News

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series: Staying the course

Everything you love about the Note, and then some

Published

August 5, 2020

Rodneil Quiteles

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:

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)

News

The vivo X Fold6 is the first foldable to support teleconverter lens

Also boasts the biggest battery and the bestest cameras in any foldable to date

Published

June 26, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

While the rest of the smartphone space wants to divert your attention towards the upcoming wide-style foldables, vivo focuses more on bringing a better and smarter foldable experience with the all-new X Fold6.

The better multitasker

vivo’s software team has invested much of their hard, sweat, and tears by bringing improved multitasking features exclusive for the X Fold6 with the OriginOS 6 Fold.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Last year’s X Fold5 brought multitasking improvements with the Atomic Workbench feature. Serial Mode was the default layout with a main page and four tasks on the side all displayed in one screen

In this year’s X Fold6, they are introducing a newer “Parallel Mode” layout with in-your-face multitasking experience spliced in several customizable windows à la Mondrian grid.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

And it’s not just your typical split-screen divisions with floating windows panes and an adaptive dock, OriginOS 6 Fold promises a more intelligent yet more efficient workspaces never done by other manufacturers in their foldables over the past few years.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There are four basic scenarios provided for the X Fold6:

AI Workbench
Office Workbench
Tourist Workbench
Shopping Workbench

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

vivo even promises “thousands” of Atomic Workbench app combos for “thousands” of people:

Stock Workbench
Creative Workbench
Watch the Game Workbench
Ticket-grabbing Workbench

If you feel limited by that foldable workspace, connecting the X Fold6 through several display devices such as your monitor or TV enables you a maximized PC mode as well as side-by-side interconnection and collaboration.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Heck, even cross-compatibility between apps and other devices (regardless if iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac) are all seamless with one another.

The possibilities are just endless with vivo’s latest X-foldable.

And while we’re at it, the vivo X Fold6 sports a 8.02-inch display when unfolded (alongside Samsung’s M14 inner screen luminous material) while 6.51-inch cover display when closed.

Both are LTPO 8T AMOLED adpative 120Hz displays that can reach up to 5000 nits of peak brightness — and as low as 1Hz and 1-nit when deemed useful.

Both screens also have a pixel density of 424ppi with support for 1.07 Billion Colors as well as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content.

Full-fledged flagship foldable

vivo went all out with the X Fold6 not just in terms of software experience, but also the core hardware found within.

For one, it’s powered by the Dimensity 9500 Super Edition 3nm 8-core SoC paired with an ultra-capable ARM G1 Ultra GPU. Very different from the notorious 2023-made chipset in last year’s X Fold5.

This joint effort by MediaTek and vivo is made to be super energy-efficient not just to support extreme multitasking, but also for these plethora of AI features to be faster and more stabler:

AI Cross-Window Drag and Drop
AI Conference Assistant
AI File Manager

Users also have to pick between 12 or 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra memory. Meanwhile, its UFS 4.1 storage range between 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB options.

While vivo didn’t dare to beat the likes of the HONOR Magic V6 and OPPO Find N6 when it comes to utmost thinness at 9.4/9.9mm (versus 8.8/9.0mm and 8.9mm respectively), the brand equipped the biggest battery in any foldable so far: a whopping 7000mAh battery capacity.

That’s a 1000mAh increase over last year’s X Fold5.

They even let go of the “lightest foldable” record last year in favor of packing all these flagship-grade components.

Charging speeds remain the same this year: 80W wired FlashCharge plus 40W wireless FlashCharge.

That port also supports the faster USB-C 3.2 Gen2 standard.

Other flagship features include powerful stereo speakers with Dolby Panorama, IP5X dust-resistance plus IPX8 / IPX9 water-resistance ratings. It can also withstand sub-zero temperatures as low as 20ºC or 68ºF.

There’s even vivo’s self-developed 1+4 communication chipset configuration that enhances connectivity even in enclosed or far-flung areas. Satellite Communication Services (in China) never forgotten.

Thrice the ZEISS

The vivo X Fold6 isn’t just a true multitasKING. It probably also boasts the best camera system you can get in any foldable right now.

On paper, vivo’s X Fold6 headlines the Samsung-made 200MP f/1.68 main camera based on their 1/1.14-inch HPB sensor. ICYMI, this is the telephoto module found on the X300 Pro.

The 16mm ultra-wide sensor wasn’t left behind as it’s a 50MP f/2.05 unit with a sensor size of 1/2.76-inch.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Last but definitely not the least, that 50MP ZEISS APO Super Telephoto camera is powered by Sony’s 1/1.95-inch LYTIA 602 (LYT-602). It features 3x optical zoom (75mm equivalent) and supports as far as 100x digital zoom.

This also doubles as a telephoto macro camera — up to 20x zoom.

The main and zoom lenses have a CIPA 4.5 Professional Grade which means better OIS in shaky scenarios.

All lenses feature the best in class ZEISS T* coating to block all that unwanted glare and flare.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The once exclusive Blueprint Color Palette feature to the X300 Ultra also makes it debut to the vivo X Fold6.

Teleconverter on a foldable?!

vivo didn’t stop just by bringing that massive camera bump.

As shocking as it seems, the vivo X Fold6 also supports the all-new G2 Teleconverter Lens announced alongside the X300 Ultra and X300 FE.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Just a reminder that both the old and new 200mm teleconverter lenses will work on the X Fold6.

However, the longer 400mm G2 Ultra teleconverter lens is still exclusive to the X300 Ultra.

Pricing and Availability

The vivo X Fold6 is currently available for pre-orders in China along these colorways: Polar Night, Salt Lake, and Blue Hole.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There’s also a special Black Gold Edition limited to 16+1TB models.

Pricing and configuration are as follows:

12+256GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1180 / EUR 1030 / GBP 890 / SG$ 1525 / MYR 4899 / PhP 72,070 / INR 111,800)
12+512GB = CNY 8999 (US$ 1330 / EUR 1160 / GBP 1005 / SG$ 1720 / MYR 5515 / PhP 81,075 / INR 125,775)
16+512GB = CNY 9999 (US$ 1476 / EUR 1290 / GBP 1115 / SG$ 1910 / MYR 6125 / PhP 90,085 / INR 139,750)
16+1TB = CNY 10,999 (US$ 1639 / EUR 1420 / GBP 1225 / SG$ 2090 / MYR 6735 / PhP 99,095 / INR 153,725)
16+1TB with Professional Camera Kit Bundle = CNY 11,999 (US$ 1770 / EUR 1550 / GBP 1340 / SG$ 2290 / MYR 7350 / PhP 108,105 / INR 167,700)

As per usual, vivo didn’t state any availability outside Mainland China. Only time will tell how long global markets have to wait for the X Fold6’s global release.

Laptops

Apple raises the prices of iPad and MacBook lineups

Price hikes start at $100.

Published

June 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Hey, remember when Apple launched the MacBook Neo, and it had the most attractive price for an Apple-branded laptop? Those were good times. Unfortunately, it was too good to be true. Responding to the ongoing RAM crisis, Apple has now increased the prices of its hardware, starting with the MacBook and the iPad lineups (via Reuters).

The “highlight” here is the price of the MacBook Neo. To be fair, the affordable MacBook is still the cheapest one of the lot, but that’s not saying much. From a starting price of US$ 599, the Neo now costs US$ 699.

Now, we’d love to say that a US$ 100 price hike is the most you can expect across the board. But that’s not true at all. Most will bring up the price by a few hundreds and up to a whopping US$ 1,300. Here’s a list of devices you’re going to see changes for:

Model	Original price	New price
MacBook Neo	$599	$699
MacBook Air (13-inch)	$1,099	$1,299
MacBook Air (15-inch)	$1,299	$1,499
MacBook Pro (M5)	$1,699	$1,999
MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)	$2,199	$2,499
MacBook Pro (M5 Max)	$3,599	$4,099
iMac	$1,299	$1,499
Mac Studio (M4 Max)	$1,999	$2,499
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)	$3,999	$5,299
iPad	$349	$449
iPad mini	$499	$599
iPad Air (11-inch)	$599	$749
iPad Air (13-inch)	$749	$949
iPad Pro (11-inch)	$999	$1,199
iPad Pro (13-inch)	$1,299	$1,499
Vision Pro	$3,499	$3,699

The current price hikes do not include the iPhone lineup. It might only be a matter of time, though. Recently, Tim Cook confirmed that Apple can no longer shoulder the expenses of the RAM crisis by themselves, essentially signaling a huge wave of price hikes. The brand will likely continue the increases heading into the iPhone launches in September.

News

Honor is reportedly working on a 14000mAh battery

How much is too much?

Published

June 25, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Nothing goes together more than a Chinese smartphone brand and the relentless pursuit for a bigger battery. For years, Chinese brands have engaged in a war for this particular component. Now, the latest salvo has been fired. Honor is reportedly working on a phone with a gigantic 14000mAh battery.

Today, the biggest battery capacity you can find on an Honor phone is 11000mAh. The Honor X80 Pro Max already offers a battery that can last you more than a single day. At this point, it’s certainly more than enough for our daily needs.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, a smartphone brand is currently working on a 14000mAh battery. Though the leak does not explicitly pinpoint Honor, the emoji used (a wolf) is historically used to imply the Chinese brand in Weibo parlance.

A 14000mAh is just absurdly huge. With a battery larger than some powerbanks, battery anxiety becomes moot. It’s bordering on “can we bring this on a plane” territory.

As with all rumored features, the next question is when this battery will arrive on a consumer-ready device. Given how serious the battery wars are for the Chinese market, it’s only a matter of time.