The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has the potential to be one of the best phones of the year. And it should be with a starting price of $ 1,299. In fact, my impressions so far have been so favorable that I can see how it could have beaten the upcoming iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro already.
Although Apple is not expected to release the new iPhone 12 models until October, there have already been a ton of leaks. And based on these reports, there are some obvious differences that are emerging between the Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro. Here are just some of the benefits Samsung’s phablet has based on all available info.
A superior display of 120Hz
Rumor has it that the iPhone 12 will not have a 120Hz display, which offers smoother rolling along with optimized video playback and gameplay. And even if Apple manages to add one at a time, it will likely be inferior to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s panel.
Samsung’s Adaptive Frequency OLED screen is so smart that it can drop to 60Hz for video playback, 30Hz for messaging and as low as 10Hz when viewing still images. This should really help with the battery life of the Note 20 Ultra.
In addition, although the iPhone 12 Pro Max is expected to sport a 6.7-inch panel, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultras is a whopping 6.9 inches. That Samsung’s screen should be better all around.
Xbox games over the cloud
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and regular Galaxy Note 20 both support the new Xbox Game Pass. In beta at the moment, this service allows you to stream more than 100 console titles directly to Samsung’s phablets over the cloud. I tried Forza Horizon 4, and it played very smoothly on the Note 20 Ultra when I ran the track. The initial loading time was a bit slow, but overall I was quite impressed.
If you have not heard, Xbox had plans to launch its Game Pass service (aka Project xCloud) on iOS, but Apple will not allow Xbox Game Pass on iOS, saying that these cloud game services violate its App Store policy. Whatever.
108MP camera with 50x zoom
The iPhone 12 Pro Max should have a formidable camera setting, as leaks indicate improved sensors across the entire plate. You should also get a slightly more powerful 3x telephoto zoom and a dedicated LiDAR sensor that should deliver better photo and video effects along with improved AR performance.
However, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra should have the iPhone 12 Pro when it comes to resolution and especially its Space Zoom camera. The 108MP main sensor on the Note 20 Ultra lets you input on images without losing quality, if there is enough ambient light.
Even more impressive is the 50x zoom, which allows you to take photos that the iPhone 12 Pro simply cannot match, at least based on rumors surrounding Apple’s phone. The 5x 20 optical zoom of the Note 20 Ultra should also be the 3x optical zoom better than on the iPhone 12 Pro. In my Note 20 Ultra tests, the results have been very clear up to 20x zoom, but at 50x some camera starts to shake.
New powers of S Pen
For whatever reason, Apple has decided to limit Apple Pencil support for the iPad and iPad Pro, but there have been no credible rumors that a style of any kind will come to the iPhone 12. Meanwhile, the S Pen remains more powerful win with the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Some of the new features include new aerial actions that allow you to perform various shortcuts simply by swiping the S Pen in front of the phone, from viewing recent apps to taking screenshots that you can annotate instantly. I also like that you can record voice memos and your scripts will sync with the recordings. allowing you to tap on a word and hear what was said at the time. it is a convenient feature for classes as well as business meetings.
DeX mode goes wireless
Take that, AirPlay. While Apple wireless technology allows you to mirror the screen of your iPhone on a compatible TV like Apple TV, the DeX mode on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is even more versatile. You can run several apps at once on a desktop-like interface and turn the phone into one big touchpad to move the cursor.
I tested the wireless DeX mode on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and I was able to view photos on the big screen using the Google Photos app, scrolling my Twitter feed, and streaming Netflix. I even connected a PS4 controller to the phone and played Fortnite on a 55-inch TCL Roku TV. However, that game played smoother than the faster Asphalt 9.
Bottom line
While many smartphone shoppers tend to stay in their current ecosystem orbit when it comes time to upgrade, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has many features that Apple fans wish the company could borrow or steal. And that’s a good sign that Samsung’s doing something right.
