Galaxy Note 20 Impressions: Not Impressed! You should get the Galaxy S20 instead.

    Since, the Galaxy Note 20 isn't rumors and speculations and actually is launched. Here are our impression and the reasons why we think the Note 20 isn't a worthy device of the Note brand.

    Our initial impressions of the new Galaxy Note 20 are not very good and its not surprising as the device has some major downgrades over the Ultra model. The Note series has always been the top-end device from Samsung which features all the latest and greatest tech they have to offer. With the Note 20, however, its not just doing justice to the Note name it carries. Aside from that its priced at a whopping $1,000. Creating this much difference between the two models makes the Note 20 a much inferior but expensive device. 

    At this price point, the device is supposed to have all the bells and whistles if not then at least close to that since smartphone prices have been increasing every year. So, what does this device has to offer?

    First disappointment, though it effects both models, comes in the form of the SoC, Exynos 990 (the same from Galaxy S10), which is quite a few months old at this point. Even when it was new, it was no match for the Snapdragon 865. Now, with the Snapdragon 865+, it is even worse and unimpressive. You can only get the Snapdragon 865+ in the US only. It is super weird to have the two variants of the same device at the same price with one having a slower chipset. Like I said before, the Note title is associated with the cutting-edge tech Samsung has to offer.

    Another thing is that the regular Note 20 comes with a 60 Hz FHD+ display. You might be thinking FHD+ on a smartphone isn't bad, right? But it costs a $1,000 and refreshes at 60 Hz! Mid-rangers are creeping into the 90 Hz territory. The OnePlus Nord we covered a while ago has a 90 Hz refresh rate and costs less than half of what this costs. 

    The regular Note 20 also comes with a plastic back. Again, $1,000 for a phone with a 60 Hz display and a plastic back. What is Samsung even doing! The disappointments continue though. The device boasts slightly larger bezels than the Ultra and also has a relatively larger camera cut-out. The S-pen has relatively worse latency as compared to the S-pen on the Ultra. 

    Cameras! The Ultra also has superior camera setup i.e. 108 MP on the Ultra and a 12 MP on the Note 20. (I know, MP isn't everything. I'm not a moron!) Moreover, the Note 20 also ditches the 5x periscope camera from the Ultra in favor of a 3x telephoto. I have no doubt that the cameras on the Note 20 would perform great. It's just that we have seen this before. Moreover, compare both models side by side and you will see that the Note 20 does not have much to offer. It's just full of compromises.

    Clearly, Samsung is trying to showcase the Ultra as the greatest and the one to buy for the best tech. They are trying to sell their "Ultra" expensive model because there is a very huge difference between the models and the Note 20 already costs $1,000 so you might as well get the Ultra model. Having the both phones side by side, the Ultra screams "I am the one to buy" and the regular Note 20 justifies why you should get the Ultra. 

    But Samsung has cut corners to make it available to a larger audience? If that was the case, the device should have been priced more appropriately i.e. about $800 or so. At one grand, it is rather difficult to recommend it to anyone. You are better off getting a Galaxy S20 or S20+ (if you don't need the S-pen) because it literally has more to offer than the Note. It has that glass back missing from the Note. It has a 120 Hz QHD+ screen. Both devices essentially share the same camera setup. Un-impressed!