Introduction:
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was introduced in February 2020 as the flagship model in Samsung’s Galaxy S20 series. Designed to push the boundaries of smartphone performance, photography, and display technology, the S20 Ultra set a high standard for premium Android phones upon its release.
Design and Display
The Galaxy S20 Ultra features a premium glass-and-metal construction. It has a large 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels (WQHD+), delivering sharp visuals and vibrant colors. The screen supports HDR10+ and offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz at Full HD+ resolution, ensuring smoother scrolling and better responsiveness for gaming and multimedia.
The phone’s dimensions are 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm, and it weighs 222 grams, making it one of the larger and heavier smartphones in its class. It has a punch-hole design for the front camera and a minimal bezel, creating an immersive display experience. The device is protected by Gorilla Glass 6 on both front and back and is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is powered by either the Exynos 990 (Global) or Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (USA) chipset, both fabricated on a 7nm process. These high-performance processors are coupled with 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, depending on the variant, providing exceptional multitasking capabilities.
Storage options include 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card up to 1TB. The device runs on Android 10 out of the box, upgradeable to later versions, and is layered with Samsung’s One UI, known for its clean, user-friendly interface.
The 5,000mAh battery provides all-day power and supports 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 9W reverse wireless charging. A 45W charger is also supported (sold separately).
Camera System
The camera is one of the standout features of the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It boasts a quad-camera setup on the rear:
- 108 MP Wide sensor with f/1.8 aperture, OIS
- 48 MP Periscope telephoto lens with 10x hybrid optical zoom and up to 100x Space Zoom
- 12 MP Ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree field of view
- 0.3 MP DepthVision (ToF) sensor for better depth mapping
The 108 MP main sensor captures incredibly detailed photos, especially in good lighting. The Space Zoom feature was heavily marketed, offering a 100x digital zoom that, while more of a novelty at the extreme end, showcased Samsung’s camera innovation.
The selfie camera is a high-resolution 40 MP sensor that supports 4K video recording and delivers detailed selfies with a natural color tone.
The rear camera can record videos up to 8K at 24 fps, a first for Samsung smartphones, and supports Super Steady video, HDR10+ recording, and a variety of pro modes and filters.
Connectivity and Features
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports 5G connectivity, making it future-proof for faster mobile data speeds. It also includes:
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.0
- NFC
- USB Type-C
- Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor (under-display)
- Face recognition
- Samsung DeX (desktop-like experience when connected to an external monitor)
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional display quality
- Powerful camera system with 108 MP sensor
- Massive battery with fast charging
- Future-proof with 5G support
- High RAM and storage options
Cons:
- Large and bulky design
- Expensive at launch
- Battery life can drain quickly at 120Hz or with 5G use
- 100x zoom is mostly gimmicky
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Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a powerhouse device that was designed to showcase the best of Samsung’s technology in 2020. With its enormous display, top-tier camera hardware, and robust performance, it’s ideal for power users and tech enthusiasts. While some features like the 100x zoom are more experimental, the overall package delivers a premium smartphone experience that remains competitive even years after its release.