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

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

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.

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

“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

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

A fantastic all-rounder that boasts a stunning display and a versatile user experience, undermined by its size, longevity and high price

There’s a sense of deja-vu around the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Samsung’s stylus-toting smartphone won’t get to be its 2020 flagship – that honor is reserved for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2 – but with its combination of S Pen, big screen, big spec sheet, and big price tag, the newest Note is a...

Fantastic display with a smooth 120Hz mode; S Pen remains the go-to tool for mobile notetakers; Cameras capable of some great photography; Powerhouse specs

Expensive; Can't have 120Hz with maximum screen resolution; Occasional camera autofocus issues; Battery might not satisfy power users