Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: Specs, Price & Worth in 2024

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra launched in February 2020 at $1,299, and four-plus years on it’s become a compelling budget option in the used market. With excellent-condition refurbished units selling for around $263 and trade-in offers reaching $166 through services like SellCell, the question isn’t just whether the hardware still holds up—it’s whether buying a phone without security updates makes sense in 2024. This guide breaks down exactly what you’re getting, what you’ve given up, and whether the numbers add up for your situation.

Release Date: February 2020 · Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED · Main Camera: 108MP · Battery: 5000 mAh · Storage: Up to 512 GB

The key specifications below reflect Samsung’s official hardware announcements from early 2020.

How old is the Galaxy S20 Ultra?

Samsung announced the Galaxy S20 Ultra in February 2020, positioning it as the flagship of the S20 lineup with premium pricing starting at $1,299. Four-plus years later, the device sits in a different market entirely—one where midrange phones offer competitive cameras and software support cycles have stretched to seven years for newer Samsung flagships. The original promise included three major OS upgrades (Android 10 through Android 13) and four years of security patches, a commitment that played out through early 2025.

Release timeline

• February 2020: Global launch, starting at $1,299
• 2020–2023: Active update period with monthly security patches
• April 2024: Samsung moved S20 series from monthly to quarterly security updates (Samsung Mobile Security)
• March 2025: Final security patch released
• April 2025: Removed from Samsung’s official security updates page (SammyFans)

Age in 2024

The S20 Ultra is now over four years old—older than the typical smartphone upgrade cycle for most users. While hardware has held up reasonably well, the age shows in processor benchmarks and the lack of future OS updates. Samsung now offers seven years of support for flagships starting with the S24, a stark contrast to the four-year support window the S20 received.

The implication: buying a used S20 Ultra means getting hardware that was cutting-edge in 2020 but sits in a different tier entirely in 2024. The camera and display still impress, but the processor gap versus current phones has widened considerably.

How much is an S20 Ultra worth now?

Resale values have cratered from the $1,299 launch price, but the numbers tell a more nuanced story depending on where and how you sell. Back Market lists refurbished Galaxy S20 Ultra units starting at $263 for excellent-condition 128GB models, with good-condition devices at $277 and fair-condition units at $535. Cash buyback services like SellCell offer up to $166 for devices in good condition, representing the lower end of the resale spectrum for straightforward cash transactions.

Current market prices

• Back Market (refurbished): $263 (excellent), $277 (good), $535 (fair)
• SellCell (cash): Up to $166 for good condition
• Carrier trade-in promos: Up to $1,000+ but requires purchasing a new device

What this means: the gap between cash resale and carrier trade-in values reflects different transaction models. Direct cash sales yield less per unit but don’t require a new purchase, while carrier promotions offer more value but only make sense if you’re upgrading anyway.

Resale value factors

Several variables determine what your S20 Ultra fetches on the resale market. Physical condition is paramount—screen scratches, frame dents, and battery health all factor into final offers. YourNavi estimates average cash trade-in values around $50, with a range spanning $49 to $1,100 depending on condition and promotional availability. Storage capacity matters too, with higher-spec models commanding modest premiums over base configurations.

Cosmetic damage like cracked back glass significantly reduces trade-in value, per YourNavi’s guidance. Sellers should compare quotes across multiple services since prices fluctuate and buyback companies compete for inventory.

Is the Galaxy S20 Ultra a good phone?

The hardware still delivers in key areas, though the picture is mixed when you factor in age and support status. The Exynos 990 processor handles everyday tasks without complaint, but it shows strain with graphically demanding games and newer applications. The 108MP camera remains genuinely capable in good lighting, and the 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate still looks excellent—even competing well against newer devices in pure display quality tests.

Pros and performance

• Display: Still vibrant with excellent color accuracy and smooth 120Hz performance
• Camera: 108MP sensor delivers detailed 12MP binned shots; 100x Space Zoom works well at lower ranges
• Battery: 5,000 mAh still delivers reasonable endurance for moderate daily use
• 5G support: Remains functional on compatible networks

Consumer Reports review insights

Reviews from the device’s early period highlighted the camera system and display as standout features, with processing power adequate for most tasks. That assessment holds up reasonably well—the hardware hasn’t degraded, but the processor gap versus current chips has widened as software demands have increased.

The catch: Samsung’s end of security updates in early 2025 creates a security risk that no amount of hardware quality can offset. For users who prioritize safety over specifications, the calculus has shifted away from the S20 Ultra regardless of how well it performs otherwise.

What is special about the S20 Ultra?

The camera system defined the S20 Ultra’s identity, and it remains the device’s strongest argument for purchase in 2024. The 108MP primary sensor was Samsung’s flagship sensor at launch, and it still produces detailed 12MP binned images with good dynamic range in well-lit conditions. The 100x Space Zoom capability was largely a marketing feature—the actual utility peaked around 10-30x zoom where optical quality remained usable—but it demonstrated Samsung’s ambition with smartphone photography.

Unique camera features

• 108MP primary sensor: Large sensor with 9-in-1 pixel binning; still competitive in 2024
• 100x Space Zoom: Technically impressive but practically limited to lower zoom levels
• 48MP telephoto: 4x optical zoom with good quality at 10-30x range
• 40MP front camera: 4K video capability; still sufficient for modern selfie standards

WIRED review highlights

Early reviews from WIRED praised the camera system as the device’s defining strength, noting that the 108MP resolution and advanced pixel binning produced images that held up well against competitors. That assessment has aged reasonably—the camera still produces excellent still photos, though video capabilities lag behind current flagships that offer 4K 120fps and advanced stabilization.

The implication: the S20 Ultra’s camera remains a legitimate selling point for photography-focused buyers who don’t need the absolute latest video features. The hardware itself hasn’t degraded; it’s simply no longer at the frontier.

Is the S20 end of life?

Samsung officially ended software support for the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra in early 2025. The final security patch arrived in March 2025, and Samsung removed the entire S20 series from its official security updates page in April 2025 (SammyFans). This marks the end of a four-year support commitment that originally promised three major OS upgrades and four years of security patches—delivered exactly as promised, but significantly shorter than the seven-year support window Samsung now offers for newer flagships.

Software support status

• Final OS version: Android 13 (no Android 14 or later)
• Last security patch: March 2025
• Removed from Samsung update page: April 2025 (SammyFans)
• Current Samsung policy: 7 years of updates for flagships starting with S24

Hardware longevity

Hardware remains functional without Samsung’s official updates, though the risk profile has changed. Google Play system updates continue to provide some protection even after Samsung support ends, per SammyFans reporting—but this is a partial solution, not equivalent to full security patches. New vulnerabilities discovered after March 2025 will not receive Samsung fixes, meaning the device’s exposure increases over time.

What this means: for users comfortable sideloading APKs and managing their own security hygiene, the S20 Ultra remains a functional device. For users who need robust security for banking apps, work email, or sensitive data, the lack of official patches creates unacceptable risk—and upgrading to a supported device becomes the clear recommendation.

The bottom line: support has officially ended, and the window for trading in before further value depreciation has largely closed.

For complete technical specifications, Samsung’s official hardware documentation remains the authoritative reference.

The spec sheet reveals a flagship that still holds up physically—but the processing gap versus current devices has widened significantly since 2020.

The Galaxy S20 has been removed from the official update schedule page.

— PhoneArena (Tech News Site)

After five years of software updates, Samsung has officially ended support for these phones.

— SammyFans (Samsung News Site)

Samsung has shifted to a seven-year support cycle for its phones.

— Android Central (Tech Publication)

Related reading: Galaxy Z Flip to Buy

For refurbished S20 Ultra buyers weighing current value, top 2024 Dutch deals provide competitive pricing options amid ended security support.

Frequently asked questions