated autofocus.

Samsung

With an astounding Advanced Hybrid Laser Auto Focus, the Note 20 family has one of the fastest autofocus detections in mobile today, and far faster than many actual hobbyist DSLR cameras are equipped with.

Video capture includes 16:9 aspect ratio video recording at 8K resolution, and an additional cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. All able to shoot at 24 FPS.

The Pro-Grade Tools in the Note 20 video app let users take more control over timing, zooms, and cuts. With additional access to in-app editing. Samsung has also integrated the Samsung Buds as a microphone input on video recording, which is a magnificent option for capturing specific audio of a subject, or speech, with built-in background noise reduction.

Galaxy Note 20 vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Now, for the part that everyone is screaming at their browser for us to answer: what’s the difference between the standard Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra?

Well, there’s not a whole lot.

Most notably, the Ultra has a bit of a larger body, resulting in a bit of a bigger display at 6.9 inches. The Ultra also features the wrapped screen edges that many Note fans have come to appreciate.

As for the standard Note 20, it will feature a 6.7-inch display with a small bezel around the edges.

Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra Virtual Unpacked 2020 Lead main

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy Note 20 (right) / Samsung

Under the skeleton, more things are mirrored in the two devices. Both feature the same 5G enabled receivers, the sophisticated and powerful Snapdragon 865+ chip, and a mighty built-in camera.

The Note 20’s battery packs a 4300 mAh bank, while the Note 20 Ultra gets a bit more juice at 4500 mAh, but the larger and slightly more dynamic screen on the Ultra will make that slight battery difference almost invisible.

Both devices also come with built-in Samsung Knox security system integration to keep your mobile data secure.

Available starting August 21 in the US

The Galaxy Note 20 will start at $999, and comes in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Green, and Mystic Grey. This slough of new colorways has a blended gradient with a hazy feel and are really pretty to look at.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will start at $1,299 and comes fresh new colors like Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, and Mystic Black.

Samsung

You can pre-order either device starting on the Samsung website now, and third-party retailers soon.

Wyatt FossettWyatt Fossett

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