Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20

91 out of 100

66 out of 100

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy) that was released on February 1, 2023, against the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, which is powered by Exynos 990 and came out 30 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The rear camera has a 10x optical zoom
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
2.1x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (1517K versus 718K)
Delivers 106% higher peak brightness (1282 against 622 nits)
Comes with 700 mAh larger battery capacity: 5000 vs 4300 mAh
Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
27% higher pixel density (500 vs 393 PPI)
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.3)
Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
The phone is 2-years and 6-months newer
Supports higher wattage charging (45W versus 25W)

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy Note 20

Weighs 41 grams less

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Note 20 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	Super AMOLED
Size	6.8 inches	6.7 inches
Resolution	1440 x 3088 pixels	1080 x 2400 pixels
Aspect ratio	19.3:9	20:9
PPI	500 ppi	393 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	Yes	No
Max rated brightness	850 nits	600 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1750 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10+
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio	89.5%	89.2%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

RGB color space	96.9%	99.9%
PWM	240 Hz	250 Hz
Response time	2 ms	6.4 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	163.4 mm (6.43 inches)	161.6 mm (6.36 inches)
Width	78.1 mm (3.07 inches)	75.2 mm (2.96 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	8.3 mm (0.33 inches)
Weight	233 g (8.22 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	IP68
Advanced cooling	Vapor chamber	Vapor chamber
Rear material	Glass	Plastic
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Gray, Blue, Green, Red, Purple	Black, Green, Brown
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, in-display

Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy	Samsung Exynos 990
Max clock	3360 MHz	2730 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 2 + 2 + 3)	8 (2 + 2 + 4)
Architecture	- 3 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A510 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A710 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A715 - 1 core at 3.2 GHz: Cortex-X3	- 4 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 2 cores at 2.5 GHz: Cortex-A76 - 2 cores at 2.73 GHz: Exynos M5
L3 cache	8 MB	2 MB
Lithography process	4 nanometers	7 nanometers
Graphics	Adreno 740	Mali-G77 MP11
GPU shading units	2560	704
GPU clock	719 MHz	550 MHz
FLOPS	~3481.6 GFLOPS	~1126 GFLOPS

CPU	377304	214069
GPU	596398	202411
Memory	271911	134994
UX	261336	164236
Total score	1517214	718109

Max surface temperature	34.8 °C	38.6 °C
Stability	64%	88%
Graphics test	72 FPS	25 FPS
Graphics score	12154	4317

Web score	15596	7804
Video editing	7791	5716
Photo editing	33958	29885
Data manipulation	12948	7954
Writing score	19802	11968

RAM size	8, 12 GB	8 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5
Memory clock	-	2400 MHz
Channels	4	2

Storage size	256, 512, 1024 GB	256 GB
Storage type	UFS 4.0	UFS 3.1
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 13	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.1	One UI 5.0
OS size	39.9 GB	35 GB

Capacity	5000 mAh	4300 mAh
Max charge power	45 W	25 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	Yes (15 W)
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	Yes, (wireless)
Fast charging	Yes (68% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 30 min)
Full charging time	0:59 hr	1:05 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	14:50 hr	-
Watching video	19:27 hr	-
Gaming	06:21 hr	-
Standby	123 hr	-

Main camera
Matrix	200 megapixels	12 megapixels
Image resolution	16320 x 12240	4000 x 3000
Zoom	Optical, 10x	Optical, 3x
Flash	LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 24FPS
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 240FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (1080p)	240 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens	120°	120°
Lenses	4 (200 MP + 10 MP + 10 MP + 12 MP)	3 (12 MP + 64 MP + 12 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 200 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 23 mm - Pixel size: 0.64 micron - Sensor: 1/1.3", Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 1.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.76", Sony IMX555 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	- 10 MP - Aperture: f/4.9 - Focal length: 230 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/3.52", Sony IMX754 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 64 MP - Aperture: f/2.0 - Focal length: 27 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.72", Samsung Bright S5KGW2 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization
Ultra-wide lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX564 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Samsung S5K2LA (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from DxOMark	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy Note 20 from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	12 megapixels	10 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	3872 x 2592
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.2
Focal length	26 mm	26 mm
Pixel size	1.12 microns	1.22 microns
Sensor type	ISOCELL CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.24"	1/3.2"
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5.3	5
Bluetooth features	LE	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	3.2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NAVIC
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	20	20
5G support	Yes	Yes

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	No	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	February 2023	August 2020
Release date	February 2023	August 2020
SAR (head)	0.96 W/kg	0.359 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.4 W/kg	1.366 W/kg
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Note 20

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion