As a device purpose-built to prove Samsung still rules the roost when it comes to Android handsets, the S20 Ultra certainly gets the job done. It shows you don't need a fancy folding screen to stake a claim as the most impressive phone in the world right now, too. Impressive, yes - but not perfect. The high refresh rate screen saps battery, and the 100x zoom isn't all that useful. At launch, image quality is a bit inconsistent, especially when it comes to face detection. Oh, and it's eye-wateringly expensive. Samsung's more mainstream models have identical performance, 5G connectivity and an equally gorgeous display, but cost significantly less cash. The Galaxy S20 and S20+ might arrive with reduced camera hardware, but are still sure to deliver flagship-level photo quality, and so should be more than enough phone for most people. Still, for anyone that simply has to have the best, the S20 Ultra is as good as it gets.

Unparalleled camera quality and flexibility; Stunning display ; Colossal battery life - with the right settings;

120Hz screen saps battery; No headphone jack; Eye-wateringly expensive;

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra goes big in every way imaginable, with 108MP photos, a 100x camera zoom, 40MP selfies, and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display. With over-the-top internal specs on a par with some laptops, you'll pay more for this phone than any non-foldable phone before it, but that's not surprising. What is surprising are some of the bugs we've encountered that keep the Ultra from reaching its full potential.

Impressive camera zoom range; Samsung’s best display yet; Fast 5G speeds confirmed;

Camera quality is inconsistent; Price is a new kind of ridiculous; You’re going to need a bigger hand

There's no denying that the Galaxy S20 Ultra is something bold. Something special. It exists to show off its camera features. There's the 108-megapixel sensor, capturing scenes for detailed crop-ins that invariably make you say "wow!" Then there's the 100x zoom lens that reveals lettering, faces and architectural details you can't see from afar with the naked eye. And the beautiful 40-megapixel selfie camera that won't spare your feelings when you turn off beauty mode.

Excellent camera features aren't quite enough to overcome an awkward design, questionable battery performance and a sky-high price. Cheaper Galaxy S20 models will have broader appeal.

Boundary-pushing cameras; Bright, sharp, colorful photos; Strong battery life on default settings;

Feels thick and heavy; Protruding camera bump; Uneven battery performance; Overpriced for nonessential features;

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is a big, ugly brick of a phone that does its best to make up for it in sheer specs. It almost succeeds too, with best-in-class display, phenomenal performance, and a compelling camera offering that’s let down only by its inconsistency. Factor in rubbish battery life on the Exynos variants available in the UK and Europe, and the S20 Ultra is really only for the specs-obsessed.

Even if it falls short of being the iPhone 11 Pro-inspired paradigm shift that it so obviously aspires towards, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is still a spec-beast of a phone that shows Samsung still has what it takes to be competitive in the high-end Android smartphone arena.

As far as flagships go, Samsung’s latest stands tall but it doesn’t stand alone.

Capable camera; Empowering software; Flagship features;

Bulky form-factor; Autofocus issues; Inconsistent battery life; Expensive price; 2D Face Unlock;

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a true groundbreaker that defines what we'll be doing with our phones, and with 5G, for the next few years. But after looking at all three Samsung Galaxy S20 models, I've decided the Ultra is just too much. It's too expensive, it's too heavy, and its vaunted "100x" camera takes up to four seconds to lock in focus. It's my third choice in the S20 lineup after the all-around champ that is Galaxy S20+ and the friendly, portable Galaxy S20. Design: It's A Huge Deal The Galaxy S20 Ultra is massive, at 6.57 by 2.99 by 0.35 inches and 7.76 ounces. It's actually slightly narrower than the Galaxy Note 10+ and the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and lighter than the iPhone. But its edges are less tapered than the Note 10+ or the Galaxy S10+, making it feel thicker in your hand, and it has a giant camera patch on the back. Available in black or gray and made of shiny yet surprisingly fingerprint-resistant glass, it's quite slippery, and trying to take pictures with it is a...

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is too big, too heavy, too expensive, and its camera struggles with focus issues.

Only super-zoom phone in the US market; Handles all three types of US 5G; Gorgeous 120Hz screen; Long battery life

Expensive; Massive; Camera focus problems; 100X zoom is a useless gimmick

Update: Five months after its initial release, Samsung has fixed bugs that dogged the camera system — and realized the promise of the ultimate smartphone. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra is a lavishly-equipped device with an extravagant price tag. $1,400 gets you an opulent 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the best internals you could ask for in an Android phone, 5G compatibility with all the major networks and, perhaps most important, a monstrous camera setup. With 108MP on the main lens, 48MP on the telephoto camera, and up to 100× zoom, it’s clear which feature Samsung expects to deliver the knockout punch. But despite its robust stats, this heavyweight was initially held back from becoming the undisputed champ among the best camera phones this year due to bugs that plagued the cutting-edge camera system. Through a series of patches released in April and July, Samsung eventually addressed most of the camera issues. So do the brains finely match the brawn? Or should you look to t...

Big, gorgeous screen with 120Hz refresh rate; Zoom lens frames up nice shots; Battery life that breezes through a day; Top notch internals with 5G for every major carrier;

Expensive; Zoom system seems gimmicky;

Unparalleled camera quality and flexibility; Stunning display ; Colossal battery life – with the right settings;

120Hz screen saps battery; No headphone jack; Eye-wateringly expensive;

Unparalleled camera quality and flexibility; Stunning display ; Colossal battery life – with the right settings;

120Hz screen saps battery; No headphone jack; Eye-wateringly expensive;