For years now, the Samsung Galaxy Note series has been the pinnacle of power and productivity in Samsung’s flagship smartphones. That remains true this year with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. 

The series consists of two handsets — the regular Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Samsung seems to have a clear vision with what role each one plays.

The Galaxy Note 20 is being positioned as a device for breaking into the world of the Galaxy Note. If you’re coming from a different phone but want to make the switch, this is the Note to get. It has all benefits of the Note line without being an overwhelming spec and feature monster.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is for the legacy users — loyalists of the Galaxy Note line who are familiar with its ins and outs and can make the most of all its power.

It’s a clean delineation, but will the market follow through? Only time will tell.

Breaking down the specs

Very much a 2020 flagship

As far as 2020 super phones go, the Galaxy Note 20 can go pound-for-pound with pretty much any phone that hits the market in the second half of the year. That is, of course, assuming you’re in a market that gets the Snapdragon 865+ variant.

Everything else here also screams 2020 flagship. It’s 5G-ready, has a 120Hz refresh rate (at least for the Ultra variant), and has wireless charging.

It will also support Android’s “answer to the AirDrop” — Nearby Share. It’s a feature that’s long been rumored. It lets Android users seamlessly share files with any nearby Android phone. Simply pull up the share sheet on any file, photo, and/or video and it will detect phones that can receive the file/s.

The texture of the phone has also been taken into consideration. Samsung promises less fingerprints and smudges with its textured haze effect on the glass back.

Productivity and S Pen improved 

The Galaxy Note series wouldn’t be what it is without its key accessory — the S Pen. Naturally, this has been improved for better accuracy and responsiveness for an experience that’s as close to “pen-to-paper” as possible.

The new trick up its sleeve is the Anywhere actions. There are five to be exact. This allows for touchless navigation — like returning to the home screen or taking a screenshot — as simple as a flick of the wrist.

The Samsung Notes app also gets significant improvements. Its auto-save and syncing features have been upgraded. This means you can seamlessly switch from one device to another and continue where you left off.

If, like me, your penmanship is atrocious, the Notes app can straighten it out for you. It also lets you annotate and highlight on PDF files as well as record audio as you take notes.

This is Chay’s handwriting and not mine

It will work seamlessly with a Windows 10 PC thanks to the upgraded Windows Link. With it you can send messages, manage notifications, sync photos and mirror your phone.

Elevated gaming 

The Microsoft integration goes beyond productivity. All work and no play, after all, can burn you out.

Starting September 15, you’ll be able to access Xbox games on the Galaxy Note 20 directly from the cloud (beta) using the Xbox Game Pass ultimate. That means access to a wide library of games on your phone — and not just the mobile kind.

Gaming, overall, should also feel leveled-up with the AI game booster. Bluetooth audio response optimization, and 240Hz touch latency (on the Galaxy Note 210 Ultra).

Samsung Dex has also been upgraded so you can take both productivity and play to a larger screen. Previously, you needed a dock and/or a dongle to use this feature. Now, you can do so wirelessly so long as the Smart TV supports Miracast. So you can continue using apps on your phone, while playing media on the TV.

Better videography

Samsung is also expanding the Galaxy Note’s video capabilities. The Galaxy Note 20 series can record 8K videos. Its Pro Video mode comes with various controls like focus, audio, exposure, lighting, zoom speed control.

It can also shoot videos at up to 120 fps for that added cinematic flare. Audio sources can also be managed. You can adjust gain and choose between onboard mics or external sources.

Pricing and availability

In the US

The Samsung Galaxy Note series will be available in the following variants:

• Galaxy Note20 Ultra starts at US$ 1299.99: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White in 128GB and 512GB models with 12GBM RAM.
• Galaxy Note20 starts at US$ 999.99: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Gray, Mystic Green in 128GB model with 8GB RAM.

Pre-orders begin August 6, 2020 at 12:01am ET. Consumers who pre-order can get US$ 100 Samsung Credit with a Galaxy Note20 5G or US$ 150 Samsung Credit with a Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G.

Consumers who pre-order can use their Samsung Credit towards the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Bundle. The Bundle includes a Bluetooth gaming controller which is optimized for playing Xbox games from the cloud (beta) on the Galaxy Note20 series and three (3) months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service, starting September 15, 2020.

The promotion will last for a limited time and only while supplies last.

Starting on August 21, 2020, the Galaxy Note20 series will be widely available in carrier and Unlocked by Samsung versions through Samsung.com, carriers and retailers online.

In the UK

The new Galaxy devices will be available to pre-order starting August 5, 2020 and will be available to purchase via Samsung.com/uk and select partners starting August 21, 2020.

From August 5-20, customers can claim a complimentary Galaxy Gift when pre-ordering any of the Galaxy Note20 series. Pricing are as follows:

Galaxy Note20: 

• Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Grey
• From GBP 849 (4G) and GBP 949 (5G)
• Pre-order a new Samsung Galaxy Note20 or Note20 Ultra 5G and claim a Galaxy Gaming or music reward (Galaxy Buds+)
• For more information on the Galaxy Note20 range, please visit here

Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G:

• Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
• From GBP 1179
• Pre-order a new Samsung Galaxy Note20 or Note20 Ultra 5G and redeem a Galaxy Gaming or music reward13(Galaxy Buds Live)