Above: Gianmarco Leri.

“It’s a surprising comeback from the S20,” said Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager at Samsung Electronics.
Samsung didn’t get the numbers on the introduction of the S20 it was hoping for, not least because shipping came to an almost complete halt directly after it was released because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“There were challenges in the markets where we expected a good response to the S20,” Leri said.
And there were surprises.

In some countries, a lot more people began buying phones from their houses,” he said.
“Some people really just needed a phone to work with or to entertain themselves.”

So the company stepped back and produced a lineup of products at the most recent Unpacked event that it felt matched the needs of users experiencing a very different mix of work and recreation needs.

“We exceeded sales with the bronze colour,” Leri said, “It was very well received and I didn’t expect that.”
The new Note 20 introduces improvements to its processor, screen and new integrations with Windows that deliver on the expectations for people using their mobile devices for both work and play, with integrations with Microsoft Office as well as XBox.

“We now have 100 games you can play over the cloud without even downloading it to the phone.”
The new SPen has reduced latency and coupled with the device’s refresh rate, to Leri it seems like writing with the pen using the Notes app is like writing on paper.

Of the two devices, Leri noted that, “The S20 is focused on the camera experience, the Note 20 is designed as a powerful device to be used as a working tool.”

Asked about the buzz claiming that early Note 20 devices shipped with tiny specks of grit inside the lens assembly, Leri explained that ““You don’t know how to respond sometimes.”

“We believe we have that issue contained, and we are continuing to look at that situation. If anyone has had that experience, Samsung will reach out.”

Samsung is yet to announce a launch date for the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Launch in TT depends on carriers, but Samsung expects to launch very soon.”
“Moving product has been a huge challenge for Samsung. We have had to move our factory production to different countries. It’s our duty to be number one.”