Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (2020)

I love Samsung as a brand although I'm disappointed by this product and Samsung's response – The first 10 months of owning this phone were great, no issues at all. Although just before the 12 month warranty period was up, the dreaded blurry camera issue hit. Luckily, I ran some tests with the camera and saved the images showing the blurriness of the photos. I took the phone to an authorised Samsung repairer, and they initially said there… Read more

were no issues until I showed them the photos. I got the phone back with a new camera installed and so far it's been okay. There are some minor issues that I come across with the camera, although nothing compared to what it was like before the replacement.

The disappointment that I have with this product comes with the fact that Samsung never came out with an official response to the known hardware issue and never offered customers who have paid a substantial amount of money for this device a refund, credit, discount, anything.

With this experience, I question whether purchasing another Samsung handset, not only for myself but the rest of my family, is worth it.

Most disappointing phone I ever had – When your S20 can not even use Google maps you know its not good. Especially when Google maps has worked with great ease on my samsung S3, S4, S6 edge, S7. First time I have ever had to use Waze was on my S20 ultra because Google maps just hangs on the S20. Setting an alarm, Christ how hard could you make on a S30 ultra still trying to find out… Read more

how to set a simple alarm. Try to do a Google search on something go to start typing and the keyboard access jumps around to try and tick you off. Just so many things that should be simple and straight forward that are now just hard work. Shove Bixby where the sun don't shine, lots of stuffing around to try and make it get simple jobs done. Finger print scanner sux, works on unlocking screen but not on unlocking phone, how the hell can that be? Face reconigition is so messy just easier to unlock with a pattern. Takes less time and stuffing about in the end. Samsung the S20 is the most disappointing I have had from you.

Camera focus a dud after many updates – I bought the camera outright from Harvey Norman 2020. After many camera updates the camera still struggles to focus. This is my first Samsung phone, it is a disappointing experience. From reading the Samsung website you would be lead to believe the camera would be awesome. Unfortunately it struggles like a $300 phone might in my opinion. … Read more

Quality assurance section at Samsung must have a low bench mark. I am not sure what they call a good camera but the camera on the Samsung s20 ultra 5g is very ordinary.

This is my opinion after nearly 12 months use. Other people may have had a better experience I definitely have not.

Good for everything but a Camera – 26-FEB-2025 UPDATE: have owned this phone for 4.5 years now, apart from shattering the screen not long after owning this phone and it costing $500 to fix, the phone has served me well, even now my battery life is more than a day, doesn't crash. Only reason for replacing it with the S24 Ultra is the phone doesn't receive software updates any more.… Read more

Will keep as a backup phone. This is one very capable phone, has plenty of battery life even with heaps of apps open in the background. This phones biggest downfall would be its camera, it struggles to focus on anything. My S5, S8 and S9+ both took better photos than this phone. Very disappointed and would not recommend to anyone who uses their phone as their main camera.

Worst phone iv ever owned so disappointed Samsung – Iv owned many Samsung's so it was no surprise to upgrade to the s20 ultra when it came out. And now I'm stuck on a plan for 2 years grr .The phone is delayed, starts trying to activate recording, constantly over heats even when not being used, the camera screen ended up with small hole which apparently is now a common thing, iv had more scams and… Read more

unsolicited phone calls texts and emails with this phone than my hole life.the camera quality is no better than any of the others,battery is not as long as it should be, The touch screen becomes unresponsive at times, the sound quality is crap and is just getting worse I have had to download an app now just to be able to hear calls properly. it glitches as if 2 people are using this phone and sometimes the screen will stay half on the old screen and half on the new search im usually pretty easy going and don't complain but I wouldn't recommend this phone to anyone I seriously hate this phone it's the worst iv ever had and I paid so much for it im so disappointed with Samsung at this point I'm considering getting a cheap phone or going back to Apple. I was so happy with my other Samsung's cant believe all the hype for this piece of crap.

Samsung, no longer the reliable and hardy choice – Battery longevity is average, compared to the Note10, the S20 uses more battery hands down which is no good for the travelling professional, even though there are claims that the S20 battery is the best in series. The actual phone is ridiculously weak, I bent over with this phone in my back pocket and it has now bent and shattered on the back of… Read more

the phone yet the front remains intact(This occurred whilst in a Life-proof case on as well). Heat given off by the phone is concerning when in use.

The camera however is quite decent. Ultra fast charging is a good addition- although required due to the ridiculous battery usage.

Overall, I purchased this phone to replace my old note 10 and I have regretted the upgrade since. I would strongly advise against this phone especially if you travel due to its weakness and terrible battery.

EDIT: I have since returned the S20 Ultra (Telstra are taking on the insurance claim for me as Samsung needed over 8 weeks to check out the phone) and was offered the Note 20 Ultra in lieu of a replacement S20, the Note 20 Ultra is much better (Albeit, not by much) It seems and reflects through the products that I think Samsung have started to venture down the same route Apple did with there inferior products, and as such can't recommend the brand and will probably chase another brand when my phone contract is over.

Piece of junk! Better to use any other mobile device – Camera is the only part that works. Bluetooth staggers Network on esim is below par. Battery drains within 20 hours (90-20), without using it for games. Major 3rd party apps do not work. ( 7-11 fuel app and Pokemon go) Gave it to the service centre to repair, no faults in the device according to the service centre. So they gave the phone back as… Read more

it is.

Biggest waste of money ever. Thank you Samsung for the poor service and reality check about your hopeless service, I will only buy phones from your competitors henceforth.

Regards Russel

Other than camera and the price, best big phone – After using Galaxy S10, this this time I chose the Galaxy Ultra with more expectations. But unfortunately, all went upside down. First I'd like to go with the positive points of the Samsung Galaxy Ultra 5G. The size of the phone, almost a 7-inch phone (phablet) on palm is unbelievable. Hats off Samsung for this great design. Performance is… Read more

excellent. Thanks to 12GB RAM and Exynos 990 processor. As usual Samsung's AMOLED display is unbeatable. Gamers definitely like the 120Hz motion smoothness, but with the low resolution of FHD+ (2400 x 1080). Normal users also can feel almost the same experience with the High Resolution 3200 x 1440. What to do is, simply select the 'High Performance' in the Power Mode settings :).

The disappointing part is Camera :(. Forget about 100x Zoom. Out of the box, camera performance was very disappointing. However after three months Samsung released firmware updates, but it did not fix the all camera issues. Still, normal photos' processing time is very slow compare to competitors. It may be due to High Resolution pictures. But average users (other than photography people) are in big frustration. Indoor photo quality still needs to be improved.

Samsung's loyal customers bought the most expensive ($1999) premium Samsung phone. So Samsung should offer premium services/offers to their loyal customers to stay with them.

Disapointing camera performance – The 120Hz screen is the best I have ever used. If Samsung allow users to use WQHD+ and 120Hz at the same time, it would be better, but at the current stage I can only use 120Hz at a lower resolution. The biggest issue of this phone is the highly anticipated camera - which is such a flop. The focus issue is very very severe and definitely… Read more

destroys my rating of the phone. After multiple firmware updates, the issue is still not solved, the focus is so bad that my old iphone 6s can take a sharper and clearer picture.

I really hope Samsung to fix this issue asap because the camera should've been the biggest selling poing as compared to s20 and s20+ but now it is a huge burden.

Once you go 120Hz you wont be going back – The phone is great in all its meanings, its huge its heavy its smooth its got cameras that you will love to play with. But on that note, the 100x zoom is useless but upto 30x is fine which is more than enough in most cases. Did I say cases? yes get a phone case that is totally covering the camera and is thicker than the camera glass else it will… Read more ·  1

get scratches as its protruding very boldly. The phone battery does give you one full day to play with it but there were times when battery was drained late in the evening so be careful how you use your phone. The camera does have some focus issues which i hope will get fixed in the future with an update.

Could be better – Love the screen resolution and colours BUT many small issues such as the autofocus on the camera is joke, very slow and very often it doesn't focus on what I want it to, I always have to tap what I want the phone to focus on and a lot of the times it's stil doesn't focus well, The worst issue for me is the camera roll and uploading folder full f… Read more

photos where even if choose sort by date, they show up all messed up and all over the place, I never had this issue on my Huawei with the same folders, I already spoke with somsung and they just gave me an excuse like "the phone doesn't have enough brain power to sort them the way you want" are you joking???? It's a high end smartphone with high end specs and my 4 year old Huawei can do the job just fine. Samsung surely know how to suck the money out of you and laugh at you at the same time. Such a potential for a great phone but...

Camera was not to expectation – I researched phones for ages to find my next phone and settled on this one. I'm a photo person. I believe that my s9, my husbands s10 and even his note 9 takes better photos. I have tried different settings and still they're not what I expected them to be. For instance, if I took a photo of a document on my s9, when I looked at the photo and… Read more

needed to zoom in, the picture, the words, would be very clear. When I do that with this phone, it's blurry and hard to read. I'm disappointed with this phone for that aspect. But it does zoom in quite far which is amazing. It's a bit tough to use when you're laying down somewhere since it's so big, but I like that the phone is unbelievably quick. Battery life is amazing. I only have to charge it once a day unlike the s9.

It has a lot of great perks, possibly the best phone for some, but if I had the option of buying this again, I probably wouldn't.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ On Steroids! - The New Ultra S20 is an Improvement in All Areas Except The Camera – The 2-Year Changeover and a Sad Goodbye to the S9+: So, it's been 2 years since I got my Samsung Galaxy S9+ from Telstra and it has been a blissful 24 months. I honestly have loved using the S9+ handset and am sad to changeover but my Wife now gets it (and is exceptionally happy with it - as she had the S8) As with all progressions and… Read more ·  1

changeovers, the S9+ (256 GB) for me was a real seamless event. all my apps and setting transferred over easily from the S8+ and everything about the handset was power-charged, smooth, solid and hardly faltering.

In two words: 'A Joy'

Over to the S20 Ultra:

This time the changeover was a little bit more cleverer, as I used the USB C cable and the 'Switch' app to transfer my apps and setting. Setting up was truly a breeze and a fraction of the time of previous set-ups.

This time round I went to JB Hi-Fi for a $65 per month plan and bought the handset outright. JB had a fantastic deal on, where they gave you $700 towards any handset over $1000 - how can you resist!

I got the 128 GB version, as it was the only one on offer and also invested in a new super-fast Sandisk 256 GB micro SD card so that took care of the storage issue for photos/video and my music collection.

I also bought the Samsung Flip case - which is a nice change, with the side panel for date, time battery indicator and messages. The case does a great job of absorbing the larger camera bump array so the back is flush (very well thought out Samsung)

Build Quality and General Aesthetics:

An improvement in all areas. The shape is more like a Note, with squarer edges. It is a bit thicker but not noticeably so. The handset feels a little heavier and a bit more premium than previous versions.

I don't have very large hands but find it as easy to use as the S9+ from 6.4 inches to 6.9 inches (I think).

Software and Hardware Changes/Upgrades:

For the best part the software is as good, if not a bit better than previous OS on the S9+.

One thing that I'm getting used to, is not having the software back button on the bottom and the button to bring up all running apps to toggle between apps or close them all. While I was typing this review I played around with the settings and there's invariably more settings than I can use - but I figured it out.

Samsung has baked in so many extra choices for your setup so it will take me a few weeks to finalise them.

Faster CPU and a jump from 6 to 12 GB or RAM seems to have made the handset perform at crazy speeds. I have noticed how fast things move, open, close, including how crazy fast the predictive text is when you are swiping a word on the keyboard, when sending a message. Typing is ultra fast.

5G - well I guess that depends on your carrier and the signal you're getting (I stuck with Telstra) but in and out of the CBD seems much faster. I was standing waiting for someone the other day, looking at the face of the handset and there it was, '5G' and I thought to myself, 'this is the first time I've seen a 5G signal on a mobile phone!'

I downloaded a 371 MB operating system file a day ago and it downloaded on 5G in a few seconds.

Speakers: They seem as good, if not a bit of an improvement on the S9+, with a more deeper balanced sounding.

Cameras: Well, there are so many of them now! - I have had a play with the various cameras and am liking the single shot mode, where all cameras take pictures with all the lenses, including video so you can choose between wide, medium and close angle shots - or keep them all!.

I have tested out the 100 X zoom and even though the lens can reach out to a long distance, the quality is not that great, even in bright sunlight. I have just recently downloaded the new software update, as it was reported by many of a focusing issue in different modes. I will test these out in due course.

When the camera and video are used in normal modes, they are very good, clear and sharp, with well-balanced colours.

Satellite navigation is really good, with the handset sitting in a wireless cradle, with the flip cover folded over. The handset charges wirelessly, whereas it was a bit hit-and-miss with the S9+. I am enjoying the wider, slightly larger screen for the Google Maps app. Which brings to to talk about the screen:

Screen Size, Shape, Resolution and Refresh Rate:

Again, Samsung has done themselves proud with an even more immersive screen. the slightly wider and longer screen with slightly curved edges makes it easy to see and read everything - it is a real pleasure to use.

With the choice between the full resolution quad HD with lower refresh rate of 60Hz and HD with 120 Hz refresh - the clear winner is at 120 Hz refresh. Everything is clearer, sharper, more resolved and more alive. Scrolling and moving things around on the screen, including video is totally fluid and liquidy - it gives the handset a futuristic feel.

Connectivity:

Some of the things I have noticed by way of how the handset connects is as follows:

Bluetooth 5.0 is perfect with no drop-outs or stutters and is not affected by outside interference, such as other people using phones around you. I noticed this little thing when using my Jabra Elite 65t wireless buds with the S9+ handset, that when I turned my head left or right, the music from and app would jitter. Now it is completely gone and sound quality is wider and deeper - a very noticeable improvement.

I also notice that the handset connects faster and downloads/uploads data much faster with my home Wi-Fi.

Connectivity with my telco, uploading and downloading data - pictures, videos, messages is much faster and smoother.

As for the 'main purpose' of having a mobile phone - the phone connections and sound quality is much improved. The handset renders the sound of calls much better.

Final Word:

Just like all new smart phone designs, two years is a long time and the improvements are generally significant. One year between handsets is not enough to gain the full benefit.

I, like many other people have developed their buying/use habits. I can see better value in buying a handset outright and getting a cheaper plan, especially when companies like JB give you $700 off any handset, as well as better plans than Telstra offers directly.

Anecdotally, I spoke with a Telstra rep a short while ago and he actually recommended checking out JB's Telstra plans, compared to Telstra's in-house plans. His advice was well-received and valid.

So, if I was to rate the handset, I would look at a 4.9.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is not perfect but it is pretty darn close.

This has been another Ant Review. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have in compiling it.

18-Oct-2020 Update:

All the previous facets and features I covered have for this handset have stood up except one:

Now that I have used the S20 Ultra for 7 months the only thing that I would criticise still; the camera - the Galaxy S9+ had a better quality camera. I hope in 16 months Samsung has learnt that 100X zoom on a camera with bad quality pictures is merely a gimmick - so please don't do that anymore!

Perhaps Samsung should take a leaf out of some of the other phone handset makers and collaborate with camera/lens makers and put together something well planned and well executed that produces real results.

The showy gadget, 'look at me' features don't cut it anymore, it is not usable and not value for money.

A few years back; that was why I tried out LG handsets.

People don't mind a larger camera array so long as it 'genuinely' delivers the goods.

A sharp, crisp picture is exactly that; there is no hiding.

Would rather have stayed with my Note 9 – I have had the s20 ultra for a month now. Within the first day i had issues. I can't make a call for longer then 3 or 4 minutes with out it cutting call off and telling me it does not recognise the sim. It does this with incoming calls too. I have been cut off on my husband, the doctors, school ect. Then for a day or so no issues. I need to charge… Read more

it twice a day and i am a stay at home mum who uses the computer mostly for the internet, so i am unsure as to why its not lasting longer then my note battery. It does charge super fast though. And the camera is crap. The 100x zoom is so grainy that i think their ads are giving buyers a false reality as it is nowhere near that. And i am now having to re sign into all my apps, apps that i can normally just click on and get into now are needing to be signed in. I have reached out to samsung, who got me to reset the network connections, but it keeps doing it. And as i can't know it will do it till i am on a call, i can't show them whats happening, so they where not helpful. My husband was looking at upgrading, but is waiting to see what else is out there after my experience.