Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review

28 Feb 2020


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Tbh, I'm not that impressed with the 108MP primary wide camera in 12MP resolution. It's far from being the most detailed photos yet. Even my 7-year-old Nokia Lumia 1020 can capture a much more detailed photo than that Nonacell camera.

I am, however, very impressed with the 48MP telephoto camera. The bokeh (aka background blur) produced at 4x zoom is just simply amazing. I'm not sure whether that bokeh is done without any software alteration whatsoever or Portrait Mode was enabled. But nevertheless, I really genuinely like the telephoto camera.

    Anonymous, 28 Feb 2020No it is not. 4K60 = 70Mbps 8K24 = 80Mbps 8K is 4x ... moreExcept that the 8k is in H.265 and 4k is I'm H.264 (please correct me if I am wrong). Which would me, way better efficient and way better quality at the same bitrates.

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      • Easa
      • L1w
      • 29 Feb 2020

      No audio & loudspeaker review for this one?

        i'll probably hold off my impulses for now. i am pretty much hoping the note 20 will have the same less curvy edges. i have had 30 minutes with this beast as well as the z flip and am totally impressed. it is just the same exynos version that i was able to fondle as here in the philippines that's the only version they sell. as impressed as i am, i still am holding back because i am a note guy, and not an s guy.

          Nick.B, 29 Feb 2020Iphone is no Android phone. All android phones need new bat... moreThis dude livin in 2014 while we all in 2020

            Dear Team GSMARENA, could you also test the photo quality on the Snapdragon Version. I suspect that there will be a quality difference. Hopefully, it isn't as pronounced as one guesses.

              The S20 Ultra is waiting for a firmware update. The photo quality is great, but it needs to push he limits of the nona cell and the noide reduction, sharpness and shadow details could be better during the day. Samsung could also slow down the speed of the processing, to allow the number of frames for HDR, as well as the post work. The colour calibration on the camera is perfect. It's almost identical from all cameras.

                "Or maybe get an iPhone, that's always an option. A sensible 256GB 11 Pro Max will leave you with $150 in the bank if you're in the US and save you all the trouble of having to figure out when you'll be recording with which camera on the Ultra - the iPhone can record with all of them at the same time."

                The 3 camera recording is a gimmick. It bakes the PiP or split screen into it, and it's difficult for edit it well in post. Plus the quality of the video is limited to 1080p, and less impressive in quality than either the single video FilmicPro or even the default 1080p on the iPhones.

                  So, Samsung's Exynos SoC is still inferior to SD?

                  Not surprised about that.

                  Pretty sure the Exynos S20 series is also gonna have weaker battery life and connectivity than the SD variant. Samsung should just kill their flagship Exynos SoC and just stick to making mid to low end Exynos SoCs for their low to midrange devices. Leave the flagship phone SoCs to SD.

                  Samsung's really $camming its customers in many markets by selling a device with an inferior SoC for the same price (or even higher price) as a better one, which they've been doing since the S8.

                    To the ones that I had warned about this day of shame for Sammy's S20 Ultra:

                    Overhyped cameras

                    Overheating in benchmarking/gaming/etc.

                    Embarrassing video recording

                    Deceitful marketing shennigans

                    I take great pride by saying, first:

                    Bahahahaha!

                    Second, I TOLD YOU FANBOYS SO!

                      8 seconds night mode? Huawei does in in 3. Since 2015-2016 :)
                      Does the s20ultra bake eggs in that 8 secs as well?

                        AnonD-754814, 29 Feb 2020Some people just can't accept some truth. They have to deny... moreMy thought is if Samsung is not doing design their own processors, so they can design their own gpu that can perform better than Mali. Having own plant of manufacturing microprocessor is so beneficial for one if they are also able design their own fabrication patterns ie. Intel, AMD etc..

                          I think that this review has just saved me a shed load of cash.

                          Let's see what the other new phones bring to the table.

                            Anonymous, 29 Feb 2020Sony is doing something much more effectively and efficient... moreIphone is no Android phone. All android phones need new battery after 2 years. Iphone is the only different story.
                            If you dont need 5 years new battery with android phone then you made only calls with it 2 timea a day best case.

                            Totally no-sense is your "discoveries" that 5 years no need for battery on a android phone review and on the next line you give example with iphone it ia pure brilliance.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • S2T
                              • 29 Feb 2020

                              Looks like improvement on camera image quality on phones have stagnated. These samples here bring absolutely nothing new to the table compared to last years top and mid models.
                              And 5g means that your phone will need much more battery to provide even the same batterylife as a good 2018 phone.

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                                • AnonD-754814
                                • uNV
                                • 29 Feb 2020

                                Future Leader, 29 Feb 2020You definitely don't know what you are saying! Samsung don'... moreSome people just can't accept some truth. They have to deny it anyway the can. When Exynos SoC was faster and more efficient , people(some) used to say Sammy is cheating.
                                Now those days are gone. ARM's own architecture has improved greatly. We need to keep in mind that in processor department Qualcomm has no credit. They are just implementing ARM's architecture.
                                Samsung's custom core was supposed to challenge Apple SoC as ARM had a history of poor single core perf. But as the gap between ARM and Apple has become narrower and Samsung custom core isn't performing that much better. Samsung has shut down custom core division for this.
                                Previously when Samsung used ARM's design directly they had the best power efficient and better performed SoC than others because their implementation is better than others.
                                I'm looking forward to see what happens next as Samsung will use ARM's design again with AMD GPU.

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                                  • AnonD-754814
                                  • uNV
                                  • 29 Feb 2020

                                  Future Leader, 29 Feb 2020Not in single core but in multi core.. But I was referring ... morehttps://www.androidauthority.com/snapdragon-820-vs-exynos-vs-others-653890/
                                  See here.

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                                    • Sharma_Ji
                                    • rKd
                                    • 29 Feb 2020

                                    Shanti Dope, 29 Feb 2020Awww you simply cannot defend the fact that Sony is doing s... moreThe 5000mah to 2500 mah in one year, what lol
                                    Go speak of your budget asus phone, nobody gonna listen

                                    A 1+3 with 20W dash charging, battery health still over 75% even after 3 years.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • XRg
                                      • 29 Feb 2020

                                      Shanti Dope, 29 Feb 2020Awww you simply cannot defend the fact that Sony is doing s... moreSony is doing something much more effectively and efficiently compared to true 120hz displays - - > LOL.

                                      Plenty of 5 plus years old phones running fine without battery replacement. Very few people replace batteries (usually iPhone users who are focred to upgrade via updates or Android devices with already have terrible battery life like Xperia 1).

                                      Galaxy Note users switching to Xperia 1 - - > ROFL.

                                      I can't handle so many lies to justify your Sony.
                                      Whatever makes you sleep at night pal.
                                      Go on the Xperia forums, don't bother lurking here, no one gonna entertain those lies.

                                        4 star is fair.
                                        Just lying about 100x zoom on back og the phone for PR and sales purposes deserve even 3 star.
                                        I dont know what Happened to Samsung after 2016 their last true strong year for me.

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