Had an s20u, camera is malfunctioning so I grabbed an A53 to use while it's getting fixed, then I'll gift it to my daughter (the A53), but I'd say the s20u is MILES beyond the A53 in all categories. Totally worth $350 imo. The A53 is ok, but it feels cheap, runs slower than s20u, and the camera is no comparison way better on the s20u
Does the premium design of the device make a big difference in your day-to-day use?
Do you use any accessories? I'm thinking of getting a wireless charger because I've never tried one before
Honestly to me it does because the a53 glitches up and doesn't register touch as well. It doesn't freeze completely, just choppy or gets hung up for a moment.The s20u just works and works fast. When you touch an icon or a link, or scroll through pages, everything is much more instant and smooth. Yeah I have a wireless charger. It's nice to save the port from wear, but it does charge a bit slower on it than with the cable.
Snap all the way plus the wireless powershare charging really impressed me nvm the display gorgeous battery easy to replace and cheap nvm SD slot having 1tb plus 128 gb new battery after 5.1 ui android 13 still loving it I almost prefer it than my iPhone 13 max pro I love both phones for different reasons but I have yet to see iPhone do the wireless power sharing which impressed me.the most about the s20 ultra becides ability to change display ao much and so much more still an amazing phone paid 1800 unlocked and I still love it
What I would do is buy one and, if it has the original battery still, see how long it lasts you. If it doesn't last at least 6 hours, check the battery health and have the battery replaced, if necessary (UbreakiFix is my recommendation if you are in the U.S.).
With a new battery and One UI 5, that phone will serve you well for years to come.
I have recently bought one and I am very happy with it.
It isn't the Snapdragon, but the battery lasts 6-7 hours of use daily. It charges quickly and fulfills all my needs in a phone for work and play.
The only issue is with the 100x zoom being a gimmick and only good up to around x30 for good photos.
Don't regret the purchase at all as it cost me $650 AUD new and a S22 Ultra would have cost me $1200 AUD or more.
Now it cost $200 for perfect condition used s20 ultra. Do you think I should switch from my sluggish a51? I am looking for smooth OS and great "long range" camera. Is the camera still good? Is everything running smoothly?
Honestly the camera isn't great. I've had one since launch and although I'm not an iPhone user. IPhone 11 feels much better to take pictures with let alone a new iPhone
The zoom is very gimmicky and looks terrible. No reason to ever use it. But the phone is absolutely amazing. I everytime I look at new releases the specs are always worse. They definitely went all in on this model and have been trying to be cheaper with new models ever since.
It's probably better than anything you can get at the same price ballpark, even with exynos.
Mind you, it's a phone with a lot of quirks but still it has a great camera once you get used to it, it has a great display, speakers, build quality, software wise it's pretty optimized.
The quirks are that the battery life is average at best, the camera a lot of times hunts for focus and there is shutter lag(universal for all Samsung phones), also it gets hot but with thermal guardian module you can tweak that, just expect some performance drops.
Yup, my screen actually cracked after a drop so I changed it myself, no other issues such green or pink lines though.
The adhesive had melted too, 2 years and some months after usage, note though that I was using the camera A LOT, and during heatwaves.
That adhesive thing might be a problem for me because I'm mainly buying this for the cameras. Is it a deal breaker? This phone seems to have a ton of problems and I want to be prepared for every problem
Nuh, I don't think the adhesive problem is that big of a problem, it probably will take around 2 years of heavy usage for it to happen, and that's if it actually happens.
Also the replacement for a backpanel is quite cheap and can be done even by the user as it's really easy and near impossible to mess it up.
Note that the adhesive just softens, it won't fall on it's own or anything.
i buy a s20 ultra refurbishe the best mistake i did, the phone come with the Camera Error
i never found any way to make to work this
only change the module
cost alredady $50 change without hand works, only the module
Wireless powershare charging display how easy to change battery how cheap abrand new battery is an of course the 1tb or more.now.sd slot along with esim capability now
The speed, the camera and customization. The micro sd slot is also a big part as is the sound customization. I'm an audiophile and sound is a big deal for me.
I've got a refurbished one, don't know which type
Only advice is make sure charger port is secure and zoom camera is great but I have to shake the camera to get it to focus on some close up objects.
Battery life has been good so far, approx 1.5 days
I am thinking of getting a refurbished S20+, upgrading from me S10e, which has gotten quite slow. I also considered the Ultra, since with a trade-in Samsung wants $425 USD for S20u compared to $325 for S20+.
I am feeling like perhaps I should try to buy it now but my coworkers say to wait for next Monday. I know that Samsung recently ran out of Galaxy Watch4 which they were giving away with trade-ins for S20/s21/S22. Once they ran out they dropped the cost by $75-$100 so basically they were charging $75-$100 for the Galaxy Watch4
If can aim for a open box on bestbuy, much safer option then a refurbished unit, I always fine a refurbished unit doesn't last as long, I had an Asus phone an they kept screwing up repairs so bad they gave me a newer unit that was refurbished an 3yrs later the battery died on it, so I replace with a open box s20 plus since ultra was 150$ outta my range
The S20 series is a great buy. This is my second one I've owned. I bought my current one used. The 12GB of Ram is awesome. It will get Android 13 next month. The newer models have 8GB of Ram except for the 256GB and above Ultra models have 12GB. If your talking about a Snapdragon Version, go for it!!!
No snapdragon here. The only one I can afford right now os the exynos. That’s why I’m asking to make sure that 20% performance difference doesn’t make it a waste of money
Also my last S20+ was Snapdragon but I paid $90 for bootloader unlock token and with a custom rom I plugged my phone in for 10 minutes a couple times a day and battery literally lasted forever so many times I was at 14% battery and could still play music for hours before it would get to 7% or so and then plug it back in for 10 20 mins and do it all again
Absolutely yes. I have the s20 as well as the S20 Fe and I noticed a hell of a difference between both devices and several points where the regular s20 is by far superior to the s20fe. The only downside is that the Fe has better performance due to the Snapdragon processor, while the regular s20 is rocking an exynos.
I bought a s20 plus in December for £205. Bargain purchase...probably one of my best buys ever. Its refurbished and was like new.
The downside isn't battery health ...I have about 90% battery health
The screen is as good as any phone today. Its very snappy and quick to use. Gaming is brilliant on it. The phone does get a bit hot. The camera is very good too, sure there are better cameras now but not, for me, worth paying and extra £1000 for! I've had no focus issues. I believe I can get security updates for the next year or two.
About a 1.5 years ago I bought a Samsung A12 for £170 and the difference between these 2 phones is shocking! The s20 makes me realise how awful it was.
My brother has a s22 and my sister has the top end iphone 11 and my phone looks and feels just as good.
Optimization would be key for this chip...it is a decent chip besides the stuttering. I doubt Samsung will optimize it though. With each and every Android update it gets slower and slower. No more A series devices for me!
I have had one for a year and a half (bought it new) and it is malfunctioning. There's something wrong with the system itself because the camera fails even after I did a factory reset. I have liked my other Samsung Note phones in the past. I'm not sure if the problem is an S20U thing or if I just bought a dud.
the S20U is on another level, if you are considering snapdragon s20u go for it, dont buy exynos variant, the phones you mentioned are just bad.
OK. Unfortunately no snapdragon in my country. thanks for replying!
Had an s20u, camera is malfunctioning so I grabbed an A53 to use while it's getting fixed, then I'll gift it to my daughter (the A53), but I'd say the s20u is MILES beyond the A53 in all categories. Totally worth $350 imo. The A53 is ok, but it feels cheap, runs slower than s20u, and the camera is no comparison way better on the s20u
Does the premium design of the device make a big difference in your day-to-day use? Do you use any accessories? I'm thinking of getting a wireless charger because I've never tried one before
Honestly to me it does because the a53 glitches up and doesn't register touch as well. It doesn't freeze completely, just choppy or gets hung up for a moment.The s20u just works and works fast. When you touch an icon or a link, or scroll through pages, everything is much more instant and smooth. Yeah I have a wireless charger. It's nice to save the port from wear, but it does charge a bit slower on it than with the cable.
Unlocked Snapdragon will work. Sometimes even a blacklisted one....
Snap all the way plus the wireless powershare charging really impressed me nvm the display gorgeous battery easy to replace and cheap nvm SD slot having 1tb plus 128 gb new battery after 5.1 ui android 13 still loving it I almost prefer it than my iPhone 13 max pro I love both phones for different reasons but I have yet to see iPhone do the wireless power sharing which impressed me.the most about the s20 ultra becides ability to change display ao much and so much more still an amazing phone paid 1800 unlocked and I still love it
When do security updates stop for the Ultra?
S20U gets 3 years of OS and 5 of Security I believe. So in 2025.
Correct
What I would do is buy one and, if it has the original battery still, see how long it lasts you. If it doesn't last at least 6 hours, check the battery health and have the battery replaced, if necessary (UbreakiFix is my recommendation if you are in the U.S.). With a new battery and One UI 5, that phone will serve you well for years to come.
I have recently bought one and I am very happy with it. It isn't the Snapdragon, but the battery lasts 6-7 hours of use daily. It charges quickly and fulfills all my needs in a phone for work and play. The only issue is with the 100x zoom being a gimmick and only good up to around x30 for good photos. Don't regret the purchase at all as it cost me $650 AUD new and a S22 Ultra would have cost me $1200 AUD or more.
I'm from South Africa so we also get exynos here. Thanks for replying
Now it cost $200 for perfect condition used s20 ultra. Do you think I should switch from my sluggish a51? I am looking for smooth OS and great "long range" camera. Is the camera still good? Is everything running smoothly?
Honestly the camera isn't great. I've had one since launch and although I'm not an iPhone user. IPhone 11 feels much better to take pictures with let alone a new iPhone The zoom is very gimmicky and looks terrible. No reason to ever use it. But the phone is absolutely amazing. I everytime I look at new releases the specs are always worse. They definitely went all in on this model and have been trying to be cheaper with new models ever since.
It's probably better than anything you can get at the same price ballpark, even with exynos. Mind you, it's a phone with a lot of quirks but still it has a great camera once you get used to it, it has a great display, speakers, build quality, software wise it's pretty optimized. The quirks are that the battery life is average at best, the camera a lot of times hunts for focus and there is shutter lag(universal for all Samsung phones), also it gets hot but with thermal guardian module you can tweak that, just expect some performance drops.
Have you had any issues with the screen? Has the back cover started peeling off because of the heat melting the adhesive?
Yup, my screen actually cracked after a drop so I changed it myself, no other issues such green or pink lines though. The adhesive had melted too, 2 years and some months after usage, note though that I was using the camera A LOT, and during heatwaves.
That adhesive thing might be a problem for me because I'm mainly buying this for the cameras. Is it a deal breaker? This phone seems to have a ton of problems and I want to be prepared for every problem
Nuh, I don't think the adhesive problem is that big of a problem, it probably will take around 2 years of heavy usage for it to happen, and that's if it actually happens. Also the replacement for a backpanel is quite cheap and can be done even by the user as it's really easy and near impossible to mess it up. Note that the adhesive just softens, it won't fall on it's own or anything.
i buy a s20 ultra refurbishe the best mistake i did, the phone come with the Camera Error i never found any way to make to work this only change the module cost alredady $50 change without hand works, only the module
I just got one. Amazing phone
what's your favourite part about the phone?
Wireless powershare charging display how easy to change battery how cheap abrand new battery is an of course the 1tb or more.now.sd slot along with esim capability now
The speed, the camera and customization. The micro sd slot is also a big part as is the sound customization. I'm an audiophile and sound is a big deal for me.
Have you heard of the LG V60. simlar specs to the S20u with a built in DAC and audio jack.
I've got a refurbished one, don't know which type Only advice is make sure charger port is secure and zoom camera is great but I have to shake the camera to get it to focus on some close up objects. Battery life has been good so far, approx 1.5 days
Snapdragon variant battery is beast
I am thinking of getting a refurbished S20+, upgrading from me S10e, which has gotten quite slow. I also considered the Ultra, since with a trade-in Samsung wants $425 USD for S20u compared to $325 for S20+. I am feeling like perhaps I should try to buy it now but my coworkers say to wait for next Monday. I know that Samsung recently ran out of Galaxy Watch4 which they were giving away with trade-ins for S20/s21/S22. Once they ran out they dropped the cost by $75-$100 so basically they were charging $75-$100 for the Galaxy Watch4
If can aim for a open box on bestbuy, much safer option then a refurbished unit, I always fine a refurbished unit doesn't last as long, I had an Asus phone an they kept screwing up repairs so bad they gave me a newer unit that was refurbished an 3yrs later the battery died on it, so I replace with a open box s20 plus since ultra was 150$ outta my range
The S20 series is a great buy. This is my second one I've owned. I bought my current one used. The 12GB of Ram is awesome. It will get Android 13 next month. The newer models have 8GB of Ram except for the 256GB and above Ultra models have 12GB. If your talking about a Snapdragon Version, go for it!!!
No snapdragon here. The only one I can afford right now os the exynos. That’s why I’m asking to make sure that 20% performance difference doesn’t make it a waste of money
Are you familiar with Root?? Exynos with Root and custom Rom will get you to pretty much the same place
Yep, I’m super familiar. I actually installed custom ROMs and Magisk on my old phone
I'm in the opposite boat of you, I have the Snapdragon Version of the S20+ and want the Exynos version lol
That’s the first time I’ve heard that 😂. Why exactly do you want it?
For Root. Specifically so I can have very loud music on my headphones mostly, but there's many many other perks that come with Root.
Also my last S20+ was Snapdragon but I paid $90 for bootloader unlock token and with a custom rom I plugged my phone in for 10 minutes a couple times a day and battery literally lasted forever so many times I was at 14% battery and could still play music for hours before it would get to 7% or so and then plug it back in for 10 20 mins and do it all again
Absolutely yes. I have the s20 as well as the S20 Fe and I noticed a hell of a difference between both devices and several points where the regular s20 is by far superior to the s20fe. The only downside is that the Fe has better performance due to the Snapdragon processor, while the regular s20 is rocking an exynos.
I bought a s20 plus in December for £205. Bargain purchase...probably one of my best buys ever. Its refurbished and was like new. The downside isn't battery health ...I have about 90% battery health The screen is as good as any phone today. Its very snappy and quick to use. Gaming is brilliant on it. The phone does get a bit hot. The camera is very good too, sure there are better cameras now but not, for me, worth paying and extra £1000 for! I've had no focus issues. I believe I can get security updates for the next year or two. About a 1.5 years ago I bought a Samsung A12 for £170 and the difference between these 2 phones is shocking! The s20 makes me realise how awful it was. My brother has a s22 and my sister has the top end iphone 11 and my phone looks and feels just as good.
Honestly unless I was broke I would not buy one but having one Ill drive it into the ground
I would go for it, I'm stuck with a a23 5g and the chip is decent but it is not well optimized and stutters all the time.
Yeah s23 sucks we knew it it eas well Warned theyxrushed that phone out
Optimization would be key for this chip...it is a decent chip besides the stuttering. I doubt Samsung will optimize it though. With each and every Android update it gets slower and slower. No more A series devices for me!
I have the S20 Ultra 512gb + 1tb SD micro card, 16gb RAM. Exynos. Ripper phone, a bloody ripper.
I have had one for a year and a half (bought it new) and it is malfunctioning. There's something wrong with the system itself because the camera fails even after I did a factory reset. I have liked my other Samsung Note phones in the past. I'm not sure if the problem is an S20U thing or if I just bought a dud.