Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Specs: Which Wins?

Let’s face it—phones are getting so good that most of us don’t upgrade every year anymore. You bought your Galaxy Note 20 back in 2020, and it's probably still kicking. Solid battery life, sharp screen, trusty S Pen. 

But now you’re seeing ads for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and it looks like a beast.

So you’re wondering about: “Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs Or is your Note still good enough to hang with the big dogs?

Well, I’ve used both. And in this article, I’ll walk you through all the real-world differences that actually matter. We’re not just talking specs here we’re talking daily life. From how they feel in your hand to how they handle photo nights out or last-minute Zoom calls.

Let’s break it down and figure out whether the S23 Ultra is worth the splurge—or if your Note 20 deserves one more lap around the sun.

Design: Classy vs Classic

Alright, let’s start with the first thing you notice: How the phone looks and feels.

The Galaxy Note 20 has that classic Samsung business vibe. It’s boxy but sleek, with a flat screen and just enough weight to feel solid without being a brick. 

The weird thing is, the standard Note 20 (not the Ultra) actually has a plastic back, which always feels a little… meh for a premium phone. You get used to it, but it’s definitely a corner Samsung cut back then.

Now, the S23 Ultra? Whole different animal. This thing screams high-end. Matte glass back, squared-off corners, and just the right amount of curve on the screen. 

It’s heavy, yeah, but in a “this is a serious device” kind of way. Like a luxury watch. Or a camera you’d actually want to carry.

Holding the Note 20 feels like driving a dependable old Lexus. Holding the S23 Ultra is like sliding into a brand-new electric Porsche.

Winner: S23 Ultra, but hey, if you like a lighter phone, the Note 20 still wins points for comfort.

Display: You’ll Notice This One Instantly

Here’s where things go from “okay” to “oh wow.”

The Note 20 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that looks… fine. Bright enough, colorful enough, and good for most things. But it's a big one; it's stuck at 60Hz refresh rate. In 2020, that was forgivable. In 2025? Not so much.

Once you’ve used a phone with 120Hz, going back feels like watching YouTube at 0.75x speed. It’s laggy. Choppy. And kinda dated.

Now the S23 Ultra? It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED beast with up to 120Hz adaptive refresh and crazy peak brightness. Like, readable-in-direct-sunlight kind of bright. The colors are punchier. Blacks are deeper. And scrolling? Smooth as silk.

I didn’t expect to notice the difference that much, but I did—within five minutes of switching.

Bottom line? If you look at your phone all day (and let’s be real, you do), the S23 Ultra display alone is worth the upgrade.

Performance: Still Fast vs Stupid Fast

This part in Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs might surprise you. The Note 20 is actually still pretty quick—especially for everyday stuff like texting, streaming, and browsing. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 865+ (or Exynos 990 if you’re unlucky and outside the US), and it holds up alright.

But if you push it—open a bunch of apps, play graphics-heavy games, edit videos—it starts to lag. It’s like it can do all those things, but it kinda sighs and groans as it does them.

Now, the S23 Ultra is just… unfair. The custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip inside is a monster. It’s optimized, overclocked, and doesn’t even flinch at anything you throw at it.

Gaming? Seamless. Multitasking? Effortless. Even things like AI-powered photo editing or 8K video rendering feel instant.

And you know what’s wild? It barely gets warm.

Real talk? The S23 Ultra feels like using a laptop in your pocket. If you need power—or just don’t want your phone to slow down after a year—it’s easily the smarter buy.

Battery Life: The Bigger They Are, the Longer They Last

When talking about battery life in Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs the Note 20 has a 4300mAh battery, which sounds good on paper. And when it was new, it held up for a day pretty well. But after a few years of use? That battery health takes a hit. You’ve probably already noticed yourself charging it around 6 or 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the S23 Ultra packs a 5000mAh battery that’s not just bigger, but also more efficient thanks to the smarter chip and adaptive refresh rate.

In real life, this means you’ll easily make it through a full day with juice to spare. I’ve even made it into day two with light use.

Plus, it charges way faster with up to 45W wired and wireless charging, and it even lets you charge your earbuds or another phone using reverse wireless charging. That’s the kind of “oh damn, this is handy” feature you don’t think you’ll use—until you do.

Cameras: You’re Not Even in the Same Ballpark

Okay. Let’s talk about photos in Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs because this is where the upgrade really hits you in the face.

The Note 20’s camera setup was solid in its time. It has a 12MP main sensor, 64MP telephoto (which isn’t really optical zoom), and a decent ultrawide. Daytime photos? Still decent. Night shots? Eh. Zoom? Gets grainy real fast.

The S23 Ultra? Bro. This thing has a 200MP main sensor. Yes, really. And it’s not just for show.

It uses pixel binning to take super detailed, low-noise 12MP shots that look stunning even in trash lighting. You also get dual zoom lenses 3x and 10x optical, and up to 100x digital zoom. And here’s the wild part: the zoom shots are actually usable now.

Throw in Samsung’s “Nightography” AI magic, improved stabilization, and better processing, and your phone basically becomes your go-to camera for everything from dinner pics to sunsets to concerts.

And for video? 8K at 30fps, super steady stabilization, better audio capture… the list goes on. If you take even halfway-decent pictures on your phone, this upgrade will blow you away.

S Pen: The Note Legacy Lives On (and Thrives)

One of the biggest hesitations Note users have when upgrading is the S Pen. That’s the Note’s thing, right?

Good news: the S23 Ultra has a built-in S Pen, and it’s better than ever.

Lower latency, better palm rejection, smoother writing—honestly, it feels more like pen-on-paper than the Note 20 ever did. Plus, Samsung’s kept all the classic Air Actions and gestures, so you won’t miss a beat.

And it tucks away into the phone just like the Note. No separate cases or weird dongles. It’s like they never skipped a beat.

If you’re someone who takes handwritten notes, annotates docs, or doodles in meetings—you’ll love the upgraded experience.

Software Support: One’s Peaking, One’s Just Getting Started

This is the part in Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs people don’t think about enough—but it matters more than ever.

The Note 20 came with Android 10, and it’s done now. No more big updates, just the occasional security patch.

The S23 Ultra? It launched with Android 13 and will get four years of major Android updates plus five years of security updates. That means you’ll still be getting new features in 2027.

If you plan to keep your phone for a while (and at this price, you probably should), long-term support is a big deal.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20: Worth The Upgrade?

Alright, let’s keep it real. If you’ve been hanging onto your Galaxy Note 20, you’ve probably heard all the hype about the Galaxy S23 Ultra. And maybe you’re thinking, “Do I really need to upgrade?”

Short answer? It depends on how your Note’s holding up… but yeah, it might be time.

We’re not just comparing specs here. We’re talking about day-to-day use—what actually feels different when you ditch the Note 20 and pick up an S23 Ultra. So let’s break it down like real people.

First Impressions: Still Slick or Starting to Show Age?

Your Note 20? Still a decent-looking phone. It’s slim, clean, professional—feels good in the hand. But it’s also… kinda dated now. The plastic back on some models, the flat screen—it’s starting to show its age.

The S23 Ultra, though? Totally different vibe. It feels like a tank made of glass and steel—premium all around. It’s a bit bigger and heavier, sure, but in that “wow this feels expensive” kind of way.

Bottom Line: If you want something that still looks the part, the Note 20’s fine. But if you want your phone to actually feel like it costs over $1K (because it does), the S23 Ultra flexes hard.

That Screen, Though… Wow

Let’s be honest—the Note 20’s screen isn’t bad. Samsung’s displays are always nice, and this one’s colorful and bright. But it’s stuck at 60Hz, and once you get used to a smoother screen, there’s no going back.

The S23 Ultra? Absolute stunner. It’s got that 120Hz refresh rate that makes everything buttery. Scrolling feels silky, animations pop, and it gets way brighter—like, “use it in direct sunlight without squinting” brighter.

Reality Check: Once you’ve seen the Ultra’s display, the Note’s will feel sluggish. No exaggeration.

Speed & Power: Like Trading in a Sedan for a Spaceship

If your Note 20 is starting to feel a little laggy when switching between apps or playing games, you’re not imagining it. That Snapdragon 865+ (or Exynos, depending where you’re from) is a few years old now. It’s good—but it’s not keeping up like it used to.

Meanwhile, the S23 Ultra has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy under the hood. That’s a fancy way of saying: this thing flies. No lag, no overheating, just stupid fast.

And if you’re someone who stores everything on your phone—apps, photos, memes from 2014—the S23 Ultra’s storage options (up to 1TB) and speedier UFS 4.0 tech will feel like a serious quality-of-life upgrade.

TL;DR: Your apps load faster, your games look better, and the phone doesn’t hiccup when you’re multitasking.

Cameras: “Wow” vs “That’ll Do”

Okay, here’s where the S23 Ultra just destroys the Note 20.

Your Note’s camera setup? Solid for its time. You get a decent wide, ultra-wide, and that 64MP hybrid zoom thing. But it struggles in low light, and zoom photos? Let’s be honest… they get fuzzy fast.

Now the S23 Ultra? It has a 200MP main sensor. That’s not a typo. And it’s not just about big numbers—it actually takes insanely detailed shots. You also get two telephoto lenses, which means real 3x and 10x optical zoom that looks sharp, not smeary.

And the night mode? Legit impressive. You can take handheld shots in the dark and still get usable photos.

Bottom Line: If you love snapping pics (or even just want better vacation selfies), this alone might justify the upgrade.

Battery Life: Less Charging Anxiety

You already know the Note 20’s 4300mAh battery isn’t what it used to be. If you’re like most people, it’s probably not getting you through a full day without plugging in at some point.

The S23 Ultra? Bigger 5000mAh battery, more efficient chip, and 45W fast charging. It also has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging—because why not flex and charge your earbuds on the back of your phone?

Reality: You’ll actually make it through a busy day on one charge. And if not, a 30-minute top-up gives you a solid boost.

S Pen: Still Here, Just Better

If the stylus is the reason you bought the Note 20, good news—the S23 Ultra still has the S Pen, tucked right into the phone like the Note line always did.

What’s different? It feels faster and more responsive. Writing on the screen feels almost like pen on paper. Plus, you get all the Bluetooth tricks (remote photo snapping, air gestures, etc.)—but smoother and more polished now.

Real Talk: If you’re a power user who loves the pen, the experience on the Ultra is just more fun.

Software & Support: Who’s Still Getting the Love?

The Note 20 is kinda on its last legs when it comes to updates. It’s maxed out at Android 13, and Samsung’s likely done giving it major new features.

The S23 Ultra came out with Android 13, and it’s promised to get updates all the way to Android 17 or beyond. That means new features, security patches, and less chance of getting left behind.

In Simple Terms: You’re paying for peace of mind—and future proofing.

So… Should You Upgrade?

Here’s the honest truth about Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs:

If your Note 20 is still running great, and you’re happy with the camera, screen, and speed—you don’t have to upgrade right now.

But if you’ve been noticing slowdowns, battery drops, blurry zoom shots, or a general “this feels old” vibe? The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an absolutely massive leap forward.

It’s not just faster or prettier. It’s smarter, tougher, more efficient, and more fun to use. From the screen to the battery to the camera, everything feels like a significant step up—not just an incremental bump.

And for former Note lovers? Don’t worry—the S Pen still has your back.

Conclusion: From Good to God-Tier

To sum up the Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs samsung galaxy note 20 specs:

• Want a better camera? Huge leap.

• Need longer battery life? You’ll notice it.

• Tired of lag or slowdowns? Gone.

• Miss the feel of a fresh, premium phone? Oh, you’ll feel it.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t just the natural successor to the Note 20—it’s the grown-up, buffed-up, do-it-all version of everything the Note lineup was aiming for.

If you can swing it financially, the upgrade isn’t just worth it—it’s the start of a whole new chapter.

How to Switch Hearing Adds Between iPhone and iPad?