Samsung Galaxy S20 Hands On - A Better Deal

**The Samsung S20 Series: A Toug Decision**

When it comes to choosing between the Samsung S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, many tech enthusiasts are faced with a tough decision. The main difference between these three devices lies in their camera features, battery life, and overall design. In this article, we'll delve into each device's unique characteristics to help you make an informed decision.

**Camera Performance**

The Samsung S20 has made significant improvements in its camera department compared to its predecessor. While it still lacks a wide-angle lens option, the front-facing selfie camera has been enhanced with a wider view angle. The Ultra model takes things to the next level with a 108MP primary sensor, 12MP front camera, and support for 8K video recording. However, when comparing the three devices, the difference between the S20 and S20+ is barely noticeable. The latter offers a slight zoom boost, but it's not substantial enough to make a significant impact on photography enthusiasts.

**Battery Life**

One of the most notable differences between the S20 series is battery life. The S20 Ultra boasts a 5000mAh battery, which provides an additional day of usage compared to its smaller counterparts. This makes it an attractive option for those who want a phone that can last them a full day without needing a recharge. On the other hand, the standard S20 and S20+ have smaller batteries, which may not be sufficient for heavy users.

**Design and Build Quality**

The Samsung S20 series is known for its sleek design and premium build quality. The glass back design, while aesthetically pleasing, can also be a drawback for some users who are prone to fingerprints. However, this can be mitigated with the use of a case or screen protector. The Ultra model's added features, such as the S-Pen support and 5G connectivity, make it an attractive option for those who want the latest and greatest technology.

**The Verdict: Which One Should I Choose?**

So, which device should you choose between the Samsung S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra? The answer ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you're a tech enthusiast looking for the latest and greatest camera features, the Ultra model is likely the way to go. However, if you're on a tighter budget and prioritize everyday usability, the standard S20 or S20+ may be a better fit.

**Stock and Price**

When it comes to stock and price, the S20 is available in various configurations, including a 6GB RAM variant with a lower price tag of $999. The S20+ starts at $1,199 for a 12GB RAM model, while the Ultra model begins at $1,499. This significant price difference may be a major consideration for those on a budget.

**Kirk's Thoughts: A Camera Enthusiast's Perspective**

Kirk, a camera enthusiast, has put all three devices to the test and has come away with some interesting insights. While he appreciates the camera features on each device, he notes that the S20 Ultra is the most serious about cameras. The addition of the S-Pen support and advanced camera software make it an attractive option for those who take their photography seriously. On the other hand, Kirk acknowledges that the standard S20 has a more comfortable design and better everyday usability.

**A Year with Each Device: A Real-World Test**

In a fascinating twist, wills decided to hold each device for a year to see how they perform in real-world scenarios. While it's unlikely that anyone would actually do this, it highlights the importance of hands-on experience when choosing a smartphone. Will's experience with each device provides valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

**The Final Verdict**

Ultimately, the choice between the Samsung S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra comes down to your individual needs and preferences. While the Ultra model offers exceptional camera features and battery life, the standard S20 and S20+ provide a more practical and affordable option for everyday use.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enall right so it's time to look at the more affordable yet still premium and expensive galaxy models s xx and s xx plus and they map very closely of course to last year's s10 s10 plus in terms of form factor the only difference between the plus model and the non plus in the camera department is that you get a tof sensor on the bigger one so that's not a massive change we'll give you a little extra information when it comes to that depth reading for the portrait modes and and all the rest of it that's out there battery capacity is also going to be a little bit bigger so we have the ultra model at five thousand milliamp hours and then we have the plus at 4500 and we have the standard s xx at four thousand so you you've got a variety there and then of course the price does the same thing so you started $13.99 for the ultra model 1199 for the plus model and $9.99 for the standard s 20 how's the color thing than a workout s 20 cosmic grey cloud blue cloud pink 6.2 inch screen four thousand milliamp hour battery s twenty plus cosmic black cosmic gray cloud blue an S twenty altra cosmic black cosmic gray alright that is a bit confusing so I thought that these two would have the similar color options but if you want a pink phone you have to get the standard as twenty you can't even get the plot very interesting interesting strategy you know what Samsung is trying to say there well China say if you want a pink phone you could only have the small one spit rude as far as I'm concerned I might want a pink version of the ultra phone yeah and I actually wouldn't but but nonetheless I guess this is the cosmic blue it's kind of cool it's a bit reminiscent of the color on this s10 plus from the previous year but it has a little bit more pearl to it a little bit more reflection to it kind of shifts between blue silver and pinkish this one I mean check it out that's a super comfy hold you end up with something that for single-handed functionality it'sjust Wow look at that form factor it's kind of crazy I should use smaller phones more often because you forget for single-handed functioning just how how confident you are in the grip this thing is slender and small and I think it will attract some buyers just for that reason well along with the lower entry-level price and still having a pretty high spec you've still got the top to your chip in there the top Snapdragon you still have plenty of RAM and you've got a fairly big battery given the size plus there's 5g in there so yeah 999 is still a lot of money for a smartphone for it for any smartphone let alone a flagship but it's easier to approach than $1400 I think we can all agree on that so anyhow the bigger one you can see the difference this is the in-between and it's well it is it is exactly that is in between it's not as fat the biggest difference for me from this one to the ultra is that the depth of it the the width this way what would you call that the height of it this one's less fat so smaller battery less fat and of course less of a bump out for the camera modules so when you put it on a table its it's gonna have slightly less wobble then the bigger brother granted like I said in the past you can kind of get rid of some of the wobble by putting some type of thin case on there with a little bit of a ramp like this one right here this will be an example of that it probably makes sense to talk about the difference between these and the ultra and how that works out with the camera units so on the ultra model the main camera unit is 180 megapixels with some fancy binning technology going on where Samsung says you're not gonna take that typical hit that you would have by having a crazy megapixel count on a smartphone sensor these ones on the other hand the main camera is a 64 megapixel camera so it chops that in half something more typical something you're more used to you still have the ultra wide setup and you have some zoom but not as much as the crazy periscope like zoom that exists on the ultra model and which they call space zoom up to 100 X but a lot of that is fancy tech on the software side towards the end of that zoom range these ones are 30x but expect each of these camera units to perform in a similar fashion they have the same front-facing camera hole punch setup in the center of the device so there is no more pill style dual camera dual front-facing camera on the plus model like you had in the previous version they all share that symmetrical setup and then the other piece is the fact that this one both of these also flattened out a bit from the previous version so what that means for you is possibly fewer unintended presses it's not a substantial difference but it just flattened out ever so slightly maybe that gives you a little more confidence in the grip you're not gonna tap the edge when you don't intend to all right let's give the speaker a run on the plus model here why not all right so first things first let's get that resolution up 1440p as Willy do with the clean desk and as you can see not too distracting the hole punch is kind of the way to do it as it stands right now I set it on the ultra video it's the same thing here it's really not that distracting I'm gonna turn up the volume so the sound is firing out of two locations I'm gonna give Kirk a listen on the microphone anyway Jack you brought Casper today so speaker performance very similar to the ultra model and the previous model it's not gonna blow you away but it's pretty much what you'd expect if you actually do use the speaker also should mention just like the ultra model no headphone jack here so it's gonna be galaxy buds or air pods or some type of adapter if you want to use wired headphones that's just the nature of the beast that's just a situation in 2020 it's over well with the headphone jack we can't even no need to talk about it anymore right camera performance I expect it to be pretty similar as well of course on the main on the main lens it is different than the ultra which I just test it moments ago just to have a comparison here well take a picture of will on the s20 plus and you can go back and compare that's the main frame kablammo there's our wide 0.5 and there's your zoom at 3x where it goes by default now you can see you still have all the crazy zoom settings up to 30x you can tap on those independently you still have 2 Pro mode from the ultraverse I mean you have the best parts of the ultra model device with the exception of those hardware specifications that just can't do everything that the ultra does right there's no substitute for that periscope zoom situation and setup there's no substitute for the extra battery capacity of 5,000 milliamp hours there's no substitute for the bigger screen I should mention this is a big screen still though that's six point seven inches AMOLED inbuilt ultrasonic fingerprint scanner it's got all the best stuff but six point seven versus the ultra which is six point nine step what's this one kind of in between the two makes it a really tough choice and interesting choice course you save a few bucks over here as I mentioned earlier and then you go all the way down to six point two inches if you go for the little one now the front-facing selfie camera unlike the previous version where you had options this one actually this one gives you well there's jack right there he's got to put the camera over his face they make it seem like you have a wide option but it's I mean it's barely any it's a crop really so that's the wide and that's your zoom it's really not a substantial difference you probably weren't skeptical to the camera performance on any of these things and you're gonna have you're gonna have a choice to make now between these whether you're gonna go for s 20s 20 plus or s 20 ultra you know the story for me obviously I would be an ultra guy just because well it's got ultra in the name I mean cuz it has all the specs on it and I'm a tech head and that's kind of how it goes and I've been carrying big smartphones so it seems to be no end to how heavy or big of a smartphone you can carry plus I'm sort of attracted to the five thousand milliamp hour battery one thing I'm not attracted to the fingerprints that these glass back smartphones pick up so I'll put a later case on any of them let's go ask will which one it would be for him don't lie we have all three options sitting here it's the s20 the S 20 plus look how pretty those are will s 20 s 20 plus s 20 ultra tell the truth if you had a pocket one every single day for the next year starting from this point forward and you couldn't change your smartphone after the fact which one would you select plus you gotta pay with your own money so it's 999 1199 $13.99 what you got for stock the little one and you know why because you came from the pixel so hold it hold it we'll check it out it's a comfy hold ya know year and I don't think you're gonna be the only one to be honest I think there's gonna be it's very lights very comfy to hold I think there's gonna be a lot of people that select that alongside the lower price point you start to do the math particularly between that one and the Ultra Tom about another $400 that's not nothing it's mostly for me it's mostly the battery you you heard about my charge problems people I can't I mean if I can go one extra day sometimes without a charge or like one night where you forget and you could just catch a quick boost she's very aware of the whole battery situation I'm telling you got a problem so let's go give Kirk the same option real quick of course he heard wills option which might very well influence him but we're gonna get to the bottom of it for the rest of the year oh you're gonna hold him he's gonna hold them all just cuz you're having fun this time around the cinema he's gonna mess with the AEK Kirk's a camera guy he just got this new slider I mean he's gonna look at the cameras sitting around wherever he sits there's cameras sitting around I think camera enthusiasts are going to like this thing just because of the message it sends about how serious they are about cameras this starts to look like a camera with a smartphone on it it says something about you when you pull this out it's like I'm serious about now I'm not saying whether that's right or wrong but that's how human beings buy things people go they go buy a car with a spoiler on it or some nice rims how often gonna drive it you can't drive that thing full blast the whole time but you're trying to send a signal you're trying to say look this what matters to me I'm into it I'm an enthusiast this is the enthusiast phone the ultra version in my opinion so if you're a tech fan you probably already know that that's kind of what this represents it's the f1 style it's a need and it want to be on the fringe it's all all of the above that's why the price tag is what it is but I also feel you will I feel what you're saying on the day-to-day there's a real practicality argument for the single-handed functionality the the comfort and the confidence in the grip when you go for a one-handed smartphone like the standard s 20 and you save yourself 400 bucks which that's a few lunches for a guy like you that'll buy you a couple of goji berries in the thermos I'll tell you whatall right so it's time to look at the more affordable yet still premium and expensive galaxy models s xx and s xx plus and they map very closely of course to last year's s10 s10 plus in terms of form factor the only difference between the plus model and the non plus in the camera department is that you get a tof sensor on the bigger one so that's not a massive change we'll give you a little extra information when it comes to that depth reading for the portrait modes and and all the rest of it that's out there battery capacity is also going to be a little bit bigger so we have the ultra model at five thousand milliamp hours and then we have the plus at 4500 and we have the standard s xx at four thousand so you you've got a variety there and then of course the price does the same thing so you started $13.99 for the ultra model 1199 for the plus model and $9.99 for the standard s 20 how's the color thing than a workout s 20 cosmic grey cloud blue cloud pink 6.2 inch screen four thousand milliamp hour battery s twenty plus cosmic black cosmic gray cloud blue an S twenty altra cosmic black cosmic gray alright that is a bit confusing so I thought that these two would have the similar color options but if you want a pink phone you have to get the standard as twenty you can't even get the plot very interesting interesting strategy you know what Samsung is trying to say there well China say if you want a pink phone you could only have the small one spit rude as far as I'm concerned I might want a pink version of the ultra phone yeah and I actually wouldn't but but nonetheless I guess this is the cosmic blue it's kind of cool it's a bit reminiscent of the color on this s10 plus from the previous year but it has a little bit more pearl to it a little bit more reflection to it kind of shifts between blue silver and pinkish this one I mean check it out that's a super comfy hold you end up with something that for single-handed functionality it'sjust Wow look at that form factor it's kind of crazy I should use smaller phones more often because you forget for single-handed functioning just how how confident you are in the grip this thing is slender and small and I think it will attract some buyers just for that reason well along with the lower entry-level price and still having a pretty high spec you've still got the top to your chip in there the top Snapdragon you still have plenty of RAM and you've got a fairly big battery given the size plus there's 5g in there so yeah 999 is still a lot of money for a smartphone for it for any smartphone let alone a flagship but it's easier to approach than $1400 I think we can all agree on that so anyhow the bigger one you can see the difference this is the in-between and it's well it is it is exactly that is in between it's not as fat the biggest difference for me from this one to the ultra is that the depth of it the the width this way what would you call that the height of it this one's less fat so smaller battery less fat and of course less of a bump out for the camera modules so when you put it on a table its it's gonna have slightly less wobble then the bigger brother granted like I said in the past you can kind of get rid of some of the wobble by putting some type of thin case on there with a little bit of a ramp like this one right here this will be an example of that it probably makes sense to talk about the difference between these and the ultra and how that works out with the camera units so on the ultra model the main camera unit is 180 megapixels with some fancy binning technology going on where Samsung says you're not gonna take that typical hit that you would have by having a crazy megapixel count on a smartphone sensor these ones on the other hand the main camera is a 64 megapixel camera so it chops that in half something more typical something you're more used to you still have the ultra wide setup and you have some zoom but not as much as the crazy periscope like zoom that exists on the ultra model and which they call space zoom up to 100 X but a lot of that is fancy tech on the software side towards the end of that zoom range these ones are 30x but expect each of these camera units to perform in a similar fashion they have the same front-facing camera hole punch setup in the center of the device so there is no more pill style dual camera dual front-facing camera on the plus model like you had in the previous version they all share that symmetrical setup and then the other piece is the fact that this one both of these also flattened out a bit from the previous version so what that means for you is possibly fewer unintended presses it's not a substantial difference but it just flattened out ever so slightly maybe that gives you a little more confidence in the grip you're not gonna tap the edge when you don't intend to all right let's give the speaker a run on the plus model here why not all right so first things first let's get that resolution up 1440p as Willy do with the clean desk and as you can see not too distracting the hole punch is kind of the way to do it as it stands right now I set it on the ultra video it's the same thing here it's really not that distracting I'm gonna turn up the volume so the sound is firing out of two locations I'm gonna give Kirk a listen on the microphone anyway Jack you brought Casper today so speaker performance very similar to the ultra model and the previous model it's not gonna blow you away but it's pretty much what you'd expect if you actually do use the speaker also should mention just like the ultra model no headphone jack here so it's gonna be galaxy buds or air pods or some type of adapter if you want to use wired headphones that's just the nature of the beast that's just a situation in 2020 it's over well with the headphone jack we can't even no need to talk about it anymore right camera performance I expect it to be pretty similar as well of course on the main on the main lens it is different than the ultra which I just test it moments ago just to have a comparison here well take a picture of will on the s20 plus and you can go back and compare that's the main frame kablammo there's our wide 0.5 and there's your zoom at 3x where it goes by default now you can see you still have all the crazy zoom settings up to 30x you can tap on those independently you still have 2 Pro mode from the ultraverse I mean you have the best parts of the ultra model device with the exception of those hardware specifications that just can't do everything that the ultra does right there's no substitute for that periscope zoom situation and setup there's no substitute for the extra battery capacity of 5,000 milliamp hours there's no substitute for the bigger screen I should mention this is a big screen still though that's six point seven inches AMOLED inbuilt ultrasonic fingerprint scanner it's got all the best stuff but six point seven versus the ultra which is six point nine step what's this one kind of in between the two makes it a really tough choice and interesting choice course you save a few bucks over here as I mentioned earlier and then you go all the way down to six point two inches if you go for the little one now the front-facing selfie camera unlike the previous version where you had options this one actually this one gives you well there's jack right there he's got to put the camera over his face they make it seem like you have a wide option but it's I mean it's barely any it's a crop really so that's the wide and that's your zoom it's really not a substantial difference you probably weren't skeptical to the camera performance on any of these things and you're gonna have you're gonna have a choice to make now between these whether you're gonna go for s 20s 20 plus or s 20 ultra you know the story for me obviously I would be an ultra guy just because well it's got ultra in the name I mean cuz it has all the specs on it and I'm a tech head and that's kind of how it goes and I've been carrying big smartphones so it seems to be no end to how heavy or big of a smartphone you can carry plus I'm sort of attracted to the five thousand milliamp hour battery one thing I'm not attracted to the fingerprints that these glass back smartphones pick up so I'll put a later case on any of them let's go ask will which one it would be for him don't lie we have all three options sitting here it's the s20 the S 20 plus look how pretty those are will s 20 s 20 plus s 20 ultra tell the truth if you had a pocket one every single day for the next year starting from this point forward and you couldn't change your smartphone after the fact which one would you select plus you gotta pay with your own money so it's 999 1199 $13.99 what you got for stock the little one and you know why because you came from the pixel so hold it hold it we'll check it out it's a comfy hold ya know year and I don't think you're gonna be the only one to be honest I think there's gonna be it's very lights very comfy to hold I think there's gonna be a lot of people that select that alongside the lower price point you start to do the math particularly between that one and the Ultra Tom about another $400 that's not nothing it's mostly for me it's mostly the battery you you heard about my charge problems people I can't I mean if I can go one extra day sometimes without a charge or like one night where you forget and you could just catch a quick boost she's very aware of the whole battery situation I'm telling you got a problem so let's go give Kirk the same option real quick of course he heard wills option which might very well influence him but we're gonna get to the bottom of it for the rest of the year oh you're gonna hold him he's gonna hold them all just cuz you're having fun this time around the cinema he's gonna mess with the AEK Kirk's a camera guy he just got this new slider I mean he's gonna look at the cameras sitting around wherever he sits there's cameras sitting around I think camera enthusiasts are going to like this thing just because of the message it sends about how serious they are about cameras this starts to look like a camera with a smartphone on it it says something about you when you pull this out it's like I'm serious about now I'm not saying whether that's right or wrong but that's how human beings buy things people go they go buy a car with a spoiler on it or some nice rims how often gonna drive it you can't drive that thing full blast the whole time but you're trying to send a signal you're trying to say look this what matters to me I'm into it I'm an enthusiast this is the enthusiast phone the ultra version in my opinion so if you're a tech fan you probably already know that that's kind of what this represents it's the f1 style it's a need and it want to be on the fringe it's all all of the above that's why the price tag is what it is but I also feel you will I feel what you're saying on the day-to-day there's a real practicality argument for the single-handed functionality the the comfort and the confidence in the grip when you go for a one-handed smartphone like the standard s 20 and you save yourself 400 bucks which that's a few lunches for a guy like you that'll buy you a couple of goji berries in the thermos I'll tell you what\n"