Credit score: David Imel / Android Authority
Right here at Android Authority, our readers love Galaxy Be aware telephones. In 2020, AA readers voted the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely as one of the best total telephone of the yr. In reality, the 2019 readers’ selection was the Be aware 10 Plus, and the 2018 winner was the Be aware 9. The Be aware love is robust right here.
We gave the telephone a ton of reward too again when it launched final August. Nonetheless, that was six months in the past. Since then, so much has modified inside the world of smartphones. Our readers are possible nonetheless in love with the Be aware 20 Extremely, however how do we expect it’s held up?
Test it out: Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 purchaser’s information: What it’s worthwhile to know
That’s what this Be aware 20 Extremely assessment revisit is all about. Now that the mud has settled and the brand new smartphone power has worn down, is it nonetheless price shopping for? Moreover, how does it examine to the just-launched Samsung Galaxy S21 collection?
To seek out out, I used a Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely (the 12/512GB mannequin) for a interval of 5 days. It was operating Android 11 with One UI 3.0 and the January 2021 safety patch.
The nice
In our authentic Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely assessment, we praised the telephone for being nice however lamented that it wasn’t distinctive. The Galaxy Be aware line has been famend for being a gold customary for premium smartphones. Final yr, although, Samsung appeared to be OK with having the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely meet the bar set by different 2020 telephones — however not exceed that bar.
See additionally: An entire historical past of the Galaxy Be aware collection
That being mentioned, there are three issues about this telephone which can be really fantastic, and so they nonetheless maintain up immediately.
Efficiency
Credit score: David Imel / Android Authority
The record of smartphones with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor is sort of brief. The Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely is on it and could be one of the best total telephone you may get with the chip. Even six months later, this telephone is a processing monster. Throughout my time with the telephone, I noticed zero issues. The whole lot labored completely and appeared nice doing it.
Clearly, the Snapdragon 888 is out now and beats the 865 Plus in any benchmark check. Nonetheless, the one methods you’ll discover the distinction between the 2 chipsets could be by way of deliberate stress testing or by way of processor-heavy gaming emulation. For just about every little thing else — net shopping, media consumption, cell gaming, videography, and so on. — the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely’s SD865 Plus will work simply as nicely for you as that SD888 would.
See additionally: Historical past of the Qualcomm 800-series: World-class Android processors
Not like the 2019 Galaxy Be aware 10 Plus, the Be aware 20 Extremely comes with 5G connectivity as a normal (no less than right here within the US). These of you exterior the US may have the choice to purchase a non-5G model of the Be aware 20 Extremely. Moreover, non-US people will even want to purchase the Exynos 990 mannequin of the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely. That chipset is weaker than the SD865 Plus by just about each metric, which is unlucky. Even then, although, you could possibly definitely do a lot worse.
The underside line right here is that if you may get your palms on a Snapdragon-powered Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely, you received’t have any complaints relating to processing. It was a beast six months in the past and continues to be a beast immediately.
Show
Credit score: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
One of many largest options disregarded of the Galaxy Be aware 10 Plus was a excessive refresh price show. Fortunately, Samsung made up for that omission by including a 120Hz show to the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely. While you mix that with an infinite 6.9-inch display screen with a 1440p decision, you’ve got all the mandatory substances for among the finest smartphone shows ever launched.
Granted, that 120Hz refresh price isn’t lively on a regular basis. Samsung makes use of an “adaptive” refresh price. Meaning the telephone’s software program will decide what refresh price is suitable on your scenario after which swap the hertz in response. For instance, if you happen to’re studying an book in your telephone, you don’t must waste battery life refreshing that web page 120 instances every second. One UI will drop down the refresh price for these conditions which creates a stability between display screen fluidity and energy conservation.
Associated: What’s show refresh price? The whole lot it’s worthwhile to know right here!
Actually, in my 5 days with this telephone, I felt that the adaptive refresh price did a tremendous job. I’m positive there have been instances during which I used to be scrolling round feeling like I used to be getting a 120Hz refresh price after I actually wasn’t. If it did occur although, I couldn’t have pointed it out to you. My fast-scrolling by way of Twitter, Reddit, Fb, Instagram, and so on., all appeared easy as silk.
Exterior of the refresh price, this show is top-notch. Colours are vibrant, the display screen will get astoundingly brilliant, and blacks get fairly deep because of Samsung’s state-of-the-art OLED panels. Any purchaser who places a heavy emphasis on show high quality relating to their smartphone buy will stroll away very, very proud of the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely.
Digicam
Credit score: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The digital camera within the Samsung Galaxy S20 Extremely was alleged to be one of the best. It turned out, sadly, that it was actually good however with some main flaws (learn extra in our revisit beneath). In the course of 2020, we have been fearful that the Be aware 20 Extremely would face the identical destiny.
See additionally: Galaxy S20 Extremely revisited: The nice and the unhealthy six months later
Fortunately, Samsung listened to the critics and made the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely’s digital camera higher than the S20 Extremely’s. It added a laser autofocus system which fastened probably the most disappointing downside with the Galaxy S20 Extremely. It additionally added a periscope zoom system that allowed for 5x zoom with no lack of picture high quality. Samsung even made the entire module prettier.
You possibly can see our authentic Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely assessment for a ton of instance pictures. You can even try an entire article we wrote on the 2 2020 Extremely cameras. Beneath, although, you’ll discover a handful of pictures I grabbed throughout my time with the Be aware 20 Extremely. Actually, they appear nice:
Even over the previous six months, there have solely been a handful of telephones launched that would greatest the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely relating to photographs and movies. If images is your largest concern with a smartphone, this telephone will likely be a powerhouse immediately and doubtless nicely into the tip of 2021.
The not so good
As talked about earlier, this telephone was our readers’ favourite telephone of 2020. It wasn’t our favourite telephone of the yr, however our authentic Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely assessment exhibits that we did actually get pleasure from it. Sadly, we talked about a couple of issues with the telephone in that assessment, and none of them have aged nicely. In reality, now that we have now the Galaxy S21 collection, the issues may very well be sufficiently big to keep away from grabbing this telephone in 2021.
Design
Credit score: David Imel / Android Authority
This telephone is large. Large. Granted, there may be an viewers for telephones this large, and I’m not likely in that viewers, so take my measurement feedback with a grain of salt.
That being mentioned, there are fairly a couple of elements of the design of this telephone that make it objectively unhealthy. For instance, the enormous digital camera bump creates an off-balance tilt that harm my wrist throughout lengthy utilization intervals. The squared-off edges appear to be extra jagged than the same ones on the Be aware 10 Plus, inflicting my palms to get fatigued. The super-curved show brought about me to make typing errors consistently, and I even opened a couple of apps by mistake.
Associated: Why are smartphone digital camera bumps turning into so large?
Going again to the digital camera bump, there have been a couple of instances during which I struggled to get the telephone out of my pocket as a result of the bump acquired caught on my pants. It’s additionally difficult to wirelessly cost the telephone as a result of the bump is definitely thick sufficient to stop contact with the inner coil on some charging mats.
Look, I would be the first to confess that the telephone appears to be like nice. I like the Mystic Bronze colorway and I even benefit from the total design aesthetic of the rear digital camera. However from a usability standpoint, this telephone will solely work for individuals who don’t thoughts utilizing it with two palms more often than not. It additionally will solely work for individuals who maintain it in a case that forestalls the digital camera bump from protruding up to now out. These limitations are detrimental to the enjoyment of the telephone. That’s disappointing to say contemplating how a lot you’ll pay for it.
By the way, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely proves you may have an enormous telephone with a smaller bump and extra delicate show curves. Samsung simply missed the ball right here.
Energy
Credit score: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Throughout my time with the Be aware 20 Extremely, I noticed good battery life. At residence on Wi-Fi more often than not, I acquired a few day-and-half of energy. That’s completely satisfactory.
Nonetheless, it is a Be aware. An “Extremely” Be aware. “Completely satisfactory” shouldn’t be mentioned about any of its options. But, with a 4,500mAh battery and a wired charging restrict price of simply 25W, that’s one of the best ways to explain the ability parts of this telephone.
See additionally: Listed below are one of the best Samsung Galaxy chargers
The week earlier than utilizing the Be aware 20 Extremely, I used the Galaxy S21 for the Android Authority assessment. That telephone — which prices $799, or a bit greater than half of a Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely — has a 4,000mAh battery and 25W wired charging. I acquired extra battery life from the Galaxy S21 than I did from the Be aware 20 Extremely, which isn’t a terrific look.
Granted, the Galaxy S21 has a a lot smaller, lower-resolution show. It additionally has a extra power-efficient processor. It is smart that that telephone ought to see nice battery longevity. Nonetheless, that doesn’t negate the truth that if a long-lasting battery and fast-charging capabilities are necessary to you, there are significantly better (and cheaper) choices on the market than this.
Worth
Credit score: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Samsung hasn’t dropped the pricing for the Be aware 20 collection but. As such, to get the lowest-priced variant of the Be aware 20 Extremely immediately, you’ll pay the identical value you’ll have on launch day: $1,300. Even and not using a pandemic taking place, that’s some huge cash.
Now, six months later, that value appears much more outlandish. The Galaxy S21 Extremely — which affords higher specs, a greater digital camera, and a subjectively higher design — is $100 cheaper. It even has S Pen help, making it much more of a head-scratcher that Samsung hasn’t dropped the worth of the Be aware 20 line but.
Associated: Galaxy S21 costs make this Samsung’s most inclusive lineup in years
Granted, it’s fairly straightforward to get the Be aware 20 Extremely for lower than its record value. Samsung’s trade-in affords are very beneficiant, and provider activation offers can slash tons of extra from the price. As soon as once more, although, you could possibly apply those self same reductions to a Galaxy S21 Extremely and get extra telephone for much less money.
Nonetheless, we are able to’t neglect that Notes have all the time been costly. Be aware die-hards are used to spending a ton on these units, so value may not be that large of an element. For the typical individual, although, it’s a giant deal. It’s most likely a good larger deal for the typical individual on the lookout for reductions on a six-month-old flagship.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely assessment revisited: The decision
Credit score: Adam Molina / Android Authority
The Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely is a terrific telephone. It affords many of the options Be aware followers care about and delivers them in an enormous, well-crafted package deal. Sure, the telephone is pricey and its battery life ought to be approach higher, however these aren’t deal-breakers for individuals available in the market for a telephone like this.
Nonetheless, now that the Galaxy S21 Extremely exists, it’s exhausting to advocate the Be aware 20 Extremely. The Galaxy S21 Extremely bests the Be aware 20 Extremely in practically each approach: design, specs, digital camera options, battery life, and even value. The Be aware 20 Extremely can’t even declare superiority with S Pen help, as a result of the Galaxy S21 has that possibility, too.
Actually, the one factor the Be aware 20 Extremely has that the S21 Extremely doesn’t is a microSD card slot. If that’s a make-or-break characteristic for you, then the Be aware 20 Extremely is price contemplating. In any other case, you’re higher off with the newest Extremely telephone from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely Larger, higher, and pricier
Samsung’s Galaxy Be aware line has all the time been for the ability customers, and this yr’s fashions aren’t any totally different — particularly the Galaxy Be aware 20 Extremely. This new ultra-premium telephone is Samsung’s most refined system but.
What do you assume? Is the Be aware 20 Extremely nonetheless superior to the Galaxy S21 Extremely? Is it superior sufficient to pay extra for it? Reply our ballot above!