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Report: A single Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with 128GB of storage costs only $548 to Samsung
Samsung has delivered excellent performance in designing, manufacturing, and combining multiple technologies and components in a thin and light design. The total BoM price success is lightly under $550 with the component cost making up around $468, which is excellent for a device with a list price of $1299.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G was launched in two variants, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ for the USA, China, South Korea whereas the Exynos 990-based variant for the other countries.
The mmWave version of Note 20 Ultra 5G builds on Qualcomm’s reference design featuring the most advanced 5G SoC, the Snapdragon 865+, and the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System. The mmWave variant costs approximately 10% more than the sub-6 GHz variant. Note 20 Ultra features one of the most advanced camera sensors in the three-sensor module. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G features a lower resolution telephoto lens in comparison to the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.
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Research Director of Counterpoint research, Tom Kang, commented, “Samsung, with its multiple SKU strategy, has a varied level of dependence on vertically integrated internal suppliers and external suppliers. This requires sophisticated system integration. The mmWave Qualcomm variant of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Samsung contributes to roughly half of the costs of the total components, whereas, for the Exynos variant, Samsung’s share goes up to almost 70%. It is impressive to see Qualcomm’s share in a Samsung flagship exceed 40%, as it offers a fully-optimized system-level solution from SoC to the modem, RF, and antenna system. Other important component design wins include NXP which combines UWB, Secure Element, NFC, and eSIM in a single solution. Other notable contributors include Qorvo, Largan Precision, Corning, and others.”
The exhibit below summarizes the BoM cost analysis. An expanded version with details of more than 100 key components and parameters influencing the device’s cost structure is available for clients.
Samsung may ink a deal with TSMC to produce Exynos SoC for Galaxy phones. As the Foundry Division facing a crisis, System LSI may fabricate Exynos using TSMC’s process. This way, Samsung will be able to ensure Exynos’ return.
According to Dealsite (via Jukanlosreve), Samsung could make Exynos SoC at TSMC. It remains to be seen which iteration of application processor the Taiwanese chip maker will produce for Samsung Galaxy phones.
TSMC’s 3nm process is a big hit. The company has major clients like Apple, MediaTek and Qualcomm. In the past, Samsung produced Snapdragon chips, but the flaws in Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hurt it the most.
Currently, the situation is; that Samsung Foundry is unable to produce in-house Exynos chips. We’ve heard rumors of Samsung’s dream chip, which has now become a real dream. System LSI could collaborate with TSMC for contract production.
Dealsite report says:
So, I think there was a hope for about a year that they would really catch up with TSMC. But then their market share dropped sharply again, and recently, it barely exceeded 10%, and even internally, there were talks about “We’re going to make Exynos (Samsung’s mobile application processor) at TSMC.”
Samsung’s System LSI arm designs Exynos processors. The division naturally orders Samsung Foundry to proceed with mass production. The yield rate is not in Samsung’s favor, leading it to forget about production on a large scale.
The existence and growth of Exynos is necessary for Samsung. If there’s no alternative, the company will lose its negotiation power with suppliers. Hence, producing Exynos at TSMC isn’t a bad idea if it benefits the company and consumers.
Notably, Exynos 2500 has reportedly entered mass production, aiming to power the Galaxy Z Flip 7 next year. The Galaxy S25 series could exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip – manufactured by TSMC at 3nm process technology.
Samsung could soon launch One UI 7 Beta and these three small tweaks could make a difference. As the Beta Program is away, I can’t help with feedback, but a leaker just shared key improvements that should be considered.
The upcoming version will indeed impress with its customization, elegant interface, and powerful features. The One UI 7 testing is currently underway and there’s room for tweaks and improvement in three key areas as per IceUniverse:
- Background blur effect in system animation
- Depth effect of lock screen wallpaper
- Frosted glass effect of screen lock notification
1. Background Blur in System Animations
You swipe between apps or open your notifications, and the background gently blurs out as you do it. It’s such a subtle thing that I’ve seen in other skins, and Samsung could do it better.
The addition of background blur would give the whole experience an extra layer of smoothness. It’s not a huge ask, and it wouldn’t even slow down the phone thanks to flagship hardware.
2. Depth Effect for Lock Screen Wallpaper
You may have seen the parallax effect where the wallpaper seems to shift as you tilt the phone. One UI 7 should add this simple change that would make the lock screen pop.
Leading software skins have had the depth effect for lock screen wallpaper. Samsung should consider adopting the depth effect to make the lock screen feel more dynamic and alive.
3. Frosted Glass Effect for Lock Screen Notifications
You may have noticed the notification blent in the background if a colorful wallpaper is used or the list of notifications is extended – here, the addition of the frosted glass effect would help.
This would give the lock screen a slightly more elegant feel without complicating things. Notifications would be easier to read, and it would add just a little more class to the design.
As a Samsung fan for over a decade, I’ve seen the One UI evolve from its first iteration in the Galaxy S9 series. From the very initial version to the latest One UI 6.1.1, Samsung has significantly polished the experience we enjoy today.
During the Beta activity, a feedback window will open for participants. We’ve seen Samsung developers hear consumer feedback and make changes if needed. Therefore, don’t skip sending your valuable feedback after joining the Beta.
The smartphone industry welcomed many significant creations this year. Apple, Google, Samsung, and many other brands introduced technological innovations. Is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra the Best 2024 Flagship; Mrwhosetheboss has a different opinion.
Famous tech YouTuber released a yearly video, awarding smartphones for their segmental pros. Mrwhosetheboss also announced his pick as the Best 2024 Flagship and it’s beyond the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Vivo X200 Pro emerged as the Best 2024 Flagship in Mrwhosetheboss’ video. Arun highlighted some of the best flagships released this year including the OnePlus 12, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Is Galaxy S24 Ultra the Best 2024 Flagship?
Samsung’s S24 Ultra packs the fastest processor ever used in the Android ecosystem. It features a pro-grade 2x Dynamic AMOLED display with sizzling brightness and LTPO technology.
The titanium frame design makes it stand apart from the battle, matching the iPhone’s lead. Besides, the iconic boxy design ushers in totally different experiences, beyond the competition.
The camera department is unquestionably exceptional. From the 200MP main camera to the 50MP periscope with 5x optical zoom, the S24 Ultra is equipped with unbeatable camera capabilities.
Galaxy AI stands out to be the most advanced Mobile AI application. It brings many useful features that help you get your tasks done with AI magic apart from empowering the photography.
Mrwhosetheboss has a different opinion
Arun picked Vivo’s X200 Pro as the Best Flagship in 2024. Before the verdict, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra impressed him with its high-performing battery, iconic S Pen feature, anti-reflective screen, and software optimization.
Source: Mrwhosetheboss / YouTube
Vivo X200 Pro’s different design approach and software fluency changed the game. The camera outperforms the S24 Ultra, according to Mrwhosetheboss. The battery is also better than the S24 Ultra – thanks to its large cell and comparatively faster charging support.
The biggest hurdle is the limited availability of the Vivo flagship. It isn’t readily available in key markets such as the United States. Vivo equipped the X200 Pro with exceptional hardware, but what’s the benefit if it isn’t available to buy?
Watch the video below (starts at 17:58):