s20-comparison

Samsung S20 comparison: Samsung S20 FE, S20, S20+ or S20 Ultra 5G?

Updated on 28 June 2023

Are you hesitating on which Samsung smartphone to buy, between the Samsung S20, the Samsung S20 FE, the Samsung S20+ or the Samsung S20 Ultra? Our comparison article here will help you choose!

Which Samsung S20 is best for which use?

There's no doubt about it: with the S20, Samsung presented one of the best devices on the smartphone market worldwide, competing with popular models from Huawei and Apple. In March 2020, the current flagship was released, representing the 11th Galaxy S series: the Samsung S20. That’s the standard model in the series, however, many other versions have since appeared, such as the much more professional Samsung S20 Plus, the Samsung S20 FE (Fan Edition) and the Samsung S20 Ultra 5G. Here you can find out what the differences between them are and which device is most suitable for your needs.

Who is the Samsung S20 suitable for? The standard version

🖥️ What kind of display does the Samsung S20 have?

The standard Samsung Galaxy S20 is already an excellent smartphone. Its AMOLED Infinity O-Dynamic screen displays images and videos with great clarity, depth and vibrancy. The Samsung Galaxy S20 can display 1400/1080 x 2400 pixels in 20:9 format. Other Samsung Galaxy S20 models also live up to these standards.

📱 How big is the Samsung S20?

Size is one of the main differences between the different Samsung S20 models. The S20's screen is 6.2 inches, the smallest in the series. In ascending order, the series features the S20 FE with 6.5 inches, the S20 Plus with 6.7 inches and the S20 Ultra with 6.9 inches. However, the classic S20 size is still popular with those who like one-handed use and want the device to fit comfortably in their pocket.

📷 What is the camera quality for the Samsung S20?

Samsung includes three cameras in the S20 - 12MP wide angle and ultra wide angle as well as a 64MP telephoto lens. The front camera takes high-quality 10MP selfies. Thanks to automatic HDR, the image information is enhanced, and it’s also possible to capture videos in 4K.

🔋 What is the battery life of the Samsung S20?

The Samsung S20 is powered by a Samsung Exynos 990 - while in Asia and the US, Samsung uses the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. Both chips impress with eight cores and clock speeds of up to 2.73 and 2.84 GHz, respectively. If you're looking to buy the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S20, be sure to look at Back Market to see which region it's designed for. RAM is either 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5. And for internal storage, you have 128GB UFS 3.0. The battery has a total power of 4000 mAh and can be charged quickly via Fast Charging. The battery life is about 8 hours in continuous use.

💸 What is the price of the Samsung S20?

How much does a Galaxy S20 cost? Well, if you choose a refurbished Samsung S20, you can buy it with 128GB in grey without a contract for under £250 in decent condition. If you opt for “Excellent” condition, you can buy it for under £350. Prices may differ slightly, as different qualified retailers offer their smartphones on our website.

🎨 What colours does the Samsung S20 come in?

The Galaxy S20 is available in four different colours: Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White and Cosmic Grey.

samsung-colours-s20

What are the advantages of the Samsung S20 Plus? The version for professionals

The Samsung S20 Plus is a Samsung Galaxy S20 model that can convince those that need extended functionality. Those who often use social media and who often broadcast and upload videos will likely prefer this version to the Samsung Galaxy S20.

🔋 What is the battery life of the Samsung S20 Plus?

The battery life of the S20 Plus is better thanks to the higher capacity of its battery (4500 mAh). However, the device only lasts a little longer than the S20, due to its higher power consumption. There are no differences between the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and the S20 in terms of RAM and processor. On the other hand, the S20 Plus is also available with an extended memory of up to 512 GB UFS 3.0. In addition, SD cards with a capacity of up to 1 TB can be inserted.

📷 How good is the Samsung S20 Plus?

The two 12MP lenses (wide angle and ultra wide angle) and 64MP telephoto lens are also present in the S20 Plus. The front camera takes selfies with 10MP just like the standard S20 too. In addition, there is a 3D camera system (ToF) that can measure distances for AR uses.

What are the features of the Samsung S20 Ultra 5G? The ultimate Samsung S20

📷 How good is the Samsung S20 Ultra?

If you want to go further into the world of mobile photography/videography, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is the option for you. What's impressive here is that the wide angle camera captures images at 108MP. Like the Galaxy S20 and S20+, the ultra wide angle camera creates photos and videos at 12MP. For telephoto, you can rely on high-quality 48MP resolution and the front camera impresses with a whopping 40MP. ToF technology is also available similar to the S20+.

🔋 How much battery life does the Samsung S20 Ultra get?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G's battery has been further extended to 5000 mAh, but mainly to cope with the higher power consumption when using 5G. The battery lasts an hour longer than other Samsung Galaxy S20 models on average.

📱 How big is the Samsung S20 Ultra?

With a 6.9 inch screen size and a weight between 220g and 222g, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is the largest and heaviest of the four S20 variants. On the flip side, it also includes more RAM, available in 12GB and 16GB variants. You can also opt for up to 512GB of internal storage.

What is the Samsung S20 FE? The fan version

📱 How big is the Samsung S20 FE?

With the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, the South Korean manufacturer presented the phablet version of this series. Known as the Fan Edition and released in October 2020, its dimensions are approximately 160 x 74 x 8.5 mm and the screen is 6.5 inches. Of course, the high-resolution Super AMOLED Infinity-O display of 2400 x 1080 pixels is also used here.

📷 What cameras are in the Samsung S20 FE?

The three cameras take photos and videos with 12, 8 and 12MP. The front-facing camera, with up to 32MP, is second only to the S20 Ultra.

🔋 What is the battery life of the Samsung S20 FE?

The S20 FE has a 4500 mAh battery capacity, similar to the S20 Plus. Users can expect around 33 hours of call time, and 15-18 hours of video playback depending on the screen's refresh rate.

🎧 Does the Samsung S20 FE have a headphone jack?

Do S20 smartphones also have a 3.5mm headphone/headset jack? Unfortunately not: all S20 models no longer have a 3.5mm headphone jack. To use headphones, you’ll need to connect them through USB-C or use Bluetooth headphones.

Comparison table: S20, S20 FE, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra

Smartphone

S20

S20 Plus

S20 Ultra

S20 FE

Processor

Exynos 990

Exynos 990

Exynos 990

Exynos 990

Internal storage

128 GB

129 GB to 512 GB

129 GB to 512 GB

129 GB to 256 GB

Camera

12MP ultra-wide and wide-angle camera, 64MP telephoto, 10MP front camera

12 Mpx in ultra wide-angle and wide angle, 64 Mpx in telephoto, 10 Mpx in front camera + 3D ToF camera.

12MP ultra-wide angle, 108MP wide-angle, 48MP telephoto, 40MP front camera + 3D ToF camera.

12MP ultra-wide and wide camera, 8MP telephoto lens, 32MP front camera

Screen size

6.2 inches

6.7 inches

6.9 inches

6.5 inches

Battery capacity

4000mAh

4500mAh

5000mAh

4500mAh

RAM

8 GB to 12 GB of RAM

8 GB to 12 GB of RAM

12 GB to 16 GB of RAM

6 GB to 8 GB of RAM

Weight

163g

186-188g

220-222g

190g

To find out more: test our smartphone comparison.

Who are the different Samsung Galaxy S20 models suitable for?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is perfectly adequate for simple use, such as making calls, surfing the internet, watching videos... 

However, those who have more intense needs or want to create high-quality content should look at the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and S20 Ultra 5G models. The latter also has the advantage of offering very stable data and wireless communication via 5G, the latest network standard. At the heart of both of these professional devices are the cameras, which use modern technologies to capture images with great sharpness and colour depth. 

Lastly, the Galaxy S20 FE can be seen as more of a phablet. However, the differences between it and the standard S20 model are otherwise minor.

Where to buy refurbished Samsung S20s?

There are many advantages to buying refurbished smartphones. One main benefit is that you can get flagships for much less. In particular, the S20, S20 Plus, S20 FE and S20 Ultra 5G are devices that were only released in 2020 and are therefore still excellent options in great conditions. Minor and major defects are expertly repaired by our more than 1000 partners. The actual condition is transparently stated in the device description on Back Market.

In addition, buying refurbished products helps to produce less e-waste and conserve resources. You also benefit from a one-year warranty and a 30-day withdrawal period.

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Written by BrianMarketing Manager Back Market UK & Ireland

When not talking about the latest eco-friendly tech and reducing our carbon footprint, Brian enjoys the odd game of football, a classic horror (book or film) or just to kick back with a beer or a proper Scottish whisky. Slàinte Mhath!

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