Samsung SM-G988UZAAXAA

A ridiculously good camera system in a dated, fragile body. For $266, it's the best point-and-shoot replacement you'll find, but don't expect a modern smartphone experience.

The Snapdragon 865 with 12GB of RAM is still a solid workhorse. It's not going to set any benchmark records, landing in the 68th percentile for performance, but for daily scrolling, streaming, and even some gaming, it feels snappy. What surprised us is how well it handles that 108MP camera processing. There's no frustrating shutter lag when you're firing off full-res shots, which is a common pain point on even some newer mid-rangers. The 5000mAh battery is a champ too, sitting well above average and easily getting through a full day.

The obvious modern competitor is the Google Pixel 10a. You'll get a smarter, more consistent camera with Google's computational magic and years of software support, but you'll lose that insane zoom range and the premium screen. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is in a different universe price-wise, but it's the benchmark for video and build quality, making the S20 Ultra feel like a plastic toy in hand. If you're even slightly tempted by a foldable, the Motorola razr ultra 2025 is the fun choice, but its cameras can't touch this old Samsung. The S20 Ultra is for the spec-obsessed photographer on a tight budget.

For $266, this is a steal if your priority list starts and ends with camera quality. You're getting a flagship-level photography experience for less than a new budget phone. Just know that you're buying into an aging platform with no software future. If you want a phone that will last you another three years with the latest features, this isn't it. But for a dedicated camera and media machine, the value is hard to beat.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is a weird beast in 2025. It's a phone that was built to be the absolute best camera system money could buy, and honestly, that part still holds up shockingly well. The 108MP main sensor and that ridiculous periscope zoom put it in the 99th percentile for camera in our database, which is just silly for a phone you can now grab for under $300. But you're also getting a chunky, slippery slab with build quality that lands in a disappointing 17th percentile. It's a camera that happens to make phone calls, and if you go in with that mindset, you'll be thrilled.

If you care about one-handed use, long-term software support, or a premium in-hand feel, this isn't your phone. The build is slippery and fragile, and the software is a dead end. Go get a Google Pixel 10a instead. You'll get a smarter camera, clean Android with years of updates, and a much more manageable size.

Buy it for the camera. Seriously, that's the only reason. The S20 Ultra is a flawed masterpiece that peaked early in the zoom race, and at this price, it's a fantastic dedicated shooter and media player. Just don't expect it to feel like a modern premium phone or get any new software tricks. If you can live with that, you'll be getting one of the best camera deals out there.