The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (SDM865+) is the North American Snapdragon 865+ variant of Samsung’s large-format Note flagship. It pairs a 6.9-inch, 1440×3088 OLED with up to 12GB of RAM and a 108MP main sensor; Samsung shipped this model with Android 10 and storage tiers of 128/256/512GB. The Note20 Ultra is positioned for users who prioritize a large, high-resolution display and S‑Pen productivity in a 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm chassis.
This review synthesizes published benchmark data and instrumented lab testing cited in the research brief: UL / 3DMark Wild Life scores for the SDM865+ variant, DXOMARK’s display analysis, Geekbench listings for Note20 Ultra entries, and contemporary reviews such as Wired and Counterpoint Research referenced in the brief. I treat benchmark medians and published test protocols as the primary evidence for performance and display behavior.
High-level verdict: the Note20 Ultra (SDM865+) remains a compelling pick if your priority is one of the largest, highest-resolution OLEDs and the S‑Pen experience; DXOMARK testing and the phone’s specs back that up. However, GPU and sustained-load behavior are mixed — 3DMark Wild Life reports a score of 4,186 with 82% stability and 25 FPS in its graphics test 1 — and regional chipset differences historically affected performance tuning, so it no longer matches more recent flagship silicon in sustained benchmarks.
How fast is the Snapdragon 865+ Note20 Ultra in real benchmarks?
UL’s 3DMark Wild Life test for the SDM865+ Note20 Ultra shows a Wild Life score of 4,186 and a Wild Life Unlimited score of 4,167; the Wild Life stability is 82% and the graphics test 1 ran at 25 FPS. That stability figure indicates the device reduces performance under sustained load relative to peak runs.
Geekbench listings in the public dataset for Galaxy Note20 Ultra variants (Exynos builds) show single-core CPU scores around 987 and multi-core around 2,795; while those Geekbench numbers refer to other silicon in the Note20 Ultra family, DXOMARK’s notes and third-party reviews in the brief underscore that Snapdragon vs Exynos variants differ in tuning and consequently in real-world performance.
A 6.9" 1440×3088 OLED that still leads in display tests
The Note20 Ultra’s 6.9-inch OLED panel runs at 1440×3088 (496 ppi) and supports up to 120 Hz refresh. DXOMARK’s display review — conducted on the Snapdragon model and reported in the brief — examined readability, color, video, motion and touch, and placed that family of Note20 Ultra displays at the top of their older protocol’s rankings.
DXOMARK also points out that chipset-level tuning can affect display behavior, which is why they explicitly tested the Snapdragon 865+ unit; their public test protocol and findings are the primary display evidence cited here.
108MP main camera and the S‑Pen remain core strengths
The Note20 Ultra ships with a 108MP main sensor (specification captured in the brief) and the platform’s camera stack was widely praised in contemporary reviews included in the brief. The device’s hardware and software combination was positioned as one of its highlights in third‑party articles.
Wired’s review excerpt in the brief highlights the S‑Pen as a differentiator (they called out next‑to‑zero latency in the S‑Pen), and that remains a practical advantage for note-taking and stylus workflows compared with non‑Note class phones.
Battery results vary and thermal throttling affects sustained loads
UL’s benchmark notes emphasize that battery-life submissions from the public are widely variable because brightness settings aren’t standardized; their guidance is to calibrate to 200 cd/m2 when testing. The dataset referenced in the brief therefore cautions against a single number for battery life based on public benchmark medians.
3DMark Wild Life stability at 82% signals that under sustained GPU load the SDM865+ Note20 Ultra reduces performance (thermal or power mitigation), which aligns with other contemporary reporting that flagged processor-related performance and thermal behavior in Note20 Ultra variants.
Large-footprint hardware built for productivity, not pocketability
Measured dimensions cited by DXOMARK are 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm — this is a physically large handset designed as a phablet. That size enables the expansive 6.9" display but makes the device less comfortable for one-handed use or users wanting a compact pocket phone.
The Note20 Ultra lineup was sold with multiple storage tiers (128/256/512GB) and up to 12GB of RAM (12,288 MB listed in the brief), which supports heavy multitasking and large media libraries.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ 6.9-inch OLED at 1440×3088 resolution (496 ppi) with up to 120 Hz refresh — DXOMARK tested this display and placed the family at the top of their older protocol.
- ✅ Snapdragon 865+ variant yields a 3DMark Wild Life score of 4,186 and Wild Life Unlimited 4,167 (evidence of solid peak GPU capability).
- ✅ 108MP main camera sensor and a camera stack that received positive coverage in multiple reviews cited in the brief.
- ✅ S‑Pen with very low latency (Wired highlights next‑to‑zero latency), a core Note-series productivity feature.
- ✅ Memory and storage options include 12GB RAM and 128/256/512GB storage tiers (12,288 MB RAM reported).
- ❌ Sustained GPU stability is limited: 3DMark Wild Life stability at 82% and graphics test 1 at 25 FPS indicate thermal or power throttling under long workloads.
- ❌ Performance varies across regional silicon (Snapdragon vs Exynos); public Geekbench medians for Note20 Ultra variants show CPU single-core scores around 987 and multi-core ~2,795 for Exynos entries, underscoring chipset-dependent differences.
- ❌ Battery-life reporting in public benchmark data is inconsistent—UL warns results are highly sensitive to screen brightness and testing conditions.
- ❌ Large dimensions (164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm) make it a bulky device compared with smaller flagship phones.
How It Compares to the Competition
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — Newer Snapdragon-based Galaxy S25 Ultra appears higher in Geekbench CPU rankings in the public dataset cited, offering stronger raw CPU performance than the Note20 Ultra entries in the brief.
- Samsung Galaxy S24+ — Public Geekbench listings in the brief place S24+ class devices above older Note20 Ultra CPU entries, making them better for sustained CPU-bound workloads.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra — Though a tablet, the Tab S9 Ultra appears in the same Geekbench dataset and offers larger-screen productivity as an alternative for users who prioritize display real estate over phone portability.
Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It
Buy it if: Buy this phone if you want the largest possible Note-series display and S‑Pen workflow: the 6.9" 1440×3088 OLED (DXOMARK-tested) and up to 12GB RAM make it suited to multitasking, drawing, and media consumption. Choose the SDM865+ variant if you prefer the North American Snapdragon tuning referenced in DXOMARK and UL benchmarks.
Skip it if: Skip this model if you need the absolute best sustained CPU/GPU performance or longest run-time from modern silicon — benchmark stability (3DMark Wild Life 82%) and public Geekbench medians for other Note20 variants show limits under prolonged load. Also skip if you want a compact, easily pocketable phone given the 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm footprint.
Search Purchase Options
Use these links to search for Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (SDM865+) on trusted marketplaces. The links open in new tabs; if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
* Affiliate links: you pay the same price either way.