The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G arrived in early 2020 as the brand’s most ambitious flagship of its generation, pairing a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 108MP camera system and a 100x “Space Zoom” pitch that reset expectations for smartphone photography. Years later it has quietly become one of the smartest ways to step into premium hardware without paying a premium price, thanks to steep second-hand and clearance discounts.
This article looks at the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G from a value-buyer’s angle in the current market rather than as a fresh 2020 launch. We weigh how its display, chipset, camera hardware, and 5000mAh battery hold up today, where its rough edges show, and which type of shopper still gets the most out of it. All figures below are drawn from Samsung’s official documentation and established spec references cited at the end.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 – SM-G988B |
| 1, 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-G988U | |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – SM-G988B |
| 2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave – SM-G988U | |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
Launch
| Announced | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
Body
| Dimensions | 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.57 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 222 g (7.83 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
Display
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (peak) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~511 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate |
Platform
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) – GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) – USA |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2×2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) – GlobalOcta-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) – USA |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 – GlobalAdreno 650 – USA |
Memory
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 |
Main Camera
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 103mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
Selfie camera
| Single | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Features | HDR |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| High-bitrate audio support Tuned by AKG |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
Features
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ |
Battery
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
Misc
| Colors | Cosmic Grey, Cosmic Black, Cloud White |
| Models | SM-G988, SM-G988U, SM-G988U1, SM-G9880, SM-G988B/DS, SM-G988N, SM-G988B, SM-G988W, SCG03 |
| SAR | 0.94 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) |
| Price | $ 209.01 / £ 189.00 / € 229.00 |
Our Tests
| Performance | AnTuTu: 415976 (v7), 514485 (v8) GeekBench: 12191 (v4.4), 2697 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display | 894 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | -23.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 87h |
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €229, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 2, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $261
- Japan: ¥42,386
- United Kingdom: £197
- Australia: A$378
- Canada: C$371
- Taiwan: NT$8,313
- Denmark: kr1.709
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼978
- South Korea: ₩405,588
- Germany: €229
- Brazil: R$1.353
- Vietnam: ₫6.843.478
- Kenya: KSh 33,742
- India: ₹24,809
- Indonesia: Rp 4.679.133
- Nigeria: ₦357,872
- Pakistan: ₨72,508
- Philippines: ₱16,064
- Bangladesh: ৳৩২,১০৮
Why the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G Still Makes Sense Today
The most compelling argument for the S20 Ultra 5G in the current market is value. A device that launched at flagship pricing now trades hands at roughly $209 / £189 / €229 in clearance and refurbished channels, putting a genuine former halo phone in mid-range territory. Prices for used and open-box stock vary widely by region, seller, and condition, so treat these figures as indicative rather than fixed. For that outlay you get glass-and-aluminum construction, IP68 water resistance, and a camera array that many current budget phones still cannot match on paper.
Design and Build Quality
Make no mistake, this is a large, dense phone. At 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm and 222 g, the S20 Ultra 5G is a two-handed device with a substantial camera bump. In exchange you get a premium in-hand feel that most affordable phones cannot replicate: Gorilla Glass 6 front and back over an aluminum frame, plus IP68 dust and water resistance rated for immersion up to 1.5m for 30 minutes. Samsung offered it in Cosmic Grey, Cosmic Black, and Cloud White. Storage is expandable via a microSDXC card that shares the second SIM slot, a flexibility later Ultra models dropped.
A Display That Still Impresses
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen remains a highlight. It offers a sharp 1440 x 3200 (QHD+) resolution at roughly 511 ppi, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz refresh rate. An important caveat: on this model the 120Hz mode runs at FHD resolution, while QHD is capped at 60Hz, so you choose between maximum smoothness and maximum sharpness. Samsung quotes up to 1400 nits peak brightness, and independent testing measured close to 894 nits in real use, which is ample for outdoor visibility. Few phones near this price point deliver a panel of comparable quality.
Performance and the Chipset Split
The S20 Ultra 5G shipped in two silicon variants: the Exynos 990 in global units and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 in the USA and select markets. Both are 7nm octa-core platforms paired with generous memory, from 12GB RAM with 128GB or 256GB storage up to 16GB with 512GB, over fast UFS 3.0. Benchmark results such as AnTuTu scores above 500,000 (v8) confirm it still handles demanding apps and games comfortably. Buyers should note the well-documented reputation of the Snapdragon variant for slightly better efficiency and thermals; if you can choose, the Snapdragon SM-G988U is often the preferred pick.
The Camera System in Focus
Cameras were the S20 Ultra 5G’s headline feature. The rear array combines a 108MP f/1.8 wide sensor with pixel-binning, a 48MP periscope telephoto offering 4x optical and 10x hybrid zoom, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 0.3MP time-of-flight depth sensor. Video tops out at 8K@24fps with 4K up to 60fps, plus super slow-motion at 720p@960fps. The 40MP front camera is unusually high resolution and shoots 4K selfies. Real-world results from the earliest software were inconsistent, particularly autofocus, but later One UI updates improved reliability. For a value buyer wanting versatile zoom reach, this hardware remains genuinely capable.
Battery Life and Charging
A 5000mAh Li-Ion battery gives the S20 Ultra 5G comfortable all-day endurance, reflected in an 87-hour endurance rating from earlier testing. Charging support is competitive even now: 45W wired (with the right charger), 15W wireless via Qi, and 4.5W reverse wireless to top up earbuds or a watch. The charger is not always included, and the phone ships at 25W speeds out of the box unless you supply a 45W-capable adapter, so factor that into your purchase.
Software Support and Longevity
Originally launched on Android 10 with One UI, the S20 Ultra 5G is upgradable to Android 13 with One UI 5.1. That is a solid update record for its era, but it is also the ceiling: this generation is now at or near the end of its guaranteed major-OS and security-update window. Prospective buyers who prioritize long-term software patches should weigh this carefully against newer mid-range alternatives that may receive updates further into the future. Availability of updates can depend on region and carrier.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity is thorough. The phone supports sub-6 5G globally, with mmWave on the US SM-G988U variant, alongside Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2 with OTG. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, but stereo speakers tuned by AKG deliver strong, clean output, measured at a very good -23.2 LUFS. An under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Samsung DeX desktop mode, and a full sensor suite round out the package. Band support differs between the SM-G988B and SM-G988U models, so verify compatibility with your local networks before buying.
Who Should Buy It
The S20 Ultra 5G suits shoppers who want flagship-grade display, build, and zoom photography at a mid-range outlay and who do not mind a large, heavy phone. It is a poor fit for anyone needing the newest software guarantees, one-handed ergonomics, or the latest AI camera features. Compared with a brand-new budget device, it trades future-proofing for markedly better hardware today.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is a former flagship that ages into an unusually strong value proposition: a superb QHD+ 120Hz display, flexible high-resolution cameras with long zoom reach, a large 5000mAh battery, and durable premium construction, all for a fraction of its original price. Its main compromises are size, weight, an aging software-support timeline, and the display’s 120Hz-versus-QHD trade-off. If you want the most hardware for your money and can live with those caveats, it is an easy recommendation, ideally in the Snapdragon variant. If long-term updates and compact ergonomics matter more to you, a newer mid-ranger will serve you better. Always confirm current pricing, condition, and network band compatibility before purchase.
References
- Samsung official Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G product/specifications resources (samsung.com) – Primary manufacturer source for core phone specifications such as display, dimensions, cameras, battery, storage, colors, and model variants.
- FCC Equipment Authorization Search – Official regulator database useful for verifying Samsung SM-G988 series filings, wireless approvals, FCC IDs, and supported radio-related documentation.
- Samsung Exynos 990 Mobile Processor – Official Samsung Semiconductor source for the Exynos 990 chipset used in some Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G regional variants.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform – Official Qualcomm source for Snapdragon 865 platform details used in some Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G regional variants.
- GSMArena Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G specifications – Established phone-spec reference useful for cross-checking the full spec sheet, release details, network bands, dimensions, memory variants, and camera configuration.
