31 Jul 2020

We’re less than a week out from the announcement of Samsung’s latest mega phone; the Galaxy Note 20, and rumours suggest this years’ offering could put the phone in discussion for the best Android device ever made.

The Galaxy Note 20 is set to launch on August 6th, 2020 at 12am AEST, at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked Event. The event will take place virtually this time round, with Samsung encouraging media and fans around the globe to join the online experience to get a first-hand look at the companies latest hardware .

The event will be streamed live, with the Korean tech giant expected to unveil a range of exciting new tech, including a potential successor to the first generation Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Watch 3, alongside the centerpiece of the event; the Samsung Galaxy Note 20.

In anticipation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 launching next week, we’ve rounded up the key features we expect to see from this years' device.

• Two models (Samsung Galaxy Note 20 & Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra)
• 5G connectivity
• Triple-lens camera setup (Potential 108-megapixel sensor)
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Enhanced S Pen that includes a virtual pointer

Expect two versions of the Note 20 to be announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked Event; a ‘smaller’ Note 20 with a screen of 6.5-inches, and the more premium (and of course larger) Note 20 Ultra that could potentially feature a 7-inch screen.

Based on leaked images which surfaced on Samsung’s Russian website in early July, the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will have a similar design to the Galaxy S20, although as expected, with an additional holster for Samsung’s trademark S Pen. Both devices are expected to include Samsung's Infinity-O display.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will be unveiled on-stage at the Galaxy Unpacked Event on August 6. In the days following the Event, the Galaxy Note 20 should become available for pre-sale, with orders to be dispatched in late August or early September (the exact date is still unknown).

While pricing is also up in the air, the Note series has never been considered a cheap purchase and it’s safe to assume pricing for the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, will likely be similar to last years’ model which could see the Note 20 come it at around $1499 (AUD) and $1699 (AUD) for the Note 20 Ultra.

Potential Camera Specs

• Galaxy Note 20 - 12-megapixel main, 64-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, time-of-flight sensor. 30x Zoom
• Galaxy Note 20 Plus -108-megapixel main, 13-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel ultrawide-lens. 50x Zoom

Arguably the most anticipated feature of new smartphone these days is the camera setup and the Galaxy Note 20 is no different, with a heap of leaks and rumoured camera features adding fuel to the fire.

Note devices typically feature similar camera set ups to the flagship Galaxy S series with some slight enhancements, and it’s widely expected we’ll see a triple-camera setup, similar to what we got to experience with the Galaxy S20/S20 Ultra devices.

One interesting point of difference from the Galaxy S range, is that Samsung may look to ditch the the 100x Zoom which was a key feature Samsung marktered in the lead up to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead opting to finetune and improve the overall camera experience, with 30x Zoom and 50x Zoom expected across the two Note devices.

Over the past two years, Samsung has delivered some of the speediest phones in the market and this years Note device shouldn't be any different, with both devices expected to be powered by an Exynos 990 chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus in some regions), with potentially 8GB -12GB of RAM across the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

Both devices are also set to include 5G connectivity.

While most smartphones in the market use refresh rates of 60 frames per seconds (60Hz), Samsung is once again looking to up to the ante, with both Note 20 devices pegged to include 120Hz refresh rates.

The addition of a 120Hz refresh rate, was a popular feature of Samsung’s flagship S20/S20 Ultra models which released earlier in the year, and should bring a more premium experience as users scroll through rich content or play games on their mobile phone.

The S Pen is one of the key draw cards of the Note series, so it comes as no surprise that Samsung is looking to introduce some enhahcements to the S Pen in 2020.

While there hasn't been a whole heap of confirmed information, one leak shows the Note 20 may include a virtual pointer mode which allows users to control the cursor without having to touch the display with the stylus. This could prove to be a game changer if Samsung’s DeX mode continues to evolve, with DeX allowing users to plug their Galaxy Device into a monitor so their phone can be used as a virtual PC.

#samsung