Samsung excited for TT's response

Samsung Electronics product manager Gianmarco Leri 

Photo: news.samsung.com -
Samsung Electronics product manager Gianmarco Leri Photo: news.samsung.com -

Product manager at Samsung Electronics Gianmarco Leri said the tech giant's new flagship devices – the Note20 and Note20 Ultra – are as powerful and capable as any desktop computer or laptop on the market – complete with specifications to suit the changing world of work following the global covid19 pandemic.

The description of the devices given by the Miami-based Samsung executive reflects one suitable for users of all ages, and an all-in-one powerhouse device for a millennial professional and content creator. It is also marketed for those who equally enjoy playing the latest video games after binge-watching a full season of a series with limited need for running for the charger due to the 4500 mAh (milliamp hour) battery – one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market.

Leri has been product manager at Samsung for three years, previously working in product management at a large electronics carrier company where he interacted with a range of brands.

Work started on both models two years ago after Samsung launched its previous flagships.

"Even before the Note 10 launched, we started thinking about what we would have been doing next. It was crazy completing the process leading up to the launch in March. We kind of failed on our expectations on that launch, a lot of it having to do with what was happening around the world but we knew we had to do something special. And now we are breaking records with the bronze-coloured Note20 Ultra."

In an article titled Samsung celebrates record pre-order performance for Galaxy Note20 Series in the UK, published on news.samsung.com/uk, the company acknowledged its personal best pre-order sales numbers.

Discussing how these models set themselves aside from other phones on the market, Leri said it is like having a computer in the palm of the user's hands.

"These phones are special because they are very powerful and with everything happening in the world, they give users the power to work hard and the power to play hard."

The device, because of Samsung's partnership with Microsoft, seamlessly integrates with the Microsoft suite. Coupled with the updated specifications and large 6.9" and 6.7" display, users can create and modify Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents with ease. Leri said Samsung now makes this process as easy as it is working from a desktop with a processor (speed) synonymous with the fastest processors in high-end laptops.

"With the wireless Samsung desk, a presentation can be projected on a screen – all done without cables. The Note20 Ultra comes with one terabyte of memory which gives more processing speed and storage than many laptops on the market. Many people will now be working from home for an (indefinite) amount of time, so this device is perfect for working at home from these phones."

The 6.9" and 6.7" Gorilla Glass Victus, which is the first of its kind on the market, on the Note20 Ultra and Note20 respectively are backed by the new Dynamic Amoled 2, which Samsung said places the viewing experience above that of the competition.

The Samsung collaboration with Microsoft benefits professionals during hours of work while making premium gaming experience for gamers. "In the power to play we teamed up with Xbox, so we have over 100 Xbox games in the cloud that users do not have to download. The screen also has a 120 Hz of refresh rate on the screen which is the number of blinks per second. So this phone is ultra-smooth, coupled with the processor speed resulting in no lagging."

Asked what improvements have been made when compared to older models, Leri said, "We have to talk about the S Pen."

"It is incredible, almost like writing on paper. You can even add sounds to create the experience of writing on paper." The new operating system automatically aligns writing for improved presentation and also has the capability of re-presenting handwriting in some options for better legibility.

"This is perfect for people like me who have to take lots of notes, write fast, but sometimes cannot understand their handwriting. If you are writing a document or composing an email, the writing can be done, transformed into text then available for copy-paste into an email or document."

When combined with the wireless Samsung DeX an ecosystem can be easily created as it creates seamless connectivity to laptops, desktops and TVs for viewing on a larger screen.

"I use it for my presentations. I can make elaborate presentations without having to consider use of a cable or any additional piece of equipment. I can swipe and everything just from my phone when integrated with the wireless Samsung DeX (desktop experience)."

Asked about durability, Leri said "You can drop it, for sure. It is durable, especially because of the new gorilla glass 7." He, however, urges users must be mindful that the extent of damage to the device is also dependent on the height of the fall and the angle of impact. The phone is also IP68 water and dust resistant – able to remain submerged in 1.5 metres for a maximum of about 30 minutes. Exposure to or submersion in saltwater is not advised.

"The saltwater will destroy your phone. Please do not go into the ocean with your phone."

Asked what are some stand-out differences between the Note20 and the Note20Ultra, Leri said one main distinction other than the size of Note20 compared to the Note20 Ultra is that the Note20 does not have expandable storage.

"There have to be some distinguishing factors. Another thing is the camera: 108 megapixels on the Ultra versus a 64mp on the smaller one. The battery life of the Ultra also lasts longer.

"One of the coolest features for me is the low-light night pictures. You would have to see how clear they are at night. Compared to the night settings of competitors, it is incredible how clear the photos come out– almost as clearly as if you had a light. We always upgraded premium settings like zooming capabilities. Users are now able to zoom as much as 50 times with the new cameras."

The single-take setting has also been refined, where users can capture a photo that is saved as a 15-second video that can be saved as a motion photo or select a perfect still from the 15 seconds.

He said this camera is perfect for modern content creators.

"From that one motion photo the user can get up to 15 other editing options, backward recording, stabilisation, normal video, live focus, blur – you don't take to keep switching from mode to mode each time. There are so many things that can be done with this phone that sometimes new users might lose track of the capabilities."

Leri said having grown accustomed to the larger sizes of Samsung Note models, it feels perfect in his hands. He said, however, for users new to phones smaller than six inches he would advise starting with the Note20 then upgrading, eventually, to a bigger model.

Asked what the process is like for the production of the two models from conceptualisation to production, he said it was long and required the participation of over 400 specialised professionals working in tandem with the heads of Samsung in Korea.

"We have a workshop where we refine the ideas coming from the headquarters where we decide on feature preferences such as the colour options for handsets being brought to each region across the globe. It is easier explained than it is. It is done from region to region where we assess the model we are working in an attempt to outdo all the previous models."

Leri said the grand team of specialised professionals would include engineers, marketers, designers and the heads of each department based in Korea.

"These models bring the best of the best. TT is a Samsung-dominated market so we look forward to seeing how it will be received there over time."

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