The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, launched five years ago, holds a special place in the evolution of smartphone technology. It was the inaugural Galaxy S Ultra model, celebrated for its groundbreaking camera capabilities, and marked a significant moment in Samsung’s chipset development. This device was the last Galaxy S phone to feature Samsung’s custom CPU core, the Mongoose M5, part of the Exynos 990 chipset. Despite facing criticism for performance and efficiency issues, the M5 core symbolized Samsung’s ambition to rival Apple’s custom silicon.
The challenges in developing competitive custom CPU cores led Samsung to abandon this approach, opting instead for standardized ARM designs in future chips. This strategic decision allowed the company to enhance other aspects of chip design, leading to improved performance in newer Exynos processors.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra’s legacy is further cemented by its role in the final Note series device, the Note 20 Ultra, making it a collector’s item for tech enthusiasts. Its standout feature, the 100x “Space Zoom” camera, and the introduction of a 108MP main sensor set the design precedent for future Ultra models. The S20 Ultra remains a testament to Samsung’s technological ambitions and a pivotal moment in its history.
