Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

This Note 20 Ultra is Samsung's most advanced phone in terms of what it can do and it does make small but significant enhancements over the Note 10 Plus, especially in terms of photography.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a wonderful culmination of all of Samsung’s latest technology, between high-resolution displays, high-refresh-rate screens, an extremely responsive stylus, and industry-leading hybrid zoom cameras. However, curious reductions in storage space and having to choose between QHD+ or 120Hz, mars what should be a flawless experience.

If you want a Samsung phone with a big screen and great performance, you could find a great deal on some like a Galaxy S20 Plus. If you just want something fast, buy a OnePlus 8 Pro. But Samsung is counting on the fact that some people out there still get viscerally excited by ungainly displays and high-performance everything and, yes, smarter ways to take notes. If that's you, the Note 20 Ultra fills that niche like nothing else can.

The Note 20 Ultra is expensive. Samsung even doesn't want you to pay $1,300 for it! A company spokesperson tells me customers aren't "taking full advantage" of Samsung's discounted offers if they're paying the full price. (For example, you can trade in a phone of good quality to save several hundreds of dollars on a new Note.) So take Samsung's advice and try not to pay the full price for it. But if you do, this is a phone that will easily last you four years, if not more (also, get it in bronze—it looks gorgeous).

Whichever option you may choose, we suspect you’ll be happy with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It’s not perfect, but overall it is one of our favorites, and should please any user looking for high-performance, leading-edge, large-format Android device.

Samsung's Note 20 Ultra proves the company can, yet again, pack powerful specs into a stunning build, but it's unlikely you'll get your money's worth unless you're already locked into to the Note family.

After nearly 10 years at the cutting edge, the Samsung Galaxy Note series is still on top of its game. Yes, it's easy to see the Note 20 Ultra as "just another Note" - but that's because it's got so much right. It now comes with better note-taking experiences thanks to that integrated S Pen stylus and a better screen experience too. If only that rear camera and 5G-boosted price point were a little less in your face and the battery lasted longer per charge.

Still, the Note 20 Ultra doesn’t necessarily need a handout, and there are plenty of laissez-faire individuals who simply want the very best they can get their hands on, despite how much it might cost to get it. If you’re in that camp, then the Note 20 Ultra is more than capable of standing up on its own as the Android smartphone to beat in 2020.