Samsung Galaxy Note20

Description

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

This year’s least expensive Note is still worth your time

As the most affordable Note smartphone in Samsung’s 2020 range, the Galaxy Note 20 gives users the chance to experience the line’s most standout features for a few hundred dollars less than a top end Note 20 Ultra.

Starting at AU$1,499 for the 4G version (and AU$1,649 for the 5G model), the Galaxy Note 20 still gives you Samsung’s best Exynos 990 processor, a striking OLED display and, of course, the Note series’ famous S-Pen stylus.

Admittedly, the entry-level Note 20’s lower price point also comes with its share of compromises – even more than we got with the drop down from the Galaxy S20 Ultra to the Galaxy S20.

For starters, the Note 20 doesn’t have a glass back, but rather a ‘reinforced polycarbonate’ one that feels an awful lot like plastic in our hands. It also lacks the Note 20 Ultra’s much ballyhooed 120Hz refresh rate, and its curved QHD+ display, opting instead for a flat FHD+ 60Hz screen. Sure, a little less luxury isn’t the end of the world, but these omissions do make the phone seem a little overpriced.

That said, the S-Pen feels fantastic this year, with a reduced latency of just 18ms on the standard Galaxy Note 20 making it feel even more like writing on paper (yes, you do get a 9ms latency on the Note 20 Ultra, but only because its display boasts twice the refresh rate). Along with being a fantastic drawing tool, it’s just incredibly fun to use, giving you the freedom to get creative with every free moment you have.

As expected, the Galaxy Note 20’s camera tech is a downgrade from the Note 20 Ultra’s offering, but its triple camera array is still impressive and versatile in its own right. The Note 20 sports a 12MP primary sensor, a 64MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera to close out the rear package. On the front, you get a single 10MP wide lens for selfies.

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Note 20 performs admirably, if not spectacularly. Its 4300mAh battery will easily get you to the end of your day, but we wouldn’t expect much more from it than that.

Score: 3.5/5

Verdict: If you love the Note series’ signature S-Pen but are looking to keep costs down this year, the Galaxy Note 20 is a great solution. It’s powerful, beautiful, and offers a good camera experience. Sure, its feature-set is a little compromised compared to its Ultra sibling, but it’s still a Note, through and through.

Here's some more information about this product

• The Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G Mobile Phone was added to the Mobile Cell Phones category in January 2021.

• The lowest price GetPrice has found for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G Mobile Phone in Australia is $969.00 from Becextech.

• Other merchants who stock it are Becextech, Amazon AU, MobileCiti Online, Allphones Online, Kogan.com, Dick Smith, The Good Guys.

• GetPrice provides impartial price comparison information to help you get the best deals year-round and Australia-wide.