Is the S20 Ultra a failure?

[BlackZeppelin]

I am genuinely looking forward to the S21. 2 reasons by my rationale:

The S20 Ultra has been more successful than Samsung had anticipated, apparently having to order more supplies of 108 MP camera modules. Therefore Samsung knows this type of expensive flagship is still very viable. Unlike the Google Pixel that will be downgrading slightly with the upcoming Pixel 5 and not be competing anymore with Samsung and Apple flagships.

Competition. Lots of it, from Huawei, Oppo etc. Better periscope zoom cameras, faster wired, wireless and reverse wireless chargers. And other features all for less money. The P40 Pro for eg receives phone calls not through a microphone ear piece but sound vibrations on glass. I think a lot of people won't realise that. So innovation and competition all round.

Even the next iPhone will significantly increase camera resolutions, charging speeds, include 5G and higher refresh screen rates.

These 2 factors I believe will lead to a powerhouse S21. As I said before, look at the new 150 MP camera sensor that will be first debuted later this year in a rival phone. And for sure Sammy will include Qualcomm's 2nd generation ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for the next S series, which is a vast improvement over the current.

Good things to come.

 

[DanielLoreti]

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.

Still have my Note 9, great phone. I was just confused when you said P40 Pro + outdoes Ultra significantly after looking at the Pro specs.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

I meant in respect to the camera zoom. 10x optical vs 4x optical. Twin periscope lenses vs single, able to zoom in on night mode. 20x near lossless hybrid zoom vs 10x hybrid zoom.

The actual 108 MP camera lens is awesome. Incredible detail when cropping in and as I said, Samsung will launch a new 150 MP camera. I'm really hoping Samsung also ups the optical zoom capabilities.

As I said before, I'll upgrade my Note 9 for a truly worthy flagship. 120 Hz refresh rate screen and even more RAM is not my idea of a great improvement. I'm really looking forward to one day having a smartphone that can do so much + have awesome zoom capabilities. I'm not saying the S20 Ultra isn't good at it-it is. I'm just wanting it to be the best for the money asked.

Let me put it another way I didn't not get the S20 Ultra just because I read rumours of the upcoming P40 Pro+ having a significantly better periscope zoom camera lens. A combination of still 6 months on my lease of my Note 9 and then this coronavirus meaning I'm not likely to get out and about for months sealed my decision.

But.......

If the S20 Ultra was the same but had the P40 Pro+ periscope zoom lens, I would have gotten it. Lease or no lease, virus or no virus.

 

[donm527]

I know I could be in the minority here but... I don't find Huawei's "smaller screen" to be a negative in comparing the two phones.

I'll just give the title to best panel to Samsung because I think it's basically recognized that no one makes a better screen than Samsung.

But just because it's bigger... no way. And especially when they tout their bigger numbers over their previous gen phones by stretching out the length. In the "old days" everyone took bragging rights by staying within a standard aspect ratio. I really don't care if it's "bigger" by lengthening the screen by 2-3-4mm but have pretty much the same width.

It does have the smaller battery and the refresh rate is lower (But at least it's 90 all the way through and doesn't drop you to 60hz at full resolution which is silly)... but you have to take the battery hit with the size and, for me, I think the Huawei probably is the best feel in hand or mobile "size" over the Ultra. I've said it often, a couple of mm here and there, but I feel the S20 Plus is the better size of the two.

If I were to end up getting the Note 20, then I'll have to probably take a 500mah battery hit to fit the S-pen which is understandable. (Please Samsung don't make the Note 7.1" and bigger than the Ultra just to keep the battery at 5000mah.)

Said often... no perfect phone. Samsung has best screen. And I'll add the Huawei is a non-starter for me because no Google. But the Huawei does have "bests" over other phones too.

At least for today, the Huawei has the best smartphone camera available (128 dxomark)...

https://www.dxomark.com/huawei-p40-pro-camera-review/

Still have my Note 9, great phone. I was just confused when you said P40 Pro + outdoes Ultra significantly after looking at the Pro specs.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

The thing is that we all buy and upgrade for different reasons. And conversely don't buy and upgrade accordingly.

A lot of people complain about the price of especially the S20 Ultra, the physical size, the camera bump and the weight. I accept all of that. A lot of people are excited about the 120 Hz refresh rate. I couldn't care less. And I'm guessing a lot of people aren't caring about periscope zoom lens.

That feature is precisely the one that would encourage me to upgrade eventually over my Note 9. Along with increased battery life and charging speeds.

But we're all different, we're all looking for different things in the same smartphone.

Call me weird but the invention of periscope zoom lens in a smartphone has really tickled my fancy.

 

[daswooski]

The thing is that we all buy and upgrade for different reasons. And conversely don't buy and upgrade accordingly.

A lot of people complain about the price of especially the S20 Ultra, the physical size, the camera bump and the weight. I accept all of that. A lot of people are excited about the 120 Hz refresh rate. I couldn't care less. And I'm guessing a lot of people aren't caring about periscope zoom lens.

That feature is precisely the one that would encourage me to upgrade eventually over my Note 9. Along with increased battery life and charging speeds.

But we're all different, we're all looking for different things in the same smartphone.

Call me weird but the invention of periscope zoom lens in a smartphone has really tickled my fancy.

Completely agree...I'll be upgrading every year as that is just what I like to do.
I get a little aggravated at folks that make these generalized statements that the phone sucks or is a failure based only on one or two features or their experience with ordering or what they read from a few other users...many people are very pleased and some not...

But as you mentioned we do not all upgrade for the same reason and what may seem like a lot of money to one person may not be for another...

 

[bhatech]

Huawei can have the all the innovation but without Google play services, Google play store it's dead to majority of the people. Users could care less it's Huawei's fault or US fault or someone else's fault. At the end that phone is not recommended to majority of the people. So it's any other brand other than Huawei at the moment. If it works for you saying I don't need no freaking Google play services and I'll manually install this or that APK then great, but it won't for most people.

 

[mustang7757]

The thing is that we all buy and upgrade for different reasons. And conversely don't buy and upgrade accordingly.

A lot of people complain about the price of especially the S20 Ultra, the physical size, the camera bump and the weight. I accept all of that. A lot of people are excited about the 120 Hz refresh rate. I couldn't care less. And I'm guessing a lot of people aren't caring about periscope zoom lens.

That feature is precisely the one that would encourage me to upgrade eventually over my Note 9. Along with increased battery life and charging speeds.

But we're all different, we're all looking for different things in the same smartphone.

Call me weird but the invention of periscope zoom lens in a smartphone has really tickled my fancy.

I like the zoom capability , i know most dont .

 

[felloffthetruck]

I need some toilet paper

 

[kolyan2k]

Review from today

https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/03/31/galaxy-s20-ultra-review/

 

[bhatech]

If you want to enjoy a brutal review read Ron's review

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/03/galaxy-s20-review-samsungs-paper-tiger/

For me I never care about reviews as usual. People hate on Pixel 4 but I love it and could care less if some one less likes or not. Same with Ultra or any other phone I buy in the future, I'll decide for myself if a phone is for me or not.
I'll just read the reviews and watch YouTube reviews for fun and time pass.

 

[mustang7757]

If you want to enjoy a brutal review read Ron's review

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/03/galaxy-s20-review-samsungs-paper-tiger/

For me I never care about reviews as usual. People hate on Pixel 4 but I love it and could care less if some one less likes or not. Same with Ultra or any other phone I buy in the future, I'll decide for myself if a phone is for me or not.
I'll just read the reviews and watch YouTube reviews for fun and time pass.

I agree

 

[rdrive41071]

If you want to enjoy a brutal review read Ron's review

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/03/galaxy-s20-review-samsungs-paper-tiger/

For me I never care about reviews as usual. People hate on Pixel 4 but I love it and could care less if some one less likes or not. Same with Ultra or any other phone I buy in the future, I'll decide for myself if a phone is for me or not.
I'll just read the reviews and watch YouTube reviews for fun and time pass.

Wow - according to this reviewer's opinion - the s20 ultra is the worst phone ever made, and Samsung makes generic smartphones with horrible performance. That is the worst review I think i have ever seen of a phone.

 

[mustang7757]

Wow - according to this reviewer's opinion - the s20 ultra is the worst phone ever made, and Samsung makes generic smartphones with horrible performance. That is the worst review I think i have ever seen of a phone.

I thought the pixel 4 took that award lol

 

[Mike Dee]

Wow - according to this reviewer's opinion - the s20 ultra is the worst phone ever made, and Samsung makes generic smartphones with horrible performance. That is the worst review I think i have ever seen of a phone.

I didn't see where he states worst phone ever made.

 

[rdrive41071]

I didn't see where he states worst phone ever made.

He didn't - but he might as well have, lol

 

[bhatech]

I think the Android Police review update article was more damning than the Ars review.

"A major misstep for the Galaxy series
I and several other members of the AP team have been using the Galaxy S20 Ultra for the last few weeks, and if anything, our opinions of the phone have worsened in that time. In fact, we made the decision to drop the initial 7/10 score to a 6. It's just a disappointing device."

 

[rdrive41071]

Seems like a lot of people have negative feelings about the s20 Ultra. Price and camera being the main criticism - but mainly just being a gimmicky upgrade from the s10+. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great device, but I think next year I will wait a while after the s21 is released to make my decision on my next upgrade. Heck - if the iPhone 12 ditches the big notch and comes equipped with USB C, I may look that route. That will be very tough choice though, been with Android/and Samsung for many years. It just seems like Samsung keeps shooting themselves in the foot lately. Idk what's going on. The camera software issues should have been fixed/upgraded years ago for instance.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

If you want to enjoy a brutal review read Ron's review

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/03/galaxy-s20-review-samsungs-paper-tiger/

For me I never care about reviews as usual. People hate on Pixel 4 but I love it and could care less if some one less likes or not. Same with Ultra or any other phone I buy in the future, I'll decide for myself if a phone is for me or not.
I'll just read the reviews and watch YouTube reviews for fun and time pass.

I agree

 

[mjs2011]

I think slamming new phones is the new cool thing to do. I don't understand the hate for this phone. If you like Samsung phones, there's no reason not to love the Ultra. Sure, the auto focus issue sucked, but it's resolved.

I get the price complaints, but if you can afford it, who cares? If you can't afford it, get a used S10+.