The Best New Samsung Phones Released in 2020

From 10 to 20 real quick, because that’s how Samsung counts. Never mind the sequence though since we are here for the latest on the Galaxy Note series.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the latest iteration of Samsung for its popular Note series. Its trademark stylus, called the S Pen, is now more responsive than the previous S Pen generations, clocking its latency or response rate to 9ms. You will feel like you’re writing on paper and not on its screen.

In the display department, it boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate, paired with a 6.9”, QHD (3,088 x 1,440) screen, making it one of the most desirable smartphones ever when it comes to screen. Playing games or watching a movie feels like a breeze with this phone. As with the other features, it will not definitely let you down. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra packs a whopping 108 MP primary camera with two 12 MP cameras for the ultrawide and telephoto feature. Additionally, its selfie camera is equipped with a 10 MP sensor. With its precision shots more accurate than ever, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a great inclusion to the best camera phones.

If you’re not really keen on getting an uber-large phone, but still want some of the capabilities of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, then you might want to look at its smaller sibling: the Galaxy Note 20. The base model for the current Note series packs almost all of the features of its higher-specced brother while maintaining a relatively lower price than the Ultra version.

The Galaxy Note 20 boasts a polycarbonate shell. This might be too pricey for a $1,000-phone, but do not underestimate its performance, for it surely packs a punch. It has a triple camera setup, with a 64MP telephoto paired with two 12MP main and ultra-wide camera. These numbers may be a letdown for some avid mobile photographers, but the phone can still capture subjects with ease, preciseness, and clarity. It also has the same processor as its big brother. So, if you are after the performance, the Galaxy Note 20 is enough for your everyday productivity.

Just like the Samsung Galaxy Note series, the Galaxy S series has skipped some numbers, and immediately went to the Galaxy S20. The Galaxy S20 Plus has a larger screen than the base model, but it does not end there. It also got beefier storage than its smaller brother with its 128GB or 512GB variant.

The 120 Hz refresh rate on its screens also significantly reduces the lags and stutters, from random scrolls to any video playback. The feel of the videos is significantly buttery smooth thanks to its refresh rate. The camera might not be your cup of tea, though. Images captured with the S20 Plus tend to be over-processed, thus making images look artificial.

Have you ever imagined a smartphone with a DSLR camera? No, we are not talking about those smartphones with replaceable lenses, because you don’t need them anymore with the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Samsung specifically made the Galaxy S20 Ultra the dream smartphone for mobile photographers. Its primary camera is equipped with 108MP paired with two 48MP and 12 MP cameras. What makes this phone remarkable is its insane zoom feature. It can zoom up to 100x digitally, making objects from afar look like just a few inches away. The camera can also record up to 8K video resolution, establishing a new standard on capturing videos.

Its blazingly fast processor also outshines its competitors. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is equipped with a Snapdragon 865 and it has established itself time and again as the fastest-performing processor to date. Pair it with a 12GB RAM, and it feels like owning a gaming PC at the palm of your hands. Lag is now a thing of the past, thanks to its speedy performance.

If you want a just-the-right-sized smartphone, then the Galaxy S20 is the right one for you. The latest version from the S series is equipped with the latest hardware that will surely give you a future-proof experience. 

The screen display is the best thing that you can marvel at. It has got WQHD resolution (3,200 x 1,440) with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This makes the transitions and videos smoother, without any lags or stutter. The camera is something to look upon too. The triple camera setup, which is equipped with two 12MP cameras and a 64MP telephoto camera, can make your shots stunningly crisp. It can also record videos up to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second. You will surely leave your DSLR camera behind with the quality of photos and videos the Galaxy S20 offers you.

There are some caveats, though. This is the first phone from the S series that does not come with a 3.5 mm headphone jack. So, you will be forced to buy an adaptor or wireless earbuds if you are vying for this new Galaxy phone. If you own a Galaxy S10 already, maybe you want to hold on it for a longer time. Upgrading your S10 to the S20 is truly not worth it.

Foldable phones are the latest trend in the smartphone market. It all started with Samsung’s iteration of folding phones, aptly named “Fold“. It was teased as the newest smartphone design by Samsung last year. With all the hype for foldable phones, Samsung has created the second version of the Fold this year, again aptly called Fold 2. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was announced last August 3 on the Samsung Unpacked event and was subsequently launched last September 18. This will be the newest addition to Samsung’s lineup of flagship phones this year.

It boasts a 6.2” display that can be folded out to 7.6”. This makes it slightly wider than the first Fold phone. It comes with a three-fold option that you can use either as a phone, a tablet, or a hybrid of the two. This newest Samsung phone is like the foldable version of the Note 20 Ultra because of its specs. It also has a Snapdragon 865+ processor with a 12GB RAM and 256 GB storage.

As the name suggests, what makes the Fold 2 stand out is basically its folding capability. You can fold the phone to make it look as if it has two screens in it. The primary screen serves as your display, while the second screen provides your controls. It’s like owning a Nintendo DS, only more modern and practical. It has got a 120 Hz refresh rate on its screen, making it a very desirable entertainment device.

If you’re not a fan of phablets yet still want to try out the folding tech in today’s smartphone generations, then better try the Galaxy Z Flip. This new Galaxy phone is tailor-made for those people who want everything to be handy. Unlike the Z Fold 2, this smartphone can be folded into a clamshell-type style. This saves you a ton of real estate not just on your hands, but most importantly, your pocket.

This phone may be compact, but don’t underestimate its capabilities. It boasts a Snapdragon 855+ processor, paired with an 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This makes it a flagship competitor with its other Galaxy siblings like the S20 series. What makes it stand out against the S20 is that you can use its primary camera into a selfie camera, without the hassle of flipping the phone screen to the back. The primary came also features a wide-angle lens, making it the perfect device for those who love taking group selfies.

Although it only has a 3,300 mAh battery, this phone will still keep up with your everyday errands. There is still a viable market for this series due to its nifty functions and capabilities. As they would say, “functionality over performance.”

If you are on a tight budget, then better take a look at Samsung’s prominent A series. The latest Samsung Galaxy A71 smartphone will let you save tons of bucks mainly because of its watered-down components. The performance of this phone is on par with the flagship ones as it does not lag even if a number of apps are simultaneously open in the background.

On top of that, the display is also to die for. The screen remains relatively bright amid a sunny day with a full HD (1,080 x 2,400) display. In terms of the form factor, it does not look cheap at all. The overall design will make you think it’s a faux Galaxy S20 phone. The only difference is that this phone has a polycarbonate finish, which Samsung fondly calls “glasstic.”

By far, Galaxy A71 is one of the cheapest phones in the market with 5G capability. If you are searching for a true but affordable 5G phone, then this new smartphone is among the best options for you.

A smaller budget does not mean cheaper quality phones. Samsung offers the Galaxy A51 as the cheaper option its big bro A71. This will definitely not break the bank of those who are truly conscious of their budget. The Galaxy A51 directly rivals the iPhone SE (2020) for its set of capabilities. On top of that, some of the functions of the flagship Galaxy phones are also emulated in this new Galaxy phone.

Firstly, it is packed with a 48 MP primary camera, paired with a duo of 12MP and 5MP cameras. Shots that use Auto Mode are surprisingly decent. Of course, expect some unwanted noise in low-light conditions. But, at the very least, the camera performs very well in favorable conditions. The screen is a stunner as well. It may not have a 120 Hz refresh rate, but the 1,080 x 2,400 resolution is more than enough for a 6.5” OLED screen. For a sub-$400 phone, you can never go wrong on its camera and screen display.

If you are looking for an affordable yet decent phone apart from the iPhone SE (2020), this by far is the most promising contender of them all. There may be occasional lags on this Galaxy phone here and there, but with its cheap price point, this phone is a gamechanger.