The Samsung Galaxy S20 launched at the end of February 2020, giving us an insight into what we can expect from Samsung’s smartphones this year.
The next major device is expected to be the Galaxy Note 20, which in the past has improved on the Galaxy S range and bettered it in certain areas, such as a design and camera.
Here’s everything we have heard so far about the Galaxy Note 20 series.
Release date and price
- August 2020
The Samsung Galaxy Note series usually launches in August. Last year was the first time Samsung released more than one size of the Galaxy Note, with the Note 10 and the Note 10+, followed by the Note 10 Lite a couple of months later.
We’d predict that Samsung will stick to an August launch for the Note 20 and we expect it to be an online event. Samsung confirmed that it will be launching the Note later in the year in its quarterly report.
In terms of price, we’d expect Samsung to launch the Note 20 devices around the same prices as their predecessors. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 starts at £869 or $949 and the Note 10+ starts at £999 or $1099, although the standard Note 20 might be positioned slightly lower to keep the costs down.
Design
- Waterproof
- Premium build
- Two sizes likely
- S Pen
There haven’t been a huge number of leaks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 design as yet, though this is likely to change in the coming months. We’d expect the series to borrow from the Galaxy S20, though Samsung does typically make some changes to the Note devices. The centralised hole punch front camera was first introduced on the Note 10 before being introduced on the S20 range, for example.
Expect a waterproof metal frame sandwiched between glass panels and expect some interesting finishes too. An under display fingerprint sensor is likely, as well as a prominent rear camera housing and there will be a built-in S Pen. We’re also expecting at least two size options, with both featuring a similar design apart from the size.
Display
- Note 20: 6.42in, 2345 x 1084 pixels (404ppi), 19.5:9
- Note 20+: 6.87in, 3096 x 1444 pixel (497ppi), 19.3:9
- 120Hz refresh rate on Note 20+
With Samsung introducing a 120Hz refresh rate display on all the Galaxy S20 models, it’s claimed it will be improved for the Note 20+ and that it will be variable rate, and should work at full resolution on the Note 20+. However, the regular Note 20 might not get the 120Hz display, as a point of differentiation and to keep the costs down.
Some reports have suggested an under display camera, which would negate the need for the punch hole camera, but for now, this is just rumour and it may be that only one of the Note 20 models offers it.
Camera
- Software improvements on S20 range likely
We’d expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series to take from the Galaxy S20 series in terms of camera. It’s likely that the Note 20+ will offer similar camera specifications to the Galaxy S20+, but with some new feature additions or improvements here and there, while the standard Note 20 will likely take its specifications from the standard S20.
If this is the case, the Note 20+ could have a 12MP main sensor, 64MP telephoto sensor, 12MP ultra wide and a DepthVision sensor on the rear. We suspect the standard Note 20 model will be similar.
Hardware and specs
- Qualcomm SD865 or Exynos 992
- At least 12GB RAM likely
- Batteries likely to match Galaxy S20
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will likely run similar processors to the Galaxy S20 range with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or an Exynos chipset. It’s been reported that Samsung is working on any updated Exynos 992 to boost the performance of the hardware it used in the S20. It’s likely the Note 20 and Note 20+ will offer at least 12GB of RAM too, though Samsung might step up the RAM for the Plus model to match the Ultra.
Some reports have suggested the Note 20 base model will drop its internal storage to 128GB instead of last year’s 256GB, it would make sense if the S20 and Note 20 are going to share most of same specs.
Big batteries are also likely in the Note 20 series. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series ranges between 4000mAh and 5000mAh capacities and initial reports suggest that the Galaxy Note 20 will have a 4000mAh battery, matching that of the Galaxy S20. There’s currently know word on what the Galaxy Note 20+ will get.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 rumours: What’s happened so far?
13 May 2020: Samsung might launch two Note 20 models this year, but no Ultra
Rumours of an Ultra edition of the Note 20 have been quashed, while details for the Note 20 and Note 20+ have been suggested.
12 May 2020: Twitter leaker revises details, Note 20 might only be 60Hz
An update on the leaks from 11 May, suggesting the Note 20 won’t have all the skills of the Note 20+ display.
Note 20 Update – while the Note 20+ remains LTPO and 120Hz, the Note 20 will be LTPS and 60Hz. Makes sense since LTPO costs more and should appear first in premium models. You can do 120Hz with LTPS, but it consumes a lot of power. LTPO is the best implementation for 120Hz.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 12, 2020
11 May 2020: Details of Note 20 displays have been shared on Twitter
Ross Young, a display consultant has shared details of what we might expect from the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20+ in terms of display. There’s nothing to back this information up, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Note 20 Display Leak:
Note 20 will grow from 6.3″ on the 10 to 6.42″ on the Note 20. Resolution will increase slightly to 2345 x 1084, 404 PPI, 19.5:9 aspect ratio. 120Hz with LTPO, variable refresh, so lower power with 120Hz, great for always on mode. #GalaxyNote20— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 11, 2020
Note 20+ Display Leak
Note 20+ will grow from 6.8″ to 6.87″, resolution will increase to 3096 x 1444 resulting in a 497 PPI, 19.3:9 aspect ratio. It will also have 120Hz refresh with LTPO, lowest power implementation of 120Hz due to variable refresh. #GalaxyNote20+— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 11, 2020
29 April 2020: Samsung confirms Galaxy Note 20 and Fold 2, of sorts
Samsung, in its quarterly report, confirmed that a new Note device would be launched later in the year.
28 April 2020: Galaxy Note 20 could use updated Exynos 992
Reports from Korea suggest that performance gains could come from any updated Exynos 992 chip.
17 April 2020: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 battery details revealed
Information suggests that the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 won’t get a battery boost over the Galaxy S20.
24 March 2020: Galaxy Note 20’s S Pen will be its only unique feature (compared to S20)
Leakers with very reliable track records have suggested the Note 20 will be very similar to the S20 in virtually every way except for having an S Pen, and slightly less round corners.
5 March 2020: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 base model could drop to 128GB storage
According to Sammobile, Samsung could drop the storage of the base model Galaxy Note to 128GB rather than the 256GB storage that launched on the Note 10.
4 March 2020: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 codename revealed
Ice Universe tweeted that the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is internally codenamed “Project Canvas” and that the S Pen will see new features appear for the 2020 devices.
11 February 2020: Samsung granted patent for curved smartphone with buttons in glass
Patently Mobile reported Samsung has been granted a patent for a Galaxy smartphone featuring a curved display with physical buttons protruding through the glass.
Galaxy Note20，Project “C”
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) March 4, 2020
4 February 2020: Galaxy Note 20 might one-up Galaxy S20 with ‘more fine-tuned’ 120Hz screen tech
Another tweet from leaker Ice Universe suggests the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will feature an improved 120Hz refresh rate display compared to the Galaxy S20 range.
26 January 2020: Framework for Galaxy Note 20 design leaks
Leaker Ice Universe tweeted an image of what he claimed could be the framework for the Note 20 design, suggesting it was “logical”.
This may be the framework design of the Galaxy Note20, which is logical. pic.twitter.com/bO5w937vy2
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) January 26, 2020
17 October 2019: Could Samsung Galaxy Note 20 have under display camera?
Leaker Ice Universe claimed Samsung will launch a smartphone in 2020 with an under display camera, further adding it wouldn’t be the Galaxy S11 – which launched as the Galaxy S20 – and it wouldn’t be the Fold 2.
Samsung will launch an under display camera phone next year！
not S11, not Fold 2— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) October 17, 2019