
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to Buy: Price, Specs & Worth in 2025
There’s a certain magic in pulling out the S Pen on a crowded bus and jotting down a thought before it vanishes. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was built for that feeling, but in 2025, the question isn’t about its power — it’s whether buying one still makes sense. With software support winding down and refurbished deals in Ireland starting around €365, this guide cuts through the nostalgia to help you decide.
Release Date: August 2020 ·
Screen Size: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED ·
Battery: 4500 mAh ·
Processor: Exynos 990 / Snapdragon 865+ ·
Main Camera: 108 MP ·
Current Refurbished Price (Ireland): €365
Quick snapshot
- Current refurbished price ~€365 in Ireland (Irish retailer SmartCellular.ie)
- Used prices range €250–€400 (Irish classifieds DoneDeal.ie)
- Compare trade-in offers from retailers (Irish electronics retailer PhonesOnline.ie)
- 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (Samsung Ireland official page)
- 108MP main camera + 12MP ultra-wide + 12MP periscope telephoto (European refurbished marketplace Refurbed.ie)
- 4500mAh battery (Samsung Ireland upgrade policy)
- 256GB storage, 12GB RAM (Refurbed.ie specifications)
- Exynos 990 / Snapdragon 865+ chipset (Wikipedia specifications summary)
- Last major OS upgrade: Android 13 (One UI 5.0) (Samsung upgrade policy)
- Security updates officially ended August 2024 (Samsung Security official scope)
- Some users claim patches through 2025, but unconfirmed (Samsung Community forum user discussions)
- Will not receive Android 14 or future AI features (Samsung upgrade policy)
- Ideal if you need an S Pen and large screen on a budget (Samsung Ireland official page)
- Avoid if you want long-term software support or latest features (Samsung upgrade policy)
- Alternative: Galaxy S23 FE or A55 for newer updates (Samsung Ireland smartphone range)
- Check battery health before purchasing used (Irish repair retailer CelticRepairs.ie)
Ten spec items, one pattern: the Note 20 Ultra was a flagship in 2020, and its hardware still punches above its age.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | August 2020 |
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 3088×1440, 120Hz |
| Camera system | 108MP wide + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP periscope telephoto (5x optical, 50x Space Zoom) |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless |
| Processor | Exynos 990 (global) / Snapdragon 865+ (US) |
| OS upgrade path | Android 10 → 11 → 12 → 13 (One UI 5.0) |
| Security update guarantee | 4 years from launch (through Aug 2024) |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm, 208g |
| S Pen | Included, Bluetooth 5.0 with Air Actions |
| Current typical price (used/refurbished) | €250–€400 depending on condition and storage |
Is the Note 20 Ultra phased out?
When did Samsung discontinue the Note series?
Samsung officially discontinued the Galaxy Note line after the Note 20 series, shifting its S Pen features into the Galaxy S Ultra line. The company confirmed this move in early 2021, citing market overlap between the Note and Galaxy S flagship families as the reason (Samsung Newsroom official statement).
Is the Note 20 Ultra still being manufactured?
The Note 20 Ultra is no longer in production. Samsung no longer sells it as a new device via official channels (Samsung Ireland official page). Refurbished and used units remain widely available through third-party sellers. Current listings on DoneDeal.ie (Irish classifieds) show 67 active ads for the Note 20 Ultra in Ireland, with units starting around €200 for the 256GB variant.
Samsung’s Note series was a flagship pillar for a decade. Its end means the Note 20 Ultra is the last example of a dedicated, S Pen-first design — a collector’s item, but also a phone without a future roadmap.
The pattern: buyers of this phone are investing in a legacy device with no guarantee of future software support.
How much is the Samsung Note 20 Ultra now?
What is the price of a used Note 20 Ultra?
Used prices on individual-seller platforms like DoneDeal range from €250 to €400 depending on condition, storage, and whether the unit is the 5G model. One listed unit in Cork shows a Note 20 Ultra 5G at €250, though condition is not guaranteed.
How much does a refurbished Note 20 Ultra cost in Ireland?
Refurbished prices vary by retailer and grade:
- SmartCellular.ie: €364.99 (special price, regular €464.99) for a Mystic Bronze 256GB unlocked unit in “Good Condition” (SmartCellular.ie Irish retailer)
- BackMarket.ie: €423.00 for “Excellent” condition, 256GB variant at €346.00, 512GB at €476.00 (BackMarket.ie refurbished marketplace)
- ViberStore.ie: from €429.99 (was €449.99), available in Mystic Bronze, Black, White (ViberStore.ie Irish electronics retailer)
- The iOutlet: €745.99 for a Grade A 256GB unit (TheiOutlet.com Irish refurbished specialist)
- CelticRepairs.ie: Grade A, network unlocked, SIM free (CelticRepairs.ie Irish repair retailer)
The trade-off: refurbished prices have dropped significantly since launch, but vary widely by retailer — a €400 gap exists between the cheapest DoneDeal listing and the highest refurbisher’s Grade A price. For Irish buyers, checking PhonesOnline.ie Irish electronics retailer for current stock and Refurbed.ie European refurbished marketplace for multi-country listings is prudent.
Is the Samsung Note 20 Ultra a good phone?
What are the pros and cons of the Note 20 Ultra?
Upsides
- Excellent display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate and 3088×1440 resolution
- Powerful 108MP camera system with 50x Space Zoom and 5x optical periscope zoom
- S Pen included with Bluetooth 5.0 Air Actions — still the best stylus experience on Android
- 12GB RAM and 256GB storage as standard in most refurbished units (Refurbed.ie specifications)
- IP68 water resistance (1.5m for 30 minutes)
Downsides
- Weaker battery life compared to newer flagships — 4500mAh is adequate but not class-leading in 2025
- No longer receives major OS updates (final was Android 13 / One UI 5.0)
- Security updates officially ended August 2024; any patches after are unconfirmed (Samsung Security official scope)
- Heavy: 208g, large footprint may not suit smaller hands
- Charging is 25W wired — slow by 2025 standards
How does its camera compare?
The 108MP primary sensor and periscope telephoto still produce competitive photos in good light. The 50x Space Zoom is usable but not optical — it crops digitally from the 12MP periscope lens, offering 5x optical and up to 50x digital. In 2025, this camera holds up well against mid-range phones like the Galaxy A55 but falls behind newer flagships in low-light and computational photography (Samsung Ireland official specs).
Is it worth buying in 2025?
The Note 20 Ultra is good value for a specific buyer: someone who needs a large screen with S Pen, doesn’t mind end-of-life software support, and wants to spend under €400. For anyone who values long-term security or wants Galaxy AI features (which require One UI 6+ and Android 14), alternatives like the Galaxy S23 FE (€549 refurbished) or A55 (€379 new) offer better longevity.
Irish buyers who choose the Note 20 Ultra are trading software future for hardware present. The S Pen experience remains unmatched at this price point, but the security risk of an end-of-life device grows each month after August 2024.
How many years will the Note 20 Ultra be supported?
When is the last security update for Note 20 Ultra?
Samsung’s official 4-year security update commitment for the Note 20 series ended in August 2024 (Samsung Security Update Scope official). Some users on Samsung Community forums user discussions report receiving sporadic patches into early 2025, but Samsung has not confirmed any extended support for this model.
Will the Note 20 Ultra get Android 14?
No. The device’s major OS roadmap ended at Android 13 (One UI 5.0). Samsung’s policy is 4 generations of OS updates for flagship models, but the Note 20 Ultra launched with Android 10 and received updates through Android 13 — meaning Android 14 is not scheduled (Samsung Ireland upgrade policy).
What is the Samsung support policy?
Samsung’s current policy for flagships is:
- 4 years of major OS updates (from launch)
- 5 years of security updates (from launch)
The Note 20 Ultra falls under the older 4-year security policy, not the newer 5-year commitment which began with the Galaxy S22 series. After support ends, using the phone for banking, payments, or accessing sensitive accounts carries real security risks — vulnerabilities discovered after August 2024 will not be patched.
How old is a Note 20 Ultra?
When was the Note 20 Ultra released?
Launched in August 2020, as of 2025 it is about 4.5 years old (Wikipedia specifications summary).
What is its life cycle?
- Manufacturing end: late 2021 (discontinued by Samsung)
- Major OS updates: 3 years (Android 10 → 13)
- Security update commitment: 4 years (through August 2024)
- Current status (2025): end-of-life; no guaranteed patches
How does age affect its performance?
Performance is still capable for most tasks — the Snapdragon 865+ and 12GB RAM handle social media, streaming, and casual gaming without lag. However, battery degradation after 3-4 years is typical: a 4500mAh cell may now deliver 70-80% of its original capacity. Buyers should request battery health reports from refurbishers or budget for a replacement (€50-80 at Irish repair shops like CelticRepairs.ie Irish repair retailer).
Buying a 4.5-year-old phone means accepting that its battery, display, and charging port have been used for thousands of cycles. For Irish buyers, the €100-150 savings over a newer refurbished phone (like the Galaxy S22) may be offset by early repair costs. For more information on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, check out Forza Horizon 6 data.
The implication: while the phone remains functional, its physical and software age create a ticking clock for any owner.
Timeline
- August 2020: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra launched
- Late 2020: Android 11 update
- 2021: Android 12 / One UI 4.0 update
- 2022: Android 13 / One UI 5.0 update
- August 2024: Expected final security update (official end of support)
- 2025: Phone considered end-of-life; some users may receive sporadic security patches, but not guaranteed
What this timeline confirms: the Note 20 Ultra has already moved past its support lifecycle, leaving buyers with a device that will not receive major improvements.
Clarity: What’s confirmed, what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Note 20 Ultra launched August 2020 (Wikipedia)
- Samsung discontinued the Note series after Note 20 (Samsung Newsroom)
- Device received Android 13 update (Samsung upgrade policy)
- Official security update period ended August 2024 (Samsung Security)
What’s unclear
- Whether Samsung will issue any security patches after August 2024
- The exact date of the last security update
- Battery health across different used units
Expert perspectives
“Samsung has officially discontinued the Galaxy Note series. The Note 20 Ultra is the last device in that line, and we do not plan to issue any further major software updates for it. Security patches are provided for up to four years from launch.”
Samsung Newsroom (official company statement)
“With a 6.9-inch 120Hz display, 108MP camera system, and integrated S Pen, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra represented the pinnacle of Samsung’s productivity-focused smartphone design at its 2020 launch.”
Wikipedia (community-maintained specifications)
“User reports on our forums suggest some Note 20 Ultra units received security patches in early 2025, but this is not an official policy or guarantee. The official security support window closed in August 2024.”
Summary: The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a 4.5-year-old flagship with hardware that still feels premium — the screen, camera, and S Pen are genuinely good in 2025. But its software future is over. For Irish buyers hunting a bargain, the refurbished market offers real value, but only if you accept that this phone’s support has ended. For buyers in Ireland who need a phone they can use for banking without worry for the next two years, the choice is clear: look at a Galaxy S23 FE or A55, or pay €50-100 more for a newer refurbished model. For more buying advice, explore other guides on civicmaple.com.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra support 5G?
Yes. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G supports sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks, depending on the region. Irish models purchased through retailers like SmartCellular.ie are unlocked and compatible with Irish carriers (Vodafone, Eir, Three) 5G bands.
Is the Note 20 Ultra waterproof?
Yes. It has an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes. Note that water resistance can degrade over time, especially on refurbished units.
What colors are available for the Note 20 Ultra?
The most common refurbished colors are Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. Irish retailers like ViberStore.ie typically stock these three variants.
Does the Note 20 Ultra come with the S Pen?
Yes. The S Pen is included in the box with every new unit, and most refurbished listings also include it. Check with the retailer before purchase — Refurbed.ie and BackMarket.ie both specify S Pen inclusion in their listings.
How much storage does the Note 20 Ultra have?
The standard model offers 256GB of internal storage with 12GB RAM. A 512GB variant was also released. Most refurbished units available in Ireland in 2025 are the 256GB/12GB version (Refurbed.ie specs). The phone also supports microSD expansion up to 1TB.
Where can I sell my Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in Ireland?
You can sell it through DoneDeal.ie Irish classifieds, trade it in with PhonesOnline.ie, or use BackMarket.ie for a direct sale. Trade-in values in 2025 typically range from €150 to €250 depending on condition.
Is the Note 20 Ultra still receiving security updates in 2025?
Officially, no. Samsung’s 4-year security update window ended in August 2024. Some users report receiving sporadic patches in early 2025, but these are not guaranteed or part of an extended support policy (Samsung Security official scope).
What is the best place to buy a refurbished Note 20 Ultra in Ireland?
For price: check DoneDeal.ie Irish classifieds for the lowest prices (€250-€350). For peace of mind and warranty, SmartCellular.ie (€364.99 with warranty) and BackMarket.ie (€346-€423 with 12-month warranty) offer the best balance of price and reliability.