Samsung Galaxy Note Series Review – The Iconic S Pen Flagships Revisited
Introduction
The Samsung Galaxy Note series holds a legendary status in the smartphone world. Launched in 2011, the Note line pioneered the “phablet” trend with its big screens and included stylus (the S Pen), redefining what users could do on a phoneen.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org. Early skeptics ridiculed the original 5.3-inch Galaxy Note as “too large” for a phoneslashgear.com, but consumers thought otherwise – Samsung sold over 10 million units of the first Note within 10 months of releaseslashgear.com. From 2011 to 2020, each new Galaxy Note pushed the envelope in display technology, performance, and productivity features, making the series a top choice for power users and professionals. In this comprehensive review, we’ll revisit key models of the Galaxy Note series (with a focus on the Galaxy Note 10+ and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra), exploring their design, displays, performance, cameras, and unique S Pen capabilities. We’ll highlight real-world use cases and step-by-step examples of Note features, cite reputable sources for facts and stats, and even include buying links and internal resources for further reading. By the end, you’ll understand why the Galaxy Note series remains iconic – and how its legacy lives on in today’s devices – even as Samsung’s strategy has evolved. Let’s dive in!
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Galaxy Note Series Overview – Big Screens, Big Ambitions
The Galaxy Note series made its mark by combining tablet-like functionality with smartphone convenience. It was among the first commercially successful large-screen smartphonesen.wikipedia.org, essentially creating the “phablet” category. Each Note phone offered a roomy display and an S Pen stylus to write, draw, and navigate with precision. This winning formula turned the Note into a productivity powerhouse for note-takers, business users, and creatives. Samsung quickly became synonymous with big-screen innovation – by late 2013 they had sold over 50 million Galaxy Notesen.wikipedia.org as large displays became the new norm in the mid-2010s.
Evolution and Notable Innovations: Every generation of the Note introduced advancements:
- Multi-tasking and Power: The Galaxy Note II (2012) bumped the screen to 5.5″ and debuted split-screen multitasking (running two apps side-by-side) for the first time on a Samsung phoneslashgear.com. It also introduced Air View hover previews with the S Penslashgear.com, expanding what you could do without touch. By the Note 3, Samsung added a 5.7″ 1080p display, 3GB RAM, 4K video recording, and even a leather-like backing for a premium feelen.wikipedia.org.
- Design and Build: The Note series iterated from plastic builds to more premium materials over time. The Galaxy Note 4 (2014) featured a metal frame and one of the first Quad HD (1440p) smartphone displaysen.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, plus it was the last Note with a user-replaceable batteryen.wikipedia.org. Samsung also experimented with new form factors – alongside the Note 4 came the Galaxy Note Edge with a curved side display. By Galaxy Note 7 (2016), the hardware had evolved to sleek glass-and-metal designs with IP68 water resistance and even an iris scanner for securityslashgear.com. (Samsung skipped “Note 6” to align numbering with the S series, jumping to Note 7.) The Note 7 showcased a beautiful curved 5.7″ AMOLED display and refined design – it set record pre-orders at launchslashgear.com.
- Setbacks and Comebacks: Famously, the Galaxy Note 7 encountered battery defects that led to overheating incidents. Samsung issued a global recall of over 1 million Note 7 units in 2016 to ensure customer safetyslashgear.com. This was a major blow to the brand’s reputation. However, Samsung learned from the failure – they implemented an 8-point battery safety check and rebounded with the Galaxy Note 8 in 2017. The Note 8 restored consumer trust by adopting a safe battery design and adding a dual-camera system (a first for the series) while retaining the 6.3″ big screen and S Pen. By Galaxy Note 9 (2018), Samsung delivered a 6.4″ device with a massive 4,000 mAh battery, improved cooling, and the first Bluetooth-enabled S Pen that could act as a remote control (for example, as a camera shutter). These iterations proved Samsung’s commitment to innovating despite setbacks.
The Samsung Galaxy Note10 lineup (2019) featured nearly bezel-free “Infinity-O” displays and the signature S Pen stylus. The Note10 family introduced a bold new design and continued Samsung’s trend of packing productivity features into a sleek form factor.
- The Note10 Redefines Design: By 2019, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ with a design overhaul. They adopted the “Infinity-O” display – an edge-to-edge screen with a tiny punch-hole camera – giving an almost all-screen front. The Note10 series came in eye-catching finishes (like the iridescent Aura Glow) and notably removed the headphone jack, reflecting industry trendsthenextweb.com. The larger Note10+ sported a 6.8″ Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display that still ranks among the best of its time for vibrancy and clarity. Despite some criticism for dropping legacy features, the Note10+ was widely praised for its sleek build and immersive display.
- The Final Note – Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: In 2020, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, essentially the ultimate culmination of the series. It boasted a huge 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Quad HD+ resolution and a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rateanandtech.com, anandtech.com. It was also incredibly bright – up to 1500 nits peak brightness – for great outdoor visibilitysamsung.com. The Note 20 Ultra introduced a sophisticated triple-camera setup (108MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5× optical zoom capable of up to 50× digital “Space Zoom”). With a laser autofocus sensor, it addressed the focusing issues seen in the S20 Ultra. This model also featured a refined design with a frosted Mystic Bronze glass finish and the latest Gorilla Glass Victus for improved durability.
By late 2020, however, Samsung’s strategy shifted. In August 2021, the company announced no new Note would come that year and that beloved Note features would migrate into other devicesen.wikipedia.org. Indeed, the Galaxy S21 Ultra and later the S22 Ultra adopted S Pen support (with the S22 Ultra even embedding an S Pen like a Note)en.wikipedia.org. The Galaxy Note line was effectively discontinued after the Note 20/20 Ultra, marking the end of an era. Yet, the Note’s influence lives on – today’s Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) is essentially a spiritual successor with a built-in S Pen and large format, and Samsung’s foldable phones now carry the torch of mobile productivity. In the sections below, we’ll review a few of the most significant Galaxy Note models in detail, examining what made them stand out and how they hold up now.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (2019) – A Premium Productivity Powerhouse
Released in August 2019, the Galaxy Note 10+ represented a turning point for the Note series. It was the penultimate Note flagship and showcased Samsung’s modern design language and ecosystem integration. Let’s break down its key aspects:
Design & Display
The Note 10+ wowed with its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display stretching nearly edge-to-edge. It’s a Quad HD+ panel (3040×1440) with HDR10+ support for stunning visuals and ~498 ppi densityen.wikipedia.org. The “Infinity-O” design (centered punch-hole front camera) and slim bezels gave the phone a futuristic look. Reviewers noted that the Note 10+ design was among Samsung’s best – sleek, symmetrical, and ultra-premium. The build used aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 6 on front and back. Samsung offered colors like Aura Black, Aura White, and the show-stopping Aura Glow (an iridescent silver that refracts rainbow colors). The device is tall but surprisingly thin (7.9mm) and lightweight for its size (196g)en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org. Notably, Samsung removed the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Note 10 series (a first for Notes), which drew some sighsthenextweb.com but also helped achieve the slim profile. Overall, the Note 10+’s design was a solid blend of business-like professionalism and eye-catching style. It’s no surprise that even years later many users “still love” the Note 10+ design and build qualityandroidpolice.com.
The display quality on the Note 10+ remains excellent in 2025. It was lauded as one of the best screens of 2019 – vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high brightness. While it lacks the higher refresh rate of newer phones (it’s 60Hz, since 120Hz panels came in 2020), most users found it smooth and responsive. In fact, the Note 10+ was one of Samsung’s first phones with UFS 3.0 storage, making interactions faster (app launches, file transfers, etc.)amazon.com. This UFS 3.0 flash memory (256GB or 512GB onboard) was a big upgrade over previous generation storage speeds, contributing to the phone’s snappy feel. The Note 10+ also retained a microSD slot (up to 1TB expansion)en.wikipedia.org – a feature power users appreciated (the smaller Note 10 lacked microSD support). With 12GB of RAM and UFS 3.0, the Note 10+ could juggle multiple apps and large files with ease.
Performance & Software
Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 10+ featured the top-tier processors of 2019: either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in North America/China or Samsung’s Exynos 9825 (7nm) in other regionsen.wikipedia.org. Paired with 12 GB RAMen.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, this hardware delivered excellent performance that still holds up decently today. Benchmarks at launch put the Note 10+ at the pinnacle of Android performance for its time. In real-world use, the phone handles everyday tasks – browsing, social media, productivity apps – without breaking a sweat. Even many games run smoothly, though newer 3D games in 2025 may push the limits of the 855/9825 chip. One thing to note is that the Note 10+ launched on Android 9 (Pie) and received updates up to Android 12 with One UI 4.1 as its final major OSen.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org. It continues to get security patches occasionally, but won’t receive Android 13 or later. So while the software is polished and feature-rich (One UI is quite refined for multitasking and S Pen integration), buyers in 2025 should be aware the Note 10+ is at end-of-life in software support.
That said, Samsung packed a lot into the Note 10+ software experience. Out of the box it offered the full Galaxy ecosystem features: Samsung DeX (desktop mode when connected to PC/monitor), a host of S Pen note-taking and drawing apps, and advanced multitasking. The Note 10+ was also the first Note to deeply integrate Windows Your Phone (Link to Windows), allowing you to mirror notifications and messages on a PC – great for productivity. In daily use, the phone remains smooth. Users on forums even in 2025 report “zero slowdown and battery still pretty good” on their Note 10+ after years of usereddit.com. This is a testament to the robust hardware and Samsung’s optimization over updates.
S Pen Stylus – Features & Air Actions
Of course, the defining feature of any Note is the S Pen. The Note 10+ came with an upgraded Bluetooth-enabled S Pen that introduced “Air Actions.” These were gesture controls that let you wave the stylus in the air like a wand to perform certain tasks – for example, swiping the pen to switch camera modes or using an upward flick to change camera from rear to front. While a bit gimmicky for some, these features were handy in niche scenarios (like remote-controlling a presentation or taking a group selfie from afar). Even without the fancy gestures, the S Pen remained the best smartphone stylus on the market – reviewers called it a “fantastic productivity tool” and a core reason die-hard fans stick with the Note series9to5google.com, 9to5google.com. It’s precise (4,096 pressure levels), responsive, and seamlessly integrated with Samsung’s software. You can jot handwritten notes, sketch illustrations, sign documents, or hover for extra info (e.g., preview a video by hovering the pen – a feature called Air View).
The Note 10+ also added the ability to convert handwritten notes to text through the Samsung Notes app, which works quite well even with messy handwriting. Real-world example: Imagine you’re in a meeting and you take notes on the Note 10+ with the S Pen – later you can tap a button to convert those to editable text and export to Word or PDF. Many business users found this invaluable. The S Pen also serves as a remote shutter for the camera (click the button to snap a photo) – a feature introduced with Note 9 and carried forward. All these capabilities made the Note 10+ a note-taker’s dream device.
One of the only downsides compared to earlier Notes was the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack, meaning you need USB-C or wireless headphones. Samsung did include USB-C AKG-tuned earbuds in the box, softening the blow for audiophiles. Overall, the Note 10+ struck a balance of productive features and sleek design.
Battery Life: The Galaxy Note 10+ is powered by a 4,300 mAh battery, which was sizeable for 2019 and enough to comfortably last a full day for most users9to5google.com. Reviewers found it to be an “all-day phone” under normal-to-heavy use9to5google.com, thanks in part to efficient processors and optimizations. It also supported 25W fast charging (with the adapter included) and even up to 45W with an optional charger9to5google.com, meaning you could top-up rapidly – about 0 to 100% in around an hour with the fastest charger. Additionally, it supported wireless charging and reverse wireless charging (PowerShare) to charge other gadgets. In 2025, the battery health on used units may have degraded somewhatuptradeit.com, so you might need a battery replacement to restore peak endurance. But a healthy Note 10+ battery can still deliver decent screen-on time in the 4-6 hour range which, while lower than modern flagships, is serviceable.
Camera Quality: The Note 10+ carried a versatile camera setup for its time: a triple rear camera with 12MP main (with variable aperture for better low light), 12MP telephoto 2× zoom, and 16MP ultra-wide, plus a DepthVision 3D sensor for enhanced portrait effectsen.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org. While those specs may seem modest next to today’s 50MP+ sensors, the Note 10+ takes excellent photos in good lighting – images are sharp and vibrant, and even low-light shots were surprisingly good for 2019 standards. Android Police noted that low-light performance was better than expected and overall camera quality held up well at the timeandroidpolice.com. With the telephoto and ultra-wide, you get flexibility in composition (0.5×, 1×, 2× optical zoom). The phone can record up to 4K 60fps video (and even has a rudimentary Live Focus video mode to blur backgrounds). It’s not going to beat a 2023 flagship in night mode or HDR, but the Note 10+ camera remains “very capable for most scenarios” – casual photographers and social media users should be satisfied. The front camera is a single 10MP shooter that takes detailed selfies.
Real-world Usage: Using the Note 10+ is a joy for those who value productivity on-the-go. For instance, you can have an email open on one half of the screen and a web browser on the other (using split-screen multitasking) to reference information as you write – something even many newer phones don’t encourage due to smaller screens. The phone’s speakers (stereo tuned by AKG) are loud and clear, great for conference calls or mediaen.wikipedia.org. The in-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader is fast and convenient for unlocking. And the phone’s IP68 rating means you don’t have to worry about splashes or rain.
Even in 2025, the Note 10+ feels like a modern device in many respects: it has the power, the display, and the features that matter to power users. If you don’t need 5G (note: the standard Note 10+ is 4G LTE, though a rare 5G model existed in limited regions), the Note 10+ can be a great value. It’s often available in the ~$250 range refurbished, making it a fraction of new flagship prices for a high-end experience.
For general tips on choosing a smartphone, see our Smartphone Buying Guide 2025 which covers what specs and features to consider.
Amazon Offer – Interested in the Galaxy Note 10+? You can check its price on Amazon (refurbished models are often available at a discount).
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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (2020) – The Ultimate Note, Refined
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (launched August 2020) is the last flagship of the Note series – and Samsung certainly saved the best for last. This device took the Note line to its pinnacle with cutting-edge specs and an improved user experience. Many longtime Note fans consider the Note 20 Ultra “the pinnacle” of the seriesreddit.com. Let’s examine why.
Design & Display
The Note 20 Ultra features a striking premium design. It has a massive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that gently curves at the sides. The resolution is Quad HD+ (3088×1440), yielding ~496 ppi, and it supports dynamic 120Hz refresh rate for ultrasmooth scrolling and animationsanandtech.com, anandtech.com. Notably, the 120Hz on the Note 20 Ultra is adaptive – it can ramp down to 60Hz or lower when static to save battery, then up to 120Hz for interactions. This phone’s screen is absolutely gorgeous: reviewers praised its vibrancy, color accuracy, and extreme brightness. Samsung advertised up to 1500 nits peak brightness on the Note 20 Ultra’s display, which makes it one of the brightest screens ever on a phonesamsung.com. Using it outdoors in bright daylight is no problem – the content stays visiblesamsung.com, samsung.com. Contrast is superb (3,000,000:1 per Samsung specssamsung.com), and HDR10+ videos look brilliant with rich dynamic range.
In terms of build, the Note 20 Ultra refined the aesthetic introduced with the Note10+. It has a squared-off shape with sharp corners (staying true to the Note’s design heritage), and a slightly curved front glass. The back on the popular Mystic Bronze model is frosted glass, which not only looks elegant but resists fingerprintsanandtech.com. The phone feels substantial yet well-balanced at 208g weight and around 8.1mm thick. One change is the camera bump – the Note 20 Ultra’s rear camera module is quite large and protruding (to house that periscope zoom lens and big 108MP sensor). Many users opt for a case to even out the bump. The phone uses a stainless steel frame and was the first to sport Gorilla Glass Victus on the front for improved drop resistancefreditech.com, freditech.com. It’s IP68 water and dust resistant as expected. Samsung offered Mystic Black and Mystic White colors too, but Mystic Bronze became something of a signature look for this model.
One physical feature difference: the S Pen silo (and volume/power keys) shifted to the left side on the Note 20 Ultra, whereas previous Notes had them on the right. This was a minor adjustment that some muscle memory had to adapt to.
Performance & Longevity
Under the hood, the Note 20 Ultra came with the best silicon of 2020. In the US/China it uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (an enhanced 3.0 GHz variant of the 865) and elsewhere the Exynos 990anandtech.comanandtech.com. It packs 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM in the 5G modelanandtech.com, plus either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage (and yes, still microSD expandable – Samsung wisely kept the SD slot on Ultra models). Performance on this phone is stellar: it breezes through heavy multitasking, productivity tasks, and high-end games. Even in 2025, the Snapdragon 865+ holds up for most apps and games – it’s roughly on par with a mid-range or higher 2023 chipset. The Exynos 990 version is a tad less efficient and powerful (noted to “lag behind” the Snapdragon in testsanandtech.com), but unless you’re comparing side by side, both variants deliver a fast and smooth experience.
One area to consider is software updates. The Note 20 Ultra launched with Android 10 and Samsung’s One UI 2.5, and it received updates through Android 13 (One UI 5.1) as its final major updateen.wikipedia.org. Samsung promised 3 years of OS updates for it, which have been fulfilled, and it should get security patches for at least four years from launch (so until late 2024). That means as of 2025 it may still get occasional security fixes, but no Android 14 or beyond. However, One UI 5.1 is very feature-rich and modern, so you’re not missing much beyond some latest Android 14 refinements.
In daily use, the Note 20 Ultra is often described as butter-smooth – thanks in large part to the 120Hz display and optimized One UI software. The combination of high refresh rate and responsive hardware makes every interaction feel instant. Even the Uptrade blog, evaluating this phone in 2024-25, noted that for general productivity, media, and stylus tasks, the Note 20 Ultra “still delivers” a great experienceuptradeit.com. Apps open quickly and multitasking is seamless. The phone also supports Samsung DeX (including Wireless DeX, which lets you cast a desktop interface to a Miracast-enabled display without any cable) – a nifty feature for those who want a PC-like experience driven by the phone.
One point of caution: by 2025 the Snapdragon 865+ is still fine, but heavy 3D games or advanced AI camera features on newer apps might push it to its limits. And the phone being a few years old means its battery and software support are finite (more on battery in a moment). But broadly, the Note 20 Ultra feels like a modern flagship in use.
Camera – A Versatile Triple Lens System
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra inherited and refined the camera system from the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It sports a 108 MP f/1.8 primary camera (with pixel-binning to 12MP for detailed shots), a 12 MP ultra-wide camera for expansive shots, and a 12 MP periscope telephoto that offers 5× optical zoom (around 120mm equivalent focal length). With Samsung’s clever cropping, it can achieve up to 50× digital zoom for long-distance shots, branded as “Space Zoom.” The camera module also includes a Laser autofocus sensor – this was added to fix the focus hunting issues seen on the S20 Ultra’s 108MP camera. As a result, the Note 20 Ultra focuses quickly and accurately in most situations.
In practice, the Note 20 Ultra’s camera is excellent for photography. In daylight, images from the main camera are rich in detail and punchy in color (Samsung tends toward vibrant color renderingdxomark.com). The large sensor can create natural background blur for close subjects. In low light, the dedicated Night Mode helps brighten shots, though very dark scenes can still challenge it (phones like the Pixel or latest iPhone may edge it out in extreme low-light). The ultra-wide camera is handy for travel and landscapes, and maintains good color consistency with the main lens. The 5× telephoto is a highlight – photos at 5× zoom are sharp and let you capture distant subjects (e.g. a speaker on stage or architectural details) that most phones’ 2× zoom can’t. Even at 10× zoom, quality is surprisingly decent; beyond that (20×, 50×) the images are more of a fun gimmick or for reference, as they get blurrier. DXOMark’s testing of the Note20 Ultra camera found it to be a “capable device for smartphone photography” with particular strengths in exposure, color, and bokeh (portrait shots)dxomark.com, dxomark.com. Its overall camera score was high, though not at the very top of the chart by late-2021 standardsdxomark.com. The takeaway: it’s an excellent all-around camera phone, even if newer flagships have advanced further in zoom and night photography.
For video, the Note 20 Ultra can shoot up to 8K resolution (24fps) – mostly for bragging rights, as 4K is more practical. It excels at 4K 60fps, producing smooth and detailed footage. Samsung’s video stabilization (Super Steady mode) helps in capturing steady handheld clips (though it caps resolution to 1080p or 4K 30). The phone also offers Pro Video mode for manual controls, and fun features like recording with both front and back cameras (Director’s View introduced in later One UI updates). The front camera is a single 10 MP sensor (same as Note10+) and yields clear, focused selfies and supports 4K video as well.
S Pen – The Best Yet (Ultra-low Latency)
If there is one aspect where the Note 20 Ultra truly shines above all its predecessors, it’s the S Pen experience. Samsung managed to cut the S Pen stylus latency down to just 9 milliseconds on the Note 20 Ultraandroidpolice.com, anandtech.com – a huge improvement from the ~42ms on the Note 10/Note 9. In practice, this means writing or drawing with the S Pen on the Note 20 Ultra feels incredibly responsive, almost like writing on real paper with a pen. There is virtually no perceptible lag between the pen movement and the digital ink appearing on screenanandtech.com. This was achieved with a combination of faster sampling rates (thanks to the 120Hz display) and predictive algorithms (using AI to guess the pen’s trajectory and thus reduce latency)anandtech.com.
For anyone who loves to jot notes, sketch, or annotate documents, the Note 20 Ultra offers a best-in-class experience. You can scribble meeting notes or class notes fluidly – the improved latency and high pressure sensitivity make handwriting feel natural. The Samsung Notes app on this device also added features like audio-synced notes (record audio while writing; later tap a word to playback what was said at that moment). It’s a powerful tool for students and journalists.
To illustrate the productivity, here’s a step-by-step example of a handy S Pen feature, Screen-off Memo, on the Note 20 Ultra:
How to quickly jot a note with Screen-off Memo:
- Remove the S Pen while the screen is off. The moment you eject the S Pen from its slot with the screen off, the Note 20 Ultra automatically wakes a special black notepad screen (no need to unlock the phone).
- Write your note on the screen. Use the S Pen to scribble any quick note or idea. You’ll see your handwriting in white ink on the black background. You can write multiple lines – it’s like a pocket notepad.
- Save the memo. When you’re done, simply put the S Pen back in, or tap the save icon. The note is instantly saved into the Samsung Notes app for later reference.
- Done! All without ever turning on the phone fully or navigating to an app. This is great for jotting down a phone number, an idea, or an address in seconds.
This feature highlights how the Note series was built for convenience and speed in note-taking scenarios. It’s the kind of real-world utility that gave the Galaxy Note its name and loyal following.
The S Pen on Note 20 Ultra also supports the Air Actions similar to Note10+, with even more gestures (five new ones were added, like drawing shapes in the air to navigate). These are niche but can be useful for remote control (e.g., advancing slides in a presentation or controlling music playback). If you choose, you can customize what certain gestures do in different apps (through the Settings). The S Pen still doubles as a remote shutter and can trigger various functions with its button. And yes, it still writes if the battery inside the S Pen dies – the Bluetooth functions won’t work without a charge, but the pen will always work for writing on the screen since the digitizer is powered by the phone.
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Battery Life
The Note 20 Ultra comes equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery – a slight bump from the Note 10+ and a necessary one to handle the large 120Hz screen. It provides solid battery life, though not class-leading. With 120Hz mode and 5G usage, heavy users might end the day with ~10-20% left. With more moderate use or using 60Hz mode, it easily lasts a full day. In reviews, the battery was generally found to be good, but the high-end features can drain it faster than a same-size battery on a 60Hz phone. The phone supports 25W fast charging (oddly, Samsung did not enable 45W charging on the Note20 Ultra, unlike the Note10+). At 25W, you can get around 50% charge in just under 30 minutes, and a full charge in about 70 minutes. It also supports fast wireless charging and reverse wireless power share for accessories. One consideration: as the device is now a few years old, battery health could be a factor if buying used – batteries degrade over time. If you find the battery life lacking, a fresh battery from Samsung’s service can revitalize it. Still, compared to newer phones, the Note 20 Ultra’s battery holds up; some newer models have larger 5,000 mAh cells, but also more power-hungry internals, so the real-world difference isn’t huge.
UpTrade’s assessment in 2025 did mention that used units might face battery health concerns if not replaceduptradeit.com, which is something to keep in mind. However, starting with a slightly smaller battery than its successor (S21 Ultra had 5,000 mAh) means that if longevity is your priority, you may need to charge by evening on heavy days. For most, though, the endurance is perfectly adequate – and features like adaptive refresh rate help optimize it.
Real-world Experience and Value in 2025
Using the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra today still feels premium and powerful. The large display is fantastic for media consumption (movies, YouTube, browsing) and productivity (editing documents or spreadsheets on the go). The stereo speakers are loud and clear. Call quality and reception (with support for 5G networks) remain top-notch. And the phone has all the bells and whistles: NFC for Samsung Pay, MST (on some models) for swiping payments, secure biometric unlock (face unlock in addition to the ultrasonic fingerprint), and a host of sensors.
Multitasking is a breeze – you can have multiple windows open with no stutter. The phone’s 12GB RAM ensures apps stay in memory; switching between a video, a graph in Excel, and a drawing in Samsung Notes is smooth. If you’re a professional, you can connect the Note 20 Ultra to an external monitor and use Samsung DeX to get a desktop-like experience with multi-window support, which is great for presentations or working on a bigger screen. Even wirelessly you could cast DeX to a smart TV and use the phone as a touchpad – it’s a unique capability that few phones offer.
Gaming on the Note 20 Ultra is still very good. The Snapdragon 865+ can handle popular titles (PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact) at high settings, though for the absolute max settings you might see some thermal throttling over extended play. The vapor chamber cooling in the device does a decent job but the phone can get warm under heavy GPU load.
One could argue the Note 20 Ultra is the last true Note, and it shows – Samsung went all-out. If you are considering one in 2025, it’s a great buy for enthusiasts who want the S Pen experience without jumping to the latest $1200+ device. Its price on the used/refurb market often hovers around $300-$400 (depending on condition and storage). That’s a strong value for what is effectively a flagship phone with no significant weakness aside from being a generation behind in silicon and having no forthcoming OS upgrades.
However, an important consideration is that the Note 20 Ultra is the final Note to get full software support – meaning after 2024 it will likely stop receiving even security patches. Also, its warranty (if buying new old stock) would be expired. So one must be comfortable with that or plan to use custom ROMs (for the technically inclined) down the road. Still, the phone will continue to function perfectly well; lack of updates doesn’t suddenly make it unusable.
Amazon offer – If you want to experience the ultimate Note, you can find the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra on Amazon (often available renewed or new from third-party sellers).
Curious how Samsung’s latest flagship compares? Check out our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Flagship Experienceamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Flagship Experience to see how the spiritual successors of the Note carry on its legacy. The S23 Ultra inherits many Note features (built-in S Pen, huge 200MP camera, etc.), underscoring that the Note’s DNA lives on.
Conclusion – The Legacy of the Galaxy Note
The Samsung Galaxy Note series may have officially concluded with the Note 20 Ultra, but its impact on the smartphone industry is undeniable. The Note line proved that there was a strong market for big-screen, do-it-all devices – what was once mocked as a “giant phone” became the standard as even “normal” phones now approach 6.7 inches. Features popularized by the Note, from large immersive displays to advanced stylus functions, have influenced competitors and even Samsung’s own product lines.
The Note series stood for productivity and power. It blurred the lines between phone and notepad, between work and play. Business users loved having a mini computer and notebook in their pocket; artists loved the freedom to sketch digitally on the go; power users just loved having the most feature-packed device available. Samsung leaned into an ethos of “no compromise” with the Note: you got the top specs, expandable storage (in most models), the latest display tech, a big battery, and the S Pen – there was no other phone quite like it for a long time.
Even the challenges (like the Note 7 battery crisis) demonstrated Samsung’s resilience and commitment to quality – the brand earned trust back with improved safety and by delivering nearly flawless devices in later years. In total, over its decade-long run, the Note series built a faithful fanbase. Samsung has since channeled that into the Galaxy S Ultra phones and Fold devices, which now target Note’s audience by offering pen input and large screens. As TM Roh of Samsung stated in 2021, they would “broaden beloved Note features to more devices” instead of a new Note that yearen.wikipedia.org. Indeed, today the Galaxy S22 Ultra/S23 Ultra effectively are new Notes under a different name, and the Galaxy Z Fold series even brings the notepad concept to a tablet-like foldable form (with S Pen support on foldables too).
For readers considering a Galaxy Note in 2025: it can still be a smart purchase if you value its unique strengths. The Note 10+ offers a great value option with most of the modern conveniences (minus 5G), and the Note 20 Ultra offers a near-flagship experience that many current mid-range phones can’t match (120Hz OLED, telephoto zoom, etc.). Just keep in mind software support timelines and consider battery replacements for longevity. Both devices we reviewed continue to “deliver an excellent experience” in the areas of productivity, media, and stylus useuptradeit.com, even if they are a few years old. They truly exemplify the durability and forward-thinking design of Samsung’s engineering.
In summary, the Galaxy Note series deserves its place in tech history as an innovator and an enabler of mobile productivity. Its Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EEAT) were built over years of real-world use by millions, and the series consistently ranked among the top performers of its time. Whether you’re a longtime Note loyalist or a new user intrigued by what a Note can do, these phones offer depth and capability that remain relevant. The Note is gone in name, but its spirit lives on every time you see a phone with a giant screen, or use a stylus to sign on glass, or multi-task on your handset. Samsung’s Galaxy Note truly redefined the smartphone – and its legacy continues to shape the devices we use today.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note series discontinued?
Yes. Samsung officially discontinued the Galaxy Note line after the Note20/Note20 Ultra in 2020. Samsung now incorporates Note features into Galaxy S Ultra and foldable devices instead.
What is the best Galaxy Note phone?
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (2020) is often considered the best, featuring the largest display, fastest internals, excellent cameras, and improved 9ms latency S Pen.
Is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra still worth buying in 2025?
Yes, if in good condition and reasonably priced. Its hardware is still robust, but consider limited software support and potentially diminished battery life.
What's the difference between Galaxy Note series and Galaxy S Ultra phones?
Originally separate, the Note featured an S Pen and boxy design. Now, Galaxy S Ultra models have integrated Note features including a built-in S Pen, essentially replacing the Note series.
Why did Samsung discontinue the Galaxy Note series?
Samsung merged Note features into the Galaxy S Ultra and foldable series, streamlining their lineup and focusing resources on innovative devices like foldables.
Do Galaxy Note S Pen styluses work on other devices?
Generally, yes. Samsung’s S Pen styluses are compatible with other Galaxy devices supporting S Pen, though advanced Bluetooth features may be device-specific.
Author: Wiredu Fred – Technology Writer & Smartphone Reviewer (10+ years). Fred has reviewed dozens of Samsung phones since 2012 and has deep experience with the Galaxy Note series, using them as daily drivers and testing their features in real-world scenarios. With a background in mobile software development and as an avid tech enthusiast, he offers insights that balance technical detail with practical user perspective. Fred’s work has been featured in tech blogs and magazines, and he continues to follow the mobile industry closely to inform consumers with accurate, up-to-date information.
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