News

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series: Staying the course

Everything you love about the Note, and then some

Published

on

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

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Galaxy Note 20
Display 6.9” edge Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display

496ppi

HDR10+ certified

120Hz refresh rate

6.7” flat FHD+ Infinity-O Display

393ppi

HDR10+ certified

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+

(Exynos 990 in some markets)

Front Camera 10MP, f2.2, 1.22μm
Rear cameras 12MP Ultra Wide Camera

Pixel size: 1.4μm

FOV: 120 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.2

108MP Wide-angle Camera

PDAF, OIS

Pixel size: 0.8μm

FOV: 79 ̊

F.No (aperture): F1.8

1/1.33″ image sensor size

12MP Telephoto Camera

Pixel size: 1.0μm

FOV: 20 ̊

F.No (aperture): F3.0

Laser AF Sensor

Space Zoom

5x Optical Zoom

Up to 50x Super Resolution Zoom

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)

Tracking AF

12MP Ultra Wide Camera

Pixel size: 1.4μm

FOV: 120 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.2

12MP Wide-angle Camera

Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS

Pixel size: 1.8μm

FOV: 79 ̊

F.No (aperture): F1.8

1/1.76″ image sensor size

64MP Telephoto Camera

Pixel size: 0.8μm

FOV: 76 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.0

Space Zoom

. 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom

. Up to 30x Super Resolution Zoom

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)

Tracking AF

RAM and Storage 12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 512GB internal storage

12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 128GB internal storage

8GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 128GB internal storage
SIM and Expanded Storage One Nano SIM

One MicroSD slot (sold separately, up to 1TB)

One Nano SIM
Battery 4500mAh 4300mAh
Charging Improved wireless charging speeds with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0

Fast Charging compatible on wired and wireless

Wireless PowerShare

OS Android 10, OneUI 2.1
Network and Connectivity [5G]

5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave

[LTE]

Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20

Up to 2.0Gbps Download / Up to 200Mbps Upload

[Wi-Fi]

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4G+5GHz, HE80, MIMO, 1024-QAM

Up to 1.2Gbps Download / Up to 1.2Gbps Upload

[Bluetooth]

Bluetooth® v 5.0, USB type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)

[Ultra Wide Band]

NFC

Sensors Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor

Proximity sensor, Ambient Light Sensor

Water Resistance IP68

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: 

Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G:

 

Gaming

Ghost of Yotei gets a story expansion in October

The Complete Edition comes with the expansion and a roguelike mode.

Published

on

Ghost of Yotei is a classic RPG experience set in the same universe as its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. In my opinion, Atsu’s journey of revenge feels a lot more fun than Jin’s battle to save his homeland. If you’re in the same boat, Ghost of Yotei is coming back on October 1 with brand-new content.

Without delving too much into spoiler territory, Ghost of Yotei has a conclusive ending. Rather than shoehorning a forced epilogue, Echoes of Sekigahara, the title of the upcoming story expansion, explores Atsu’s past.

As with Tsushima’s expansion, Echoes of Sekigahara features a new map with new enemies, weapons, and collectibles. It will be set in two different time periods.

Besides the story expansion, the upcoming update also has a new mode called Most Wanted, which Sucker Punch Production describes as their “spin on a roguelike.” The mode explores Atsu’s experience as a headhunter, feeding her with bounties and earnable perks.

The two new content expansions will come with in the upcoming Ghost of Yotei Complete Edition. The new edition, coming on October 1, will also come with the co-op Legends mode. It also has a few perks and customization options. The edition will sell for US$ 70.

If you already have the base edition, you can grab an upgrade for only US$ 15. If you don’t want to pay for the upgrade, the game is still getting a few minor tweaks.

SEE ALSO: Ghost of Yotei review: A tale sharpened by vengeance

Continue Reading

News

HONOR isn’t taking the Robot Phone global — yet

The hardware is ready. The AI isn’t.

Published

on

The HONOR Robot Phone may have officially launched, but don’t expect this version to immediately make its way to global markets.

HONOR told media in Shenzhen that it currently has no plans to bring the current Robot Phone outside China. The main hurdle isn’t the hardware. It’s the phone’s AI experience, which is currently optimized for the Chinese market.

HONOR believes a future generation of the Robot Phone would be better positioned for a true global rollout once its AI experience is ready for markets outside China.

That doesn’t mean HONOR is abandoning the idea. Quite the opposite.

More than a phone with a moving camera

The Robot Phone is HONOR’s attempt to introduce a new idea to the smartphone market. It combines a smartphone with a 4DoF mechanical gimbal, allowing its camera to physically move. 

Its AI features take that concept further. YOYO Robot Mode can use voice commands, gestures, and AI tracking to control the camera. It can also automatically pan and tilt to keep a person in frame during vlogs, livestreams, and video calls. 

The phone also brings selected elements of ARRI Image Science and professional cinema workflows to its camera system. Its 200MP gimbal main camera supports 10-bit ARRI LogC3 recording, while ARRI Wide Gamut 3 and ARRI Looks give creators more control over their footage. 

But HONOR isn’t treating the Robot Phone primarily as a volume-driving product.

The company says its bigger goal is to introduce a new concept to the smartphone market and see what kind of effect it can have.

That makes the Robot Phone an interesting experiment for HONOR. The hardware is already here. The company now wants to learn what happens when a smartphone can physically move, respond to its surroundings, and use AI to help operate itself.

For now, though, China is where that experiment begins.

Continue Reading

News

HONOR Robot Phone’s camera can move on its own

Its built-in gimbal lets the camera move itself.

Published

on

The HONOR Robot Phone’s biggest trick is also the easiest to understand: its camera can physically move.

Instead of keeping its cameras fixed inside the phone, HONOR built a mechanical gimbal directly into the device. The system can tilt, rotate, and reposition the camera, opening up movements that aren’t possible with a conventional smartphone camera.

HONOR calls it the Titanium Agile Gimbal, and the company says it is the industry’s smallest 4DoF gimbal system. It packs more than 100 precision components into a module that’s just 9.59mm thick.

A tiny gimbal inside the phone

The 4DoF mechanical system is designed to deliver the benefits of a separate gimbal without requiring users to carry another piece of equipment.

HONOR says it reduced the gimbal’s overall volume by 65% compared with traditional gimbals while increasing its structural strength by 200%. The system uses more than 100 precision components and is backed by more than 100 patents.

At its core is a 2.6-gram titanium gimbal motor that can rotate at up to 360 degrees per second. A separate HONOR Shield Steel Flip Motor provides a torque density of 120 Nm/L.

Those numbers sound impressive, but their practical purpose is straightforward: the camera needs to move quickly and precisely while remaining small enough to fit inside a smartphone.

The camera can move on its own

The Robot Phone’s gimbal isn’t limited to simply stabilizing the camera.

It supports six dynamic camera movement modes: AI SpinShot, Default Stabilization, Tilt Locked, Super Steady, FPV, and FPV Vertical. AI SpinShot, for example, can perform 90- or 180-degree camera rolls, while the other modes are designed for different types of movement and shooting.

The phone also has three smart tracking modes: Gimbal Tracking, Subject Tracking, and Pre-Composition. These are designed to help the camera follow a subject or maintain a particular composition while the phone moves.

That’s the important distinction between the Robot Phone and a conventional smartphone with image stabilization. The camera isn’t just correcting for your movement. It can actively move to create or maintain a shot.

You can tell it what to do

HONOR also gives the gimbal its own set of AI-powered controls.

Through YOYO Robot Mode, the Robot Phone can combine voice commands, gesture recognition, AI perception, and physical movement. Users can wake the mode and deploy or stow the gimbal with a flip gesture.

Voice commands can be specific, too. HONOR says users can tell the gimbal to turn left by a certain number of degrees, look toward the sky, or rotate for a specified amount of time.

The phone can also use AI Subject Tracking to automatically frame and follow people during video calls, vlogging, and livestreaming.

That makes the Robot Phone particularly interesting for people who regularly shoot themselves. Instead of setting up a phone and constantly checking whether they’re still in frame, the camera can do some of that work itself.

The real question is how naturally all of this works in practice. We’ll get to answer that when we spend more time with the Robot Phone.

Continue Reading

Trending