Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Pro
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra commands a $300 premium with its iconic S Pen stylus and established software ecosystem, though by raw specs the Xiaomi 13 Pro proves the superior all-rounder. Xiaomi's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor significantly outpaces the Note's 865+ in CPU and GPU performance, delivering noticeably faster app launches and gaming. The 13 Pro's display reaches 1900 nits brightness versus 1500 nits on Samsung's 6.9-inch panel, making outdoor visibility superior despite slightly smaller screen real estate. Camera systems both shoot 8K video, but Xiaomi's Leica-tuned setup with 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor excels in computational photography and low-light performance compared to Samsung's 108 MP main sensor. Battery capacity tips decisively toward Xiaomi: 4820 mAh with 120W charging and 50W wireless versus 4500 mAh with 25W wired charging. Samsung weighs 208g while Xiaomi reaches 229g, a noticeable difference for daily use. MIUI 14 has matured considerably versus One UI 2.5, though Note users value the stylus workflow Samsung uniquely provides. For productivity power users specifically needing the S Pen, Samsung remains justified; for everything else, Xiaomi delivers superior hardware and charging technology at lower cost.
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 Xiaomi 13 Pro if…
- →1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor delivers outstanding low-light photos
- →Leica co-engineered triple camera system
- →120W wired charging in ~19 minutes
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
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Pros
- 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor delivers outstanding low-light photos
- Leica co-engineered triple camera system
- 120W wired charging in ~19 minutes
- 50W wireless charging included
- IP68 rated with ceramic back option
Cons
- Very heavy at 229 g
- MIUI 14 has bloatware and ads in some regions
- USB-C 2.0 limits data transfer speeds
- Telephoto is 3.2x — no true periscope
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | Xiaomi 13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Android 13 (MIUI 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 208 g | 229 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Aluminum frame, ceramic or leather back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm | 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor) — Leica tuned |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Periscope | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.2, 115-degree — Leica tuned |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/2.0, 3.2x optical zoom — Leica tuned |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4820 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 120W HyperCharge wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 3088 x 1440 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1500 | 1900 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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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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