Samsung combined the incredible 5G internet, 100x camera zoom, gigantic 6.9-inch display, and 108MP photo capabilities in one handset: The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. It is an incredibly impressive smartphone if you are a buyer who doesn’t compromise on speed and the quality of the camera.
This phone does not fold or flip, yet it costs an eye-watering $1,400. You might ask yourself, is Samsung galaxy s20 Ultra worth it? Let’s have a closer look.
The fact sheet
- Galaxy s20 Ultra comes with 12GB RAM, which is just the right size, if not better, of memory for a device of its caliber.
- The much-acclaimed Snapdragon 865 CPU is capable of processing almost any size of pictures and high-quality videos.
- The 5G modem is one of the marketing points of this phone since the 5G concept was rolled out towards the end of 2019.
With 5G modem onboard, connecting to millimeter-wave and long-range subs-6GHz is easy as winking and equally flawless. Early tests have shown speeds in the region of 100Mbps, and, to be honest, that’s pretty insane speed to have on your palm.
However, this speed will be determined by your service provider.
- Galaxy S20 Ultra features 120Hz AMOLED display. It is actually the first smartphone to feature this display.
- With a 5,000 mAh battery, you are guaranteed about 12 hours of power supply at the default refresh rate of 60Hz. If you set it at 120Hz, however, the runtime drops to about 9 hours.
Price and Availability
The phone starts at $1,399, and it is already available. It is expected to be on store shelves on 6th March 2020.
Isn’t it plausible that the starting configuration includes 128GB internal storage and 12GB RAM? Yes, and you are free t upgrade it to 512GB/16GB for an extra $200 if you are a user who will require bigger capacity and memory. At this epitome, the overall cost will reach $1,700.
All major carriers in the U.S. – the likes of AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint – already have it in their stores.
Design
Galaxy S20 Ultra resembles some of Samsung’s high-end devices we have known for years – like Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy s10. The biggest difference is that Galaxy S20 Ultra’s front camera floats in a sea of AMOLED screen close to the topmost edge.
Rear cameras look very much like those seen on the iPhone 12 – quad-lens enclosed in a square in the top right corner, except that the square extends further down. Some users might not like how aggressively the cameras protrude from the sleek backside.
The edges are curved while the display extends right to the edges, nearly kissing the metal frame.
Camera
The cameras on this phone require a special mention. Can you imagine a camera that comes with a 108MP sensor? Capturing videos with such a camera feels like looking in the window and watching scenes unravel outside your house. Images are highly detailed, thanks to the camera’s ability to merge 9 pixels into one through nona binning.
There is more to Galaxy S20 Ultra’s camera than the 108MP sensor. It comes with a 48MP telephoto lens that permits up to 10X lossless zoom plus 100X digital power. This power is so next-level that Samsung gave it a name: Space Zoom.
It is worth mentioning that the 10X hybrid zoom combines two important elements: the 10X optical power and the software. iPhone 11 Pro, the closest competitor of Galaxy S20 Ultra, comes with a mere 2X optical zoom lens and no post-processing abilities that can match Galaxy S20 Ultra’s software.
As such, photos captured by the rear camera’s on Galaxy S20 Ultra are stunningly detailed and lively compared to those captured by iPhone 11 Pro.
Display
At 6.9 inches, Galaxy S20 Ultra’s display is one of the largest in the market at the moment. The aspect ratio stands at 20:9 and is coupled by a resolution of 1400×1440. The refresh rate of 120Hz matches or comes close to that in many other high-end smartphones on the market at the moment.
You will need to contend with a few restrictions when it comes to viewing animations and playing games. Because this phone comes with a quad-HD display, you won’t be able to view content in maximum resolution and 120Hz refresh rate at the same time. If you want to have a great experience, you are advised to scale down to full resolution. This limitation may appear bothersome, but it goes a long way to conserve the battery.
The only setback about the display is that many media and games haven’t been optimized for 120Hz yet. If they do, it will be case by case.
5G networking
Many competitors to Galaxy S20 Ultra support mmWave technology. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, on the other hand, supports both subs-6 GHz bands and mmWave technologies. Subs-6 GHz bands will give you a longer range while mmWave is faster, but you must very close to the node. So this phone gives you the benefits of both technologies.
While 5G networks are still in their initial stages of installation, having 5G on your Galaxy, S20 Ultra could prove useful in few years to come.
Performance
Whether you are looking for a multitasking workhorse or a smartphone that is capable of handling the most demanding graphics, Galaxy S20 Ultra comes out as the perfect choice. The combination of Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB RAM, and 128GB storage hasn’t disappointed so far and certainly won’t.
Summary of specifications
Price: $1,399 and $1,599
Display: Dynamic AMOLED with 6.9-inch size, 120Hz refresh rate, and 3200×1440 resolutions
- Rear cameras: 108MP wide Quad-lens, 48MP telephoto
- Camera Zoom: 10X hybrid, 100X digital zoom, 4X optical zoom
- Front camera: 40MP
- Video: at 24fps with max. 8K
- RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragons 865
- MicroSD: Yes, expandable to 1TB
- Storage: 128GB, 512GB
- Weight: 7.7 ounces
- Size: 6.6″ X2.7″ X0.34″
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
Verdict
Is Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra worth it? Yes, it is especially if you consider the fact that it packs better features that would have been unavailable on similar high-end devices at the same price. The two features that make it stand out of the pack are the Quad-lens camera and 5G that supports both subs-6 GHz bands and mmWave technologies. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is certainly worth every penny you will spend on it.
