Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite vs Note20 Ultra 5G: A Clash of Titans

The Samsung Galaxy Note series has long been synonymous with premium features and productivity. But with the Note10 Lite offering a more accessible price point and the Note20 Ultra pushing the boundaries of flagship technology, choosing between them can be tough. This comprehensive comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Note20 Ultra 5G is the clear winner, boasting a superior display, significantly faster performance, and a more advanced camera system. However, the Note10 Lite remains a compelling option for budget-conscious users who prioritize exceptional battery life and a compact design.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 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 / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -41, 66, 71 Sub6 - SM-N986W
Launch
Announced2020, January 032020, August 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, January 21Available. Released 2020, August 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), stainless steel frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 9ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~496 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.9 inches, 116.7 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDRDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Always-on displayAlways-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55)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
ChipsetExynos 9810 (10 nm)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) - USA
GPUMali-G72 MP18Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single-3.15 MP
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide)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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 ANT+Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura Black, Aura RedMystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
ModelsSM-N770F, SM-N770F/DS, SM-N770F/DSMSM-N986B, SM-N986B/DS, SM-N986U, SM-N986U1, SM-N986W, SM-N9860, SM-N986N, SC-53A
PriceAbout 550 EUR€ 381.00 / $ 248.44
SAR0.88 W/kg (head)     0.65 W/kg (body)0.71 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.29 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)0.34 W/kg (head)     1.47 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -91.4dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 92h Endurance rating 88h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.8 LUFS (Good) -27.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 258484 (v7), 341212 (v8) GeekBench: 6103 (v4.4), 2027 (v5.1) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 508760 (v8) GeekBench: 2603 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite

  • Excellent battery life
  • More affordable
  • S Pen included
  • Compact design

  • Older chipset
  • Less powerful camera
  • Lower display brightness
  • No 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G

  • Superior display (120Hz)
  • Powerful performance
  • Advanced camera system
  • 5G connectivity
  • Wireless charging & Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Higher price
  • Larger size
  • Battery life slightly less than Note10 Lite

Display Comparison

The Note20 Ultra 5G’s display is a significant upgrade. Its 1024 nits peak brightness blows the Note10 Lite’s 622 nits out of the water, offering far better visibility in sunlight. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Note20 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel provides smoother scrolling and more vibrant colors. The Note20 Ultra also features a 120Hz refresh rate for incredibly fluid animations.

Camera Comparison

The Note20 Ultra 5G’s camera system is vastly superior. It features a 108MP main sensor, a periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and improved low-light performance. The Note10 Lite’s camera is decent, but it lacks the versatility and image quality of the Note20 Ultra. Video recording capabilities are also significantly better on the Note20 Ultra.

Performance

The Note20 Ultra 5G’s chipset (Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 5G+) delivers a substantial performance boost over the Note10 Lite’s Exynos 9810. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Note20 Ultra. The Note10 Lite is still capable, but it shows its age compared to the newer hardware.

Battery Life

While the Note10 Lite boasts an impressive endurance rating of 92h, the Note20 Ultra 5G manages a respectable 88h. The Note10 Lite's efficiency is commendable, but the Note20 Ultra's larger battery capacity and faster 25W charging (with PD3.0 support) provide a more convenient experience.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite is ideal for users seeking a large screen, S Pen functionality, and excellent battery life without breaking the bank. It's a great choice for students, casual users, and those new to the Note series. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is for power users, photographers, and anyone who demands the absolute best in performance, camera capabilities, and cutting-edge features, and is willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Note20 Ultra worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium display, the Note20 Ultra is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and primarily need a large screen and S Pen functionality, the Note10 Lite is a solid choice.
❓ Does the Note10 Lite support 5G?
No, the Note10 Lite does not support 5G connectivity. The Note20 Ultra 5G, as the name suggests, does.