Samsung have released any mobile gamer’s dream smartphone – Note20 Ultra 5G.

Spec’d up to the max the 12GB RAM takes care of the memory resources for both data and graphic rendering while the real grunt is performed by Samsung’s purpose built Exynos 990 CPU.

With it’s super sized 6.9 inch ??LED edge screen there’s more eye candy real estate to game as though you would on PC or home console.

Now, if you go for the top of the line model, which is the one that we reviewed and tested out for mobile gaming, you will experience slightly faster mobile data speeds using 5G, proving that you re in a coverage area.

Getting the device review done it was time to give the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G some serious gaming time.

Those in the ‘Note’ know usually choose the phablets over a similarly spec’d and priced device due to the included stylus – called the S Pen.

The S Pen is by far a function of the Note as opposed to an accessory. Developers have not shied away from the S Pen with their games.

From a simple but increasingly difficult Maze: Pen Runner where you ultimately draw a path around a maze from the beginning to it’s tricky end.

Naturally the Note20 Ultra 5G played this real easy. It’s not exactly a taxing game at all.

While the game itself may still require a bit more love from its developer due to a lag in gameplay, you do have quite a varied selection of mobile gaming delights (and some not so delightful) S Pen specific games.

Cool – but not exactly pushing the limits. Yet.

If you were a gamer of the late 80’s and all through the 90’s you likely grew up playing Sega (or you were a Nintendo fan and went to your mates place to play their Sega from time to time).

Sega have ported a lot of their Megadrive / Genesis and even Master System II classics on to Google Play. Some are free-to-play.

I knew Sonic 2 was not going to push too many technical limits, but it is a blistering fast title and I was keen to see how the Note20 Ultra 5G’s GPU and massive screen handled once Sonic got his spin on.

Fluid, no graphical lag, on either 60Hz or 120Hz that the Note20 Ultra 5G offers as FHD to QHD display resolutions.

Sure Sonic was hell fun, always has been for me but I wanted to see some of that grunt under the hood stop idling and start revving.

Gameloft’s Asphalt series has been a pioneering racer game specific to mobile only and now at it’s 9th edition, the game boasts console graphics, gameplay and virtual surround sound.

The mega screen on the Note20 Ultra 5G was super beneficial as the game rendered in real time the track (and hazards) ahead. Playing Asphalt 9 solidly for around 2 hours hardly dented the device’s 4500mAh battery (from full charge) and is one of many games that is Xbox controller compatible via bluetooth.

Sticking with Gameloft I moved on to the incredibly detailed Dungeon Hunter 5. A fully involved RPG hack n slash with isometric 3D graphics, again mirroring that of a console.

I’ve always had a thing for Dungeon Hunter so this was hard to put down once I started.

Playing through escalating difficulty, completing Boss fights, leveling up my character and tricking him out with new gear before I knew it I’d played for over 4 hours.

I had planned on only testing for 2 hours.

Again using the Xbox controller on the Note20 Ultra 5G both visually and gameplay wise I could’ve quite easily been playing on a PS4 or Xbox I was completely in the zone.

Coming back to reality after my Dungeon Hunter 5 marathon. This one had dented the battery. From a full charge an extended game-time of 3D console-like graphics chewed 20%. Average of 5% per hour. That’s good innings.

Shadow of Death 2: Shadow Fighter was a risk of a title that I had downloaded a few weeks back but not played. Unsure if this was going to be a game worthy of this mobile gaming feature, I cranked it up – not expecting much.

Sadly this one was not gamepad compatible. And while a mobile game on the lighter side of resource chomping it actually had a bit of depth to it.

The dark graphics mixed with spills of blood, pick ups, combos and a Level Up system, Shadow of Death 2: Shadow Fighter was way more involved than it appeared on face value.

Graphically rich while using only a limited palette it looked superb on the Note20 Ultra 5G’s AMOLED screen.

So now it was time to get to the real hard stuff.

Call of Duty Mobile, again would not accept the gamepad, but the online or offline FPS mini-port from the PC and home console games played like it’s PC and console counter-parts.

Before I knew it I was stealth killing and deep within explosive, almost real-world like military combat. After a couple of hours of fluid non-stop FPS action I retired from the game and saw the battery for this one had depleted a mammoth 30%.

Not too surprising as I have used this juggernaut of a mobile game for testing before and it is greedy on resources.

Then it was about time I went fully online.

Both PUBG and Fortnite didn’t even get the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G idling. A two hour sesh on both hardly scraped anything from the battery – and this was on mobile data.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a mega-beast of a smartphone. Perfect for mobile eSports, it’s beyond having a super computer in your bag (or very large pocket) it’s a phone that instantly becomes a fully fledged gaming console for on the go.

The post Gaming on a Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Just when I thought that Samsung had outdone themselves with their last Note device – they go a few steps further.

Last year’s Note10 was a super computer in your pocket – but did fall short on some camera tricks that other smartdevice manufacturers had been placing in to their flagships for months.

Taking the ‘Ultra’ moniker to match their flagship S20’s, with the Note20 Ultra 5G Samsung have given us exactly what we want – and then some.

The mammoth sized 6.9 inch ‘phablet’ boasts a QHD AMOLED rounded (or edge) screen with an almost zero bezel top and bottom.

Absolutely built for 4K or 8K media and mobile gaming with a refresh rate of 120Hz. You can wind it back to 60Hz however my preference even for everyday use is to have the 120 on – it gives you a much sharper and smoother user experience and it saves going in to Display settings to change it out if you’re about to watch something on Netflix or get in some game time.

The front lens comes in at 10MP – the same pixel count as we have seen on their last couple of flagships. However the Selfie camera, a laser cut at the top of the screen, records at 60fps in 4K.

Making this the most original and unique Note in the entire history of the devices the Note20 Ultra 5G has a large rectangular triple lens housing for the rear cameras.

Inside this array there’s the main camera at a whopping 108MP, a 12MP hybrid zoom lens (upto 50x) with periscope telephoto function and finally a 12MP ultrawide. Also within the same housing you’ll find a laser sensor for optimal focusing – and that takes me to the camera modes and smarts on offer.

One of the sore points of Samsung smartphones was night shots. Going back as far as the S10+ the Night mode featured but just didn’t work.

This has totally been sorted – in pitch darkness you’ll get a well lit shot as we had hoped for.

Live Focus and Live Focus Video are retained from prior models and a fav of mine allowing a specified bokeh effect – perfect if you’re wanting to create something a little more professional looking.

Old favourites are still on the menu; Hyperlapse, Pano, Slow Mo and it’s Super variant, Pro and more.

Live Video has been tweaked. Samsung have added a very cool zoom feature where you can manually slow zoom for that drawn out dramatization or real fast zoom in for that sudden moment of realization with customizable bi-lateral audio settings. Essentially drown out background noise as best as possible and focus on the subject if they are speaking – or vice versa. Very cool.

Single take mode we were introduced to in the Galaxy S20. Also within the Note20 Ultra 5G you can tweak the length of the varied bursts and videos it takes within one click of the shutter.

Then there’s Bixby Vision. Yep Bixby is still there, like it or not – but thankfully the dedicated Bixby button has been removed. A button on the handset that I would always bump at the worst moments.

Honestly – the Note20 Ultra 5G’s cameras are the absolute best and feature rich on any smartphone as of writing. And most of these have filtered down and been included in the sub variants of the Note20, but more on those later.

My only concern is the sizeable housing that does stick out from the flush and smooth matte rear casing. You will absolutely need to use a high quality phone case with the Note20.

Samsung have wound back on their massive storage that only a couple of years ago we had (remember the S10+ 1TB?).

The Galaxy S20 series was disappointingly low at only 128GB.

Now we do not have a 512GB Note20 but we are presented with a modest 256GB. As with prior devices that storage is expandable via microSD (upto 1TB). If you shoot alot of video in 8K then likely you will need to add extra storage.

Couple in 12GB RAM and the hyper fast 64-bit Octa-Core Processor crunching data @ 3.0GHz with a maximum of 3.8GHz.

Play hours of heavy resource games without heating up the handset or draining battery. PUBG and Fortnite at 120Hz refresh – all played superbly. (See our Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G gameplay here).

Call of Duty Mobile, one that can be a bit of a power chomper hardly shaved anything off the massive 4500MAh internal battery (Note20 comes with a 4300MAh).

Samsung tout the Note20 Ultra 5G as having an ‘all day battery’. It always depends on your usage of your smartphone as to how your battery will last, of course.

My phone is always buzzing with emails, calls and more day and night. I receive heavy media files, super large graphics and so on – viewing these on an almost hourly basis on the go can shave a bit of my daily use.

Factor in my every day use with aiming to push a device to it’s limits and playing a few hours of mobile games, Netflix and Spotify streaming I would have thought that an ‘all day battery’ would have lasted half a day minimum.

No. The Note20 Ultra 5G is more than capable of keeping up with me and my busy shenanigans while having enough juice to power through the following day aswell.

The most that i managed to squeeze out of the handset was around two and a half days from full charge to 5%.

The Note20 Ultra 5G comes with a 25 watt charge in the box and the phone has quick charge 2.0 smarts builtin. From flat to around half using the supplied the charger takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

For fans of the Note smartphones there have been two drawcards. Screen size (the Note series have always been of the larger variety) and the included stylus called the S Pen.

As the series has evolved over the years so has the S Pen. The Note10 bought us Air Gesture, where you could wave your S Pen in the air near your phone like a crazed magician in order to perform certain functions.

I remember testing this out last year and while I was well impressed and could see where this would evolve I did have moments where maybe I moved too fast or too slow and the Note10 didn’t quite know what I was doing.

This has been resolved. Once you set air gesture to go by a clicking the side button on the S Pen in front of your Note20 differing commands execute various functions. Take a screenshot, control a presentation, take a selfie and no matter what realistic speed I waived around the Note20 Ultra 5G was on point.

The S Pen is not an accessory – if it was Samsung would likely sell it separately. It is an integral part of the Note devices and still is with the Note20 series.

Finer tuned and resembling more of a pen tip the intricate point of the S Pen has virtually zero lag when writing or drawing on screen (infact it is tested at 7 milliseconds).

The bevvy of S Pen options and functions cascade out when you remove from the phone’s casing.

I always find the on-screen writer to be super handy for a quick reminder, shopping list (when you get to the Supermarket and forgot the one you wrote previously) and using the S Pen to tweak photo’s and the more serious nature of taking notes (hence the device name) at media events and talent interviews.

The phone and the stylus go hand in hand. The S Pen is what makes the Note unique and the S Pen needs the smarts and large screen of the phone.

Samsung have opted for a wider range of the Note20 series – differing models and colours to suit all.

The smaller Note20 and Note20 5G come in at 6.7 inches and a slightly lesser spec – and the Ultra and Ultra 5G are the big boys for the more serious Noters.

For those that are still on the fence about 5G then there are 4G variants (those without the 5G in their naming).

Samsung has created the ‘Ultra’ smartphone, built upon Android 10 and provides a seamless integration between your smartdevice and PC with the builtin DEX.

For play, for work the Samsung Note20 Ultra 5G is the super king of all Android smartphones.

The post Samsung Note20 Ultra 5G Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today, Samsung Electronics hosted its first-ever Galaxy Unpacked virtual event livestreamed from Korea to introduce a new suite of power devices.

Five devices were revealed during the event, that seamlessly integrate to empower consumers navigating a rapidly changing world : Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the most powerful Note line yet; Tab S7 and S7+, versatile tablets for productivity and creativity; Galaxy Watch3, a premium smartwatch along with advanced health features; Galaxy Buds Live, stylish and ergonomic earbuds with superior sound quality; and Galaxy Z Fold2, the next generation foldable smartphone with enhanced refinements.

“Never before have we relied on technology like we are today. It’s how we are staying connected as we navigate the extraordinary challenges faced around the world," said Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. "Technology must make life easier, not more complex.

That’s why we have introduced five new power devices. Alone, these devices are powerful tools to help you maximise work and play. Together, as part of the Galaxy ecosystem, they work together seamlessly so you can spend your time focused on what matters most.”

Galaxy Note20 series is a productivity powerhouse that works like a computer and lets you game like a pro. The series comes in two versions: Galaxy Note20 Ultra, designed for Note fans who demand the ultimate in power and productivity, and Galaxy Note20, for broader Note users looking to maximise their time for work and play. Both are built for efficiency, so you have more time to stay connected with the people you love.

Today, we need devices that are as flexible as we are, so we can work, play and connect however we want. Take your productivity to the next level with the Galaxy Note20 series. Samsung’s latest Note series transforms the way you work, empowering you to do more anytime from anywhere.

Now, on the Galaxy Note20 series, new S Pen and Samsung Notes features provide an even more powerful experience and extend to Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ for flexibility and convenience. Plus, a deeper relationship with Samsung’s long-standing partner, Microsoft, helps the Galaxy Note20 series and your Windows PC seamlessly work together.

A favourite among Note loyalists and multitaskers, the Galaxy Note20 series’ enhanced S Pen offers the ultimate writing experience so you can capture your ideas whenever inspiration strikes. The S Pen on the Galaxy Note20 series has more lifelike precision that gives you more accuracy and responsiveness. The S Pen’s five new anywhere actions makes touchless navigation of your device – like returning to the home screen or taking a screenshot – as simple as a flick of the wrist.

We need tools designed to let us work from anywhere, anytime, on any device. To help you capture, edit and share your ideas across your phone, tablet or PC, Samsung Notes features auto-save and syncing capabilities, so lost work becomes a thing of the past. Samsung Notes automatically converts even the messiest handwriting into legible penmanship. Giving feedback on the go is also easy now that you can edit, annotate and highlight PDFs or Microsoft PowerPoint presentations in Samsung Notes.

Use the new option to record audio as you jot down notes, and just tap a word in your notes to go to that moment in the recording. And keep it all organised with a new, intuitive folder management that makes everything easier to find.

Microsoft’s Your Phone app with Link to Windows integration now enables you to easily access your mobile apps directly from your Windows 10 PC without disrupting your flow. It’s simple and convenient to send messages, manage notifications, sync photos and make and receive calls all from your Windows 10 PC. Add your favourite mobile apps to your Taskbar or Start menu so you won’t have to search your phone for your favourite social networking apps or Gallery. Later this year, you will have the ability to run multiple apps side by side on your Windows 10 PC. And all your productivity ecosystems can be aligned across devices when Samsung Notes app syncs to Microsoft OneNote and Outlook, and your Reminders sync with Microsoft Outlook, To Do and Teams so everything you need is at your fingertips, no matter where you are.

Samsung is also bringing its Microsoft partnership to the entertainment side of Galaxy Note20 series, taking virtual play to the next level. Fully immerse yourself in the most powerful mobile gaming experience Samsung has ever engineered into a smartphone, so you can game like a pro from your couch, backyard, or around the house. Galaxy Note20 series comes packed with next-level performance, connectivity and our best display yet. Plus, Galaxy Note20 series packs pro-grade tools to capture stunning photos and create cinematic videos and offers advanced multitasking experiences.

Enjoy your favourite mobile games on our latest Galaxy Note20 series, the pro-gaming set-up that fits in your pocket. Every level and battle can be powered by hyper-fast, ultra-low latency 5G and the Galaxy Note20 is optimised for Wi-Fi 6. Large and immersive display with smooth gaming experience thanks to our fastest processor in a Galaxy yet, Galaxy Note20 series is a pro-gaming set-up that fits in your pocket. What’s more, with our 120hz Display and dual AKG speakers with Dolby Atmos, your gaming experience becomes smoother and more immersive giving you the competitive edge against your online opponents.

With 21:9 aspect ratio and 24fps recording, Galaxy Note20 series’ 8K camera now gives you access ultra-high resolution and a professional quality video experience. Use powerful Pro Video 7 mode with pro-grade focus, audio, exposure, lighting, zoom tools, and 120fps shooting at FHD options for cinematic-style videos. New Laser
Auto-Focus Sensor on Galaxy Note20 Ultra accurate focusing, plus Live Focus Video gives your shots real world depth. Pro lenses and advanced Space Zoom allow you to photograph scenes in gorgeous detail. You can also control and adjust the Galaxy Note20 mic directions where you want sound to come through clearly. Paired with Galaxy Buds Live, you can record crystal-clear audio even with background noise.

For the first time with Samsung DeX 8, wirelessly connect the Galaxy Note20 series to a Smart TV when you need a bigger screen.

Manage two screens simultaneously so you can text with your friends on the Galaxy Note20 series while watching a video on a Smart TV.

The Galaxy Note has cemented its status as the ultimate power phone. Galaxy Note20 series continues that legacy as the most powerful Note series yet to give you all the things you know, love, and expect from Galaxy.

Galaxy Note20 series is built with the fastest processor of all Galaxy devices. It features cutting-edge technology and best-in-class mobile experiences, without sacrificing the iconic, timeless and durable design. Both Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra introduce a new Mystic Bronze colour – soft neutral tones that transcend changing trends. For the first time in the Note series, Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers the vivid and bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X
display and 120Hz refresh rate delivering buttery smooth visuals on our best screen yet, which automatically adjusts to the content you are viewing to extend your battery life. Sport an all-day intelligent battery and super-fast charging capabilities, getting more than 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

Continue Samsung’s 5G leadership and deliver next-level power for everything you love to do thanks to hyper-fast, ultra-low latency 5G. Galaxy Note20 series automatically searches and recommends high speed networks and provides stable Wi-Fi 6 networks with optimised latency for various streaming services. Galaxy Note20 series hardware and software is secured end-to-end thanks to Samsung Knox.

For the first time on a Galaxy device with UWB, Nearby Share will reach a new level of quick and easy sharing. By simply pointing the Note20 Ultra to another UWB enabled Galaxy device, Nearby Share will automatically list the people you’re facing on to the top of your sharing panel. Future UWB functionality will also help you find things more accurately with AR technology and unlock your home as a digital key.

Samsung devices and services are designed to work together effortlessly, elevating not only your work and play, but everything that’s important to you. Take your Galaxy Note20 to the next level by pairing it with other new additions to the Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+, Galaxy Watch3, and Galaxy Buds Live. With these cutting-edge complements to the Note experience, you can work smarter, play longer, live healthier, and communicate better.

Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ are two versatile tablets that combine the power of a PC, the flexibility of a tablet, and the connectivity of a smartphone. Building on Samsung’s legacy of Galaxy 5G leadership, Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ can help unlock seamless videoconferencing, fast downloads, and minimal-lag streaming.

Experience PC-level productivity on Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ thanks to a powerful processor, an improved keyboard experience (keyboard sold separately as Book Cover Keyboard), and an improved S Pen with similar capabilities as the Galaxy Note20 series—all empowering you to get more done in less time. But a tablet shouldn’t just enhance our work, it should also help us get the most out of our downtime. For elevated entertainment, Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ feature an immersive display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, so you can take full advantage of the cloud-based gaming and high-definition streaming – or do both at the same time with upgraded multi-tasking capabilities. For users who want even more space to work, play, and create, Galaxy Tab S7+ offers an extra-large 12.4” Super AMOLED display.

These tablets also make it easier than ever to work across multiple devices.

When there’s no Wi-Fi network in sight, you can use Auto Hotspot to automatically tether other compatible Galaxy devices to your tablet. And with Nearby Share, you can easily transmit files to nearby contacts. Use your Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ to extend your compatible PC with Second screen, so you can choose between duplicating and extending your display. Maximise your productivity even further with tools such as Samsung Notes, S Pen, Book Cover Keyboard and Bluetooth mouse for the complete computing experience.

Galaxy Watch3 is a next-generation companion for managing your routines, smashing your fitness goals, and taking ownership over your health. Built with premium materials and a slimmed-down version of the popular rotating bezel, Galaxy Watch3 features the craftsmanship of a luxury timepiece, while still being comfortable enough to wear all day and all night. But this smartwatch isn’t just appealing to the eye, it’s also the centre of your wellness experience, sporting Samsung’s most expansive health suite yet.

With the upcoming Blood oxygen feature, you can measure and track oxygen saturation over time, for fitness and wellness purposes can be sent to pre-designated contacts. Running Analysis will help you run better and improve your form while VO max follows your cardio progress to provide insight into oxygen consumption. For those who want to keep fit while being at home, Samsung Health provides more than 120 different home training programs so you can track your workout progress on your watch.

Meet the newest shape of true wireless earbuds – Galaxy Buds Live. With a truly iconic design and comfortable fit– they’re like nothing you’ve seen or worn before. Combining AKG’s sound expertise with a bigger, 12mm speaker (compared to Galaxy Buds+), along with a bass duct, 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. 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.

Samsung continues to pioneer an entirely new category of mobile devices by introducing the next generation of foldables; Galaxy Z Fold2. After releasing two foldable devices and listening to user feedback on the most requested upgrades and new features, Samsung unveils the Galaxy Z Fold2 with meaningful innovations that offer users enhanced refinements and unique foldable user experiences.

Galaxy Z Fold2 combines the portability and flexibility of a smartphone with the power and screen size of a tablet for ultimate productivity. Whether folded or unfolded, you can enjoy a luxury mobile experience with Galaxy Z Fold2’s premium design. The Galaxy Z Fold2 comes packed with two edge-to-edge, nearly bezel-less Infinity-O Displays. The Cover Screen is 6.2-inches and the massive Main Screen is 7.6-inches 20 , making them both larger than the Galaxy Fold. With its sleek design and refined engineering, Galaxy Z Fold2 comes in two equally stunning colours: Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze. For users who seek a unique premium design, Samsung is again partnering with iconic New York fashion house Thom Browne to deliver a limited Galaxy Z Fold2 Thom Browne Edition.

With Galaxy Z Fold2, Samsung will continue to inspire all new possibilities for the entire foldable category.

The Galaxy Note20 series and Tab S7 series will be available in select markets starting August 21st, 2020.

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The post Samsung Unveils Five New Galaxy Devices appeared first on Shane the Gamer.