technology news: Samsung Galaxy Note 20: Everything we know so far (Updated: July 10)

Credit: Kris Carlon / Android Authority

Update, July 10, 2020 (05:10 PM ET): We've updated the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series rumor hub with a leaked hands-on video, a confirmed release date, information about expected pricing, and a whole lot more!

Original article, April 17, 2020 (5:44 PM ET): Samsung's Galaxy Note series has long been the preferred choice for Android power users. The Galaxy S line, on the other hand, has traditionally appealed more to the masses. Samsung changed that up a bit recently with the "power user lite" Galaxy Note 10 as well as the top-of-the-line Galaxy S20 Ultra, which is now a power user's dream. So, where does that leave the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 line?

This is everything we know (or at least think we know) so far about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series.

Name and release date

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Samsung has not confirmed the Galaxy Note 20 moniker, but it's a safe bet to assume this will be the name of the series' next iteration. Samsung's Note and Galaxy lines have mirrored each other pretty closely over the years. Most recently, the Galaxy line name jumped from 10 to 20, so it makes sense for us to expect a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 this year.

There's also evidence of this name within the kernel source code of the Galaxy S20 line. The folks over at XDA Developers scoured the code and found evidence of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 name.

The Galaxy Note 20 series is on schedule for an August 2020 launch.

If we can expect the Galaxy Note 20 name, what about the device variants within the series? At first, we assumed Samsung would go the route it went last year and release two models: a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and a Note 20 Plus. However, the existence of the Galaxy S20 Ultra made us think there could be a third, absurdly over-powered Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Eventually, evidence arrived that strongly suggests there will be a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. We just don't know if that means there will be three models (vanilla, Plus, and Ultra) or just two (vanilla and Ultra). The evidence does very strongly suggest that there will be an Ultra variant, though.

As far as a release date is concerned, Samsung has confirmed that its next Galaxy Unpacked event will happen on August 5, 2020. The company didn't directly confirm that we'll see the Galaxy Note 20 launch then, but we are very confident that's what will happen.

There is a rumor that the phones would then hit store shelves on August 21. Judging from past Note launches, that makes perfect sense to us, so we'd feel comfortable betting on that, too.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20: Design

samsung galaxy note 20 ultra leak jimmy is promo

Credit: Jimmy Is Promo

We got our first good look at both the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Plus (or Ultra, maybe) in May. The renders show that both the new Note phones will have big screens, chunky camera modules, and a design that remains largely unchanged compared to the Galaxy Note 10 series.

As per the Galaxy Note 20 render leak, the phone will get a 6.7-inch display. Meanwhile, the Note 20 Plus/Ultra is said to come with a larger 6.9-inch screen. Both phones could come with a quad-camera setup at the back. Obviously, camera specs could vary and you can scroll down to read more on that in the specs and features section. Meanwhile, take a look at the leaked renders below, courtesy of Pigtou.

: An apparently leaked Galaxy Note 20 render.

: The alleged Galaxy Note 20 Plus (or Ultra) render

Note that the curved displays of the Galaxy Note 10 series are dialed way back here. We expect flat displays to make a solid return this year as the industry moves away from the curved trend.

The position of the S Pen housing has also changed on both the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Plus/Ultra. Samsung usually slots the stylus on the right side but renders for both phones show that it's now placed on the bottom left.

Colorways for both the Galaxy Note 20 phones also leaked recently. The standard Galaxy Note 20 might come in gray, copper, and green colorways. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 20 Plus/Ultra is tipped to arrive in black, copper, and gold colorways.

Arguably the biggest design-related leak to date occurred via Samsung itself, as Samsung's Ukrainian website posted renders showing a bronze Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Check that out below.

: A render from Samsung Ukraine.

: Another look at the Note 20 Ultra, via Samsung Ukraine.

The images confirm a distinctive rear camera housing seen in previous unofficial renders, featuring a vertically stacked arrangement with prominent lenses. It also seems like the bottom camera might be a periscope shooter, enabling long-range zoom shots.

Most recently, we saw a leaked hands-on video from YouTuber JimmyIsPromo. The video appears to show a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in a black colorway. Check it out below and see the phone from all angles:

Once again, this leaked hands-on depicts a phone that matches up very well with Samsung's own renders, so we are relatively confident this is what the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (or Plus, maybe) will look like.

Unfortunately, there haven't been too many leaks for the vanilla Note 20. We'll hopefully see more of that model soon.

Specs and features

The red S Pen

Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

A listing with the FCC confirmed what we already knew: the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 line will feature the latest Snapdragon 865 SoC and 5G connectivity. This was the only expected outcome.

However, we now know that Qualcomm is releasing an upgraded version of the chipset, the Snapdragon 865 Plus. It is still possible that the Note 20 Ultra will have this chipset, as the FCC filing only confirmed the specs for the Galaxy Note 20 Plus. We'll need to wait and see.

Unfortunately, we also expect Samsung to stick to its usual method of not putting the SD865 (or SD865 Plus) in every model. Handsets in specific markets will almost certainly tout Samsung Exynos processors — likely the Exynos 992.

We also expect the phones to feature an IP68 water-resistance rating, at least 12GB of RAM, no less than 256GB of internal storage, wireless charging, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a multi-sensor camera setup. Only the Note 10 Plus featured expandable storage, so at least the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus/Ultra should see it this year, but hopefully, all Note 20 models will.

A recent report from SamMobile suggests the Samsung Galaxy Note 20's battery capacity will start at 4,300mAh. This would be larger than the standard Galaxy Note 10's 3,500mAh battery. If this is the case, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus/Ultra should at least feature at least a 4,500mAh battery, but we hope to see a 5,000mAh rating, similar to what we saw on the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Unfortunately, Samsung has now done away with the headphone jack on its premium flagship devices, so don't expect to see a comeback with the Note 20 series.

The Galaxy Note 20 series will pack some mighty camera specs, if the leaks are to be believed.

As far as cameras go, prolific tipster Ice Universe has shared apparent Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus/Ultra camera specs. According to the leak, the bigger of the Note 20 devices will pack a 12MP "2L3" ultra-wide camera (referring to Samsung's Isocell Fast 2L3 sensor) and a 13MP "3M5" periscope camera (referring to the company's S5K3M5 camera sensor). The latter would be a big drop in resolution over the S20 Ultra's 48MP periscope camera. If true, this suggests the firm may have decided better low-light quality was more important than more megapixels.

The leaker also alleges that the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus/Ultra will have the same Isocell Bright HM1 108MP main camera as the S20 Ultra.

Obviously, all Note 20 devices will have an S Pen, as that's a signature feature of the entire line. We have heard rumors that this year's S Pen will be physically identical to last year's but pack a new trick: doubling as a digital pointer.

While the aforementioned specs and features are what we've gathered from rumors so far, we also have our own set of expectations from the new Galaxy Note 20 series. Here's what we want to see on the phones.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20: Pricing and availability

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Aura White back at angle

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series will likely be some of the most expensive on the market. Here's what the devices from last year's crop cost:

$949: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
$1,049: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G (Korea only)
$1,099: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
$1,199: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage
$1,299: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
$1,399: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage

So far, we have rumors that strongly suggest Samsung will launch the lowest-tier Note 20 at either the same or possibly an even lower price as compared to the vanilla Note 10 from last year. The reasoning behind this could be twofold: the poor sales of the incredibly expensive Galaxy S20 series combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If Samsung doesn't keep the Note 20 series' pricing reasonable, it might face some serious hurdles selling the phones.

However, Samsung is also reportedly already expecting demand for the Note 20 series to be low, likely due to the pandemic. With that in mind, Sammy could go for broke and make them more expensive under the assumption the die-hard Note fans will still buy them. Time will tell.

As far as availability is concerned, you can expect a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 global launch. That means we will most likely see it land in the US, Europe, South Korea, and more.

Those are all the details we have on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 so far! Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often as we will update it with new information as we get our hands on it.