What's good
- Great multitasking and gaming
- Comfortable in the hand
- Beautiful 120hz HDR screen for movies and videos
- All-day battery life
- 5G support
What's bad
- Fingerprint scanner is slow
- Tons of pre-installed apps
- No headphone jack
- High price tag
Sitting at the top of Samsung's 2020 high-end phone lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra represents the best the company has to offer. But it also comes with one of the highest price tags in mobile history.
In many ways, the phone is simply a larger version of the Galaxy S20+ -- which is, in turn, a larger version of the standard Galaxy S20.
When compared to the standard S20, the extra price on the S20 Ultra affords you:
- A larger 6.9-inch display
- Improved 5G support (mmWave)
- A larger 5,000mAh battery good for more than a day of usage with no problems
- A different camera array featuring a 108MP/48MP/12MP triple-lens arrangement
Reviewers found the upgraded camera the most noticeable difference. However, whether that was a good thing is debatable. While Samsung touts a massive 100x digital zoom on the phone, reviewers found anything over 30x nearly impossible to use without a tripod. More so, while the ultrawide sensor, time-of-flight sensor, and nine-pixel binning 108MP lens offered flexibility in creating interesting shots, reviewers weren't sure it was worth the additional price over the standard S20 or improved S20+.
Otherwise, you'll find identical specs and features in the smaller Galaxy S20. Be sure to check our Samsung Galaxy S20 review for more on what to expect with this new release.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Matt Swider, TechRadarThe Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra goes big in every way imaginable, with 108MP photos, a 100x camera zoom, 40MP selfies, and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display. With over-the-top internal specs on a par with laptops, you'll pay more for this phone than any non-foldable phone before it, but that's not surprising –...
- Paul Carroll, DxOMarkIts ultra-wide camera and bokeh effects in Portrait mode are particularly impressive; and with good video performance in 4K mode, together with a host of other resolution and slow-motion recording settings, there are plenty of possibilities for capturing moving images, too. Issues with close-range z...
- Lynn Anderson, DxOMarkA very good display performance for Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, particularly for motion and for video, where it bested all but the TCL Pro in nearly all sub-categories. Indeed, its only real weakness was for touch accuracy, which likely disqualifies it in the eyes of any serious gamers. But along w...
- Bobby Hellard, ITProPortalAt £1,199 it is too expensive, particularly given the current financial crisis, and at 6.9in it's perhaps a little unwieldy - although if you find this is the case, we'd encourage you to try the single handed mode. But the main reason you buy a phone with the "Ultra" label (or plus or pro) is for th...
- Luigi Palazzolo, uSwitchRealistic colours, consistently of exposure and good handling of details make the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra one of the most accomplished smartphones when it comes to photography. The bokeh portrait mode is impressive, and the ultra-wide is capable and can allow you to capture more with minimal distor...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Samsung released the Galaxy S20 Ultra on March 6, 2020.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy S20 Ultra with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy S20 Ultra has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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