Hands-On With Samsung's New S20 Ultra: Is It Worth $1400?

[The Game 161]

The camera is having issues at the start let’s see if they fix via software

 

[Brandon916]

I agree with what falainber says above. You can buy Windows computer from $300 up to $3,000 or more. I bet Windows O.E.M.'s sell a lot more $300 computer than they do $3,000. All of them will run Windows 10.

I bought an iPhone SE on AT&T prepaid for $50 while the most expensive iPhone currently goes for over $1,400. Both run the most current version of iOS.

Most computer manufacturers sell versions across multiple price points.

Yeah it's not unlocked at $50. I know because I bought the same where you have to be on their plan for 12 months in order for them to unlock the phone. You're not getting the phone at $50. It sucks because I rather buy it and take it to another provider at a cheaper plan.
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Where are all the Samsung users that were saying $1200 for an iPhone is insane?

You do know you're on a Apple site right?
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This is why you have 3 options....nobody wants or needs the top of the line
This happens also on cars...you have normal E class, and also the AMG E63 and 63S

But we can afford the S20 Ultra, but we can't afford AMG class (man, they are so beautiful).
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Looks like Samsung are copying Apple by sacrificing QA to ship on their annual schedule. Basically doing what every software house does these days, ship it and patch it later.
I think that they should just delay the phones or move to a lengthier release schedule. I’m sure that the networks and consumers pockets would be thankful for it.

Kinda like iphone bendgate and antenna gate and not to mention ios 11. It happens to everyone.

 

[TroyBoy30]

if an iphone is worth 1400 then yes this one is

 

[SDJim]

MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones - all have this huge tick and outdated bezels and phones have notches while the competitions laptops, all in one PCs and flagship smartphones have significantly thinner bezels and much more modern design, not to mention nobody uses notches as you can’t watch YouTube or videos in general without being frustrated.

Samsung, Xiomi, Huawei, OnePlus, Sony, LG and much more other flagships are significantly more modern in terms of their look and video experience.

Laptops from Dell, we are talking Dell here...have much thinner bezels on their displays. Lenovo, HP, Microsoft, and other as well.

All in Ones from HP, Lenovo and practically every all in one computer out there other than Apple have significantly thinner bezels.

What’s this thick outdated bezels obsession by Tim? What’s this outdated design obsession by him?

Apple needs a new leader, one that look again making products that are leading and not following. Tim Cook needs to be replaced with someone that’s looking at consumers first like what Steve was!

It’s a shame for Apple to sell phones, laptops and all-in-ones with such outdated design and such outdated thick bezels and other crap!

All this talk about bezels. Have you used those other machines??? Their displays are sh*t. Absolute garbage. I resent having to use my Dell and Lenovo for work and wish I could use my 2015 MBP for everything like at my last job primarily for the display.

I'll gladly keep my bezels if it means my screen is actually enjoyable to look at, since I spend hours on end having to do just that.

 

[Swift]

Don’t start with me bro. I use whatever device I feel like using. I’m not tied into apples or googles ecosystem. I jump between iOS and android when I feel like it while using Microsoft’s services.

A brave freedom fighter, we are not worthy.

 

[cmaier]

Don’t start with me bro. I use whatever device I feel like using. I’m not tied into apples or googles ecosystem. I jump between iOS and android when I feel like it while using Microsoft’s services.

You just may be the Chosen One, who the prophets foretold would emerge to at last bring balance to the two great mobile houses

 

[GtrDude]

Three Samsung things:

1. I still can't stand the fact that Google knows everything about you.
Every keystroke, everything you say on the phone, everywhere you go, they even listen while you're not using the phone.
2. I can't stand those beveled edges on the Samsung screens. Horrible design and removes about an 1/8th of the actual screen usability.
3. The horrible Bixby button is still there.


That being said, Apple needs to:

1. redesign the notification center. It's ridiculous.
2. add haptic feedback to the keyboard, and better yet, make it possible to customize different intensities to your heart's content.
Those who are concerned with battery can just turn it off.
3. make it possible to adjust volume for independent apps/settings and not this general thing they're doing, forcing you to do it while the thing is being played, such as separate volume control for keyboard volume, music volume, ring volume, system volume...hey...much like Android.
4. add suggestions from the address book when you're dialing a phone number. Common now Apple.
5. make it possible to customize the texting app in every conceivable way. Font size, bubble size shape color.
6. make it possible to schedule a message to be sent at a certain time/date.
7. make it possible to move the icons anywhere you want to.
8. make it possible to stitch screen shots right there as you're taking them.
9. Use an OS-wide clipboard.

 

[edgonzalez32]

You just may be the Chosen One, who the prophets foretold would emerge to at last bring balance to the two great mobile houses

I like using what I like 🤷‍♂️. Android does a lot of things better for my workflow and iOS works better in other areas. But I like being able to tailor a device to my needs, which I feel really limited with iOS.

But that's just my needs. It doesn't apply to everyone else. Hence why it's great to have choices.
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I honestly could care less about your preference. I have an issue when people use the word bro though.

K 👌

 

[derekamoss]

I like using what I like 🤷‍♂️. Android does a lot of things better for my workflow and iOS works better in other areas. But I like being able to tailor a device to my needs, which I feel really limited with iOS.

But that's just my needs. It doesn't apply to everyone else. Hence why it's great to have choices.
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K 👌

I do agree with the feeling limited on iOS though and is the reason I abandoned that platform a while ago.
I never attempted to jailbreak or anything back in the day and normally don't tweak or theme things ever when it comes to my computer or phone but even I couldn't stand how little you could personalize iOS. The fact that Since 2007 we have the exact same home screen layout without ANY choice to make it different IE. something as simple as vertical scrolling or something is insane to me.

 

[cmaier]

I do agree with the feeling limited on iOS though and is the reason I abandoned that platform a while ago.

That’s the same reason I abandoned all mobile operating systems, and instead cart around a mainframe running Multics, powered by a bank of 12-volt car batteries attached by jumper cables, everywhere I go.

 

[derekamoss]

That’s the same reason I abandoned all mobile operating systems, and instead cart around a mainframe running Multics, powered by a bank of 12-volt car batteries attached by jumper cables, everywhere I go.

What's the battery life on that.

Also yeah I understand that every mobile OS will be limited but within the idea of overall limitation, iOS is the worst. At least add more customization options. I'm not one who plans on doing extensive tasks on iOS but i sure would like a little level of control to personalize it more.

 

[cmaier]

What's the battery life on that.

Pretty good, except when I run Chrome.

 

[derekamoss]

Pretty good, except when I run Chrome.

You should try running the tesla OS, here it has much better battery life.

 

[subi257]

No phone is worth $1400, Android or iPhone.

It's not a phone, it's a computer/camera with a phone app. I know I will take a lot of heat for that comment, but so be it. If people want (just a phone) phone, go buy a jitterbug.....that's a phone.

 

[cmaier]

It's not a phone, it's a computer/camera with a phone app. I know I will take a lot of heat for that comment, but so be it. If people want (just a phone) phone, go buy a jitterbug.....that's a phone.

I tried, but I am legally not permitted to do so until I turn 50.

 

[subi257]

The 100x is purely a gimmick. The image it produced is completely unusable. 30x is arguably the max zoom you can do for a usable photo. If Samsung simply advertised it as 30x "awesome" zoom, I would be more appreciative of the feature. But the marketing went for 100x space zoom instead, boasting numbers just to trick people.

Imo, the best value is still the regular S20. The only issue is that Samsung only offers it in 128GB config, forcing you to spend more on the higher end models if you want more internal storage.

My favorite feature of the S20 is the single take. This is just brilliant, and will surely make capturing things in life much more fun. One shot and you get multiple photos and videos. I wish more companies would look at this feature and "copy" it.

My TL;DR on the S20 family based on my short time playing with them at Samsung retail stores:
S20: best value. You get all the necessary flagship hardware and the same software.
S20+: get this if you need more than 128GB internal storage. Samsung is worst than Apple now for segmenting their flagships like this.
S20 Ultra: worst value, filled with gimmicks just to raise Samsung's profit margin. Only get it if you want the largest screen. Don't get tricked by the 100x zoom, think of it as 30x zoom instead.
Favorite feature: Single take. Best consumer feature so far brought by Samsung/Android.
The Ugly: no headphone jack.

I'll got with the 100x being a gimmick on a smart phone, but 100x lens and beyond is pretty normal in the broadcast video lens world for live sports....they're at 120x and up with internal stabilization
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This is why you have 3 options....nobody wants or needs the top of the line
This happens also on cars...you have normal E class, and also the AMG E63 and 63S

People do want the top of the line....or they would not exist. your "normal E class" is pretty close to top of the line. the bigger seller in that world would be the C class, or even lower the CLA. But back to the phones, they do sell a lot, i mean a lot of iPhone 11 Pros.....I see them on the train every day.
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no laptop should be worth 4000$

no desktop should be worth 6000$

no wheels should cost 400$

So, that says that nobody should make really high performance equipment. Go price out a HP Z8 PC workstation and do a custom build....throw everything at it! $120k

 

[cmaier]

I'll got with the 100x being a gimmick on a smart phone, but 100x lens and beyond is pretty normal in the broadcast video lens world for live sports....they're at 120x and up with internal stabilization

"100x" doesn't mean that much. Focal length is more meaningful. And these are multiple primes, not a zoom, so there are only a few actual focal lengths that don't result in image degradation.

 

[rgbrock1]

MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones - all have this huge tick and outdated bezels and phones have notches while the competitions laptops, all in one PCs and flagship smartphones have significantly thinner bezels and much more modern design, not to mention nobody uses notches as you can’t watch YouTube or videos in general without being frustrated.

Samsung, Xiomi, Huawei, OnePlus, Sony, LG and much more other flagships are significantly more modern in terms of their look and video experience.

Laptops from Dell, we are talking Dell here...have much thinner bezels on their displays. Lenovo, HP, Microsoft, and other as well.

All in Ones from HP, Lenovo and practically every all in one computer out there other than Apple have significantly thinner bezels.

What’s this thick outdated bezels obsession by Tim? What’s this outdated design obsession by him?

Apple needs a new leader, one that look again making products that are leading and not following. Tim Cook needs to be replaced with someone that’s looking at consumers first like what Steve was!

It’s a shame for Apple to sell phones, laptops and all-in-ones with such outdated design and such outdated thick bezels and other crap!

The bezels on my 2019 16" MacBook Pro are just as thin as the ones on anything by Dell or ASUS.

 

[yui4]

Not for unlocked versions of Samsung flagships which get minimum three years upgrades but not necessarily every month after one year. In carrier locked editions, it takes more efforts to rollout upgrades which is why more delays on the carrier locked ones. In the Android world Samsung UI (Software)always ahead of latest stock android versions. Knox security is top class nevertheless the pricing is getting insane...

I thought it was 2 years upgrades and 3 years security updates?

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Haha... probably.

But I thought technology is supposed to get faster and cheaper over time?

Phones have certainly gotten faster... but the prices keep rising.

What happened?

A long time ago a 55" 4K TV was $4,000. Now I can get one for $400

And yet phones went in the opposite direction.

Because they are status symbols. And to be fair, your TV is too if you constantly buy the latest $4,000+ model each year. And to be fair, you can also buy a pretty damn cheap phone and TV if you prefer.

 

[Breaking Good]

Yeah it's not unlocked at $50. I know because I bought the same where you have to be on their plan for 12 months in order for them to unlock the phone. You're not getting the phone at $50. It sucks because I rather buy it and take it to another provider at a cheaper plan.

It's actually six months instead of twelve. But, yes, you are correct.

However, the fact remains that there are other options for people who want an iPhone but don't want to shell out $1,200.

 

[SDJim]

The cameras are pretty important here. A viable 30x optical zoom is a pretty usable feature. I so often see people zooming in way past the 2x that is available optically on iPhone.

"Viable" is a relative term. Even if it is technically 30x optical zoom, you cannot retain quality in the form factor of a smartphone at that range - physics simply prevents it. The shake, noise, aberration, pixel depth, etc. are all going to be atrocious, even in broad daylight. It is the same constraints that make this "108MP" camera incomparable to a full-frame camera of "only" 30MP. I would take a tight, well-developed 4x zoom, but that's it. Anything beyond that will sacrifice too much quality and be unduly expensive to develop. I am far from surprised that apple has yet to go beyond 2x lthough it would sure be nice to have it in the cheaper phones, it being one of the primary reasons I go with the more expensive models (I take a lot of pictures with my phone).

 

[BootsWalking]

It's not a phone, it's a computer/camera with a phone app. I know I will take a lot of heat for that comment, but so be it. If people want (just a phone) phone, go buy a jitterbug.....that's a phone.

Agree, but there are lots of computer/camera smartphones that sell for well less than $1400, for both iOS and Android.

 

[Freeangel1]

FYI

 

[Freeangel1]

FYI. camera comparison between Samsung s20 Ultra and iPhone 11
iPhone gets wasted on the camera side

We compared the cameras of the top Samsung, Apple, and Google phones by taking pictures from the observation deck of the tallest building in New York — and it's obvious Samsung's is best for people who care about photos

Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra camera makes the iPhone 11 Pro and Google Pixel 4 look like amateurs, but it's also a much more expensive phone.

www.yahoo.com