Samsung has finally announced its Galaxy Note 20 phones, marking the latest entry in its S-Pen toting flagship series. The phones are also pretty solid on paper, with flagship chipsets (at least in the US), plenty of internal storage, OLED screens, and triple rear camera setup.
Like the idea of these super sized phones, but do not want to spend a ton of cash? Maybe you just want to know if there are similar alternatives? We have completed the best Samsung Galaxy Note 20 alternatives in the world market.
1. LG V60
One of the better Galaxy Note 20 alternatives in the US should be the LG V60. You have the Snapdragon 865 processor, 5G connectivity, a 5,000mAh battery, and 128GB as well as 256GB of storage. The latter can be enlarged via microSD card slot, which cannot be said for the vanilla Note 20.
Other notable features include IP68 water / dust resistance, wireless charging, and yes, a headphone port. You can certainly do $ worse for $ 800, making it $ 200 cheaper than the basic Note 20 off-contract.
Our verdict: LG V60 review – The best attempt by LG in years is worth checking out
However, it is not perfect, because the phone lacks a camera camera (with a slot instead of a 64MP + 13MP ultra wide combo) and a screen with high refresh rate. These are two features you would generally expect from a flagship in 2020, but it’s still a Note 20 rival in our book.
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Series
Now that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 range is out, you might want to keep an eye out for deals for the Galaxy Note 10 family if you’re looking for a cheaper flagship with an S-Pen. Both phones have OLED 60Hz panels, Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9825 SoCs, a 10MP selfie camera, and flexible setup for rear cameras.
Long-term review: One year later Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus: Is It Still Worth Buying?
That being said, you should opt for the Note 10 Plus over the Note 10 if you can afford to pay a little extra. The vanilla Note 10 lacks a microSD card slot, a large battery (3,500mAh vs. 4,300mAh in the Plus), faster charging, and screen resolution (FHD + vs. QHD +).
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus
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3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite
What if you want a Note experience but don’t have the budget for a flagship phone? That’s where the Note 10 Lite comes in, making it one of the more compelling alternatives to Galaxy Note 20.
Samsung’s more affordable Note makes a few compromises compared to the flagship of the Note 10 and Note 20, such as the 2018-era Exynos 9810 processor, lack of wireless charging, and no major IP rating. However, the phone delivers a flexible triple 12MP rear camera setup (main, 2x telephoto, ultra wide), a 32MP selfie camera and a 4,500mAh battery larger than the Note 9, Note 10 and Note 20.
It is also worth noting that you still get the S-Pen, while a 3.5mm port also makes an appearance. So if you like the idea of a note but do not want to share it with the headphone jack, this is something you might want to consider.
This is not the only affordable stylus phone, as the Moto G Stylus and LG Stylo family go even lower than the Note 10 Lite.
4. OnePlus 8 Pro
It used to be the case that the Galaxy Note series was the ultimate smartphone for power users. It is certainly still the case in many ways, but the OnePlus 8 Pro is also a major competitor for the crown.
The Pro variant has a lot in common with Samsung’s 2020 flagships, such as flagship Snapdragon silicon, a 120Hz refresh rate (at QHD + resolution as well), IP68 rating, and 30W wireless charging.
What we thought: OnePlus 8 Pro review – What the OnePlus 7T Pro should have been
The OnePlus flagship also offers a quad-rear camera setting, with a 48MP IMX689 main camera, 48MP ultra-wide camera, 8MP 3x tele-shooter, and a 5MP color filter camera which is a bit of a gimmick. Those looking for a powerhouse phone with a slick take on Android can do much less than this.
5. Samsung Galaxy S20 series
The S20 series also provides a fantastic alternative to the Galaxy Note 20 duo if you don’t mind the S Pen. There are many shared features between the two families, such as One UI, IP68 designs, wireless charging, and 120Hz OLED screens (with the exception of the vanilla Note 20).
Our review: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review – Too much of a good thing
Samsung’s standard Galaxy S20 is probably a better buy than the base Note 20, due to the aforementioned 120Hz support. It also packs a QHD + screen and microSD extension, both of which lack the vanilla note.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is perhaps the one to get if money is not an option and you want an advanced experience. The Ultra variant features a 5,000mAh battery (larger than the Note 20 Ultra), a 108 MP main camera, and a 4x periscope zoom lens.
6. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Yes, we are an Android-focused website, but Apple’s iPhones are among the most popular smartphones and the iPhone 11 series was very darn great. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is perhaps the most suitable Galaxy Note 20 alternative in Apple’s stable, and offers an equally large screen, a long-lasting battery, water resistance and wireless charging.
Us take: iPhone 11 Pro Max Review – A no-brainer, if you like iOS
The iPhone 11 Pro Max may be almost a year old, but it still provides a powerful A13 processor to guarantee a fast-paced experience. Apple’s phone also packs in a few other tricks, such as a flexible triple rear camera setup (12MP head, 12MP 2x telephoto, and 12MP ultra wide), Face ID, and the company’s ecosystem of services. And the Cupertino company’s commitment to updates means it’s getting the last software years as a rule.
There are a few notable features missing here, such as 5G, a high refresh rate like the Note 20 Ultra, and a fingerprint scanner. It also starts at $ 1,099 for the 64GB option, while the base Note 20 5G is $ 100 cheaper, but doubles the storage.
If you want a big screen phone and are envious of Apple’s platform, this is the one to check out.
That’s it for our review of the best Galaxy Note 20 alternatives! Are there any other phones you would like to recommend as rivals for Samsung’s new flagships? Let us know in the comments!
