Compared to the S10, the Ultra’s camera is a monster
Sequential read: 1,436.19MB/s Sequential write: 210.4MB/s Random read: 44,158.73 IOPS Random write: 7,189 IOPS
iPhone – but the speed: Samsung is using UFS 3.0 storage on all S20 models. While it’s not as fast as the UFS 3.1 storage that will probably debut in the Note 20, it’s a huge jump over what you got with the S10, and it even bests other UFS 3.0 phones (though I’m not sure what’s going on with random write results):
S20 (UFS 3.0)
Sequential read: 1,592.46MB/s Sequential write: 662.75MB/s Random read: 45,172.27 IOPS Random write: 33,764.08 IOPS
S10 (UFS 2.1)
Sequential read: 802.13MB/s Sequential write: 188.34MB/s Random read: 34,612.61 IOPS Random write: 7,383.57 IOPS
Add up the chip, RAM and storage, and you’ve got a downright monster of a phone that’s faster than most Chromebooks and can even give some PCs a run for their money. It’s so powerful, Samsung could probably rest on its laurels for the next two generations and still keep pace with its competitors.
Great battery, so-so 5G
Samsung has loaded the S20 Ultra with a 5,000mAh battery – its biggest ever, and a sign that it’s finally ready to push the limits of battery capacity after the Galaxy Note 7’s exploding-battery debacle.
The S20 needs it. With 5G active and 120Hz motion smoothness flipped on, I was barely able to make it through a full day of heavy use. With the 120Hz refresh off, WQHD on and 5G enabled, I was able to last a good part of a second day, which is iPhone 11 Pro Max territory. Benchmarks topped 10 hours in both cases, but 120Hz zapped more than three hours of use, so you’ll definitely want to consider whether it’s worth it to you. The bundled 25-watt charger fills up the Ultra in about an hour and a half, but it also supports 45-watt charging – if you have the right charger. I tested numerous 60-watt chargers and none of them worked, so you’ll probably need Samsung’s proprietary one.
The same goes for 5G. While all S20 phones sold in the UK will have a 5G modem, you can opt to turn it off in settings, which will give battery life a slight uptick.
Even if you don’t take advantage of the 5G modem now, you can be assured that the S20 Ultra will be as future-proofed as it can be, for as long as you hold onto it. With support for both mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G, 12GB of RAM, a fast processor, speedy storage, and an insanely great display, the S20 Ultra is primed for years of solid performance.
An Android skin worthy of praise
It’s not just the hardware that’s future-proofing the S20. For the first time since I’ve been testing Galaxy phones, I’m confident that Samsung will keep the
S20 line as fresh as possible with regular updates. Exhibit A: it’s 3 March as I’m writing this, and my S20 Ultra already has the March Security Update, the third straight month that one of my Samsung phones has gotten an Android update earlier than my Pixel 4 has. That’s a huge accomplishment and hopefully a sign of things to come with Android 11 later this year.
One UI has completely transformed the Samsung smartphone experience from a so-so skin to one of the best user interfaces Android has to offer. The S20 family ships with One UI 2, and while it’s very much an iterative update, the new features it brings – including an expansion of dark mode and the adoption of a proper back gesture – are as smart and thoughtful as they are on the Pixel 4.
One UI 2 is a bona fide contender for the best Android overlay of the year, and far and away the most creative in the Android world right now. If Samsung can deliver One UI 3 at or around the time Android 11 drops, there will be very few remaining reasons to buy another Android phone.
A great camera with caveats
While there are plenty of reasons above to justify the S20’s Ultra surname, the camera is the biggest. Inside that huge bulge is an array of large, powerful sensors and lenses that can do more than any other smartphone camera ever made. Like the rest of the S20 Ultra, the camera is on the cutting edge of available components. You’re unlikely to find another
smartphone that bests it on paper. Like the S20+, the Ultra has four rear cameras, and they’re all different:
S20 Ultra
Camera 1: 12Mp Ultra Wide, f/2.2 Camera 2: 108Mp Wide-angle, f/1.8 Camera 3: 48Mp Telephoto, f/3.5 Camera 4: DepthVision (time-of-flight)
S20+
Camera 1: 12Mp Ultra Wide, f/2.2 Camera 2: 12Mp Wide-angle, f/1.76 Camera 3: 64Mp Telephoto, f/2.0 Camera 4: DepthVision (time-of-flight)
Whether those S20 Ultra specs actually make a difference in your day-to-day picture-taking is another story. There’s a 108Mp sensor that most people will never turn on. There’s a 100x zoom that most people will never need. And it can record in 8K, which most people will never – well, you get the idea.
While the 108Mp sensor obviously stands out on the Ultra, the telephoto lens is the real star. Samsung’s claims are true – it can reach up to an insane 100x – but you’re unlikely to use it at that distance very often. As you can see overleaf, the pictures it captures aren’t really ones you’ll want to display. Plus there’s the creep factor: I was able to see clear across my wide yard into my neighbour’s kitchen window. Still, when you see just how far it can go, it’s mind-blowing.
The S20 Ultra is even more impressive when you zoom out. While 2x or 3x optical zoom is pretty