Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Verdict
Samsung's flagship evolution shows meaningful progress across multiple fronts. Both phones share a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and Android flagship positioning, but the S25 Ultra demonstrates clear advantages in processor technology (Snapdragon 8 Elite vs 865+), camera capability (200MP main vs 108MP, dual telephoto system), and charging speed (45W vs 25W wired). Display brightness nearly doubles on the S25 Ultra (2600 vs 1500 nits), and battery capacity improves to 5000mAh. The Note 20 Ultra retains a laser autofocus system and lighter weight (208g vs 218g), though this advantage is marginal. Storage flexibility favors the S25 Ultra with 1TB option. Both share IP68 rating, 120Hz refresh, and 12GB RAM, but the S25 Ultra's faster processor, superior camera array, and significantly improved charging make it the clear choice for 2025.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if…
- →S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- →120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- →108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- →Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- →Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- →Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Pros
- S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- 120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- 108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
- 5x optical periscope telephoto
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
Cons
- Slow 25W charging for a $1299 device
- No charger in the box in some regions
- Large and heavy
- S Pen silo location changed
- microSD slot removed
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- 7 years of OS and security updates
Cons
- Very expensive at $1299 starting price
- S Pen lost Bluetooth remote features
- Charging speed still capped at 45W
- Large and heavy for one-handed use
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 208 g | 218 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Periscope | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/1.9 |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP 5x periscope + 10 MP 3x |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W Qi2 |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 3088 x 1440 | 3120 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1500 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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