Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.9"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x3120
200
MP
MP
12mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
5000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.7"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
21 Advantages 
3 Advantages | 38 Common items in both devices |
| LTPO AMOLED / Super AMOLED Plus |
| HDR10+ |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| Digital and optical zoom |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| OIS: Optical stabilization |
| +31 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Change model | ||
| Model | Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) |
| Other model names | Galaxy S25 Ultra SM-S938B/Dual-SIM | Galaxy Note20 SM-N981U (Snapdragon) - Unlocked |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  USA |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 2/3/2025, Announced: 2/22/2025 | 8/21/2020, Announced: 8/5/2020 |
| Depth | 8.2 millimeters (0.32 inches) | 8.3 millimeters (0.33 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 77.6 x 162.8 millimeters (3.06 x 6.41 in) | 75.2 x 161.6 millimeters (2.96 x 6.36 in) |
| Weight | 218 grams (7.63 ounces) | 192 grams (6.72 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Titanium frame, glass front and back Back: Gorilla Armor 2 | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Display type | LTPO AMOLED | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Screen size | 6.9" inches | 6.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~92.5% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~89.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x3120 pixels (19.5:9) | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 498 PPI | 393 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Armor 2 | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 2600nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display | HDR10+ Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| System version | Android 15 | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | Android 13 |
| User Interface | One UI 7.0 | One UI 2.5 / 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.0 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (SM8750-AB) (3nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (SM8250-AB) (7nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 2x 4.47GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L (Dual-core) 6x 3.53GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M (Hexa-core) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 3.09GHz Kryo 585 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 585 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 830 (1100MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 650 (250-646MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 2207809 (v10) Geekbench: 9846 (v6) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| RAM memory | 12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal storage | 256GB (223GB available) UFS 4.0 | 128GB (103GB available) UFS 3.0 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Not supported |
| SIM card | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1024 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 () | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 41, 66, 71) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA |
| Secondary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (quad camera) 200 megapixels 10MP telephoto f/2.467mm1/3.52"1.12µmPDAFOIS3x-optical-zoom 50MP periscope telephoto f/3.4111mm1/2.52"0.7µmPDAFOIS5x-optical-zoom 50MP ultrawide f/1.9120°0.7µmPDAFSuper-Steady | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.027mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.2120°13mm1/2.55"1.4µm |
| Main camera resolution | 20000x10000 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 30 fps | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 24mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/1.3" inches | 1/1.76" inches |
| Pixel size | 0.6µm pixel | 1.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Digital and optical zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 4000x3000 pixels | 3872x2592 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/3.2" inches | 1/3.2" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.12µm pixel | 1.22µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Tuned by AKG | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 3 microphones | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 45W Wired fast charging Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Samsung DeX • Samsung Wireless DeX • Stylus (S Pen) • Circle to Search | • Colors: Mystic Gray, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Blue • Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor • Bixby • Samsung Wireless DeX • Samsung Pay (MST, NFC) • Stylus pen (Bluetooth integration) |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (SM-S938B/DS 256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.78W/kg (head), 0.92W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |