26 Sep
Blog

Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless Review: An Icon Goes Wireless

A side view of the Corsair M65 wireless mouse.

Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless in the test: An FPS symbol becomes wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"The Corsair M65 RGB Ultra is the latest gaming technology in an iconic design."

advantages

  • Blunt, comfortable design

  • Optical mouse switches

  • Tilt gestures

  • 26K DPI sensor

disadvantage

  • Expensive compared to the wired version

  • Much heavier than other high-end mice

Corsair's M65 is an FPS (first person shooter) icon in the world of gaming mice. After seven years and several iterations, Corsair has shown that the M65 design is going nowhere. However, the M65 RGB Ultra Wireless is something new. It's the first time the design is wireless, and at a price that the range has never seen before.

While the M65 was never a budget option, the first wireless variant pushes the price down to almost double the wired version and eventually pushes the mouse over the $ 100 mark.

Still, the M65's comfortable design and tunable weight system make it a great choice for the serious FPS player.

draft

M65 Ultra Wireless on pink background.

Corsair has made a few versions of the M65 since its introduction in 2014. And the design has mostly stayed the same. It's a large, stocky mouse with a pronounced bump on its back that's perfect for palm and claw gripping. I use the palm grip and the M65 Ultra Wireless gives me just enough to hold on to.

Like previous versions, this one is equipped with an aluminum frame that gives the mouse a feeling of weight. In contrast to the previous Elite version, the M65 Ultra Wireless has a surface structured on both sides, similar to Corsair's Dark Pro RGB. I love the addition as it just adds a touch of grip to an otherwise matte design.

Even if 18 grams doesn't sound like a lot, it makes a big difference.

Just like its wired counterpart, the M65 Ultra Wireless comes with six removable weights. They are divided into three sections so you can choose to have internal weight, external weight, both, or neither. In addition to shifting weight from 110 grams to 128 grams, the weights are also distributed to adjust the center of gravity.

Even if 18 grams doesn't sound like a lot, it makes a big difference. The M65 Ultra Wireless is a heavy mouse to begin with, especially with all of the weights. There's a lot of scope for customization here, as long as you like a heavy mouse (something like the Razer Orochi V2 is better if you have a lighter variant).

Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless Weights.

The weight of the M65 Ultra Wireless also makes it feel like a unit. If you've used any of the last few iterations of the M65 you already know what I'm talking about. This is a beefy mouse that can withstand the pressure, unlike many ultra-light esport mice that feel like they'll fly away if you don't hold them tight enough.

Still, it's important to realize that weight isn't for everyone. Although the M65 has an adjustable weight, it's still heavy, just like the Logitech G502 Hero with its detachable weights. The M65 Ultra Wireless is also 13 grams heavier than the wired M65 Elite (although it's five grams lighter than the M65 Pro).

Sensor and buttons

The M65 Ultra Wireless comes with eight programmable buttons, which for me is perfect. It's a few more buttons than the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, but still fewer than an MMO giant like the Logitech G600. In addition to left and right click, you have access to the forward and backward thumb buttons, up and down DPI adjustment, and the thumb sniper button, iconic for the M65 range.

Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless Sniper Button.

For left and right click, Corsair uses Omron's optical switches, as opposed to the mechanical switches you'll find on most mice (including the M65 Pro and M65 Elite). There are many details as to why optical switches are better than mechanical, but it comes down to the delay. Basically, a mechanical switch has a small “debounce delay” between being pressed and reaching its reset point.

Optical switches do not have this problem. They use light instead of a physical switch, which avoids debounce delays. All in all, the delay is so small that most people will never notice it. However, optical switches are technically faster. So if you need a health checkup who actually killed you from someone in Valorant, the M65 Ultra Wireless has one.

It's the feel of the optical switch that got me hung up. There are few mice with optical switches – namely the SteelSeries Prime and the Razer Basilisk V3 – so I'd recommend trying one of these in the store before picking up the M65 Ultra Wireless. It's not a bad feeling, but optical switches don't provide the same click as a mechanical switch – it's almost like there's a damper.

In addition to a switch upgrade, the M65 Ultra Wireless comes with a sensor upgrade. It features the 26K DPI Marksman sensor, just like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless. That's even above the 25.6K DPI sensor on the Logitech G Pro X. As with the optical switches, a higher DPI sensor is technically more accurate, even if it's not relevant to most people.

Corsair M65 Ultra wireless sensor.

The query rate of 2,000 Hz is relevant. The change from 1,000 Hz – typical for wireless gaming mice – to 2,000 Hz reduces the response time to 0.5 ms. From the buttons to the sensor to the polling rate, the M65 Ultra Wireless is designed to give you even the smallest edge.

Connectivity and battery life

Like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, the M65 Ultra Wireless also features Bluetooth and Corsair's wireless slipstream technology. You can switch between them at the bottom of the mouse, which I did a lot when switching to a home theater setup with the M65 and my Logitech G915 TKL.

The M65 Ultra Wireless is exactly what I'm looking for in a wireless gaming mouse.

Without lighting, Corsair claims up to 120 hours of battery life when using Bluetooth (90 hours when using Slipstream). After 15 minutes, however, the mouse automatically sleeps, so you can use the M65 for weeks without charging. Compared to my Razer Viper Ultimate, I haven't felt the loading error nearly as often. And when I did, the USB-C port for charging meant I was rarely without a replacement cable.

The M65 Ultra Wireless is exactly what I'm looking for in a wireless gaming mouse. The quick switching between 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth makes the mouse versatile for different setups and the battery lasts long enough to never feel like a problem. USB-C is a big win too, unlike mice like the Razer Viper Ultimate, which stuck with a micro-USB port.

software

Corsair's iCue software is one reason to choose the M65 Ultra Wireless. As with Logitech's G Hub and Razer's Chroma, iCue lets you customize RGB lighting and change key assignments, including assigning absurd macro functions to each of the keys. Once you have everything set up, you can save your DPI, lighting and macro profile on the mouse for use without iCue.

Corsair's iCue is an integral part of the M65 Ultra Wireless.

There's not much in terms of lighting as the M65 Ultra Wireless has a single zone for the logo on the back. However, iCue gives you access to custom lighting effects like rain or a temperature sensor. I have a penchant for static lighting in my rig, which iCue divides into a separate, simplified section.

The most fascinating part of iCue with the M65 Ultra Wireless is the gyroscope. The six-axis gyroscope enables the configuration of the lift detection, but also opens up the possibility of gestures. The M65 Ultra Wireless includes forward, backward, left and right tilt gestures that you can assign to any key or macro like a normal key.

Gestures in the Corsair iCue software.

And to my surprise, it works. I can't imagine ever using the tilt feature – immediately after setting it up, I accidentally frenzied the mouse after turning it upside down – but it works. There are also some uses for it such as For example, using Alt + Tab to scroll through windows or assign a key like PrintScreen that you might otherwise have to look for.

Corsair's iCue is an integral part of the M65 Ultra Wireless. It goes well beyond buttons and lighting, and gives you access to unique features like gestures and important settings, such as: B. when the mouse goes to sleep.

Our opinion

The Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless targets two other mice directly – the Logitech G Pro and the Razer Viper Ultimate. The Viper Ultimate is about $ 20 more expensive, while the M65 and G Pro are both $ 130. In terms of performance, there isn't much of a difference between these three mice, so it comes down to features and preferences.

The Corsair mouse has a number of advantages in this regard. The optical switches are faster, it contains a massive battery and comes with USB-C for charging. I also love the design and feel of the M65, though a lot of it depends on your hand size and the way you hold your mouse.

I would have liked a slightly cheaper price – around $ 110 like the Saber Pro Wireless – but the M65 still feels a step ahead of the competition.

Are there alternatives?

Yes, several. For high-end wireless FPS mice, the Razer Viper Ultimate, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Corsair Saber Pro Wireless are all options.

You can save a lot with a wire too. Corsair's wired M65 is $ 60 cheaper, and there are options like the SteelSeries Rival 3 for around $ 30.

How long it will take?

Omron optical switches do not have the same 50 million click lifespan as mechanical switches. Most optical switches, however, last longer than mechanical ones. The M65 Ultra Wireless should last 15 years or more, long gone when you're likely to want to switch to something new.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The M65 Ultra Wireless is an excellent wireless gaming mouse. It has the same premium features as similar mice like the Razer Viper Ultimate and the Logitech G Pro X Superlight. However, you can save a lot with inexpensive wireless options like the Logitech G305 or the wired version.

Editor's recommendations



26 Apr
Blog

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Review: It’s Not Quite Ultra Enough

xiaomi mi 11 ultra review top back camera

"The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra does everything you'd expect from a top smartphone in 2021, but introduces a few things you don't want and that gives the competition the edge."

  • 50MP camera takes great photos

  • Nice screen

  • Good battery life and fast charging

  • Focus problems frustrate you

  • The back screen isn't very useful

Xiaomi knows there is a battle for flagship phones this year. Samsung has knocked down competition so far with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and while the Galaxy S21 + and Galaxy S21 don't quite meet the same standards, they're still desirable phones. We've already looked at Xiaomi's S21 challenger, the Mi 11. Now is the time to check whether the Mi 11 Ultra can compete against the S21 Ultra or whether it doesn't quite live up to its name.

design

So you think the S21 Ultra is big and heavy? Get to know the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. It's a 234-gram plate made of Gorilla Glass Victus and ceramic with a huge camera module that takes up the top third of the back of the device. The total footprint is a bit smaller than the Galaxy phone, but the added weight and camera module mean it's still a serious handful.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The tapered edges, curved corners, and flat ends make it comfortable to hold, but the balance is easily disturbed, not that it's a surprise when you look into the camera. The module is almost weirdly large, protrudes several millimeters and is packed full of cameras and associated sensors as well as a second screen. Really. The Mi 11 Ultra has a screen in the camera module. I'll come back to that.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's good that the camera module is, how should I put it, noticeable. Otherwise, the Mi 11 Ultra isn't a very exciting phone. It is similar to the Mi 11, OnePlus 8 Pro, and various other phones with curved screens and shiny bodies. It doesn't attract a lot of fingerprints, but it's very slippery. Xiaomi comes with a basic case in the box and it is probably advisable to use it.

Screens

The Mi 11 Ultra's screen is one of the best I've used on a phone. It is 6.81 inches tall, has a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision support and a lot of brightness. There was never a time when I wished it looked different or had an additional function. There are always-on screens on the front and back of the phone for notifications and the time of day.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Although the Mi 11 Ultra has a curved edge, the screen doesn't extend that far down, but it suffers from accidental touches. Suddenly adding blank lines to a piece of text, moving it to the notification shade when you don't want to, and opening the camera or dialer app is all done. It's not all the time, but it's enough to be annoying. If you're not a fan of curved screens, the Mi 11 Ultra won't change your mind.

Now we come to the rear window. It's a tiny 1.1-inch OLED that sits next to the cameras and makes it easy to take selfies when using the rear camera. This allows you to check your pose instead of just guessing. It also works as a constantly on screen that shows the time, battery level, and some notifications when the phone is face down. It is not displayed permanently on the screen and can be set to only stay on for up to 30 seconds. You can tap on it to wake it up.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Is it helpful? Not really. I usually have my phone open anyway, but when I haven't, I'll still have to tap the screen to see the time and negate any cunning advantage of watching the clock. For selfies, it's too small and too low resolution to do anything other than simple framing. You can see where you are in the shot but don't expect a lot of details. Yes, it allows you to use the rear cameras for selfies, so it's successful there, but not much beyond that.

When you return to the main screen, there is little to separate it from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. It's bright, vibrant, and detailed, and has a variety of custom settings for you to play around with. These include a Super Resolution mode for upscaling low-resolution content and several Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) modes that apply HDR effects to still images and videos. You can adjust the DCI-P3 color gamut for accurate colors, change the refresh rate, enable flicker, and also change the resolution.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, it is difficult to determine what makes a difference and where. I have the 4K Mitsubishi Evo X video from Woyshnis Media with the settings DCI-P3 color profile, 120 Hz, WQHD + resolution and super resolution and again with automatic color and 60 Hz, but without super resolution, and apart from the refresh rate, viewed the video looked very similar. Ultimately, with these settings, you can make the screen look and work the way you prefer, whatever it may be. Regardless of what I did, the Mi 11 Ultra's screen always looked great.

One final thing to note is that the Mi 11 Ultra comes with a factory-installed screen protector, but it quickly lifts up at the corners and even breaks off to the side after getting caught on something. I had to take it off for the photos here, which I almost never do with a test device, which suggests it may not be the best protection.

camera

The Mi 11 Ultra is the first phone to use the jointly developed 50-megapixel GN2 camera from Samsung and Xiaomi, which has a massive 1 / 1.12-inch sensor. This means that it creates the most eye-catching natural bokeh you've seen from a smartphone without the need for a portrait mode. It's really impressive and allows you to take photos that other smartphones, even the Galaxy S21 Ultra, can't.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, this massive sensor appears to be causing a few issues, including the frustrating inability to focus on something too close to the camera. From pets to food, I have more blurry shots than actually focused shots of all of these things due to the problematic focus of the Mi 11 Ultra. This is difficult because there is no indication on the screen of whether or not the camera is in focus, and tapping your subject will not help either as there is no visual cue that it is working as advertised.

If you stop taking photos of objects within about 30 centimeters of the camera, it will do much better. The main camera has a nice natural tone with just the right amount of color to accurately capture the atmosphere of a scene. I enjoyed it very much and seldom took a picture that I didn't like. Xiaomi has kept the appearance of the photos constant across the 48-megapixel wide-angle camera with very few differences in color and dynamic range, unless the lighting is particularly demanding.

Another 48-megapixel camera offers 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and a ridiculous 120x zoom. The 5x zoom is excellent and I've used it a lot to better frame photos of flowers from a distance, even though it gets very close to the subject. As a result, it is unlikely to be as versatile and usable as a 3x optical zoom. The 120x zoom creates pixelated photos that you just want to delete.

I was impressed with the video capability. Optical image stabilization is very effective and keeps the camera steady when I'm walking or when it's mounted in a car. She records vivid, bright and very pretty videos. There are many different video modes that use Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to create unusual effects, just like the Mi 11, but they are a bit tricky and really only work in certain situations.

The small screen on the back of the phone next to the massive main cameras is undoubtedly an interesting addition, but it hasn't proven very useful. I may not take enough selfies, but even if I used it, the size is just right to frame your shot and nothing else. It's not as practical or innovative as the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro's flip camera system. It's also awkward because you have to activate it yourself in one of the Mi 11 Ultra's many camera menus. I'm not sure why Xiaomi didn't set it to automatically activate with a new, easier-to-access mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Mi 11 Ultra's camera is exciting and takes great photos most of the time. It is the first time the GN2 sensor has been used in a phone. Therefore, some problems are to be expected. Since it cannot be directly compared to others, it is not clear whether the focus problems are a Xiaomi software problem or not a camera problem. Put that aside – it is possible to bypass it once you know – and the Mi 11 Ultra's camera will capture great photos and videos that you'll want to share.

Performance and software

Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and 12 GB of RAM as well as 256 GB of internal storage space, the Mi 11 Ultra is an extremely powerful, top-class smartphone. I didn't experience any speed or smoothness issues. The Android 11 operating system is covered by Xiaomi's MIUI 12 user interface. It's the same as the Mi 11, and there are many of the same problems.

It's the best version of MIUI I've used, but it's still frustrating at times. Dark mode doesn't always work with other apps – for example, my black and white profile picture on Twitter looked negative – and the Settings menu is different from most other Android phones. It's not bad, just different, and you will have to spend some time learning its weaknesses before you feel comfortable.

I find that MIUI is a little buggy at times too, and those bugs seem to differ from phone to phone. I have noticed several times that the Mi 11 Ultra has dropped calls, which I have never experienced with the Mi 11. It didn't always happen and was mostly on lengthy calls. Xiaomi updates its software fairly regularly, which may mean that such issues will be fixed in the future.

The Mi 11 Ultra is an extremely powerful, top-class smartphone.

I've played both Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9: Legends, and while both were fluid and fast, Asphalt randomly paused until I tapped the screen to continue. It didn't work all the time and may have been a gaming bug, but given MIUI's other issues, it's worth pointing out. A lot of energy is consumed in gaming and an hour of Genshin Impact will quickly discharge 25% of the battery. You'll also have to get used to grabbing the massive camera module that is always under your hand and wiping the inevitable fingerprints off the lens.

Battery and security

The battery life of the 5,000 mAh cell is much better than that of the Mi 11. It is not enough for two days (mostly connected to Wi-Fi), but with light use it lasts well into the second day. Most of the time my days ended with around 40%. Use it frequently when you are out and about and it won't extend into a second day. This is what I would expect from a phone with similar specs to the Mi 11 Ultra.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra review feeAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

xiaomi mi 11 ultra review back handsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

xiaomi mi 11 ultra review topAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

A 67 watt charging brick is supplied along with a special USB Type-C cable. If you connect the phone at 3%, it will reach 94% in 30 minutes and the battery will be fully charged in 40 minutes. That's really fast given the 5,000mAh capacity and should mean you don't have to plug the phone in all night. The Mi 11 Ultra also has a 67W wireless charger if you use a compatible charger.

A built-in fingerprint sensor and a face release keep the Mi 11 Ultra secure. The fingerprint sensor can be a little slow, often taking around a second before the phone unlocks, while unlocking the face is very quick. So if you've enabled both of them, face unlock will have done its job before your finger touches the screen.

Price and availability

Xiaomi does not officially sell its smartphones in the US. So you have to import a Mi 11 Ultra if you want one. The phone is currently available in China, has been confirmed for India and is expected in the UK and Europe. The price has not yet been announced for the UK or Europe, but we know it costs the equivalent of $ 925 in China. We think a price of € 1,000 is likely, based on the € 750 price tag on the Mi 11.

Our opinion

The Mi 11 Ultra is a familiar Xiaomi story: Really very impressive hardware that has been disappointed by a few annoyances that should have been worked out. The main 50-megapixel camera takes great photos, and I really like the video performance, but focusing up close is random. The screen looks amazing, but there are still problems with the touch sensitivity of the curved sides. MIUI 12 is attractive and fast, but I found annoying bugs.

All of this spoils the Mi 11 Ultra and it's a shame. I can live with the size of the phone and the huge camera module and appreciate the high specs, but I don't accept fundamental issues that can make it annoying to use. When the hardware is this good on paper and you're dealing with a company as large as Xiaomi, those irritations just shouldn't be there.

The bigger problem with this is that the competition has largely resolved these issues, especially with the 2021 lineup. Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus have great high-end smartphones at roughly the same price as the Mi 11 Ultra. While not perfect, they don't have the same basic problems as the Xiaomi phone. It's frustrating as the Mi 11 Ultra is otherwise a very capable and extremely desirable phone and should match or even better what these brands have to offer.

Is there a better alternative?

It is difficult to recommend the Mi 11 Ultra directly due to its availability. Assuming you're paying $ 1,000 for the phone, we'd recommend spending it on a OnePlus 9 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro, or for a good deal, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. All three phones have great cameras, top-notch performance, and very attractive screens. In other words, everything the Mi 11 Ultra offers, just with the convenience of ordering on the spot.

How long it will take?

The glass and ceramic case should be durable in general use, and a case is included to protect the phone in case of serious problems. The Mi 11 Ultra also has an IP68 waterproof rating. Google Android updates may not arrive very quickly, but Xiaomi regularly keeps its own software up to date. There is 5G on board so you can connect to the fastest network. The phone's specs are the best you can get right now. It takes at least two years.

Should you buy one?

No. Buying the Mi 11 Ultra is still quite complicated at the moment, and there are more equivalent and better phones that are more readily available.

Editor's recommendations




22 Jan
Blog

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review: 2021’s Best Galaxy S Phone

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review Hand Shirt

"The only real flagship of the Galaxy S series of 2021 is the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which has exceptional capabilities, especially from the camera, at a lower price than its predecessor."

  • High performance, versatile camera

  • Nice AMOLED screen

  • Elegant new design

  • Long battery life

  • Latest software from Google and Samsung

  • The price is lower than last year

  • Shaky Wi-Fi connectivity

  • Intermittent loading issues

  • The top-heavy design affects the balance

  • No microSD card slot

As cute as the new design is, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 + do not have the technical specifications that we expect from the top S-series phones from Samsung. To get that true S-series experience, you have to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which is fully focused on performance, screen, camera and battery technology to please hardcore fans.

But at $ 1,200 that is Galaxy S21 Ultra This is a sizeable investment, certainly compared to the $ 800 Galaxy S21 already tested. In addition, it faces serious competition both on the outside – for example the iPhone 12 Pro Max – and on the inside (the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 2).

I am one week in the time that I live with the S21 Ultra. So, consider this a very detailed early look rather than our final test at this point, but both myself and mobile editor Andrew Martonik will add our continued thoughts to this article over the phone over the coming weeks as we build our final review out.

But even after seven days, the extraordinary capabilities of the Galaxy S21 Ultra are clear, especially when it comes to the camera. The top Samsung S-series phone may be here earlier than usual, but there's no doubt that it has a lot going for it.

design

Yes, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a big phone, but the dimensions and weight don't tell the full story. The thickness of 8.9 mm and the weight of 227 grams sound pretty normal for large smartphones these days. Placing them next to the S20 Ultra and the Note 20 Ultra actually takes up less space. This is deceptive, however, because it isn't as good as any of these phones or much of the competition, and it all has to do with the S21 Ultra's standout design feature – that large camera module – and its construction.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Instead of being a separate module on the back of the phone like the S20 Ultra, the S21 Ultra's massive camera array is part of the case itself, molded from metal and separated from the Gorilla Glass back. It's a different approach than most other smartphones and really gives the S21 Ultra a unique style – I especially like the “solid metal” design. It also looks a lot better than the S20 Ultra. However, all of this comes at the expense of balance.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Balance is important. This makes the phone feel natural in our hand and holds it securely in our grip. Since there is a large lump of metal with four camera sensors on one side of the S21 Ultra, the balance is easily disturbed. It's not a lot, but after a while you feel it. The 227g weight gets tiring after being held in portrait orientation for some time, especially with one hand. It's not the end of the world, but when the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra feels thinner, lighter, and more balanced in the hand, you know you are dealing with an animal.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Balance aside, the sides of the S21 Ultra are neatly curved and comfortable to grip, the volume and on / off buttons are well placed, there is no stupid Bixby button in the way, and the matte body is not covered in smudges or fingerprints . On this subject, my test model is in phantom black, a new color Samsung talked about extensively during the launch event. So is it worth the attention or is it just another black phone? The answer is that it is actually judged very well and is one of the best looking black surfaces you will see. With the ceramic black Oppo Find X2 Pro, it's just right for you.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The matte finish is broken up by a glossy Samsung logo and the chiseled polished metal that surrounds the camera module, as well as the reflective glass over each camera lens. I find it elegant and expensive. There are versions in lighter colors too, including some exclusive Samsung colors, but it really is one of the first times I can say that buying the black one is a good choice.

camera

As with the Galaxy S21 Ultra's dimensions, the camera's basic specs don't reflect what they look like in real life. The specification is as follows: A 108 megapixel camera includes a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP 10x periscope zoom and a 10MP 3x telephoto zoom. Even with laser autofocus, optical image stabilization, 8K video recording, and many other features on paper, this is nothing we haven't seen before. In practice, however, its ability quickly makes it clear that while we've seen the specifications before, we haven't implemented them as effectively as Samsung did here.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Let's talk about the zoom. At 10x and 3x optical zoom levels, the results are often astonishing. The photos contain a variety of details that are not compromised by aggressive software enhancements. This results in crisp, sharp, colorful, and balanced images that you are happy to share. However, there are some problems. If you compare it to the Huawei P40 Pro, with which we received a high-performance 10x hybrid zoom in May 2020, you will find that the Huawei can capture far more realistic colors – and often in greater detail. However, the S21 Ultra is not as underexposed as the Huawei, so it is the more consistent camera at this zoom level.

Use the digital zoom outside of the optical settings and the quality will decrease compared to the optical levels. Compare the 2x optical zoom of the iPhone 12 Pro with the 2x digital zoom of the S21 Ultra. The results are very different. The Samsung phone blurs details and loses realism. Increase the S21 Ultra to 3x optically and compare it to the 2x zoom of the iPhone. They are very similar in detail and tone.

Aside from the 10x optical zoom, the good news is that the photos are mostly usable, and that includes up to 100x. Photos taken with the Galaxy S20 Ultra with a maximum of 100x zoom were ridiculously bad, but the S21 Ultra allows you to photograph a sign and it remains perfectly legible. At 30x, even photos of wild animals look good – divisible good – and it's a welcome surprise. If a business wants to add these relatively niche, long zoom features, they need to be usable and reside on the S21 Ultra.

How about photos in general? While the physical phone struggles with its balance, the photos generated by the camera don't. Gone are the days of Samsung's radioactive greens and constant azure skies being replaced with a more natural color palette and a beautiful HDR system that works hard to bring out masses of detail without ruining the surroundings or subject. It's not always 100% effective, but you actually have to make an effort to get it off track, and there are times when Samsung is typing again and making the skies better.

The S21 Ultra takes photos that are immediately pleasing to the eye, and that wasn't the case with the S20 Ultra. The Note 20 Ultra has improved over the S20, but the S21 Ultra goes way beyond either. I use it to take photos like I did with the iPhone 12 Pro – content where the results are great and I don't feel the need to review and retake the shot because I don't trust it. I've never had this much confidence in a Samsung camera.

I just haven't had enough time to try out all of the camera's functions as there are many. Here are a few that I've tried that can't be seen on other phones. In Pro mode for video there is a new BT Mix audio option that allows the phone to record audio from a Bluetooth source and from the phone itself, delivering natural ambient sound paired with commentary. I've tried this on a pair of Galaxy Buds Live and it's really very effective. I can see it is being welcomed by vloggers. The single take mode, in which the camera captures a variety of content from a short video, offers more choice and more effective artificial intelligence.

The S21 Ultra takes photos that are instantly engaging, and that wasn't the case with the S20 Ultra.

In Director's View, videos are recorded with all cameras at the same time, and you can choose which view is used at what time. It also adds a picture-in-picture view of the selfie camera for reactions and comments. It works well and switching between cameras is smooth and quick. However, I would have liked a full editing suite for this mode that would allow you to capture video from any camera at any time. Without this, you have to edit on the fly, with the end result being created on the go.

What else? Edge detection for portraits has been improved. Samsung dropped the old Live Focus name in favor of the more explanatory portrait name here. The selfie camera has a natural or light setting for better colors and the A.I.-controlled scene recognition works faster, as does the optional instructions for composing best shot scenes. On the other hand, 8K video is still a memory hog and meaningless to most people, despite being technically impressive.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review and Note 20 Camera "Aria-Descriptionby =" Galerie-13-2617164

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review and S20 Camera "Aria-Descriptionby =" Galerie-13-2617165

  • 1.
    Galaxy S21 Ultra with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
  • 2.
    Galaxy S21 Ultra with the Galaxy S20 Ultra

I haven't done much research on the lowlight features yet. In the dark, the phone introduces noise as it compensates for the lack of light and, in situations with better lighting, often smooths out clouds and the surrounding area. I've been with the S21 Ultra's camera for less than a week and only a few hundred photos, but right now it's well on the way to being the best Samsung camera I've ever used and one of the best cameras out there there is moment.

Screen and performance

The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen supports a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels at 120 Hz, but can be switched to a lower resolution to extend the battery life. The refresh rate is adaptable and changes to the optimal setting depending on your activities. The screen supports HDR10 + and a whopping 1500 nits of brightness.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Unsurprisingly, it gets incredibly bright so I didn't feel the need to bring it far above half brightness. The high refresh rate is very effective, maybe even more effective than I've seen before. The text remains legible even when scrolling very quickly. I kept the resolution at the highest level for all of my time with the phone. Watching YouTube at 1440p produces very lifelike, extremely attractive content. For example, the Ghost Town Living videos are bright and colorful at this resolution, but it also highlights that the standard vivid screen mode enhances colors too much and switching to the natural setting is easier on the eyes in some situations.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The screen of the S21 Ultra has no pronounced curvature on the sides and is somewhere between the S20 Ultra and the Note 20 Ultra in this regard. It's far less curved than the Huawei P40 Pro. Swiping is convenient, but the phone's top-heavy nature means that swiping from the bottom of the screen really does require two hands to be safe.

Samsung added support for S Pen pens to the S21 Ultra, and I tested it with the pen on a Note 20 Ultra. The rejection of palms is correct, and it is easy and natural to write notes on the screen. However, the phone does not support the Bluetooth function of the S Pen of the Note 20 Ultra, so no additional functions such as the remote shutter button are available. There's also no way to stow the S-pen when it's not in use. So it is questionable how useful this feature will ever be. You can buy an ugly case for the S21 Ultra to hold the S-Pen if you are really set on having it.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I am using a Galaxy S21 Ultra with the Samsung Exynos 2100 processor which is used in the UK, Europe and parts of Asia. In the US, the phone uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. Both have 12GB of RAM if you choose 128GB or 256GB of storage, or 16GB of RAM with 512GB of storage. Unfortunately there is no microSD card slot on the S21 Ultra. So choose it carefully here as this is all of the physical space you will have.

Oddly enough, Asphalt 9: Legends is not compatible with my Galaxy S21 Ultra at the time of writing, which robs me of my usual go-to game. Instead, I played Real Racing 3 and Crazy Taxi and saw no performance issues at all, as you would expect from a phone with this performance. It shook off every other task in the same way, and I'd be surprised if anything most people do on a phone taxed it.

Security and Connectivity

Samsung has finally upgraded the gruesome fingerprint sensor and not used the endlessly unreliable sensor found on the S10, Note 10, S20, and Note 20 phones. The new, larger ultrasonic sensor is an immediate improvement as it actually works when you want it to, and for the most part on the first try. It still needs some tweaking, and a software update has already improved it, but there is fast and reliable facial recognition for those times when things get messy. Unlocking your Samsung phone has never been easier.

Although the S21 Ultra has 5G, I don't have 5G coverage in my area so I couldn't judge its performance. 4G LTE connectivity was similar to other phones, but Wi-Fi wasn't entirely reliable. Both before and after a pre-release software update, the phone did not maintain a strong connection to my home WiFi even when it is near the router.

I ran into connection issues while watching YouTube videos as 1440p versions were constantly being buffered, but switching to 720p fixes the problem. They also occurred while downloading game data that got stuck or accidentally disconnected. I haven't experienced this with any other device, including the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It's likely a software issue that should be fixed with an update that doesn't affect my colleague's phone. As such, this didn't affect the overall score and we notified Samsung of the problem.

software

My test S21 Ultra has Android 11 with the One UI 3.1 interface from Samsung and the installed Android security update from January 1st. A UI 3.1 is not that different from a UI 2. You still have the same big, bold icons and smooth transitions and the same overall reliability and minor annoyances. Visual changes are hard to spot – the PIN code entry screen has been redesigned with easy-to-use buttons and a blurry background, on-screen notification notifications are smaller and less intrusive, and the volume controls are larger.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review Apps screen "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/galaxy-s21-ultra-apps-screen- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review Power Screen "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/galaxy-s21-ultra-power-screen- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Choosing Samsung's power regulators is still annoying. The side button (according to Samsung no on / off button) activates Bixby and you access the power control via a software button in the notification shadow. Even then, the excellent Android 11 power menu with Google Pay and Smart Home controls won't appear – it's just the usual Samsung power and restart buttons. This is the default, and the functionality of the side button can be changed under Settings if that's what you're looking for.

Samsung Pay and Google Pay live side by side, but Samsung has removed the Magnetic Secure Transaction (MST) feature that was used to fool old payment terminals into stealing a physical card. Only useful in some regions of the world, its removal will surely frustrate some, but NFC – which the S21 Ultra supports for Google Pay – is so commonplace that most people haven't used MST at all.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review screen resolution "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/galaxy-s21-ultra-screen-resolution- 640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

samsung galaxy s21 ultra verification settings "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/galaxy-s21-ultra-settings-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review refresh rate "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/galaxy-s21-ultra-refresh-rate- 640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Daily, the useless swipe-in ​​panel of news and other nonsense that sits to the left of the home screen, has been replaced with a Samsung Free that apparently only focuses on news from the Upday service. It's terrible too, but can be replaced or turned off entirely with the slightly less terrible Google Discover page. Bixby is also on board. I'll say the speech recognition is very accurate, but I just can't find a reason to use it through the Google Assistant.

battery

The Galaxy S21 Ultra's battery performance assessment is just beginning, but the signs are good that the 5,000mAh cell will easily last a full day, or possibly two business days, with light use. It supports 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging and reverse charging.

This is how my initial use worked. Starting at 9 a.m. on a full battery, the S21 Ultra handled an hour of podcast streaming, some photos, general social and web usage, an hour of YouTube, some light games, and being connected to a smartwatch. It ended the night with around three and a half hours of screen time and 29% battery remaining. This corresponds to the battery life of a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There may be some differences in power consumption between the Exynos and Snapdragon S21 Ultra phones. Martonik, DT's mobile editor, uses a Snapdragon S21 Ultra and ended a day on 50% battery life in 15 hours, including two and a half hours of screen time.

The Galaxy S21 does not come with a charger. While I don't think this is a problem in itself, I've had some issues charging with third-party chargers. I charged the phone every night I used it. In three cases it was charged by about 20% and stopped. I only noticed that in the morning. I used a Google Pixel 4 charging block and cable. I will continue to monitor this and experiment with other chargers. Just like the Wi-Fi issue, it doesn't affect the review score and we have informed Samsung. This is likely an isolated issue as it does not affect my colleague's S21 Ultra.

Price and availability

The Galaxy S21 Ultra can now be pre-ordered. The delivery is expected to take place from January 27th. It is available through Samsung's own online store, Amazon and other retailers, as well as most network operators. The 128GB version is $ 1,200, the 256GB version is $ 1,250, and the 512GB version is $ 1,380. In the UK, the S21 Ultra costs £ 1,149 for the 128GB model, £ 1,199 for the 256GB model and £ 1,329 for the 512GB model.

Our opinion

Let's take this step at a time. The Galaxy S21 Ultra isn't the biggest phone out there, but it definitely feels that way. However, the new design and color choices are Samsung's best. The camera is versatile and extremely powerful. The processor offers more power than ever before. There are a few minor issues with software and connectivity, however. Samsung continues to strive to deliver a stunning screen, and the price is significantly lower than its predecessor. Last year, however, it became clear that you don't have to spend more than $ 1,000 to get a really great smartphone. The advantages still definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra really wins when placed alongside the other Galaxy S21 smartphones. It's the only model that really looks and feels like an S-series flagship. Samsung's shift in product range and pricing structure means that the S21 Ultra is the only version for you if you really want to own the latest and greatest in the S series phone, by which we mean the best technology for the most stylish case. The very good news is that when you receive them you will not be disappointed.

Is there a better alternative?

The Galaxy S21 Ultra has two main competitors: the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The iPhone is slightly cheaper, has a great camera, arguably more compact and easy to drill, and the software and long-term ownership experience are excellent.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra may have a slightly older processor, but you probably won't notice. The camera is not that powerful, but it still takes great photos. It's slimmer and more balanced, plus it comes with the S Pen pen, and there's a place to keep it too. It's also a lot cheaper than the S21 Ultra.

Both are strongly recommended. If you don't mind spending more money and want to stay with Samsung, then the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is excellent and will really turn heads with its foldable design. If you're looking to save a little money and prioritize the camera's capabilities, take a look at the iPhone 12 or the Google Pixel 5.

How long it will take?

If you get a two-year contract, the S21 Ultra will almost certainly still feel fresh in the end. There's no reason why it won't help you for another year.

If you handle the phone properly, it should be durable too. It is IP68 water and dust resistant, and the screen is covered in Gorilla Glass Victus, which is said to withstand damage from drops of up to six feet. We wouldn't put this to the test, but it does indicate that the screen can handle pocket and bag pulling in and out, and will survive general use without scratches building up.

The software installed at the time of writing is fully up to date with Android 11, OneUI 3.1, and the latest Android security update. Samsung recently committed to deliver three Android updates to various devices, including the S20 series. It is therefore to be expected that the S21 series will offer the same benefit. However, it is unknown when the updates will arrive on your phone after they are posted by Google.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's the most advanced Android smartphone you can buy right now, and it makes decisive use of the high-level technology it contains.

Editor's recommendations




19 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra In-Depth Review: The Conqueror

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review Camera Module Pen

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

"The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the largest, most feature-rich Android phone ever made."

  • Massive 120 Hz screen looks great

  • S Pen is unique and handy

  • Versatile camera

  • Future-proof hardware and software

  • All-day battery even with heavy use

  • Big and heavy

  • Security functions are difficult

  • Palm rejection issues

Go big or go home. That has always been Samsung's motto with the Galaxy Note series, and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the biggest effort yet. The screen is even bigger than last year's Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and there's more power, more features, and more technology – all with the goal of improving productivity and improving media capabilities.

Your wallet should also be bigger, as the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra starts at $ 1,299. Samsung's approach to outperforming the competition is simple: beat them into the submission by offering everything a phone buyer could want in a phone that will last for years.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable in terms of device size and price, and even outperforms the Galaxy Note 10 Plus – a phone we've named the best Android phone of 2019.

design

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If the design of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus was a bit ordinary, the Note 20 Ultra is anything but. This is particularly evident in the new Mystic Bronze color of the devices in the photos. The camera module is massive, protrudes several millimeters and dominates the back of the phone. It differs greatly from the dainty module of the Note 10 Plus and is even clearer than the module of the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The glass cover has a strong, bright shine in different lighting conditions.

The mystical bronze itself lies somewhere between gold and pink and is more noble than gaudy. The matte finish has a lot of grip and resists fingerprints, but the glass above the camera module does not. A good wipe was often required before taking photos. Take away the monster camera module, and the Note 20 Ultra has the same basic shape as the Note 10 Plus, where the curved sides taper to a point and are comfortable to grip at the same time.

Samsung has swapped the buttons on the right side of the phone. For me, as a right-hander, this is far more natural than with the Note 10 Plus, which had the buttons on the left. In the new layout, the S Pen pen is on the left side of the phone, the top and bottom of the phone are flat, and there is a single selfie camera with a hole punch on the screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I have average sized hands, and the Note 20 Ultra is almost 77.2 mm (3.04 in) wide, 8.1 mm (0.32 in) thick, and 208 grams (0.46 pounds) too big and too heavy. It's well balanced, but can feel top heavy if you use it while lying down. It's also frustrating to juggle with one hand when all you want to do is check a notification or take a selfie.

It is these quick tasks that can make using the massive Note 20 Ultra a chore, and sometimes I long for a smaller, more manageable device. With the 196 gram, 7.9 mm thick Note 10 Plus, I felt less.

Be prepared for an adjustment period once you get used to the size.

The Note 20 Ultra is a hit with a phone and requires a commitment to wear and use it every day. The reward is well worth the effort. However, if you graduate to a smaller phone (which is just about every other phone available), you should expect some adjustment period as you get used to it.

This also applies if you come from the Note 10 Plus, which feels surprisingly sleek and user-friendly compared to the Note 20 Ultra. I always appreciate an extremely large screen, but the massive chassis that it takes to get it can feel like a step too far.

Screen and audio

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A dynamic 6.9-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1,440 x 3,088 pixels, a variable refresh rate of 120 Hz and even HDR10 + support will grab your attention. The Note 20 Ultra is the first Samsung phone to use Samsung Display's variable refresh rate technology, which adapts to your phone's activities. For example, 120 Hz is used when playing games that support it, or it is switched to 60 Hz for movies or even to 10 Hz for still images. The aim is to be more energy efficient.

The screen is nice to look at, just like most Samsung phones.

This adaptive refresh rate is set by default, but it is possible to force a refresh rate of 60 Hz to be used all the time. The default resolution is also 2,316 x 1,080 and must be changed manually to 3,088 x 1,440. However, to enjoy this you need to use a refresh rate of 60Hz. It's nice to look at, just like most Samsung phones. I've used it on the default setting most of the time and haven't had any complaints about the quality or sharpness.

Scrolling through some apps is not as smooth as expected. I've noticed some stuttering on Twitter and parts of Chrome that may have more to do with Android than the screen. At the top and bottom of the display there are minimal bezels that curve gently down the sides to create a large viewing area. Even the hole punch for the selfie camera is tiny.

Woyshnis Media's YouTube video with the Lamborghini Huracán Perfomante and Mercedes Benz AMG GTS is a great demonstration of how amazing the screen is and how a display optimization called Video Enhancer works. The green Lamborghini appears off the screen when the mode is active, while the darker AMG stays muted until you approach, and the brightly colored flakes in the paint become noticeable. This good balance isn't common in display enhancement modes and meant I didn't mind leaving the video enhancer on most of the time.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I put the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra next to the equally impressive Sony Xperia 1 II to test videos and the results are surprising. The Note 20 Ultra does not play a 4K YouTube video like the Sony cell phone, but hardly shows the Porsche Taycan test from Carfection. The screen of the Note 20 Ultra is colorful and yet delivers crisp white tones. The large size really offers a nice viewing experience.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has stereo speakers, one on top of the screen for calls and one on the bottom of the phone. The sound is full, with lots of mids and clear highs. As you'd expect, there is little low-end bass. While it is loud, and while the sound gets pretty bright, there is no distortion at maximum volume. The Note 20 Ultra also supports Dolby Atmos.

The screen and media experience on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is great, but is hurt by the problematic rejection of palms and fingers on the edges of the screen. I'm using a Prerelease phone so a software update can fix this before it goes on sale. But the way it is now, it's a pain. Because of this, various apps are accidentally opened while others are closed. I accidentally sent voice messages on WhatsApp and many buttons on the sides of the screen don't work until you adjust your grip. It's very frustrating, but I hope an update is available to fix the problem.

camera

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera is one of the key improvements that the Note 20 Ultra offers over the Note 10 Plus. The 108-megapixel 1 / 1.33-inch sensor from Samsung is on board and comes from the Galaxy S20 Ultra. In addition, there is a 12 megapixel periscope zoom with 5x optical and 10x hybrid zoom, the maximum room zoom level of which, however, is reduced to 50 times instead of 100 times.

Finally, there is a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a new laser autofocus system and optical image stabilization for the main and periscope lenses. It can also record video with a resolution of up to 8K at 24 frames per second and 4K at 60 frames per second, with optical and electronic stabilization, as well as HDR10 + support.

Although the specs clearly represent an improvement over the Note 10 Plus, the two main cameras take very similar photos, with the Note 20 Ultra being only slightly more detailed. That changes, however, when you switch to 5x and 10x zoom, with the Note 20 Ultra outperforming the Note 10 Plus' ability to take clear, detailed photos.

However, the Note 10 Plus has a better 2X optical zoom mode, which makes it more user-friendly in some cases, as 5X will actually get you very close to a subject.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Note 20 Ultra's camera is easy to love. The photos you take are full of colors and appear pleasantly off the screen without looking too artificial or over-saturated. At night, the low-light performance is also great as the camera creates a real atmosphere after dark. If you zoom in at 5x and 10x, the footage still has a lot of detail, but 50x is the same pointless endeavor as 100x on the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The phone has the great single take mode with some minor changes. In this mode, you capture a short video instead of a single still image and the camera does several different edits, including still images, filtered shots, GIFs, and more. You will never regret taking a photo instead of a video.

The new mode lets you choose the length of time you record video – anywhere from five to 15 seconds – and it returns more options than before, even with the most basic of recordings. Not all are gold, but I'd rather have too many choices than not enough.

The 108 megapixel mode and the 8K video mode are gimmicks. The 8K video looks great if you own an 8K TV. If you don't, the footage will just take up a ton of space on your phone.

Take a 108 megapixel still image and you will have difficulty selecting it in the gallery. Once you find it, you can crop it without losing a lot of detail. However, this is a niche feature, especially since you can also use one of the Note 20 Ultra's very powerful zoom settings. These modes work as intended, and 8K video may be more helpful in the future. However, for now they are not a reason to buy this phone.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review wide angle "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/note-20-ultra-wide-angle -640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAGalaxy Note 20 ultra wide angle Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review Standard "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/note-20-ultra-standard-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Standard Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review 5x Zoom "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/note-20-ultra-5x-zoom - 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAGalaxy Note 20 Ultra 5x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How about some selfies? Some may consider them washed out – and they're definitely on the bright side when compared to the iPhone 11 Pro – but I liked the results.

Also worth mentioning is the editing suite in the gallery app as it has all the features and is very easy to use. The auto-enhancement setting is usually useful for making the colors stand out in selfies. Samsung added a Pro mode to the video, and while I like the way you can manually zoom in and out for a cinematic look, Pro modes are complicated and require a certain amount of expert knowledge. I suspect most people will only use Auto mode, but if you are a competent photographer this is very welcome.

The main camera functions of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – main sensor, periscope zoom, wide angle, night mode, and selfies – are all excellent, and you can snap photos that can be shared instantly in just about any setting or location. Explore more and the Note 20 Ultra's camera really stands out.

S pen

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The S Pen is now on the bottom left of the phone and is the same size and shape as the last one. However, it is easier to remove and replace than the Note 10 Plus. Samsung played a huge role in reducing the latency to 9 milliseconds. So is this noticeable? Not really, no, and maybe it's because I'm used to the Note 10 Plus, but I found my scribbled notes to be a lot neater on this phone. I think the sensitivity needs to be adjusted and the palm rejection issues don't help here either.

The new convert to text feature is very accurate. When converting, an easy-to-edit field will appear on the screen. Although I didn't have to change any words, the formatting was always turned off and needed improvement. The S Pen's air gestures work well. For example, a reverse swipe goes back one step and a Scribble action opens a window for writing on the screen. The button continues to function as a remote release for the camera.

Yes, the S Pen is one reason to buy the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Unless you have a reason other than a pen, you don't have many other options.

Living with the Note 10 Plus on various occasions over the past year has shown me that it can be useful, but you really need to have a use in mind for it. While there are special features, they aren't convincing enough to trick you into using them if you don't already have plans to take notes or draw. The Note 20 Ultra's palm rejection really needs improvement, however, as it affects the pen's response on the screen, in my opinion.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Despite the size and weight of the phone, it's a great slot machine, mostly because the screen is so big and the S Pen is an interesting alternative to using your finger. I played DariusBurst SP, one of my favorite cell phone games, and I was much more precise when dodging bullets with the S Pen instead of my finger in the more difficult later levels.

Playing 1945 and other marksmen worked just as well. The S Pen's new low latency almost certainly helps, although I wouldn't say Scribble Racer 2 felt more precise than before.

Performance and software

Buy the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in the US and it comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor. However, buy the same phone in the UK or elsewhere in Europe and it comes with Samsung's very own Exynos 990 processor. This is the model tested here with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. There is a microSD card slot to enhance this if you need more space. Regardless of where you buy the phone, it has 5G connectivity. Here are the benchmark results:

Geekbench 5: 919 single core / 2708 multi core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 5179 (volcano)

These scores are significantly lower than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro and the Snapdragon 865 Plus in the Asus ROG Phone 3. I didn't experience any performance issues and the benchmark results don't always reflect actual speed, but it's the difference between that Samsung Exynos 990 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus in these benchmark results can hardly be ignored.

Use the Exynos powered Galaxy Note 20 Ultra pretty hard and it gets a little hot – never to the point where it's uncomfortable to hold it, but you definitely get a sweaty palm. I noticed this is playing Asphalt 9 Legends, but not Hill Climb Racer. So if you never play high-end games or make long calls, you might not even notice.

Android 10 with the OneUI 2.5 from Samsung is installed together with the Android security patch from July 2020 and works just like the software of the Galaxy S20 series devices. It's bold and colorful, with tons of options to customize the look, all the way to an effective dark mode and a helpful screen that is always on. It's fast and reliable, and gesture controls are fluid. I had no problems with the software at all.

Battery and security

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Note 20 Ultra's 4,500 mAh battery has a lot to do. So don't expect it to last more than a day if your screen time is five hours or more. Use it moderately for less time and it will almost crawl through a second day of work. During my time on the phone, it didn't last two full days on a single charge, and with an average screen time of three to four hours per day, it's around 30% by midnight.

Given the technology that the battery has to power the battery, I don't think that's a bad thing, and the phone didn't worry me. I need an emergency charge to get through the day. However, it won't please the hardcore power users that Samsung wants to attract with the Note series. When you use 5G, expect even more battery drain. I don't have 5G near me so I haven't tested this feature. The 4G LTE signals are good and Wi-Fi calling on supported networks is helpful, although I've found the Wi-Fi range to be a bit short. The 25 watt wired charger brings the battery to 50% in 30 minutes, and you can also use wireless charging.

A built-in fingerprint sensor secures the Note 20 Ultra and is unfortunately just as fussy as that of the Note 10 Plus and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Recognizing your printout isn't as quick as it is with the OnePlus 8 Pro or unlocking the phone. There is a face unlock system, but it is similarly cumbersome and offers an awkward way of activation. As a result, I accidentally turned the screen off and on again while waiting for it to work. Unlocking Samsung phones is generally frustrating compared to almost all the other phones I've used.

So much more

I've been using the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as my main phone for almost two weeks. There are still many features to discover that I haven't used in a while. This is unusual and shows how much effort Samsung went into making the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra its most powerful, feature-rich smartphone on the market.

One example is the new Wireless DeX system. Samsung DeX takes your phone display onto a monitor or television and turns the software into a desktop system where you can run apps, view photos, watch videos and even play games. DeX used to require an HDMI cable or special dock to function, but the Note 20 Ultra has wireless support. The feature probably works best with Samsung TVs, but has refused to connect to screen mirroring on my Sony Android TV.

The list goes on. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a power sharing mode for wireless charging of the Galaxy Watch 3, the Galaxy Buds Plus or the Galaxy Buds Live. It provides access to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass to stream console games to your phone and the software update will allow you to run your phone apps on a Windows 10 PC. Samsung Notes is currently syncing with OneNote. There's really a lot to discover on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and that adds to its longevity.

Price and availability

The 128GB Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is priced at $ 1,299 or $ 1,449 for the 512GB model. In the UK, the 128GB phone costs £ 1,179 and the 512GB phone costs £ 1,279. It is sold through Samsung's own online shop and under contract with the vast majority of network operators. It's available for pre-order now and will be released on August 21st.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the biggest, baddest, and hardcore flagship smartphone you can buy today. It has everything you could want in a phone today – and pretty much everything tomorrow, including 5G. With that, it's a safe buy for someone looking for a phone that will last for years. However, Samsung needs to fix the palm rejection and edge detection issues as this is an otherwise excellent continuation of the excellent Galaxy Note 10 Plus. With that in mind, the phone will get a new score if Samsung fixes this issue.

A word about the price. It's expensive, but considering how powerful and capable it is, and how many features it has, the Note 20 Ultra is more durable than many other flagship phones that cost a few hundred dollars less. Samsung says it designed it that way, and it shows. If you do buy it, you might even consider changing your phone for a few years.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want the best specs, a pen, and a brilliant camera, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra stands on its own. If you're not worried about the S Pen pen, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is a decent alternative, although I prefer the Note 20 Ultra's design and camera. At this price point, you should also check out the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, which has a standout camera and screen.

If you don't want to spend that much money and don't want to worry about the pen, the OnePlus 8 Pro is a great buy with its lovely design, decent camera, and stunning screen. If you really enjoy gaming, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is another highly specialized, focused phone that is worth considering.

Should you upgrade if you own the Galaxy Note 10 Plus? I do not believe that. The camera is definitely an upgrade, but with it comes added bulk and less sophisticated software right now – there aren't any such palm rejection issues on the Note 10 Plus. If you want a Note phone but not at the price of the Note 20 Ultra, buying a Note 10 Plus is a wise decision.

How long it will take?

Age and age. The performance and ability of the Note 20 Ultra means it should still feel fresh two years from now. It's IP68 waterproof, but it's not tough, so you'll want to put it in a pocket anyway. There's 5G for the future too, and you can record 8K video if you buy an 8K TV.

Samsung promises three generations of software updates for its latest smartphones. This means the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra should receive Android updates beyond a two-year contract, which extends its useful life further than most expect. However, Samsung has not committed itself to timeframes. Although Android 11 and above will be available on the phone, you may need to be patient.

Should you buy it?

Yes. You will be spending a lot of money, but you will get a phone that you won't have to think about replacing for years.

Editor's recommendations




07 Mar
Blog

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Review: Brawn Over Brains

“You may have thought the camera was the best feature. It is not at the moment. "

  • Large, beautiful screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz

  • The zoom lens frames beautiful pictures

  • Battery life that blows through a day

  • First-class installations with 5G for every large carrier

  • Expensive

  • Inconsistent, sometimes erroneous photo and video performance

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is an elaborately equipped device with an extravagant price. With $ 1,400, you get an opulent 7-inch display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, the best internals you can expect from an Android phone, 5G compatibility with all major networks and, perhaps most importantly, a monstrous camera setup.

With 108 MP on the main lens, 48 ​​MP on the telephoto camera and up to 100x zoom, it is clear which function Samsung expects for the knockout punch. Despite its robust statistics, this heavyweight is prevented from becoming the undisputed camera champion.

Design and display

There are no two options – this is a big phone. With a 6.9-inch display – just a tenth of an inch less than usual – the slim Galaxy S20 Ultra is a large device that is somewhat unwieldy to hold.

My hands are slightly above average, and even I had to be extra careful to have a good grip when I pulled them out of a pocket or picked them up. It's big, heavy, and a bit top heavy (did you see the hump of the camera?). I used the one-hand mode for the first time because otherwise I simply cannot operate this phone with one hand.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

That said, it looks and feels like the Grand – or rather 1.4 Grand – you paid for it. The Quad HD + (3200 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED delivers deep, deep black and popping, saturated colors paired with sharp detail reproduction. Combined with the booming clarity of stereo speakers, this is one of the best viewing experiences you can have on a phone.

It's as bright as the iPhone 11 Pro at its peak, making it easy to see in direct sunlight, while the saturated colors can help brighten darker areas for difficult viewing situations.

New this year is the 120 Hz refresh rate of the screen, twice that of the Samsung Galaxy S10 with the industry-standard refresh rate of 60 Hz and switching between tasks seems pleasantly fluid.

Camera performance

On paper, the camera setup of the Galaxy S20 Ultra is the main attraction of this device. You can get a big, beautiful screen on the S20 Plus for $ 200 less. The Ultra tilts the scale with a 108 MP main camera, accompanied by a similarly stacked 48 MP tele-shooter and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera to top it off. While this system offers some advantages that no other phone can replicate at the same level, the overall performance of the camera is mixed.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

Several reviewers have reported a number of problems with the S20 Ultra's camera, which Samsung has officially fixed in a software update. Reported issues that were not officially named by Samsung include over-aggressive image processing (excessive sharpening and smoothing) and focus problems, two issues that are not new to the Galaxy S series.

We'll update our test when there's an update, but my S20 Ultra has shown significant improvements over the Galaxy S10 in all of these areas, apart from focusing.

In ideal lighting scenarios, the main camera of the S20 Ultra shoots great colors and details in the standard 12 MP recording mode, which takes pictures by pixel binning on the 108MP sensor. Here the Ultra shows its improvements in detail capture and dynamic range over the Galaxy S10 because it is less likely to blow out highlights, smooth out gradients, and produce excessively warm photos. This was the case for both the main sensor and the 40 megapixel selfie camera, which improved significantly in the same areas compared to the S10's selfie game.

More impressive details can be found in the 108 MP recording mode of the main camera. You can't see this kind of difference when looking at photos on your phone. However, zoom in on a specific area of ​​a photo on a larger, higher resolution screen and you'll see how detailed this mode is. This way you can crop photos into a smaller area and still get perfectly divisible images.

Yes, the zoom lens is as impressive as you heard it, but after zooming in about 30 times, it becomes more of a party trick than anything else. High zoom images are too grainy to be useful as saying, "Look at what I can do." In addition, distant subjects are difficult to see with the naked eye. Therefore, you are unlikely to ever notice a shot that you can only take at 100x zoom. Even if you did, the grainy, blurry result would not be pleasant.

Compared to other devices such as the iPhone 11 Pro and Pixel 4 (maximum 2 x optical zoom), the S20 Ultra has a 4 x optical zoom and uses a mixture of digital and optical magnification called "space zoom" up to 100x. The Ultra captures appealing details up to 10 times, with Samsung saying it is "lossless" while the loss of quality of the iPhone and pixel becomes apparent. The S20 Ultra has some slight losses, but nothing like the Pixel and iPhone at this zoom level.

Compared to the Huawei P30 Pro, which has a 5x optical zoom and uses a similar optical / digital hybrid to achieve 10x, there is hardly any difference between the two when it comes to optimal lighting. Step into the night and you will see a noticeable advantage in dynamic color rendering for the zoom of the S20 Ultra over the P30 Pro.

s20 10x

p30 10x

8x pixels

iPhone 10x

  • 1.
    S20 Ultra 10x
  • 2nd
    P30 Pro 10x
  • 3rd
    Pixel 4 8x
  • 4th
    iPhone 11 Pro 10x

Taking photos in low light and using Samsung night mode have been improved over the Galaxy S10. While the former's details and colors are the best, the latter is a step behind Google's Pixel 4 and iPhone 11 Pro conditions for consistently creating good-looking, accurate images.

There have been cases in less challenging low-light situations where the S20 Ultra took the best looking photo and produced sharp details and punchy colors that weren't too dramatic. But in challenging situations, such as a dark alley or even a dimly lit restaurant, the Ultra showed problems with focusing, heavily yellowed shots, and sometimes a blotchy mess.

These were situations in which the Pixel 4 and iPhone 11 Pro defeated the Ultra, and the same was true for handheld shots of the starry sky. It was easy to take these shots without errors on the iPhone and Pixel, but the S20 Ultra takes a few tries. In some situations in night mode, no usable photo could be taken at all.

Perhaps these issues will be fixed in the upcoming update, but at the moment software and processing are keeping the S20 Ultra from the dominance of the camera despite its strong hardware.

Single take is fun. This feature captures about ten seconds of video and then pulls portraits, black and white images, wide-angle photos, short GIF-like videos, and whatever the A.I. looks useful. This way you can quickly create alternative settings for a photo. It's perfect for quick, casual photos that you can share on social media or instant messaging.

Video performance

8K video recording is available, but you may not want to use it. An obvious problem? There aren't many places you can really appreciate it except an 8K TV. It also doesn't work with other key features like Samsung's Super Steady Stabilizer. 8K videos take up an enormous amount of storage space (a 31-second video uses 301 MB of storage space – over half a gig per minute).

You can forget about 8K video recording after the sun sets. These videos are significantly more grainy than those shot at a lower resolution than 4K, even though they use the same camera sensor and lens. Stabilization disturbances, shutter rolls and accidental distortions (especially in bright light) are all evident.

In truth, most of these problems can affect the video recording of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, regardless of resolution, stabilization mode or lighting – it's just a question of the situation in which these effects occur the least. Although the iPhone 11 Pro is not perfect even at night, its superior image processing avoids the many disturbances, distortions and eye-shaking pans that the S20 Ultra generates. This is also the case when you step into daylight, although the problems of the Ultra are generally less.

The video looks best at 1080p and Super Steady in bright light. Distortions are much less common in daylight, but shutter rolls are still noticeable, making camera pans look edgy and overworked. Enabling Super Steady Stabilization, which only works with 1080p video, will reduce this so much that I would recommend taking photos with Super Steady enabled as much as possible.

Both 4K and 8K shots are less attractive due to their poorer stabilization and locking roller. At night, however, you have no choice but to do 4K or less without Super Steady, as 8K is useless in such low light conditions and Super Steady uses the Ultra wide-angle lens, which cannot capture enough light for a usable video even at night.

4K video at 60 fps at night looked best from all options, but distortion, glitches, and shutter rolls were still common, much more than on the iPhone 11 Pro.

Performance, battery life and 5G

The cameras may not deliver the promised decadence, but every other aspect of the S20 Ultra's performance doesn't disappoint. With 128, 256 or 512 GB of memory and 12 or 16 GB of RAM in combination with Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 processor, you don't want anything anymore when playing, multitasking or using the Ultra every day. Add 5G support to all major U.S. networks, and you have an entertainment and workforce package that is as expensive as its price. This cannot be said about any iPhone or many Android phones – especially not one of the latest flagships.

If you're lucky enough to have around 5G and even more lucky that it is mmWave, you can expect download speeds of up to 1.6 Gbps during my NYC tests on Verizon's mmWave network, though I would often hit between 400-800 Mbps on Big Red's spotty mmWave cover. If you're not at Verizon, don't fret since the Ultra also works on Sub-6 GHz and 2.5 GHz -Access networks – good news for T-Mobile customers who enjoy much broader, but significantly slower (about 100Mbps top speed). 5G coverage.

Battery life can be where the S20 Ultra offers the most unassailable performance, and with so much going on, it is much appreciated that this basic but integral part of the great phone experience has not been shortened. Much like we saw the iPhone 11 Pro Max, this bigger phone has a bigger battery. With the refresh rate of 120 Hz activated on the display, a well-known source for increased battery consumption, I was able to use the S20 Ultra consistently for a whole day, with very little consumption for about a day and a half.

This was very similar to my experience with the iPhone, which has no 120 Hz display option. Activating a refresh rate of 60 Hz on the S20 Ultra can take an hour or more, depending on use, but for the smooth running of 120 Hz, this little bit of battery sacrifice is a breeze.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is almost everything you can expect from a high-end smartphone – on paper. In practice, it is a phone with a base price of $ 1400, which means it has to be the best or damn close. The camera does not meet this expectation.

Are there any better alternatives?

The iPhone 11 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus cost hundreds of dollars less and offer great big-screen experiences with plenty of battery life. The iPhone is also the well-rounded camera experience, although it can't keep up with the Ultra's zoom. Perhaps the upcoming Samsung update could at least result in parity in photography, although the videography is unlikely to match. The Note 10 offers the Samsung experience in a lighter, slightly smaller package with a pen for booting.

If you're a photography purist who doesn't care about spending a full day of battery life, the Pixel 4 XL is another option that offers a sleek Android experience and a camera to be with the iPhone Main competitor.

How long it will take?

This is one of the best points of the S20 Ultra. It is equipped for a certain time. With all the important 5G bands and camera hardware that is ahead of its time (and at this time with its own software), the Ultra is designed for durability. All of this, combined with its IP68 water and dust resistance, means that you should work solidly with the Ultra for two years.

Should you buy it

No. At the moment, it's hard to justify spending $ 1,400 on a camera-centric device that just isn't the best smartphone camera you can buy. For a similar big-screen experience, it seems just as good to get the S20 Plus for $ 200 less.

Editor's recommendations