Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G SM-N981UZNAXAA Review
The refurbished Galaxy Note 20 5G offers flagship specs from 2020 at a budget price. We dig into whether its aging software and camera are dealbreakers, or if the S Pen and 12GB of RAM make it a hidden gem.
The 30-Second Version
A specs sheet from 2020 at a 2025 price. Great for RAM and the S Pen, but you're buying into outdated software and a so-so camera.
Overview
Look, the Galaxy Note 20 5G is a weird one to review in 2025. It's a refurbished flagship from 2020, and that's the one thing you need to know. It's not a bad phone, but it's a time capsule. You're getting a solid 5G connection and a big screen for under $200, but you're also buying into an old version of Android and a camera system that was mid-tier even when it was new. It's a budget pick with a fancy name.
Performance
Honestly, the performance was a bit of a surprise, and not in a bad way. Our database shows it lands in the 76th percentile for performance, which is way better than most phones at this price. The 12GB of RAM is a huge part of that, and it means this thing can still handle multitasking and gaming without choking. The weak spot is the battery life, sitting in the 39th percentile, so you'll be charging it more often than a modern phone.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong camera (96th percentile) 96th
- Strong connectivity (95th percentile) 95th
- Strong social proof (93th percentile) 93th
- Strong performance (91th percentile) 91th
Cons
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.7 |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 |
Performance
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus |
| Processor Model | Snapdragon 865 Plus |
| CPU Cores | 8 |
| CPU Speed | 3.09 |
| RAM | 8 MB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
Camera
| Main Camera | 64 |
| Camera Count | 3 |
| Front Camera | 10 |
| Video | 8K |
Battery & Charging
| Battery | 4300 Wh |
| Connector | USB type-C |
Connectivity
| 5G | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB type-C |
| SIM | Nano SIM |
Design & Build
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.4 lbs |
| Fingerprint | In-display |
| Face Recognition | No |
| OS | Android 10 |
| Headphone Jack | No |
Value & Pricing
For $189, it's a decent value if your priorities are raw multitasking power and 5G on a tight budget. You're trading modern software, a great camera, and long battery life for that S Pen and those specs. It's worth it only if that specific trade-off makes sense for you.
Price History
vs Competition
The most relevant competitor is the Motorola Moto G. For similar money, a new Moto G will give you a much better camera, way better battery life, and current Android software, but you'll lose the premium build, the S Pen, and that killer 12GB of RAM. If you can stretch your budget, the Google Pixel 'a' series (like a Pixel 7a) blows this away in camera and software for not much more. The Note 20 wins on specs-on-paper, but loses on the daily experience.
Common Questions
Q: Does it still get software updates?
Nope, not really. It launched with Android 10 and might get a security patch here and there, but you shouldn't expect any major Android version updates. You're buying the software as-is.
Q: Is 128GB of storage enough?
For most people, yes, especially if you use cloud storage for photos. But with no expandable storage, heavy gamers or 4K video shooters will fill it up fast.
Q: How's the battery life on a refurbished model?
Honestly, it's the biggest gamble. A refurbished battery won't be like new. Expect to charge it daily, maybe even twice if you use it heavily.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a reliable daily driver with a great camera and modern software, this isn't it. Go get a new Google Pixel 7a or a Motorola Moto G Power instead. You'll have a much better overall experience.
Verdict
We can only recommend the refurbished Galaxy Note 20 5G to a very specific buyer: someone who needs a ton of RAM for heavy multitasking or emulator gaming, really wants the S Pen for notes, and doesn't care about having an old OS or a mediocre camera. For everyone else, a new budget phone from Motorola or Google is a smarter, more reliable buy.