Nokia 3310 4G vs Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G: A Clash of Eras

The Nokia 3310 4G evokes nostalgia with its iconic design, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G represents the pinnacle of modern smartphone technology. This comparison explores how these two vastly different devices stack up against each other, catering to distinct user needs and budgets.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is the clear winner in terms of performance, camera quality, and features. However, the Nokia 3310 4G offers incredible value and simplicity for those prioritizing battery life and a durable, basic phone experience. It's a battle of priorities, not raw power.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia 3310 4G Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands38, 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -41, 66, 71 Sub6 - SM-N986W
Launch
Announced2018, January. Released 2018, February2020, August 05
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, August 21
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), stainless steel frame
Dimensions117 x 52.4 x 13.4 mm (4.61 x 2.06 x 0.53 in)164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.32 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight88.1 g (3.10 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 FlashlightIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 9ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~496 ppi density)
Size2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~29.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.9 inches, 116.7 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFTDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate
Platform
CPU-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
Chipset-Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) - USA
GPU-Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OS-Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Call recordsYes-
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512MB 256MB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
PhonebookYes-
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single2 MP3.15 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
VideoYes8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCNoYes
PositioningNoGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
GamesYes-
JavaNo-
MessagingSMS-
Sensors-Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Audio/Video playerSamsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Music playUp to 31 h-
Stand-byUp to 360 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 8 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 1200 mAh, removable (BL-4UL)Li-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAzure, Yellow, Warm Red, CharcoaMystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
Models-SM-N986B, SM-N986B/DS, SM-N986U, SM-N986U1, SM-N986W, SM-N9860, SM-N986N, SC-53A
PriceAbout 100 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)
OUR TESTS
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 88h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-1024 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--27.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 508760 (v8) GeekBench: 2603 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia 3310 4G

  • Extremely long battery life
  • Durable and robust design
  • Affordable price
  • Nostalgic appeal

  • Basic display
  • Limited functionality
  • Low-resolution camera
  • Slow performance

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G

  • Stunning display
  • Powerful performance
  • Versatile camera system
  • 5G connectivity
  • S Pen stylus

  • Expensive
  • Large and heavy
  • Battery life could be better (compared to 3310)
  • Complex software

Display Comparison

The Note20 Ultra's 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1024 nits brightness is a visual masterpiece. The Nokia 3310 4G's 2.4-inch QVGA display is functional but basic, prioritizing durability over visual fidelity. The Note20 Ultra wins hands down.

Camera Comparison

The Note20 Ultra's camera system is incredibly versatile, offering high-resolution photos and videos. The Nokia 3310 4G has a basic VGA camera, suitable only for the most casual snapshots. The Note20 Ultra's camera is significantly superior.

Performance

The Note20 Ultra, powered by either the Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 5G+, delivers blazing-fast performance. The Nokia 3310 4G's chipset is sufficient for basic tasks but struggles with demanding apps. The Note20 Ultra's processing power is in a different league.

Battery Life

The Note20 Ultra boasts an impressive 88h endurance rating, thanks to its large battery. The Nokia 3310 4G is renowned for its exceptional battery life, often lasting for days on a single charge. While the Note20 Ultra has a high rating, the 3310's simplicity contributes to longer real-world usage.

Buying Guide

The Nokia 3310 4G is ideal for users seeking a reliable, affordable phone for calls, texts, and basic usage. It's perfect for those who want a phone that can withstand drops and boasts exceptional battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is for power users, creatives, and anyone demanding top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a versatile camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia 3310 4G a smartphone?
While it has 4G connectivity, the Nokia 3310 4G is more of a feature phone than a smartphone. It offers basic smartphone features but lacks the full capabilities of a modern smartphone.
❓ What is the main advantage of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G?
The Note20 Ultra's main advantage is its combination of powerful performance, a stunning display, a versatile camera system, and the included S Pen stylus for enhanced productivity and creativity.