Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review: Still a Strong Contender

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was released on August 2020, and it was hailed as the ultimate smartphone, with powerful processing, stunning display, and the unmatched S Pen Experience. But several years later, more smartphones have come with better processing, cameras and display, some foldables, some super thin, some that your everyday phone, which has removed the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra out of the Spotlight, even with the new smartphone the question remains: Is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra still a strong contender in 2025?

This review takes a fresh look at the Note 20 Ultra in today’s world to see how it holds up against modern smartphones, what it still does best, and whether it’s still worth your money.

Design And Build Quality

Even years after the release, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra still looks and feels like a premium flagship, with it’s sharp corners, massive size and refined body. The Phone features a Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back, a stainless steel frame, and a sleek matte finish that resists fingerprints surprisingly well.

One of it’s standout quality though is the S Pen, which is housed nicely inside the bottom of the device. Its placement may feel unusual to new users (it shifted to the left side), but it adds to the phone’s unmistakable Note identity. Despite its large size and weight, the Note 20 Ultra is well balanced in the hand, though one handed use can be a challenge for smaller hands.

Other impressive features are it’s IP68 water and dust resistance and it’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.

Display

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s display is, without question, one of its most impressive features, even in 2025. With it’s massive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a QHD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. While some newer phones have slightly improved refresh rate tech or thinner bezels, the Note 20 Ultra’s screen still delivers a premium viewing experience.

The colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and the brightness levels on this phone is excellent, making it easy for users to use during outdoors, even under direct sunlight. Whether you’re gaming, streaming videos, or editing documents with the S Pen, the display remains crisp, fluid, and immersive.

Samsung’s adaptive refresh rate also helps balance performance and battery efficiency. Overall, this is a display that continues to set the bar high, holding its ground against many modern flagships.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra packs either the Snapdragon 865+ (U.S. and select markets) or the Exynos 990 (in other regions). This is paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage, it was a beast at launch, and it still handles most tasks you throw at it with relative ease.

Everyday performance remains smooth. Apps open quickly, multitasking feels fluid, and gaming performance is solid, especially on the Snapdragon model. While it’s not on par with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen chips, the Note 20 Ultra doesn’t feel outdated for most users.

Software wise, the phone launched with Android 10 and is officially supported up to Android 13 with One UI 5.1. This will be a major downside to most users because it might feel outdated and it’s no longer receiving major updates, the current software still offers Samsung’s rich ecosystem: multitasking features like split-screen, secure folder, screen recording, and Samsung DeX for a desktop-like experience.

So you’re not obsessed with having the latest OS version, the Note 20 Ultra still delivers a feature-rich and reliable software experience.

Camera System

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a powerful and versatile triple camera setup that still holds its own in 2025. At the center is a 108MP main camera sensor that captures detailed and sharp images, especially in good lighting. The colors are vibrant, dynamic range is excellent, and Samsung’s image processing delivers eye catching results.

Complementing the main camera is a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and up to 50x digital zoom. While the 50x zoom is more of a novelty, the 5x zoom remains very usable, offering clean and clear close up shots. The 12MP ultra-wide sensor delivers wide, distortion free photos, great for landscapes and group shots.

A key improvement from its predecessor is the laser autofocus system which was introduced, this significantly improves focusing speed and accuracy, especially noticeable when taking close-up shots or recording video.

Speaking of video, the Note 20 Ultra can shoot up to 8K resolution, though most users will find the 4K and 1080p modes more practical. Stabilization, detail, and audio capture are still impressive.

While newer flagships have slightly better low light performance and AI powered enhancements, the Note 20 Ultra remains a top-tier camera phone by most standards.

Battery Life and Charging Speed

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, a quite solid capacity for a phone of its size and power. Back in 2020, it offered all day battery life for most users, and even in 2025, it holds up reasonably well depending on the usage and battery health.

With moderate use like browsing stuff, using social media, video streaming, and some productivity tasks, the phone can comfortably last through a full day. Heavy gaming or extended 120Hz screen time may require a top up before going to bed, especially if the battery has degraded over the years.

The charging speeds are decent by today’s standards. The Note 20 Ultra supports 25W fast wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories. While newer phones offer 45W or even faster charging, Samsung’s power management keeps the phone running efficiently.

If you’re using a well maintained device or have replaced the battery, the Note 20 Ultra still delivers dependable battery life that won’t leave you stranded before the end of the day.

S Pen Experience and Connectivity

The S Pen is what truly sets the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra apart from others during it’s time, and it’s just as impressive today as it was at launch. With a reduced latency of just 9ms, you can use it as if you are using a real pen. Whether you’re jotting notes, sketching ideas, or navigating with Air Actions, the S Pen remains an unmatched productivity tool in the smartphone world.

Samsung Notes continues to be a powerful companion app, it offers real time sync across multiple devices, audio note pairing, and handwriting-to-text conversion. For professionals and creatives alike, the S Pen elevates the Note 20 Ultra into more than just a phone, it’s a mobile workspace.

On the connectivity side, the Note 20 Ultra is well equipped. It supports 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave in some variants), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for precise location features. It also includes stereo speakers, an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, and Samsung DeX support, which allows you to connect to a monitor for a desktop like experience.

And unlike most modern flagships nowadays, the Note 20 Ultra still offers expandable storage via microSD a feature many power users miss in newer devices.

Value for Money in 2025

So, is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra still worth it in 2025?, while Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can often be found on the used or refurbished market at a significantly reduced price, it’s still a great device given its premium build, gorgeous display, capable camera, powerful multitasking features, and of course, the S Pen experience that no other phone (aside from the S series Ultra models) replicates fully.

While it no longer receives major Android updates, it still runs One UI smoothly and securely for everyday tasks. For users who don’t need the latest hardware but want top-tier functionality, especially for note taking, productivity, or media consumption the Note 20 Ultra still offers excellent value.

Compared to similarly priced mid range phones, the Note 20 Ultra outshines most of them in build quality, screen performance, and features. However, buyers should be mindful of battery condition and warranty limitations when purchasing a used unit.

If you’re someone who values performance, features, and productivity over having the newest specs, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra remains a smart and compelling choice in 2025.