Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Note 20 smartphone series, two new tablets, a new version of the Galaxy Watch and new ear buds.
Designed for ‘Note loyalists’, the standard Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra both support 5G and stream Xbox games over the cloud.
Both devices are optimised for game streaming via Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s video game subscription service that gives users access to a catalogue of games.
More than 90 games should be available on the smartphone via the cloud, making the Galaxy Note 20 a ‘portable game console’.
The 6.7-inch-screened Note 20 will retail from £849 for the 4G version and £949 for the 5G version, while the slightly larger 6.9-inch Note Ultra, with full 5G support, will retail for £1,179.
This is larger than the screen on the Note 10, released last year – 6.3 inches for the standard Note 10 and 6.8 for the Note 10 Ultra.
The smartphones, described as ‘the most powerful Note line yet’ by the Korean company, are available to pre-order on the Samsung website from today (August 5).
The company has also unveiled the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus tablets, the Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch, Galaxy Buds Live and announced the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the next generation foldable smartphone.
From left, the Galaxy Buds Live, the Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Tab S7
Samsung is officially unveiling its new Note 20 models at its Galaxy Unpacked event, which will is taking place online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Samsung says the Galaxy Note 20 series is a ‘productivity powerhouse’ that works ‘like a computer and lets you game like a pro’.
‘Technology has played a vital role in keeping us connected during these unprecedented times,’ said Conor Pierce, corporate vice president of Samsung Electronics for UK & Ireland.
The Note 20 Ultra. The series comes in two versions: this Note 20 Ultra 5G, designed for users ‘who demand the ultimate in power and productivity’, and Galaxy Note 20, for ‘broader Note users looking to maximise their time for work and play’
Samsung is also bringing its Microsoft partnership to the entertainment side of Galaxy Note20 series, taking virtual play to the next level
‘Now more than ever, our customers are looking for products that deliver against this and work seamlessly together.
‘Whether it’s through work or play, the ecosystem we have launched today is designed to help you get the most out of life.
‘With our Note 20 range and Tab S7 Plus now powered by 5G, we are not only super-charging the connected experience, but also strengthening Samsung’s 5G leadership in the UK.’
A Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra on display in New York City. Samsung is cooperating closely with Microsoft’ to offer automatic synchronisation with OneNote, Microsoft’s note-taking software, as well as gesture commands
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Note20 on display. The 6.7-inch-screened Note 20 will retail from £849 for the 4G version and £949 for the 5G version, while the slightly larger 6.9-inch Note Ultra, with full 5G support, will retail for £1,179
Leading today’s announcement is the two smartphones in the Note 20 series, the standard Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, which is designed for Note fans ‘who demand the ultimate in power and productivity’.
Samsung is also bringing its Microsoft partnership to the entertainment side of Galaxy Note 20 series to take ‘virtual play to the next level’.
The Note 20 series lets users play their favourite PC and console games with Game Pass Ultimate, which offers instant access to a curated library of more than 100 popular games from the cloud.
‘Every level and battle is powered by hyper-fast, ultra-low latency 5G and Wi-Fi 6 with optimised gaming latency,’ Samsung said.
‘Plus, with a large and immersive display with smooth gaming experience thanks to the fastest processor in a Galaxy yet, Galaxy Note 20 series is a pro-gaming set-up that fits in your pocket.’
Samsung Galaxy unpacked event 2020, which is being held solely online due to the coronavirus pandemic
Both devices are optimised for game streaming via Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s video game subscription service that gives users access to a catalogue of games
Both phones run Android 10, come with a triple camera system and have a new S Pen stylus, which is a characteristic feature of Samsung’s Note series.
A signature of the Note series, Note 20 includes an advanced S Pen that offers users ‘the ultimate writing experience’ featuring more lifelike precision than ever.
The S Pen balances enough drag to give a writing experience that attempts to closely resemble writing on paper.
The response time of the stylus is just nine milliseconds on the Ultra and 26 milliseconds on the standard Note 20, which comes ‘closer to writing on paper than ever before’.
The new ‘Anywhere actions feature’ also lets users control the phone by just waving the pen in front of the device.
For example, if users want to return to the home screen, they can just press the upper button on the S Pen.
For the two devices, Samsung is cooperating closely with Microsoft to offer automatic synchronisation with OneNote, Microsoft’s note-taking software, as well as gesture commands.
The main camera of the standard Note 20 uses a 12-megapixel sensor, while in the Ultra, a revised 108 megapixel camera with laser auto focus and five times the optical zoom is installed.
The standard Note 20 comes in three colours – ‘mystic grey’, ‘mystic bronze’ and ‘mystic green’, while the Ultra just comes in mystic white, mystic black and mystic bronze
Three camera sensors on the back should enable a 30-fold and 50-fold ‘space zoom’ on the standard and Ultra models, receptively.
The ‘space zoom’ feature on the previously-released Galaxy S20 Ultra already allows users to zoom in up to 100 times while maintaining a high-quality resolution.
The powerful feature already sparked fears that the lens could be invasive and may be used to see inside people’s houses, although its been scaled down for the Note 20 range.
Galaxy Note 20 series packs pro-grade tools to capture ‘stunning photos and create cinematic videos’.
Both of the main cameras on the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra will support video recording of up to 8K recording – meaning they’ll have an ultra-fine display resolution with a width of approximately 8,000 pixels.
Note 20 Ultra will also be the first smartphone in the world to come with the chemically-strengthened Gorilla Glass 7 from US firm Corning over its display – something that will be lacking on the standard Note 20.
Note 20 Ultra. Samsung is cooperating closely with Microsoft’ to offer automatic synchronisation with OneNote, Microsoft’s note-taking software, as well as gesture commands
The slightly larger Ultra will have dimensions of 6.4 by 3 by 0.3 inches, compared to the standard’s 6.3 by 2.9 by 0.3 inches.
The display of the smaller Galaxy Note 20 is ‘generously dimensioned’, but has a much lower resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, compared with 3200 x 1440 pixels for the Ultra.
Both models reportedly offer dual SIM support and are IP68-certified, meaning they survive up to 30 minutes in water nearly five feet (1.5 metres) deep.
The Note 20 standard is fixed with a 4300mAh battery and Ultra comes with a 4500 mAh battery – both of which can be charged wirelessly and charged to 50 per cent of their capacity in 30 minutes.
The standard Note 20 comes in three colours – ‘mystic grey’, ‘mystic bronze’ and ‘mystic green’, while the Ultra just comes in mystic white, mystic black and mystic bronze.
Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7 Plus are described as two versatile tablets that combine the capability of a PC
Samsung has also unveiled the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7 Plus, described as two versatile tablets that combine the capability of a PC, the flexibility of a tablet, and the connectivity of a smartphone.
With the latest processor and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, both tablets come with two large displays – 11-inch and 12.4-inch, respectively.
The Tab S7 Plus is also available in a 5G compatible variant, ‘ensuring you are always connected’.
Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7 Plus come with an upgraded S Pen and Samsung Notes featured on Galaxy Note20 series to provide a PC-like experience.
The included S Pen provides an optimal companion bringing the best drawing and note taking apps such as Clip Studio Paint, Canva and Noteshelf10.
Samsung has also announced a new set of earbuds – the £179 Galaxy Buds Live – with a bigger, 12mm speaker and bass duct and ‘audio sounds deep and rich so you can enjoy music the way the artist intended’.
Samsung’s kidney bean-like Galaxy Buds Live deliver ‘audio sounds deep and rich so you can enjoy music the way the artist intended’
‘Galaxy Buds Live come with three microphones and Voice Pickup Unit so you can feel like you’re in the same room as your loved ones, even when you’re apart,’ Samsung said.
‘These earbuds feature Active Noise Cancellation for open type bringing the best of both – live and spacious sound quality, with the ability for you to tune in (or out) of the world around you.’
As well as support for Microsoft applications such as Outlook and OneNote, Note devices will feature Wireless DeX – a wireless version of its DeX capability, originally launched in 2017, that extends the phone’s display to a desktop.
The Galaxy Watch 3, meanwhile, is a premium smartwatch along with advanced health features, with support for the company’s expansive suite of health apps, and a slimmed-down version of the popular rotating bezel.
Samsung said it ‘features the craftsmanship of a luxury timepiece, while still being comfortable enough to wear all day and all night’.
‘Galaxy Watch 3 is a next-generation companion for managing your routines, smashing your fitness goals, and keeping track of your health,’ Samsung said.
The watch is available in 41mm in mystic bronze and mystic silver from £399, while the 45mm variation, in mystic black and mystic silver starts at £419.
The company has also announced the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which folds along a horizontal crease through its centre, although it’s price is yet to be revealed.
Samsung has already released two fold devices – the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip, which flips like a retro 90s phone thanks to a hinge through the screen – and the new model is redesigned based on consumer feedback.
Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes packed with two edge-to-edge, nearly bezel-less Infinity-O Displays.
The outer cover screen, which acts as the display when the phone is folded, is 6.2-inches, while the massive main screen when unfolded is 7.6-inches, making both larger than the original Galaxy Fold.
Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes in two colours, mystic black and mystic bronze.
The Galaxy Z Fold2 comes packed with two edge-to-edge, nearly bezel-less Infinity-O Displays