Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 10 hidden features that you do not want to miss

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 en Note 20 Ultra (full review) are powerful smartphones that bring a swell of new features to the Note line for power users. The Note 20 Ultra, for example, has an impressive 6.9-inch display, faster refresh rate, larger battery and a microSD card slot. In the course of testing the phone (the standard Note 20 review unit is yet to come) I have found some fantastic hidden features that make the Note 20 experience so much better.

For example, you can set an alarm to let you know when you have left your S Pen. Or did you know that you can lock your home screen layout so that it is not messaged after you have spent everything exactly where you wanted it to?

Below are 10 hidden features that make the Note 20 so much better than it already is.

1. Take advantage of that faster display

The Note 20 Ultra has a variable screen experience level of up to 120Hz. This means that when your phone detects that you are doing something like scrolling through a long email or web page, it uses the faster refresh rate, which makes the browsing experience buttery.

The standard Note 20 has a 60Hz display, with no 1208 option at all.

If you are just looking at a picture, or doing something else that does not require much movement on the screen, your Note 20 Ultra will default to 60Hz.

It’s a good idea to make sure your phone has its Motion Smoothness feature enabled. To do so, open it Settings > Screen > Motion smoothness and take care of it Custom is selected.

As Samsung points out, the increased refresh rate will use more battery, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay for a better experience.

I just thought I would use the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen to create a GIF from the 120Hz screen refresh menu and pointed to Samsung’s recognition that the setting reduces battery life pic.twitter.com/7sWvdxGUuP

– Jessica Dolcourt (@jdolcourt) August 6, 2020

2. Do not forget your S Pen

The Note’s S Pen is one of its flagship features, but it’s also very easy to leave it sitting there, never to be seen again.

Happy as you go Settings > Advanced features > S Pen and roll down to the Removal section, you will find an option called Pin proximity alert. Turn it on.

Now, if you leave your S Pen on your desk, or it falls between your couch cushions and you start running away, your phone will beep when you get out of reach.

3. Always display-display puts info a glance away

One of my favorite features about any Android phone is the Always-On Display (AOD). With AOD enabled, you can quickly view your phone to check the time, see all waiting notifications, battery percentage and even check music playback all without waking up or unlocking your phone.

The Note 20 has an Always-on-display option, but out of the box means you have to wake up the screen of your phone before it will appear. It is counterproductive.

Change that by entering Settings > Lock screen > Always to be seen. Do not tap the button to turn it on, instead tap the text so you can customize how it works.

Go through each setting and section, choose the clock and color you want and even set a schedule if you want.

To look? Much better.

4. Turn on your lock screen shortcuts

When you see the lock screen of your phone, you will see an app icon that provides a quick way to launch an app in any corner. Samsung sets the phone and camera apps as the default shortcuts, but can change which apps you can open and how to access the keyboard shortcut.

Open Settings > Lock screen > Hotkeys and select Drifting button. While you are there, you can also change the apps on your lock screen to whatever you want.

With the push button enabled, there will be a three-point icon that appears just above the fingerprint sensor on your lock screen. Press and hold that button to view your app shortcuts, then drag your finger to the app you want to launch.

5. Change the number of notifications displayed in the status bar

It can be difficult to keep up with the countless alerts that our phones receive all day long. It’s even more of a struggle if the status bar on your Note 20 limits the number of icons for app notifications.

The Note 20 Ultra I test has a limit of three app icons in the status bar, which is not close enough. When you open Settings > Notifications > Status bar, you can change the status bar to display a number for any delay of notifications (which can feel overwhelming, if you ask me), your last three, or my personal favorite, all notifications.

Of course, there is only so much space in the status bar, so if you have a bunch of alerts from a large number of apps, not all of them will appear, but helped me have more than three present.

6. Screen your home screen layout to keep it neat

If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time moving app icons and widgets around your Home Screen. There’s a rhyme and reason why apps go somewhere, and when things move, it throws your whole stream away.

Samsung lets you lock the layout of your home screen, and keep everything exactly where you left it.

Long press on a blank space on your home screen, then tap Home screen settings if the options popup. Fine Home screen storage and tap the switch to turn the function on Op.

When enabled, you will see a reminder on your screen each time you try to move an app icon. If you often leave your phone to your children to watch videos, this feature is your new best friend.

7. Disables the old-fashioned button navigation setup

Out of the box, your Galaxy Note 20 is standard for Android’s traditional three-button navigation. There will be buttons to go back, home and view the app switcher.

It’s time to make the switch to Android 10’s navigation-based navigation. After a few days of swiping your phone, you forget all about the buttons and appreciate the added real estate of the screen.

Then go to Settings > Screen > Navigation bar and select Wipe gestures. I recommend that you enable recovery tips in a few days as you learn the new navigation technique.

If you find yourself struggling, we have a complete guide to Android 10’s gesture navigation feature, complete with animated images that show you exactly what to do.

8. Use the new S Pen Air commands

Your S Pen can do so much more than just as a stylus to write or draw on your view of your Note. Starting with the Line 20 line, you can now use the S Pen to control your device from across the room. All you have to do is remove the S Pen, hold the button and use one of the five new gestures to go back a screen, go to your home screen and more.

We cover the new S Pen tricks in full detail, be sure to check this out.

9. Live transcripts for all audio on your Note

Google Live Caption Feature – which will transcribe videos, podcasts and even phone calls in real time – is available on Note 20.

All you have to do is swipe to the quick settings panel, find the tile named Live Caption and tap on it. A black bar will appear with the live text taken directly from the audio. Disable Live Caption by repeating the same steps in the Quick Settings panel.

10. Add extra security to select apps with Secure Folder

If you use a work phone but have personal or private information you want to secure with a different password or pattern, you can take advantage of the Notes Safe Folder feature.

Open Settings > Biometrics and safety > Secure folder by running the setup process. You can install apps and save files and photos. It’s like using a completely different phone.

If you are still trying to decide whether to pre-order the Note 20 or the Note 20 Ultra, make sure you check us out full Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review. Or if you’ve already made up your mind, You can order right now. The phone will be officially available on August 21st.