Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs

We compare the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs S23 Ultra to see if upgrading to the newer device is worth it

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – how different is the later model, and is it worth the upgrade?

The new S23 Ultra was revealed at the Samsung Unpacked event on the 1st of February along with the rest of the Galaxy S23 series smartphones. It was a fantastic event where Samsung showed its latest offerings and upgrades, but it was the S23 Ultra specifically that impressed the most, with the biggest changes over the preceding model. 

In some ways, the S23 Ultra is a continuation of the earlier Galaxy Note series – both being larger screen phones with stylus support (by way of the Samsung S Pen). The last Note series flagship was the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, so, we think it is worth comparing Samsung’s latest S23 Ultra flagship with this Ultra flagship from three years ago, to see if the latest upgrades and bumped-up price are really worth it.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20 Ultra cameras

Samsung introduced the very first ultra-high resolution camera with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra series. It was a 108MP camera, and in contrast, the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses a new 200MP primary camera with OIS. 

The ultra-high resolution camera has a faster autofocus and a slightly wider aperture of F1.7. You also get improved details, better color, and a more comprehensive dynamic range with the new sensor. Samsung has also improved low-light photography.

In terms of videography, the S23 Ultra offers an 8K resolution at 30FPS. The Note 20 Ultra doesn’t support 8K videos, but both devices support 4K videography at 60FPS. However, the videos coming out of the S23 Ultra will be brighter and have better colors with higher noise reduction. 

Both devices have a 12MP ultrawide sensor on the back, but the sensor on the S23 Ultra has autofocus for sharper and more stable images and videos. S23 Ultra’s optical zoom capability far surpasses that of the Note 20 Ultra. The Note has a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, whereas the S23 Ultra has two 10MP telephoto lenses with 10x and 3x optical zoom. 

Lastly, the front-facing cameras are also different, and of course, the S23 Ultra takes the prize with its 12MP sensor, which provides better details and color than the Note 20 Ultra’s 10MP sensor. All-in-all, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cannot compete with the S23 Ultra in terms of camera performance.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20 Ultra processor 

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra came equipped with either Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865+ chipsets, depending on the region.

Samsung has eliminated the Exynos chipsets from its flagship devices for the first time in history. Usually, the company would equip the flagship devices in Europe and other regions with Exynos chipsets and Snapdragon chipsets for the US variants. 

The decision to include them was never popular with the fans, mainly because the Exynos chipsets have poor performance compared to the Snapdragon chipsets. This year, the S23 Ultra is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in all regions. 

The new Snapdragon chip offers a stellar performance leap. It is the best chipset available in the market for Android devices, which is even comparable to Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the S23 Ultra is even better, as the company has overclocked it. (though we have yet to see the device’s thermal performance). 

Ultimately, in terms of performance, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is leaps and bounds faster and more efficient than both the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865+ variants, so again there’s little contest here.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs S23 Ultra storage & memory 

The Note 20 Ultra has a single 12GB variant available. In contrast, the S23 Ultra has 8GB and 12GB variants. 

In terms of storage, there is a big difference between the S23 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra. The Note 20 Ultra has three storage variants, 128GB, 256GB, and 512 GB. In contrast, the S23 Ultra starts with 256GB and goes up to 1TB. However, the Note 20 Ultra has an expandable storage option.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs S23 Ultra size  

The Galaxy S23 Ultra inherited the design of the Note 20 Ultra. It has a similar boxy design and squared edges. But this year, Samsung has slightly tweaked the design by flattening the sides. The device is now easier to hold and feels better. 

The dimensions and weight of the devices also vary slightly: 

• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra dimensions: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm; Weight: 208g
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra dimensions: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm; Weight: 233g

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs S23 Ultra screen

The Note 20 Ultra has a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, and the S23 Ultra has a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display that also reaches 120Hz.

Besides the 0.1-inch size difference then, is there any difference? Well The Note 20 Ultra doesn’t actually have a variable refresh rate; you can run it at 60Hz or 120Hz, and you can only run it on the full QHD+ resolution at 60Hz, leaving you to choose between smoothness and sharpness. On the other hand, the S23 Ultra doesn’t compromise. It has a dynamic refresh rate that shuffles between 1Hz and 120Hz.

The peak brightness of 1,750 nits is also better on the S23 Ultra, compared to the peak brightness of 1,500 nits on the Note 20 Ultra. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs S23 Ultra: other features 

The S23 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, while the Note 20 Ultra has a 4,500 mAh battery. We haven’t tested the battery life of the S23 Ultra, and we do not have any online tests as reference, but it is safe to estimate the Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a better life than the Note 20 Ultra. The S23 Ultra has a 500 Mah bigger battery and the greater efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. 

Charging speed appears to be the same for both though. Both devices have a 45W wired charging speed and a 15W wireless charging speed. Reverse wireless charging is also available at 4.5W on both. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20 Ultra: Price 

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an expensive device with a starting price of $1,200 (though you can get discounts with an S23 Ultra pre order bonus), but the launch price of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was even higher, at $1,300.

However, the Note 20 Ultra is an older device, and you can now only pick up used/refurbished models, however for a much lower price (as low as $400).

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs : Final Word

All in all, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is superior in nearly every way, particularly when it comes to the cameras and processing power that it comes with. This is hardly surprising, given the time distance between the release of the two models. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 can be bought refurbished for around a third of the price, making it a potentially very tempting budget option.