Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Review

Snapdragon 865 and real-world gains, but not the absolute top CPU

Under the hood the S20 Ultra uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 and pairs with 12GB or 16GB of RAM depending on configuration. PCMag's benchmarking shows roughly a 20% improvement in processor and graphics performance over the prior-generation devices (for example, the Galaxy Note 10+ with Snapdragon 855), and UL Benchmarks reports a 3DMark Wild Life score median of 3819 with 99% stability and 22 FPS in its graphics test 1.

That said, raw CPU single-core performance still trails Apple's A13 processor as measured in contemporary testing, and real-world gains are mixed: graphics workloads benefit from the new chipset but routine tasks like web browsing did not show the same step-change according to PCMag. Also note Samsung's display/performance trade-off: benchmarks run in HD/120Hz mode score differently than QHD/60Hz, so performance depends on your chosen resolution and refresh-rate settings.

A huge 6.9-inch QHD+ panel with flexible refresh-rate trade-offs

The S20 Ultra uses a 6.9-inch 3200×1440 (QHD+) display — the largest in the S20 family. Samsung supports a higher 120Hz refresh rate but, in practice, getting the best fluidity requires using a lower resolution (benchmarks and reviews note differences when running HD at 120Hz versus QHD at 60Hz).

That flexibility is useful: you can prioritize visual fidelity at QHD/60Hz or smoother motion at 120Hz with a reduced resolution, but expect measurable differences in benchmarked performance and likely battery impact when switching modes.

108MP native sensor and 8K video — impressive specs, nuanced results

Samsung equipped the S20 Ultra with a 108-megapixel main sensor and enabled 8K video capture, pushing mobile imaging forward on paper. The combination of high-resolution stills and 8K video recording is a headline feature that few contemporaries matched at launch.

However, extensive hands-on commentary in a 70-day user review highlights that while hardware is bleeding-edge, the end-user experience can be uneven: the device's feature set and software implementation raise questions about who benefits most from the platform. Expect advanced imaging capabilities if you plan to work with high-resolution files or 8K footage, but also plan for a learning curve and large file sizes.

Big, familiar Samsung design with minor iterative changes

The industrial design is a modest evolution of Samsung's previous S10 family rather than a radical redesign; HardwareCanucks describes the S20 Ultra's appearance as a minor upgrade over the S10 series. The size (6.9") and the camera module layout are the obvious differentiators compared with smaller S20 models.

That conservatism in design means you get a premium build and very large screen area but not a dramatic aesthetic shift from the prior generation; for some buyers the incremental nature of the update undercuts the 'Ultra' branding.

5G-ready with Qualcomm X55 modem and shipped on Android 10

The S20 Ultra ships with Android 10 and includes Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 5G modem, making it compatible with 5G networks where supported. HotHardware and other coverage confirm the S20 family is 5G-ready in the US models that use the Snapdragon 865 platform.

Software-wise, expect Samsung's full-featured UI atop Android 10; benchmark and real-world testing notes (PCMag, UL) focused on hardware-mode impacts (resolution and refresh-rate choices) rather than any exceptional software-driven performance gains in everyday tasks.

Pros & Cons

• ✅ Large 6.9-inch 3200×1440 QHD+ display with option to run 120Hz (at lower resolution) for smoother motion
• ✅ Snapdragon 865 platform with measurable ~20% uplift in processor/graphics over prior-gen Qualcomm-based Samsung phones
• ✅ 108MP main sensor and native 8K video capture provide the highest-resolution imaging options available in the S20 family
• ✅ High memory and storage options: configurations include 12GB or 16GB RAM and 128/256/512GB storage
• ✅ 5G connectivity via Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem and shipped with Android 10

• ❌ Ultra-tier pricing and positioning make the target buyer unclear; reviewer called it the most expensive smartphone they'd held
• ❌ Real-world single-core CPU performance trails Apple's A13 according to contemporary benchmarks
• ❌ Benchmarked performance depends on display mode — scores drop when running native QHD at 60Hz versus HD at 120Hz
• ❌ Design is a minor iterative update over the S10 family rather than a substantial redesign

How It Compares to the Competition

• Apple iPhone 11 Pro — Offers stronger single-core CPU performance with Apple's A13 chip; S20 Ultra leads on resolution and 5G support but trails in raw single-threaded benchmarks.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ — Last-generation Samsung flagship with lower base performance than the S20 Ultra but represents the prior year's design and feature set to compare upgrade value.
• Samsung Galaxy S20+ — A smaller sibling in the S20 family that sacrifices the Ultra's 108MP sensor and largest display for a more compact size while sharing chipset and core software features.

Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It

Buy it if: Buyers who prioritize the largest screen and the most advanced Samsung mobile imaging hardware (108MP sensor, 8K capture) and who want Snapdragon 865-class performance with 12–16GB RAM and 5G connectivity. It's suited to power users who will leverage high-resolution stills or 8K footage and who can manage the device's large size and workflow.

Skip it if: Skip this model if you want the best single-thread CPU performance or a simpler, more compact phone; Apple's A13-based iPhones outpace it in some CPU benchmarks. Also consider alternatives if you prefer a clearer value proposition or a phone that doesn't force trade-offs between QHD resolution and 120Hz refresh-rate.