Huawei Pocket S vs Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G: A Detailed Showdown

The Huawei Pocket S brings a compact, stylish foldable to the market, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G remains a powerhouse of premium features. But which phone truly reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Note20 Ultra offers superior performance, a brighter display, and a more versatile camera system. However, the Pocket S's compact size and faster charging make it appealing for those prioritizing portability. The Note20 Ultra wins on features, but the Pocket S offers a unique form factor.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pocket S Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - SM-N986U
5G bands-2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-N986U
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 41, 66, 71 Sub6 - SM-N986W
Launch
Announced2022, November 022020, August 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 11Available. Released 2020, August 21
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), stainless steel frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mmFolded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mm164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 9ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~496 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.9 inches, 116.7 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Cover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppiAlways-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
Dual40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)3.15 MP
Triple-108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.0, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 50x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm
Video4K, 1080p8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging40W wired, 52% in 20 min 5W reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Pink, Gren, Silver, Gold, BlackMystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
ModelsBAL-AL60SM-N986B, SM-N986B/DS, SM-N986U, SM-N986U1, SM-N986W, SM-N9860, SM-N986N, SC-53A
PriceAbout 830 EUR€ 381.00 / $ 248.44
SAR-0.71 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.34 W/kg (head)     1.47 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 88h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 508760 (v8) GeekBench: 2603 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Pocket S

  • Compact and foldable design
  • Fast 40W charging
  • Stylish aesthetics
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Less powerful processor
  • Smaller battery
  • Potentially less impressive camera
  • Limited software support (due to Huawei restrictions)

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G

  • Powerful processor (Snapdragon 865+ or Exynos 990)
  • Brighter and higher quality display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Longer battery life
  • S Pen support

  • Larger and heavier design
  • Slower charging (25W wired)
  • Higher price point
  • Older model

Display Comparison

The Note20 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display (1024 nits) with an infinite contrast ratio, offering a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The Pocket S's display is smaller and likely less bright, prioritizing portability over absolute visual fidelity. While the Pocket S's foldable screen is a unique selling point, the Note20 Ultra's overall display quality is superior.

Camera Comparison

The Note20 Ultra's camera system is more versatile, offering a wider range of features and better overall image quality. It likely features a higher resolution main sensor and improved zoom capabilities. The Pocket S's camera is competent but doesn't match the Note20 Ultra's capabilities, especially in low light or when zooming.

Performance

The Note20 Ultra, particularly the Snapdragon 865+ variant, delivers significantly faster performance than the Pocket S's Snapdragon 778G. The Note20 Ultra's CPU and GPU are designed for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, while the Pocket S is more suited for everyday use. The Exynos 990 variant is still powerful, but trails the Snapdragon version.

Battery Life

The Note20 Ultra has a clear advantage in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 88 hours. The Pocket S's battery is smaller, and while its 40W charging is fast, it won't match the Note20 Ultra's longevity.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Pocket S is ideal for users who want a compact, stylish foldable for everyday use and appreciate fast charging. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is best suited for power users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a versatile camera, and don't mind a larger device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Pocket S worth buying if I like foldables?
Yes, if you prioritize a compact and stylish foldable design and don't need top-tier performance. However, be aware of potential software limitations.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and better cooling system.