The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is big, bold and brash. It features almost every top-end spec you could want on a premium smartphone, and going on first impressions it looks capable of competing with the cream of the Android crop and Apple’s best iPhones, although we’ll need to test it more...

Top of the line specs; Strong design

Big for the hand; Oddly dated ‘fast’ charging tech

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a good chance of being at the top of the list of the best smartphones of 2020, and the hardware is fantastic, and Samsung has also done a great job on the software side, especially when it comes to security features and S-pen operation.

Successful camera setup; Unbeatable pen handling; Great; high-end equipment; Chic design (new colors!)

Incredibly expensive; Stupid marketing

A beautiful phone with a great camera and smart pen integration, though it’s undeniably held back by inconsistent heat management and middling battery life.

Bold attractive design; Great camera system; S Pen is best-in-class

Mediocre battery life; Inconsistent heat management; Palm edge rejection issues

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra delivers the most high-end phone experience money can buy in a year when money is tighter than ever.

Excellent all-around performance; S Pen is still the best stylus; Accurate camera with powerful zoom; All forms of US 5G; Long battery life

Expensive; Very large

A faster processor and upgraded stylus is all Samsung can muster in these strange times...

“The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the biggest, most feature-packed Android phone ever made.”

Massive 120Hz screen looks great; S Pen is unique and handy; Versatile camera; Future-proofed hardware and software; Full-day battery even with heavy use

Big and heavy; Security features are finicky; Palm rejection problems

Picking up a Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra from Samsung? We have 10 things you NEED to do once you open up that box.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G sports excellent design, a stunning screen, impressive imaging capabilities and a best-in-class manual video camera - and its pen is excellent too.

Excellent stills and video camera; Premium design; Stunning screen; S Pen is class-leading; Smooth performance

Aggressive auto mode processing; Inconsistent battery results; Occasional heating issues; Expensive; Occasional accidental presses

But if you want all of its features, or even just want the S Pen stylus, it’s probably worth it – few phones offer an experience close to this, and it’s a big upgrade on the standard Samsung Galaxy Note 20.

Great zoom capabilities; S Pen stylus is useful; Top screen

Very expensive; Can't have QHD+ and 120Hz simultaneously; Doesn't use the best Android chipset

samsung galaxy note 20 ultra: Bigger screen, bigger battery and bigger price

120Hz screen is a great new addition; Stunning new design; S Pen improvements

Samsung’s priciest (non-folding) phone yet; Battery life could be better; Ugly camera housing