With a plastic rear panel, a 60Hz display with lower resolution, inferior rear cameras, and costing $999, the regular Galaxy Note 20 was always going to be found wanting in comparison to its more capable sibling, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. What's worse, is that the Galaxy Note 20 doesn't offer much over its Galaxy S20 cousins other than the addition of an S Pen. Ever since Samsung launched the disruptive Galaxy S20 FE in September, rumors have swirled that the Korean company may further erode the Galaxy Note 20's relevance by unveiling a Fan Edition of the series.
Despite the issues being experienced by Galaxy S20 FE owners, it's a phone that is proving popular for those that want a phone that offers premium features at an affordable price. A Fan Edition of the Galaxy Note 20 would certainly be a popular move on Samsung's part, but depending on how it's equipped, it would likely usurp the Note 20's position.
If Samsung follows the same strategy of the S20 FE, we could see the Note 20 FE powered by the Snapdragon 865, with 6/8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, S Pen, wireless charging, and probably a display with a higher refresh rate. If Samsung equips it with an AMOLED panel, that would be yet another reason to eschew the regular Note 20 and pick up the Note 20 FE instead, especially if it's competitively priced, which is another area where it could trump the original.
One sign that the Galaxy Note 20 series hasn't lived up to Samsung's expectations is a report from The Elec that the brand has reduced the monthly production targets by 25% from 800,000 units to 600,000, with the Galaxy Note 20 experiencing the majority of the cuts.
The COVID-19 pandemic still on the go and the world's economy is on a general downturn, so many consumers are looking at getting the most bang for their buck as opposed to showing off the latest flagship that costs well over $1000. Here's hoping that in the Galaxy Note 20 FE, Samsung gives us the affordable Note 20 that we deserve, not the inferior one that launched in August.
I won’t even buy the Note 20 at all. Again. I had one, I gave it a week, I sent it back. It’s a left-handed person’s dream phone! But I’m not left-handed… so using the S Pen was extra motions and extra effort. I don’t adapt to phones: they adapt to me. No thanks
$1,000.00 dollars for a midrange phone? Is a joke?
Ummmm…the Note 20 is the Note 20 FE.
Edit: I can all but guarantee the Note 20 FE will NOT have a 90/120 Hz screen. Why would Samsung create a “FE” (aka “value”) model with a better screen than the more expensive Note 20? That makes zero marketing sense. If the FE has a 90/120 Hz screen, it will cannibalize sales of the Note 20.