Hands-on with the first set of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra in Vietnam

Alongside the launch event in San Francisco, USA, Samsung organized an exclusive experience session for the latest flagship models, Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, in Vietnam for the press and media.

1. Hands-on with the first set of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra in Vietnam

Alongside the launch event in San Francisco, USA, Samsung organized an experience session for the latest flagship models, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra, in Vietnam for the press and media.

Compared to the previous generation, Galaxy S20 has only three variants, reduced from the four variants of Galaxy S10. Specifically, there is a Galaxy S20 standard version with a 6.2-inch screen, a Galaxy S20+ version with a 6.7-inch screen, and the highest-end version – Galaxy S20 Ultra with a massive 6.9-inch screen, replacing the S10 5G model from 2019 as all three S20 models now support 5G. Therefore, Samsung has skipped from S10 to S20 and bypassed the numbers from S11 to S19. This is a logical direction as 2020 marks the beginning of a new decade with many expectations, breakthroughs, and clearly, the S20 name is more attention-grabbing than S11.

From left to right: Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra

All three S20 variants have adopted a centered punch-hole display, similar to the Note 10 and recent Samsung products like the Galaxy A51/A71, S10/Note 10 Lite. The side, chin, and forehead screen borders are maximally tapered, equivalent to the Note 10. The edges are gracefully curved, exuding a somewhat feminine touch, in line with the S series' characteristics. However, the front camera punch-hole has been slightly downsized. The devices are elongated due to the new 20:9 aspect ratio compared to the Note 10 or S10's 19:9. The elevated screen gives a blocky, 3D appearance, enhancing the visual appeal of displayed content.

S20 retains the distinctive S series aesthetics with pronounced curves at the corners.

Next to the Note 10+, the S20 Ultra looks elongated and possesses a softer, more feminine touch.

The punch-hole on the S20 Ultra is smaller than that on the Note 10+.

On the back, the most significant change comes from the camera module, all consolidated into the top-left corner within a prominent black block that houses the flash and microphone. Samsung has adopted this new camera design starting with the Galaxy A51.

All three S20 models have transitioned to a camera layout skewed towards the corner, prominently placed within a black housing.

Undoubtedly, the Galaxy S20 Ultra stands out as the most attention-grabbing product, featuring a cluster of four 'gigantic' cameras both literally and metaphorically. This camera setup occupies nearly half of the upper body, protruding prominently and preventing the device from lying flat on a table. Boasting a staggering 100X zoom capability, Samsung aptly names it 'Space Zoom,' hinting at the notion that the device can zoom beyond our earthly confines into the universe, surpassing the achievements of a Chinese competitor reaching only the moon in the past.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, adorned with a cluster of 'gigantic' cameras, takes up almost half of its upper body.

The elevated camera cluster, housing the ambitious 48MP telephoto camera system with a jaw-dropping 100X space zoom capability.

When placed on a table, the S20 Ultra commands attention due to its excessively large camera cluster.

The telephoto camera, capable of 100X zoom on the S20 Ultra, boasts an impressive 48MP resolution and employs a periscope lens design reminiscent of some super-zoom smartphones like the Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo Reno 10X Zoom. Additionally, the S20 Ultra features a main 108MP camera, rivaling the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro (or Mi Note 10 Pro). The remaining two cameras include a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a ToF depth-sensing camera.

In a quick hands-on experience, I observed that the S20 Ultra's zooming capability is smooth, responsive, and notably, the transition between the three camera modes—ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto—is seamless, without any flickering or slight lag seen in the Note 10 or S10. Beyond 30X zoom, the device automatically displays a framing guide with approximately 1X zoom at the corner, facilitating easy framing adjustments and object positioning. This is an unprecedented feature not found in Samsung's competitors, making the use of the 100X zoom camera much more convenient.

Experiencing the 100X zoom is swift, smooth, especially when transitioning between the different cameras.

The device automatically offers various zoom levels from 0.5X, 1X, 2X, 4X, 10X, 30X, to 100X for convenient selection.

Zooming beyond 30X presents a framing guide with 1X zoom for easier framing and positioning of the zoomed-in subject.

Certainly, the 100X zoom is a combination of digital and optical zoom (S20 Ultra's optical zoom is 4X, not the stated 10X), resulting in lower quality compared to regular shots. A steady hand or preferably a tripod is essential to avoid blurry photos. After capturing, the device applies AI algorithms to enhance sharpness compared to the preview.

Regarding the 108MP camera, Samsung employs nona-binning and re-mosaic algorithms. In normal lighting conditions, the camera captures at 0.8um pixel size. However, in low light, it combines 9 pixels into 1 pixel to capture a 12MP 2.4um image for better brightness. Like other high-resolution camera systems, the default mode on the S20 Ultra is 12MP. Capturing in 108MP results in image files with a potential size of up to 35MB.

Samsung enters the megapixel race with the primary camera boasting a whopping 108MP resolution on the S20 Ultra.

The S20 and S20+ share a nearly identical camera system, each featuring a 12MP primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera. Additionally, both house a 64MP telephoto camera enabling 30X Space Zoom and 3X optical zoom. The S20+ includes a fourth ToF camera, mirroring the setup found in the S20 Ultra.

The Galaxy S20 boasts a trio of 'gentle' cameras, consisting of a 12MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera with a 30X Space Zoom capability.

The S20+, equipped with a camera setup similar to the S20, adds an additional ToF camera, resembling the configuration of the S20 Ultra.

The most significant difference between the S20/S20+ and the S20 Ultra lies in the Space Zoom capability, capped at 30X compared to the 'big brother's' impressive 100X.

An intriguing twist is that the telephoto camera on the S20/S20+ with 30X zoom boasts a higher resolution than the S20 Ultra's 100X telephoto camera (64MP versus 48MP).

All three S20 models can record 8K videos at 30 frames per second. With the increasing prevalence of 8K TVs, Samsung is leading the way. When shooting 8K video, you can capture stills with a resolution of up to 33MP. However, due to the high resolution and large file sizes, each 8K video recorded with the S20 has a maximum duration of only 5 minutes. Samsung also reveals that their 8K TVs launching after March 2020 will have the capability to stream 8K videos on YouTube. Additionally, the S20 series features Super Steady anti-shake video, Pro mode with DSLR-like customization, and Night Hyperlapse for nighttime recording.

Samsung introduces a new camera feature called Single Take Mode, allowing the capture of 4 photos and recording of 4 videos from the 4 cameras with just one press. In this mode, the S20's camera autonomously recognizes scenes and people, deciding which camera to use for capturing photos or videos. Afterwards, you can select the images or videos you want to keep.

All three S20 models can record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, capturing photos with a resolution of 33MP while recording.

The next significant upgrade on the S20 trio is in the display department. All three feature a Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with HDR10+ support and a high 120Hz refresh rate, coupled with a 240Hz touch input recognition rate. The 120Hz refresh rate enhances scrolling, app launching, and multitasking on the S20, providing a smoother experience, akin to upgrading from 30fps to 60fps in video playback. However, the 120Hz option is only available at Full HD+ resolution; at Quad HD+ resolution, the display reverts to the standard 60Hz refresh rate.

The displays on all three S20 models receive a significant upgrade with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering a much smoother user experience.

However, the 120Hz refresh rate is only available at Full HD+ resolution.

In terms of specifications, all three S20 models will be equipped with the latest Samsung Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 processors, 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.0 internal storage, and a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB. The Galaxy S20 Ultra stands out with a 'beastly' 16GB RAM variant and 512GB internal storage. Thus, the S20 Ultra becomes the world's first smartphone with 16GB RAM and currently holds the title for the largest RAM in a phone, rivaling hardcore laptops and PCs.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is equipped with a whopping 16GB of RAM, the largest ever seen on a smartphone, rivaling that of gaming PCs or video rendering laptops.

Regarding the battery, the S20 features a 4,000mAh battery, the S20+ boasts a 4,500mAh battery, and the S20 Ultra packs an impressive 5,000mAh battery. This marks the largest battery capacity ever seen on a Samsung flagship, fitting for its expansive 6.9-inch display. The S20 Ultra supports fast charging at 45W, while the S20/S20+ supports 25W.

The S20 Ultra also houses a massive 5,000mAh battery, the largest ever on a Samsung flagship.

The 5G connectivity on all three S20 models supports nearly every existing 5G technology, including mmwave, TTD, FDDC, SA, LSA, DSA, enabling features like 8K video uploads and Full HD video calls. The software on all three devices will be Android 10 with the One UI 2.0 interface.

The ultrasonic fingerprint technology on the S20 series remains similar to the previous generation, but the sensor size has been increased for better fingerprint recognition. Samsung Vietnam representatives mention that they haven't yet implemented Qualcomm's new 3D Sonic Max ultrasonic fingerprint technology, which allows the recognition of up to two fingerprints simultaneously for increased security.

Samsung's new true wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds+, focus on enhanced battery life, audio quality, voice clarity, and ambient sound penetration.

In addition to the three Galaxy S20 models, Samsung introduces the true wireless earbuds, Galaxy Buds+. Fundamentally, the design of Galaxy Buds+ remains largely unchanged from its predecessor. The case transitions to glossy plastic instead of smooth plastic, resulting in lighter earbuds. Notably, Samsung claims an impressive battery life of up to 11 hours on a single charge without needing the charging case. Furthermore, the Buds+ features 3 microphones, two-way speakers, the ability to tap the earbud edge for volume control, and one-touch access to open Spotify.

The design closely resembles the first-generation Galaxy Buds.

Samsung states that the Buds+ are lighter and can provide continuous playback for up to 11 hours, excluding the charging case.

These earbuds also feature 3 microphones on each side to enhance ambient sound penetration.

The pricing for the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra has not been officially announced by Samsung, but some stores in Vietnam are offering pre-orders with an expected price range of 25 million to 32 million VND.

Technical specifications for the three versions of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra.