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Updated January 10, 2024·
If a larger screen and stylus functionality are important to you, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra may be the better choice as it has a slightly larger display and comes with a stylus. However, if you are looking for better battery life, you might prefer the OnePlus 9. Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers a slightly more versatile camera system with a periscope lens for zoom, which could be an advantage if photography is a priority, and it also has a higher screen resolution. Both phones support 5G and have similar storage and RAM. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the OnePlus 9
- The OnePlus 9 has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- Good for taking photos
- Poor for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Photo Quality
6.7
7.3
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes good photos, while the OnePlus 9 takes only fair photos.
The OnePlus 9 takes fair photos primarily due to its middling performance in areas like dynamic range, low light, and camera versatility, and despite a good selfie camera, it doesn't excel in resolution or software experience. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, while also taking fair photos, offers a slightly better overall camera experience with good dynamic range and low light performance, but like the OnePlus 9, it doesn't distinguish itself with its selfie camera quality.
Cost
$399
$450
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The OnePlus 9 has a price of $399 and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra costs $450.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.0
7.3
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and OnePlus 9 both have good overall cameras quality.
The OnePlus 9 and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have fair cameras; the OnePlus 9 has a good selfie score, but other aspects like its low light performance and dynamic range are just fair, compromising its overall photo performance. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra, while offering better versatility and low light performance in photos, also has a good selfie score, but its video performance and microphone quality don't stand out, affecting its reputation for recording and calls.
Video Quality
5.9
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and OnePlus 9 both have poor videos.
The OnePlus 9 provides fair video quality due to good video resolution and frame rates, a good video stabilization system, and fair performance under diverse dynamic range conditions and in low light, but suffers from poorer microphone quality compared to other phones. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra shares similar video dynamic range and low light performance characteristics, and while it offers good microphone quality, its stabilization is only fair, which can impact the smoothness and steadiness of video recording.
Battery
6.9 Hours
6.4 Hours
The OnePlus 9 has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The OnePlus 9 has a screen size of 6.55 inches and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
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How the OnePlus 9 and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 9 | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 26, 2021 | August 21, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.55" | 6.9" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 402 | 496 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD865+ | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 6.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.29" x 2.92" | 6.49" x 3.04" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.77 oz | 7.34 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Astral Black, Arctic Sky, Winter Mist | Mystic Black, White, Mystic Bronze | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
OnePlus 9
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
David Lumb | April 2021
"If you’re hunting for the best Android camera phone at this price, and one that doesn’t skimp on specs the OnePlus 9 is worth considering. Courtesy of a partnership with Hasselblad, the cameras offer better color correction, and both regular and ultra-wide photos look great. The OnePlus 9’s battery fully charges in under 30 minutes over a cable, and in 45 minutes using wireless charging. If you hate waiting for hours to charge your phone, you'll love the OnePlus 9."
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Matt Swider | July 2021
"The Note 20 Ultra has it all – almost: a big screen, superb camera, high refresh rate, the S Pen, in-screen fingerprint sensor, super-fast specs, 5G speeds, a fancy curved display. This phone is built for power users who want everything but the fastest charging speeds."
Get a great deal on the OnePlus 9 or the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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