The Galaxy S20 from Samsung surely isn’t the most high-end variant in the series, though it is equipped with a few very impressive specs to make it a powerhouse and a looker. This makes it offer 5G capability for the first time, one of the best displays pushed up to 120Hz, and a much-improved camera system that will help it stand out against prior devices and current ones available today.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great display of 120Hz
- Brawny Camera System
- Strong Performance
- Ready for 5G
Cons:
- Very expensive, especially for 5G
- The fingerprint scanner is inconsistent.
- Not many networks are supported in 5G
Summary
The Galaxy S20 is so named from the S11 to tell about the significant upgrades it brings to users. Sited below larger, costlier S20 Plus and S20 Ultra models, the S20 is easier on your pocket and wallet without giving up on the flagship features. Of course, newer models, including the Galaxy S21 and rumors of the Galaxy S22, will no doubt overshadow this model, but the S20 still holds its ground with a great mix of features for its price.
Design and Display
The Galaxy S20 comes with a 6.2″ screen, having a resolution of 3040 x 1440 with a 120Hz refresh rate for flawless and vivid visuals. On the design side, as expected, they have maintained a slick and even more familiar Samsung feel but added a difference to the camera bump from that of the S10.
The slightly larger screen, as opposed to that of the S10, maintains WQHD+ resolution but allows a default display of Full HD+ in the interests of battery life. It’s not exactly a new refresh rate of 120Hz, and it does help in silky scrolling and animations; mobile gaming will benefit from it immensely. Inversely, users are made to sacrifice one or the other between this refresh rate and its highest possible resolution.
It provides a double-touch sampling of a phone at 240Hz to make it highly responsive for gaming. Its 20:9 aspect ratio gives an all-round feel to it. Hence, it doesn’t feel large despite the display’s size increase. The edges are more subtle and curved compared to the previous model, thereby avoiding accidental touches.
The Galaxy S20 has glass at both the front and back, encompassing an aluminum frame. Although the exclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack might make users feel bad, the premium feel will not remain unseen.
Camera
The camera setup on the S20 has been improved a lot as well. A primary 12MP camera with larger 1.8-micron pixels enhances details and low-light performance. Then, there is the new 64MP telephoto that clears the path for 3x lossless zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. The 12MP ultra-wide gets larger pixels to help with its performance.
Whereas this one does support 8K video recording, the advanced stabilization feature, Super Steady, is available only at 1080p. It also brought an easy-to-use Single Take mode to the camera app that captures a great number of photos and videos cycling through the different rear cameras.
5G Connectivity
It comes with a 4G and 5G variant, the latter being more common. If you were to gear up for a future where 5G tech is in full bloom, then the S20 has an option that would prove future-proof. That said, it does support sub-6 5G technology, which is adequate for most users, while the faster mmWave technology is supported on the S20 Plus and Ultra.
Testing of the 5G was beyond the capacity of the review, although the 5G variant of the S20 does come with very fast download speeds of around 200Mbps on average, way above 4G in some areas; there is a higher price tag for 5G compared to the 4G variant.
Performance and Software
Depending on your region, the Galaxy S20 will either run the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chip. Performance from either flavor is top-notch and really has no issues running through demanding games or resource-intensive apps. On the benchmark tests, the Exynos 990 variant scores higher than the S10 5G or OnePlus 7T Pro for real-world performance.
The 5G variant is paired with 12GB RAM, while the 4G variant has 8GB. While the performance of the 4G model might be a little poor compared to the 5G variant, 8GB of RAM is more than enough for many people.
The Galaxy S20 comes with Android 10, updateable to Android 11, which is then covered by a layer of Samsung’s One UI, famously elegant and polished in design. While many apps from Samsung are installed on this device, nearly all of them can be removed if one prefers the apps designed by Google.
Storage and Battery
The Galaxy S20 comes with 128GB of internal storage, suitable for normal users. For those people who take extensive 4K videos, there is support on the microSD card slot for cards up to 1TB. Those who want more storage can opt for the S20 Ultra or Plus versions with their 256GB and 512GB options.
While it’s still a big step up on the S10, that does mean the S20’s 4,000mAh battery can at least ensure a full day of typical use, even with some fairly power-hungry features turned on, including 5G and a high-refresh-rate screen. Fast charging tops the battery off from zero in under an hour with the appropriate charger, while 15W wireless charging is a convenient alternative.
The S20 also comes with reverse wireless charging, meaning it can charge other Qi-compatible devices. While this is useful for topping up things like the Galaxy Buds Plus, it can soon drain the phone’s own battery.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20?
Buy it if:
- You want your first 5G phone: The 5G variant of the S20 is a good choice for connectivity in the future.
- You’re looking for a comfortable flagship: The size is useable, with flagship performance to match.
- You want a potent camera, but not crazy zoom: If you just want a really good camera for auto mode, the S20 has got you covered.
Don’t Buy It If:
- You’re on a budget: That is, especially, with 5G versions of the S20, it gets quite pricey.
- You’re upgrading from an S10: These improvements may not be enough for owners of the S10 to upgrade.
- You want a headphone jack: In case you’re using wired headphones, the lack of a 3.5mm jack can be a dealbreaker in real life.
Reflect on the following factors to check whether the Samsung Galaxy S20 will satisfy your needs and preferences. With its cutting-edge features that match more than solid performance and, at the same time, the future-proof feature of 5G, it has become a heavyweight contender in the smartphone arena.
