Is the S20 Ultra a failure?

[Mike Dee]

People love to feed off the negative reviews. I love my Ultra.

Does your Ultra love you back or is this a one-sided relationship?

 

[Mike Dee]

Yeah we are going to go mad if we subscribe to every thread

Yeah I don't subscribe to any as well.

Too late.....madness had already taken it's toll. No normal person comes in here for any reasonable duration and stays that way.

 

[customshopkv1]

Does your Ultra love you back or is this a one-sided relationship?

I mean, I touch it all day and feel its not really reciprocated.

 

[Mike Dee]

I mean, I touch it all day and feel its not really reciprocated.

How long have you felt this way?

 

[customshopkv1]

How long have you felt this way?

About since the Droid X, maybe before with the BB Storm/Storm2 but those were juke. Might of been the XV6800 too.

 

[Morty2264]

About since the Droid X, maybe before with the BB Storm/Storm2 but those were juke. Might of been the XV6800 too.

So it's unrequited? Very sad.

 

[customshopkv1]

So it's unrequited? Very sad.

Right, even the plug in/unplug method gets nothing.

 

[amyf27]

I'm right there with you. If I have an issue with anything, it's the size. I'm definitely not interested in going bigger in the future. I'm hoping to just skip the note 20 release, these phones are just getting to expensive to upgrade that much

They really are

 

[BlackZeppelin]

The zoom of the S20U is amazing IMO if you stay within it's reasonable and usable bounds:

I have a Note 9 and passed the Galaxy S20 series, specifically the S20 Ultra which I was extremely interested in admittedly.

I know it's a case of the grass is greener on the other side syndrome, but I personally would have been disappointed to get the S20 Ultra only to discover Huawei have just released their latest flagships which out does the S20 Ultra significantly.

I absolutely love the concept of periscope zoom lenses on a smartphone. And dual periscope lenses vs single, 10x optical vs 4x, 20x hybrid vs 10x hybrid is a significant improvement over the Galaxy phone. Plus the sensor is a little larger but just by a little.

Apparently next year's Galaxy will get a 150 MP camera module with a huge 1 inch sensor. I'm really hoping however that Sammy at least matches the optical zoom capabilities of the latest Huawei flagship, if not improve upon them.

 

[m3lover1]

Not sure if we can say Huawei outdoes the s20 ultra this early, way too soon. And there's still the massive issue of it not having access to Google and GMS

 

[BlackZeppelin]

Not sure if we can say Huawei outdoes the s20 ultra this early, way too soon. And there's still the massive issue of it not having access to Google and GMS

I understand not having GMS but that's imposed on them, not manufactures or engineered like that. But 10x optical vs 4x is a huge difference.

 

[Mike Dee]

I understand not having GMS but that's imposed on them, not manufactures or engineered like that. But 10x optical vs 4x is a huge difference.

I'm quite sure the 10x is larger but, keep in mind that the difference between 10x and 4x is not standard between brands. The X factor varies with the starting and ending focal measurement of the lens.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

I'm quite sure the 10x is larger but, keep in mind that the difference between 10x and 4x is not standard between brands. The X factor varies with the starting and ending focal measurement of the lens.

Granted but my point is that here in Australia, the S20 Ultra is a whopping $2000 for just the 128 GB version with the inferior Exynos processor. Everyone is whining about the cost. I accept it. In 2014 I bought the best Galaxy phone at the time, the S5. In 2018 I bought the best Galaxy phone, the Note 9. I accept the costs of the phone, am not really thrilled about not getting a Snapdragon processor but accept the reality.

But for a whopping $2000 I really don't want the camera specs being outperformed significantly by a cheaper Chinese flagship. The zoom is a major differentiating factor from all other smartphones for me. If Sammy doesn't at least equal the optical capabilities of the Huawei P40 Pro+ by the time the S21 rolls around, again I'll be skipping it as I have the S20 Ultra.

 

[DanielLoreti]

I have a Note 9 and passed the Galaxy S20 series, specifically the S20 Ultra which I was extremely interested in admittedly.

I know it's a case of the grass is greener on the other side syndrome, but I personally would have been disappointed to get the S20 Ultra only to discover Huawei have just released their latest flagships which out does the S20 Ultra significantly.

Smaller screen, only 90 hz, smaller battery, less ram...

 

[BlackZeppelin]

Smaller screen, only 90 hz, smaller battery, less ram...

My Galaxy Note 9 has smaller specs in 2 categories you quoted and equal in RAM. Any phone with those specs, 4200 mAh battery, 8 GB RAM, 6.58 inch screen is plenty to run well and view easily. Going from 8 to 12 GB RAM you won't notice. Going from 90 to 120 Hz refresh rate you'll hardly notice. Going from 4 to 10x actual optical zoom you will definately notice. A 10x zoom shot on the P40 Pro+ will look like the 4x zoom on the Ultra. A 30x zoom in the P40 might be the same as a 10x on the ultra. That's a big difference. I can get a Galaxy A series phone that is a third of the price that still has a large, quality display, big battery, good camera etc. It's the high end features not found on lesser series you are really paying for.

I played with the S20 Ultra in the carrier store and don't get me wrong, I was impressed. But for $2000 I don't want to get it to be out done by another cheaper phone especially in the category that matters a lot to me-photography. And I'm sure that focusing even with the update will still be less than stellar.

 

[mustang7757]

My Galaxy Note 9 has smaller specs in 2 categories you quoted and equal in RAM. Any phone with those specs, 4200 mAh battery, 8 GB RAM, 6.58 inch screen is plenty to run well and view easily. Going from 8 to 12 GB RAM you won't notice. Going from 90 to 120 Hz refresh rate you'll hardly notice. Going from 4 to 10x actual optical zoom you will definately notice.

I played with the S20 Ultra in the carrier store and don't get me wrong, I was impressed. But for $2000 I don't want to get it to be out done by another cheaper phone especially in the category that matters a lot to me-photography. And I'm sure that focusing even with the update will still be less than stellar.

Note 9 was one of my favorite devices, which Chinese phone you referring to Huawei?

 

[BlackZeppelin]

Note 9 was one of my favorite devices, which Chinese phone you referring to Huawei?

The P40 Pro+. I don't want to sound like I'm knocking the S20 Ultra. I'm one of those people that gets the best phone available and upgrades when there is a big difference between what I'm getting and my current phone. In categories that matter to me. Screen refresh rates and such mean nothing to me.

Battery capacity and life, charging rates and photography are the categories that matter to me. And also, the P40 Pro+ has 40W wired charging and 27W reverse wireless charging. Again, significantly being better than the S20 Ultra. Oppo will soon have a whopping 40W wireless charging.

I don't whine about the flagship costs as I don't upgrade every year. I just kind of expect for the huge cost over and above an iPhone to be the best in all categories.

 

[mustang7757]

The P40 Pro+. I don't want to sound like I'm knocking the S20 Ultra. I'm one of those people that gets the best phone available and upgrades when there is a big difference between what I'm getting and my current phone. In categories that matter to me. Screen refresh rates and such mean nothing to me.

Battery capacity and life, charging rates and photography are the categories that matter to me. And also, the P40 Pro+ has 40W wired charging and 27W reverse wireless charging. Again, significantly being better than the S20 Ultra. Oppo will soon have a whopping 40W wireless charging.

I don't whine about the flagship costs as I don't upgrade every year. I just kind of expect for the huge cost over and above an iPhone to be the best in all categories.

They put out good phones, maybe hold off see what the note 20 does

 

[BlackZeppelin]

They put out good phones, maybe hold off see what the note 20 does

It'll just be the S20 with an S pen with the usual few minor upgrades and features. I'm definately going to look out to see what Sammy brings to the table with the S21.

What would I like to see in the S21? Periscope lenses at least matching the P40 Pro+. I don't mind if it's only a single periscope lens unlike the dual lens of the P40. But make it 10x actual optical zoom

Plus improved wired and wireless charging rates and much improved auto focusing Anything else would be a bonus.

The rumours are that Sammy will develop a 150 MP phone that will feature first in a Chinese phone later this year. Just like Xiaomi first featured the 108 MP camera module. That is super exciting and hopefully a sign of things to come.

I'm hopeful for the S21 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the above mentioned 150 MP camera rumours. Secondly, even with the poor sales of the S20 series, at least in part to the coronavirus, half of those sales were to the S20 Ultra that even Samsung didn't anticipate. So Samsung knows that there is a strong demand for the premium flagship models and continue to invest and innovate in.

 

[mustang7757]

It'll just be the S20 with an S pen with the usual few minor upgrades and features. I'm definately going to look out to see what Sammy brings to the table with the S21.

What would I like to see in the S21? Periscope lenses at least matching the P40 Pro+. I don't mind if it's only a single periscope lens unlike the dual lens of the P40. But make it 10x actual optical zoom

Plus improved wired and wireless charging rates and much improved auto focusing Anything else would be a bonus.

I have to look back at some of the videos on YouTube s20 ultra ×30/×100 vs Huawei I think it was p30 and they were I believe neck to neck or Samsung came out on top . I haven't seen the reviews yet for P40+ will check that out . But yeah if you dont feel the s20 not enough or for you nothing wrong with that, there will always be phones coming out later and then you have next year.