When it comes to smartphones, specifications don’t give you a complete picture when it comes to capability, but they’re useful for comparison purposes. Both Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 are Samsung devices that use almost the same specifications and technologies, but with some differences in the Galaxy S20 that has some S Pen improvements, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.
Both the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 are stylish and sleek Samsung devices that have wireless power-sharing capabilities and fast wireless charging that allow you to charge the phones when you’re on the go, a 120 MHz refresh rate display, IP68 water, and dust resistance, and a micro SD storage card.
What are the differences between Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20?
Samsung galaxy model |
Note 20 |
S20 |
Display |
6.7 inch AMOLED 2400 x 1080 resolution with a pixel density of 393ppi |
6.2 inch 3200 x 1440 resolution with a pixel density of 563ppi |
Refresh rate |
60 Hz |
120Hz |
Cameras |
12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto |
12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto |
Hardware |
Qualcomm snapdragon 865 plus or Exynos 990 |
Qualcomm snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 |
Galaxy Note 20 Vs Galaxy S20. How do they differ?
Design
The Galaxy S20 is designed with a metal frame with round corners and a glass back. The front part is a display screen with a small hole at the top center while at the back is a large rectangular camera housing at the top left corner. This smartphone is IP68 dust and water-resistant and is available in different colors. On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 20 has the same design as the S20, but the corners are square edges and a ‘glasstic’ backside instead of glass. Being a Note device it has a built-in S Pen which gives makes a huge difference between the two smartphones.
The Galaxy S20 has a more sleek and stylish design than Note 20.
Specs and hardware
The Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 both can run using either the Exynos 990 chipset or the Qualcomm snapdragon 865 or Qualcomm snapdragon 865 plus chipset on the Note 20 depending on the region you live in. It has a 128 GB for storage and 8 GB of RAM with both a 4000mAh battery that is both wireless and fast charging and the S20 comes in both 4G and 5G models. However, the Galaxy Note 20 has an 8 GB of RAM just like the S20 in the 5G models and 256 GB of storage, but you can also get the 5G model with a 128 GB depending on your region. Note 20 also uses ultra-wideband technology and an S Pen which you can use for different functions like navigation and writing.
The Galaxy Note 20 has more impressive specs and hardware which also includes an S Pen.
Display
Both devices have a pinhole camera at the top center and an Infinity-O display. The Galaxy Note 20 has a 6.7-inch display and a 2400 x 1080p resolution and a pixel density of 393ppi with flat instead of curved edges and a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S20 on the other hand has a 6.2 inch dynamic AMOLED display with a picture resolution of 3200 x 1440 and a pixel density of 563ppi.
The Galaxy S20 has a smaller display but a better picture resolution and lots of pixels that will give you more crisp and clear images.
Camera
The Galaxy S20 has a triple rear camera that comes with the main lens with 12 megapixels, a telephoto lens with 64 megapixels, and an ultra-wide lens with 12 megapixels. The camera can deliver a 30x digital zoom and a 3x hybrid zoom. The Galaxy Note 20 also has a triple rear camera like the S20 with zoom capabilities of 30x on both its hybrid and digital zooms. There’s a 10-megapixel punch hole camera at the front.
The Galaxy S20 has a better camera with 50x zooming capabilities with increased pixel sizes that will help you take better photos with more light even at night.
Galaxy Note 20 Vs Galaxy S20. A comparison review
Galaxy Note 20
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 features an AMOLED panel that will give you the brightest most vivid screen and a 6.7-inch screen with full HD resolution with a sharper QHD resolution. The design of this handset feels suitably premium with flatter metal edges with the back part that feels like ceramic that is made with polycarbonate. It comes with 3 color options that include mystic bronze, mystic green, and mystic grey. The Note 20 display only has a standard 60Hz refresh rate display which is also the case in many top-end phones. This means the display refreshes quicker to give you a smoother experience when you’re scrolling through your social media feeds or playing games.
The S Pen stylus is housed at the bottom edge on the left side and comes with some improvements like an improvement in its accuracy and sensitivity, it will sync what is said aloud even as you write on the screen, and added new gestures when you’re interacting with your phone. This phone has a 4300mAh battery with a 25W fast charging which allows you to juice up your phone reasonably quickly and is supported by a wireless power share for reverse 15W wireless charging. Whether Note 20 uses the Qualcomm snapdragon 865 or the Exynos 990 chipset, this phone works with 5G networks.
Pros
- Comes with an S Pen stylus for writing and navigation
- It has a 4300mAh battery with wireless charging and fast charging
- Available in both 4G and 5G models
- Has a large screen
Cons
- It’s expensive
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Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S20 has a compact design, a smooth 120Hz display, and improved cameras and 5G speeds. It has a flatter display and a rectangular blob that houses the camera with a metal and glass trim. It’s a light but sturdy phone which you can grip much better and use it effortlessly with one hand. S20 has a 6.2-inch screen, high-spec cameras on both sides, a fast 120Hz refresh rate, 5G downloading speeds, and a big battery. All its 3 main cameras have been improved with a few software tweaks to give you an improved overall experience and increased pixel sizes to give you more light when taking pictures at night.
The telephoto lens is better than the S10 that will allow you to take high-quality 3x optical zoom shots or take a 30x digital zoom. It has a large 4000mAh battery that can last you a day on the 4G network with a 25W fast charging with a 9W reverse wireless charging, but no headphone jack. The main camera has a 1/1.76 inch sensor that handles a wide range of shooting environments. The telephoto camera has a 64MP resolution and 3x optical zoom, while the ultra-wide camera has the same resolution as a 13mm focal length and super steady video feature.
Pros
- Classic compact design
- A sleek and lightweight phone
- Has a micro SD card slot
- Improved camera with 3x lossless zoom
Cons
- Battery life is relatively short
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Conclusion
Both the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 are around the same size and have almost the same specs, but the Note 20 has an S Pen.
So which one is better Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy S20?
The Galaxy Note 20 is a better smartphone because it has a slightly more powerful Qualcomm chipset with double storage, S Pen capabilities, and larger battery capacity and display.
FAQ
Are all Galaxy S20 5G?
5G is present in all models of S20 and both S20 plus and ultra support the fast 5G network used by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile and the low and mid-band 5G networks used.
Is Samsung S20 waterproof?
The S20 range is water-resistant and can handle water up to 1.5 m, but any deeper than that and the water pressure will cause serious damage.
