Samsung Responds to Galaxy Note20Ultra Complaints — What You Need to Know

Samsung Responds to Galaxy Note20Ultra Complaints — What You Need to Know

Samsung has acknowledged several defects in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra camera bump reported by some users.

More than 100 members of Samsung's forum have reported various problems, including condensation and dust inside the rear camera lens and gaps between the camera and the phone itself.

Sam Mobile notes that the problems appear to affect only Korean users, who happen to have access to a variant of the Note 20 Ultra with an Exynos 990 chip.

However, one US user told us via email that his Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a gap around the top camera module. The image of his Note 20 Ultra sent by that user clearly shows a gap between the top camera on the rear array and the phone itself.

There are no reports of such a gap causing photography problems with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, such a flaw should not be in a brand new flagship smartphone, especially one that costs $1,299.

Our sibling site TechRadar got a comment from Samsung acknowledging the problem (or at least the condensation concern), but offered no solution to it or any advice on what users can do if the camera module is clogged with debris.

"Samsung is committed to ensuring consumer satisfaction and an optimal experience with Galaxy devices. Recently, we have received a limited number of reports of fog buildup inside the camera of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra," a Samsung spokesperson told TechRadar.

"Like reading glasses and other glassware, waterproof smartphones can be subject to condensation when exposed to sudden temperature changes.

No mention was made of the gap between the camera and the phone's body, which is odd given that such a problem appears legitimate. There may be an error in the manufacturing of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra handset that allows for a small gap in the camera module.

We have contacted Samsung for more clarification on this and will update this article as soon as we hear back.

The gap between the camera and the body of the Note 20 Ultra is not ideal, but this is something Samsung learned with the early Galaxy Fold models, where dust and debris could get behind the display. This suggests that reports of dust getting into the camera may be due to the assembly side of the phone.

Some might put up with this if it did not interfere with the Note 20 Ultra's photographic results. But again, it does not seem particularly good to have such a problem with a phone with a mighty price tag.

Of further concern is the moisture and condensation within the camera module. Sudden changes in temperature are not unexpected, especially when going from a cool room to a hot yard under the blazing sun. However, temperature changes can cause sudden expansion of the material and condensation, which can damage the cell phone.

During our review of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, we did not see any problems with our handset. However, we will keep an eye out in case such an issue should arise. And we'll be watching to see if Samsung plans to fix the Note 20 Ultra handsets affected by the camera gap issue.

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