Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G Mystic Bronze 8GB

The camera is a 97th percentile all-star with a killer 5x zoom, but the processor is a 31st percentile letdown. It's a $258 niche device for S Pen lovers and zoom photographers who don't care about speed. The 2 out of 5 star customer rating is a serious warning sign.

Let's be blunt: the performance here is disappointing. The Samsung HyperFast Processor, paired with 8GB of RAM, lands in the 31st percentile overall. That puts it firmly in 'falls behind' territory compared to modern phones. For day-to-day tasks, it's fine, but push it with anything demanding and you'll feel the age. Our gaming score of 43.6 out of 100 is a real letdown, confirming this is not the phone for high-frame-rate gaming. The 120Hz display is smooth, but the processor often can't keep up to feed it enough frames in newer titles.

On the flip side, the camera performance is a standout. That 108MP main sensor, combined with a 12MP ultrawide and a 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, puts it in the 97th percentile for camera. It's one of the best on the market for stills, especially if you love zoom photography. The 8K video recording at 30fps is a nice spec on paper, but the processing power needed to edit that footage is a reminder of the phone's core performance gap.

Stacked against the competition, the Note 20 Ultra is a specialist in a world of generalists. A Google Pixel 10a will run circles around it in performance and software updates, but its camera zoom won't touch the Note's 5x optical lens. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is a far superior all-rounder with a much better processor and display, but it costs many times more. The Motorola razr ultra 2025 is a completely different beast with its foldable screen, making the Note feel ancient in design. You buy the Note 20 Ultra because you want a built-in stylus and a telephoto camera that still leads the pack, and you're willing to sacrifice speed and modern features to get them for cheap.

At $258, the value proposition is entirely dependent on your priorities. You're getting a 97th percentile camera and the unique S Pen experience for less than the price of most budget phones. That's a screaming deal for mobile photographers or note-takers on a tight budget. However, you're also getting a phone with a 31st percentile processor and a tiny, unhappy user base. If you just need a fast, reliable daily driver, this isn't a good value at any price. You're paying for the camera and the pen, and getting the rest of the phone for free.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G still packs a serious punch in a couple of key areas, even years after its release. Its camera system lands in the 97th percentile of our database, meaning it's still one of the best shooters you can get your hands on. The 108MP main sensor and that 5x optical zoom are the real stars here, delivering detail and reach that embarrass a lot of newer mid-range phones. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen is huge and beautiful, though its 50th percentile ranking tells you that display tech has marched on, especially with brightness and refresh rate adaptability.

But here's the catch: you're looking at a phone with a 31st percentile performance ranking and a 2 out of 5 star customer rating from the few reviews we've tracked. The 'HyperFast Processor' marketing hasn't aged well, and our data shows it's a real weak spot for gaming, scoring a lowly 43.6 out of 100. At a current price of $258, you're buying a camera and an S Pen, not a speed demon. It's a niche pick for a very specific type of user.

Skip this phone if you value speed, gaming, or a smooth overall experience. The 31st percentile performance ranking means it will feel sluggish with modern apps and games, and our gaming score of 43.6 is one of the worst we've seen for a former flagship. Also, if you care about a strong community or proven reliability, the 2-star average rating and 19th percentile social proof should send you running. This is not a reliable daily driver for most people.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G is a time capsule. It's a reminder of when Samsung threw everything at a phone, and that 97th percentile camera and S Pen are still legitimately great. But the 31st percentile performance and a dismal 2-star average rating are massive red flags. We can only recommend this to someone who explicitly needs a cheap, pen-equipped phone for notes and zoom photography, and who understands they're buying an aging, slow device. For everyone else, there are far better, more modern phones available, even at this low price.