Galaxy S20 Ultra review

A Towering Phone Inside and Out — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a phone that makes a statement before you even turn it on. At 220 grams and with a 6.9-inch body, it’s undeniably huge. Using it one-handed is a stretch, and it demands a firm grip or two hands. That size accommodates everything Samsung could throw inside: a 5,000mAh battery for all-day endurance, up to 16GB of RAM, and a chipset that, depending on your region, is either a Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990.

It launched at a price that was unheard of for a non-foldable phone, $1,399, but time has brought that down considerably. If you can find a deal, you’re getting a device that was designed to be future-proof with 5G, IP68 water resistance, and expandable storage via microSD — a feature that is increasingly rare. This is a phone for early adopters and anyone who wants the absolute maximum screen real estate, no compromises on size. But that ambition comes with trade-offs, as we’ll explore.

You've Never Seen a Display Like This — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

What this means for Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The centerpiece of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is its 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making everything from scrolling through Twitter to playing supported games feel incredibly smooth and responsive. The panel is bright, vivid, and offers deep blacks, typical of Samsung’s best screens. This is a display that truly impresses, whether you’re watching movies or editing photos. It’s a key reason to consider this phone even years after its release.

For a deeper look at how it compares to other flagships, check out our extensive phone reviews. The screen is also one of the reasons you’ll need two hands to operate the phone comfortably. It’s a visual treat, but it’s not a display for the faint of hand. The sheer size makes it less pocketable and more of a two-handed affair than almost any other phone on the market. Still, if you want the biggest, sharpest, and smoothest screen available in a mainstream phone, the S20 Ultra delivers.

The Camera That Reaches for the Moon — and Sometimes Misses — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The S20 Ultra’s camera system is its most talked-about feature and its most controversial. The hardware is impressive on paper: a 108MP main sensor, a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide. This setup allows for a remarkable 10x lossless hybrid zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. In daylight, you can capture stunning detail from far away, something no other phone could do at launch. However, early reviews noted inconsistent autofocus and overexposure, which kept the camera from being the best point-and-shoot experience.

A software update helped, but the camera still wasn’t as reliable as the smaller Galaxy S20 or S20 Plus for everyday photos. You’re getting a lot of camera for your money, but it requires patience. If you need a phone for consistent, worry-free photography, you might want to browse our phone directory for more balanced options. For the patient photographer or zoom enthusiast, though, the S20 Ultra’s reach is unmatched.

Performance That Keeps Up, and Battery That Lasts — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

There is no denying that the Galaxy S20 Ultra was built for sheer power. Inside, you get either a Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chip, paired with a generous 12GB to 16GB of RAM. Early reports noted that the phone handled anything thrown at it with ease, from demanding games to multitasking across numerous apps. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is a highlight, offering a smooth 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling and animations feel fluid.

However, the evidence also points to some early software bugs that prevented the camera hardware from shining at launch. The 108MP main sensor and 48MP telephoto lens were capable of incredible detail and a 4x optical zoom, but autofocus inconsistency was a noted issue that required a software update to improve. On the positive side, the 5,000mAh battery is a beast. It consistently delivered enough juice to get through a full day of heavy use, and support for 45W wired charging means you can top it up quickly when needed.

The inclusion of a microSD card slot for expandable storage was also a welcome feature for power users. In terms of connectivity, the phone was future-proofed with 5G support, ensuring it would work on next-generation networks.

Software and long-term value — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Priced at $1,399 at launch, the Galaxy S20 Ultra was undeniably expensive. Even at that price, early adopters dealt with camera bugs that kept the phone from feeling truly premium. The evidence suggests that while a software update helped, the camera experience still wasn't as consistent as on the smaller Galaxy S20 or S20 Plus models for most non-zoom scenarios. Now, years later, the phone's value proposition is very different.

You can likely find it for much less than its original price, which makes its core strengths—the massive screen, amazing zoom, and long battery life—much more appealing. However, you face a tough choice. Newer options like the Galaxy S21 Ultra have improved on the formula with better cameras, S Pen support, and a more refined design, though they may still cost more. For a builder on a budget, this older flagship could be a great deal, but it's worth considering a phone finder to see what else is available.

If you are comparing it directly to its contemporaries, a side-by-side comparison with the Galaxy S20 Plus shows that the Plus offers a more balanced camera and a slightly more manageable size.

Is the Galaxy S20 Ultra right for you? — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was a phone of extremes. It tried to pack every possible feature into one device, from a giant screen to a groundbreaking camera zoom. The result is a phone that impresses with ambition but stumbles on execution. The 108MP camera and 100x space zoom were headline-grabbing specs, but early autofocus problems and overexposure issues meant it wasn't always the best point-and-shoot camera. According to evidence from multiple reviews, the smaller Galaxy S20 models often took better standard photos.

The phone is also physically massive and heavy, demanding two hands to use comfortably. For all its power, the Galaxy S20 Ultra feels like a rough first draft of an idea that Samsung would perfect with the S21 Ultra. It is best suited for early adopters who want the biggest possible screen and incredible zoom, and who don't mind dealing with some quirks. If you can find it at a significant discount today, it remains a capable and powerful phone with excellent battery life and a stunning display.

Just be aware that newer, more refined alternatives exist, and that the S20 Ultra is more of a fascinating piece of phone history than a perfectly polished everyday tool.