T3 - UK (2020-04)

Of course, such a ginormous
phone needs a large battery, too,
and thankfully Samsung has
actually made a decent stab at
handling this, as the S20 Ultra comes
loaded with a very large 5,000mAh
battery. This is one of the largest
battery capacities on the market
today in a mainstream phone.
So if you use it on its fresh out of
the box settings, which lock the screen
at a 60Hz refresh rate, with medium
usage you get a solid day-and-a-half
to two days usage out of the phone on
a single charge. If you turn on the
Ultra’s 120Hz mode, though – and
you really will want to – then that
battery life is reduced. With 120Hz
on, you’re very much looking at a day
to a day-and-a-half usage on a single
charge with medium usage.
Other tech of note included an
underscreen fingerprint reader
that works just as well as these
Samsung units have been doing for
the past few phone releases, 5G
support (there is no just 4G version
of the Ultra, with the one handset
supporting all network connections
up to and including 5G) and AKG-
tuned stereo loud speakers.
And, finally, before we reach the
verdict, let’s talk OS. The S20 Ultra

comes running Android 10 and

Samsung’s own One UI 2.0 skin. The

One UI remains the best-in-class

Android skin on the market and, as

you would expect, when partnered

with the super-slick and streamlined

Android 10 delivers a superb mobile

usage experience.

Loadsa money

As you’ve probably realised by now,

this really isn’t a phone for everyone,

and for more users than not, it will

simply be too much phone and too

much money to be worthy of serious

consideration. Unsurprisingly, you

really don’t need to spend north of

£1,199 (max spec is £1,399!) to get a

quality smartphone experience.

To beat the Ultra up due to its

very high price point seems to miss

the point somewhat. Shock horror,

a super expensive phone targeted

at Android phone enthusiasts isn’t

for everyone! But when you compare

what the S20 Ultra delivers to the

other hyper-premium and flagship

handsets on the market, and for

what cost, it crashes into the real

world somewhat.

These phones offer over 95% of the

experience that the S20 Ultra delivers

and do so for less money. This takes

nothing away from the S20 Ultra’s

abilities, but it does raise the

important question of just how much

money one is prepared to pay for that

last few per cent.

Overall, it’s impossible not to

recommend the S20 Ultra, which

sets a new benchmark for 5G

Android phones. But we’d also say

this is one of the most niche variants

of a mainstream product Samsung

has ever made, and only tech

enthusiasts and serial first adopters

should consider it.

WE’RE IMPRESSED Huge 120Hz screen;

premium hardware; feature-packed camera.

WE’D IMPROVE The price; 120Hz impact on

battery life; may be better off with a Note 10+.

THE LAST WORD Rivals can’t stand mano-a-

mano with it; recommended if you can afford it.

VERDICT

Find the latest deals for the S20 Ultra at:

bit.ly/t3ultra

APRIL 2020 T3 77

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

This is a fantastic

phone – and the

SULFHUHćHFWVWKDW

BIG SHOT

The Ultra’s quad-camera

system is both its biggest

strength and weakness; its

astounding snaps come at

the cost of a very bulky array