/blog

I've had the phone for a month now so wanted to put down a few thoughts.

It's almost the same size as the S20 Ultra, slightly wider & slightly shorter, so I haven't really had to get used to it. The extra width, albeit very minor, was noticeable at first (more likely due to the different shape and feel of the device) but it felt normal very quickly, you just adapt to what you've got.

With all of the hoo-ha about Samsung throttling apps I can honestly say that I've never experienced an issue. The phone is as fast and smooth as you would expect from a modern flagship. Admittedly, I don't play any games or use any heavy apps that would seriously tax the phone so can't say whether it would be an issue for others.

As expected, the killer feature for me is the S Pen. Being able to actually write rather than type and have my scrawl pretty reliably converted to text has been a game changer. I am writing so much more in my journal now because of it. I think the pen allows for a greater freedom of expression than tapping on a keyboard. Notes, blog posts, I write as much as I can to the extent that it often feels weird going back to the keyboard.

I've not had much opportunity to test the cameras but was impressed with the night shot I took even though it was handheld. There's no way that would have come out on any previous device. I now have a small portable tripod so can't wait to test it when more stable, I should be able to get some impressive shots.

Having a rectangular form factor and screen the phone somehow feels more natural to read and watch video on. I've never had an issue doing either of these on a phone with rounded corners but this screen just feels different and I like it!

I hope that Samsung continues creating Ultras with the Note form factor, at least until the foldables are cheaper and more durable, as I now can't see myself going back.