One week review

[o4liberty]

I have the note 20

I traded my 10+ for the regular note 20 at T-Mobile and received $700 trade in from them I couldn't pass it up. If the trade in wasn't that high I would of kept the 10+.

Due to arthritis I picked the smaller version of the note this time. I purchased a cheap case but ended up with the OtterBox defender series case instead. I have both types of screen protectors coming my way in a few days.

I have developers options activated and set my animations to off. I am running Nova Prime as my launcher. I have about 75 apps installed on the device at any one time. I use Google messages as my text app with RCS activated. I use home buttons because Nova doesn't allow gestures.

CAMERA

I have never relied on a phone camera for photos I might want to print I use a cannon professional camera. With that said this camera can take great shots the iPhone still takes better shots in my opinion. The colors are more accurate on the iPhone. My 10+ actually took better photos in my opinion.

BATTERY

I am getting about 6 hours of screen on time and battery last about 14 hours with normal use and 10 hours with heavy use which is better than the 10+ was.

OPERATING SYSTEM

The phone itself is much quicker and smoother than the 10+ was with no hickups ever so far. Page scrolling is awesome very fluid. No signs of screen freeze or any app problems at all.

BUILD AND OPTIONS

As far as what this device doesn't have that the ultra does have doesn't bother me nor do I need any of it anymore since I am retired. I enjoy the size and the flat screen this device has. I would highly recommend this device to any one in the search for a new phone. The plastic back is Burried under the defender case so who cares. The note 20 has meet all my expectations so far and more so I couldn't be any happier!!!

How do you feel about your new note so far?

PS: This review is after a week of use and is subject to change.

 

[pduffer]

I also have the Note 20, moving from the Note 10. I much prefer the size of the Note 10, but am enjoying this new phone.

 

[bhatech]

Just FYI, you said Nova doesn't allow gestures. Gestures on third party launchers are fixed in One UI 2.5 and works perfectly on Note 20 series. I use the native android gestures swipe up from bottom for home and swipe on side to go back on both Nova and Microsoft launchers just fine.

 

[o4liberty]

Just FYI, you said Nova doesn't allow gestures. Gestures on third party launchers are fixed in One UI 2.5 and works perfectly on Note 20 series. I use the native android gestures swipe up from bottom for home and swipe on side to go back on both Nova and Microsoft launchers just fine.

I had the one plus 8 prior which I returned due to freezing issues. But the one plus 8 was the fastest and snappiest device I ever use super fast device!

 

[Notefan161]

Loving mine so far

Camera wise imo it takes better photos than my 11 pro max. Just better brighter colours and details for my liking

Zoom is where it really shines in comparison

 

[o4liberty]

I am finding the note 20 to be a very stable device with little or no issues. Feels great in the hand!

 

[tadpoles]

I splurged this year and got 3 new phones...one of them the Note 20. I love its size and it's capability. I set up my Note 10+, S20 Ultra, Note 20, and Note 20 Ultra differently and swap them out each week. The Note 20, being the smallest of the lot feels great in the hand and only gives up the SD card slot as important features. It's a great phone that feels good in the hand whilst still having more than enough horse power.

 

[o4liberty]

I splurged this year and got 3 new phones...one of them the Note 20. I love its size and it's capability. I set up my Note 10+, S20 Ultra, Note 20, and Note 20 Ultra differently and swap them out each week. The Note 20, being the smallest of the lot feels great in the hand and only gives up the SD card slot as important features. It's a great phone that feels good in the hand whilst still having more than enough horse power.

I tried both out at the store and kept going back to the 20 and I am coming from the 10+. Not worried nor do I need the ultra options.

 

[tadpoles]

I tried both out at the store and kept going back to the 20 and I am coming from the 10+. Not worried nor do I need the ultra options.

From what I've seen you've given up very little. I really like the Note 20. It hasn't received much press but it's a great device, albeit, an expensive one.

 

[bhatech]

I'm getting the smaller one and my unlocked mystic green Note 20 is getting delivered today from Amazon. Always a fan of little smaller phones and I did enjoy using the the Note 20 in the store than Note 20 ultra in terms of ergonomics. Using the Note 20 Ultra for more than a week now definitely feels litte uncomfortable to use for longer durations because of the size. No questions that Ultra has all the specs and I love everything else other than size. With Note 20 there are lot of things missing and personally nothing is deal breaker there including even the higher refresh rate which I couldn't make out the difference that much in all my high refresh rate screens. At $1000 it's definitely on the higher end of price for what it offers but I had some Amazon gift cards and also taking advantage of the Samsung trade in offer for Amazon orders and trading in Pixel 4 for $600. Picked an used Pixel 4 for $400 today locally and will send that in for $600 trade in so that reduces the cost to $800 which is much more acceptable.

At least there is one thing the regular Note 20 has over the Note 20 Ultra. Awesome flat screen compared to that stupid curved screens, never preferred them though not deal breakers.

 

[o4liberty]

So far this note 20 trump's all my other devices. The 10+ was close but this device has been flawless so far no issues at all.

 

[Chris134]

I just returned mine. I gave it a week but there are several small things i didn't like about it compared to the Note 10+. A lot of this might be because the Note 10+ was such a great phone and didn't realize until I used the 20NU

The design is weird for a note device. A device you are expected to lay down and use the spen with that huge camera bump. Even with a case on i felt like I needed to be extra gentle on where i laid the phone down in fear of scratching the camera glass. This device really felt like a S series and not a note I am used too.

Its a heavy device and didn't feel as comfortable in the hands as my Note 10+

The spen moved to the left is small but huge for me interacting with the pen. It felt cumbersome and I even forgot the phone has a spen after a few days.

5G is a waste as I get the same speeds on 4G lte and felt I had more battery drain. I'll wait a year when the network gets better and a more power efficient 5G modem is released from qualcomm.

I didn't like 120hz that much and kept the phone at QHD 60hz.

The camera quality was on par with my Note10+. Outside of the zoom I liked the cameras but wasn't impressed. Sometimes the colors were really off and the color balance differs from wide to the normal lens. I didn't have this issue on my Note 10+ I am sure this will be fixed in an update. Sometimes I preferred pictures form the Note 10+

 

[o4liberty]

I just returned mine. I gave it a week but there are several small things i didn't like about it compared to the Note 10+. A lot of this might be because the Note 10+ was such a great phone and didn't realize until I used the 20NU

The design is weird for a note device. A device you are expected to lay down and use the spen with that huge camera bump. Even with a case on i felt like I needed to be extra gentle on where i laid the phone down in fear of scratching the camera glass. This device really felt like a S series and not a note I am used too.

Its a heavy device and didn't feel as comfortable in the hands as my Note 10+

The spen moved to the left is small but huge for me interacting with the pen. It felt cumbersome and I even forgot the phone has a spen after a few days.

5G is a waste as I get the same speeds on 4G lte and felt I had more battery drain. I'll wait a year when the network gets better and a more power efficient 5G modem is released from qualcomm.

I didn't like 120hz that much and kept the phone at QHD 60hz.

The camera quality was on par with my Note10+. Outside of the zoom I liked the cameras but wasn't impressed. Sometimes the colors were really off and the color balance differs from wide to the normal lens. I didn't have this issue on my Note 10+ I am sure this will be fixed in an update. Sometimes I preferred pictures form the Note 10+

Sorry to here that but the 10+ is a great device and 5G on Tmobile is worth the upgrade IMO.

 

[rushmore]

Seems Note 10+ to N20 is a downgrade IMO. N20 Ultra even does not seem much of a jump.

 

[o4liberty]

Seems Note 10+ to N20 is a downgrade IMO. N20 Ultra even does not seem much of a jump.

I thought that at first I picked up the 20 because I got 700 trade in plus I got the 5G this time. The note 20 is much snappier then the 10+ was and the camera is also an improvement. Not saying a huge improvement but with the trade in it was a no brainer.

 

[Apple2Droid]

Thanks for posting your review! I'm glad you're happy with your purchase and that it's working out well for you.