44 PCWorld OCTOBER 2020REVIEWS SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 20 ULTRA
the camera bump. You’ve seen it in photos,
and it’s every bit as obtrusive as it looks. The
Note 20 Ultra’s impressive thinness actually
works against it here, making the bump feel
much thicker by comparison. The size also
means it’s tough to use when resting on a
table. I even encountered
some issues with charging
pads. A case would help, but
you wouldn’t want to use one.
Why? Because the Note
20 Ultra is flat-out gorgeous.
Samsung’s new colors are
dubbed “Mystic,” and they
give the Note a refinement
and dignity that contrasts with
the pop-culture vibe one gets
from the S20 Ultra’s (go.
pcworld.com/s20u) bright,iridescent “Cosmic”
colorways.
The Note 20 Ultra has a
luscious matte finish that’s
nicer than what I’ve seen on
any Galaxy phone I’ve ever
used. It doesn’t need to grow
on you like the iPhone 11 Pro’s
Midnight Green, or wait for
the right light like the Note
10’s Aura Glow. It repels
fingerprints like it was made
of plastic, and it has a better
grip than the glossy S20
does. The new bronze color’s
matching, stainless-steel sides add a touch of
sophistication, accentuated by the slivers of
color that peek out above and below the
display. You’d be nuts to get any other color
and even more nuts to put a case on it, even a
clear one.The bezels aren’t completely gone on the Note 20 Ultra, but they’re
not very visible.The Note 20 Ultra’s matte finish is a massive improvement to the
glossy S20 Ultra.