The evolution of smartphone photography has made significant leaps over the last few years, and nowhere is this more evident than in Samsung's flagship models. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, launched in 2024, stands as the pinnacle of Samsung's innovation, directly building upon the legacy of its previous powerhouse, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra introduced in 2020. In this detailed comparison, we will explore how these two titans stack up in the realm of photography.
Camera Hardware Comparison
The first noticeable difference is in the hardware. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra came equipped with a 108MP main sensor, a standout feature at its time. It was accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens that enabled 5x optical zoom. Though powerful, it had its limitations, especially in low-light conditions and auto-focus speed.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, upgrades significantly with a 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. Not only does the sheer megapixel jump in the main sensor make a difference, but Samsung also introduced better computational photography features and an improved image signal processor (ISP).
Photo Quality: Daylight Performance
Daylight photography is where both devices shine, though the S24 Ultra clearly pulls ahead. With greater detail from the 200MP sensor, images retain their sharpness even when cropped. The dynamic range and color accuracy are significantly improved thanks to advanced HDR algorithms introduced with the S24 Ultra.
In contrast, the Note 20 Ultra produces vibrant and slightly warmer tones, which can be visually appealing but aren’t always true to life. Shadows and highlights sometimes suffer from overexposure or crushed detail, a problem largely corrected in the S24 Ultra’s post-processing routine.
- Note 20 Ultra: Warmer tones, good detail, occasional HDR inconsistencies.
- S24 Ultra: True-to-life colors, superior HDR, excellent fine details and textures.
Low-Light and Night Mode
Night photography demonstrates some of the most pronounced differences. The Note 20 Ultra, although competent with Night Mode, requires longer exposure times and often introduces noise in extremely dark scenes. Focusing in low light is also slower and less reliable.
The S24 Ultra solves many of these issues with improved Night Mode processing and significantly better sensor sensitivity. Fast focusing in dark environments, thanks to Laser autofocus and AI-assisted optimization, results in crisp images with less noise and far more detail. Night portraits from the S24 Ultra, with true-to-tone skin colors and natural background blur, look remarkably polished.
Zoom Capabilities
Zoom photography has become a hallmark of Samsung’s camera systems. The Note 20 Ultra was one of the first to offer a 5x periscope telephoto lens capable of reaching up to 50x digital zoom. While the results were decent at up to 10x, any higher and quality started to degrade with evident pixelation and loss of detail.
The S24 Ultra takes a monumental step forward here. Its new 50MP telephoto sensor produces far better results at 5x and even up to 10x zoom. Beyond that, up to 100x Space Zoom still suffers slightly from noise, but the clarity at intermediate levels is significantly improved compared to its predecessor.
- Note 20 Ultra: Decent 5x and 10x zoom, but digital zoom above 20x is grainy.
- S24 Ultra: Excellent 5x and 10x performance, usable at up to 30x, better AI-assisted stabilization.
Selfies and Front Camera
The Note 20 Ultra featured a 10MP front-facing camera, which delivered good results but occasionally oversharpened faces or created unnatural blurring due to aggressive beauty filters. Background separation in portrait selfies was passable but lacked sophistication.
Samsung upgraded the S24 Ultra with a 12MP front camera, but the significant improvements lie in the software. Enhanced AI-based facial recognition and background segmentation have led to more consistent and sharper selfies. Skin tones appear more natural and details are maintained even in challenging lighting conditions.
AI and Computational Photography
AI plays a much more prominent role in the S24 Ultra. From scene optimization to multi-frame processing, each photo benefits from real-time analytics determining optimal exposure, tone, and sharpness.
In comparison, the Note 20 Ultra's AI was limited to basic scene recognition and standard HDR processing. The newer device also better integrates with Samsung’s Expert RAW and Pro modes to give photography enthusiasts more manual control while still benefiting from computational tweaks on the backend.
Photos in Motion: Video and Action Shots
Though this article focuses on still photography, it's worth noting the S24 Ultra's improved motion capture capabilities. The Note 20 Ultra could shoot 8K video at 24fps and 4K at 60fps, but it struggled with stabilization and motion clarity.
By contrast, the S24 Ultra delivers improved motion tracking, cinematic-grade stabilization, and 8K recording at up to 30fps. For action shots or moving subjects, the shutter speed and focus speed enhancements are especially valuable.
Real-World Usage and Performance
In real-world settings, the S24 Ultra delivers more consistent results across all types of photography—whether it’s landscapes, portraits, macro shots, or urban scenes. The computational improvements combined with hardware upgrades give users a predictable and polished photography experience that the Note 20 Ultra can't quite match today, though it was revolutionary at its time.
Colors, textures, and lighting feel more realistic and engaging in the S24 Ultra's photos, making it a favorite not just for enthusiasts but also for professional content creators.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was once the gold standard of smartphone photography, and it still holds up quite well in certain scenarios. That said, the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents a significant leap forward in almost every photography metric—be it in sensor clarity, AI capabilities, low-light performance, or zoom quality.
For photographers looking for the best possible images from a Samsung device, the S24 Ultra is clearly a superior choice, while Note 20 Ultra users may find value in upgrading if photography is central to their usage.
FAQ
- Q: Is the 200MP sensor on the S24 Ultra noticeably better than the 108MP on the Note 20 Ultra?
A: Yes, especially in terms of detail retention, zoom sharpness, and overall image clarity in various lighting situations. - Q: How does Night Mode compare between the two devices?
A: The S24 Ultra offers better noise control, faster focusing, and more accurate color reproduction in Night Mode compared to the Note 20 Ultra. - Q: Are the zoom features on the Note 20 Ultra still usable in 2024?
A: They remain usable, particularly at 5x zoom, but they fall short in quality and detail compared to the innovative zoom features in the S24 Ultra. - Q: Do both phones support RAW photography?
A: Yes, but the S24 Ultra offers enhanced RAW capabilities through dedicated Pro and Expert RAW apps. - Q: Is it worth upgrading to the S24 Ultra just for photography?
A: If photography is a priority, the S24 Ultra offers substantial improvements that justify the upgrade from the Note 20 Ultra.