STACK #192 Oct 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Ultra refresh rate The Note 20 Ultra has another big perk outside of a bigger screen and better camera: a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz. While higher screen refresh rates are more taxing on battery life, they make everything look a whole lot smoother. This covers everything from scrolling through apps or reading online to playing games. Expect to see higher-refresh-rate screens becoming a bigger talking point for future smartphones.

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You’ll need that internal storage for taking advantage of the main 64MP rear camera, which can also capture video in up to 8K resolution. Digital 30-times zoom lets you get closer to your subject than ever before, or snap clear pics from far away. You can also opt to capture video at a lower resolution for silky- smooth 120 frames-per-second footage, which you can spice up with easy-to-use video effects.

time), the Note 20 comes with an Intelligent S Pen for drawing. More than just a stylus, the Intelligent S Pen can also be used for converting your onscreen handwriting into text or as a remote control. But why exactly would you want a remote control for a smartphone? The Note 20 can act as a ’puter in your pocket. Use the upgraded version of Samsung DeX to wirelessly connect to compatible screens to scroll through pictures, watch videos, or get busy with business. Samsung Notes is likewise a great business companion for making and changing documents when you’re out and about, then seamlessly syncing them with a Samsung Galaxy tablet or PC. It’s not all about work, though. The Note 20 can play as hard as it works. Bolstered touch sensitivity and Game Booster mode make for faster and more responsive smartphone gaming. And thanks to how the Note 20 has implemented clever battery optimisation, you can have all-day battery and get back to full power quicker via fast charging. SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD2 In your choice of basic black or blinged-out bronze, you can enter the fold of folding smartphones, which have come a way since their initial 1.0 versions. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is a future-proofed 5G smartphone (with Wi-Fi 6 support, of course), but the real shining star is the multi-screen options. On the front of the phone is a 6.2-inch screen, but fold it open for a 7.6-inch inner display, which amounts to a measurable screen real estate bonus. As smartphones feel capped at a certain front screen size before they can’t easily slip into a pocket or purse, foldable phones like the Fold2 are the answer to portability and presentation. Compared to its predecessor, the Fold2 has a better main camera (64 megapixels instead of 12), a beefier battery for better longevity (4500mAh vs 4380), and a bigger fold-out screen with a better resolution (1536x2152 resolution vs 1689x2213 resolution, and 7.3 inches vs 7.7 inches).

Foldable future You might think that foldable phones are a fad, but that’s not what the experts are saying. According to renowned analyst Bob O’Donnell, foldable smartphones have the potential to fold out to a 75 per cent market share. O’Donnell anticipates that as foldable phones become more ubiquitous, the asking price will be noticeably lower, too.

Plays nicely The Note 20 is also built to integrate seamlessly with the Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy Watch 3. Within this intuitive ecosystem,

Fold vs flat Buying a foldable smartphone like the

Fold2 is like buying a supercharged flat phone. The front screen, in the usual place you’d expect it to be on a smartphone, is perfectly usable. So it’s not like you need to fold open your phone whenever you want to perform a basic task (or any task for that matter). But then you have the option of folding open to a larger screen that makes basic tasks like texting or web browsing easier and clearer. The real benefits come from activities like watching videos or reading digital magazines or comics.

the Note 20 pairs beautifully with Buds Live for all your essential track lists, videos and gaming sessions. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 plays incredibly well with the Note 20. With an LTE connection, you can leave your Note 20 at home and rely solely on the Watch 3 to lead and manage work obligations on the fly and stream your favourite music or videos when you’re on the run.

Outside of the camera and screen, the Note line is intended to offer additional productivity options. Whether you’re an amateur doodler or professional artist (or just prefer to not navigate with your fingers all the

52 OCTOBER 2020

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