Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G reminds me of a figure straight from Greek mythology. With its sleek profile, resplendent bronze finish (for its signature color), and thick camera bump on the back staring out like a set of compound eyes, it doesn’t take much more than a glance to see this new phone for power users is very much siren-meets-cyclops.
The Note 20 ($1,000, £849, AU$1,499) and 20 Ultra’s ($1,300, £1,179, AU$1,849) looks are just the beginning of the story — and there’s far more below — including one genuinely surprising change. But before we go there, it’s important to understand the context into which these phones are coming to light. (The Galaxy Note 20 phones will be available for preorder Aug. 6 at 12:01 a.m. ET and are expected to arrive by the official sale date, Aug. 21.)
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world on its head, endangering lives, launching a global recession and throwing into question the need for a premium phone whose cheapest model costs $1,000, which is $50 more than last year’s entry-level Galaxy Note 10. But while Samsung asks us to consider the merits of a 5G device with juiced-up cameras and some features better suited for the boardroom than the living room, Google has just released an excellent $349 no-frills phone that seems more in step with these lean and doubtful days.
