Introduction
This is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, and this could be the best Samsung “flagship” level smartphone you can get right now, because of one thing — the performance, we’ll get into that later. Spoiler alert, it’s pretty good!
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Specs
- 6.5-inch flat Full HD+ Super AMOLED display (120Hz refresh rate)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Cameras
- Rear: 12MP ultra-wide + 12MP main with OIS + 8MP telephoto with OIS (3x Optical Zoom, 30x Digital Zoom)
- 10MP selfie camera
- 4,500mAh battery with 15W fast charging
- One UI 2.5 on top of Android 10
- Colors: Cloud Red, Cloud Orange, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White
Video Review
Design
My review unit is the Cloud Orange variant, which actually looks more like Rose Gold or Gold in certain angles. It still has a plastic back, but seriously, you wouldn’t really care if you are putting a case on it. The plastic back is not the same as the Note20, I’m actually quite okay with it and it hides the fingerprints pretty well.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a 6.5-inch flat Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Yup, you get a 120Hz refresh rate, something missing from the Note20. This is not the same display as the S20 or S20+, but it’s actually good enough, the bezels around are thicker though, and I’m actually quite satisfied with the overall quality. Oh, there’s one thing, it has an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, not the ultrasonic one on the S20/S20+, but it’s fast enough.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Finally, we got the Snapdragon processor! The overall experience just got better, especially when it comes to gaming. It has a better gaming performance, even better than the Note20 that I just reviewed, which actually puts current Samsung flagships in an awkward position.
Software
And it has the same software experience as well, running on One UI 2.5 based on Android 10. You even get Samsung DeX, the new Wireless DeX like the one on the Note20. I really don’t know what to say about it, this is really a good deal!
Camera
The camera is where the S20 FE lacking slightly behind, it has the same 12MP main camera with OIS and 12MP ultra-wide lens from the S20/S20+, the telephoto lens is now an 8MP unit instead of 64MP that offers 3x optical zoom, it still comes with OIS though.
Ultra-Wide
12MP Main
3x Zoom
Night Mode
Click here to view all the camera samples!
Image quality generally is good like what you used to see on a Samsung flagship, but don’t expect it to be as good as current flagships.
Battery Life
The S20 FE has a 4,500mAh battery and it comes with a 15W fast-charging brick. Combining with the more power-efficient Snapdragon 865 processor, it has great battery life. I was able to get around 5 hours of screen-on-time and it can last through a day easily. During my review period, I charge this phone once in two days.
Final Words
So, Samsung has finally done it! The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is priced at RM3,399 for the 5G variant and RM2,699 for the LTE variant. My advice is to get the 5G variant, because of *cough* Snapdragon *cough*. Although Samsung could have priced lower by selling the 128GB model since this phone does come with a MicroSD card slot. There’s really nothing much to complain about this phone, you get a 120Hz AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 865 processor, good enough triple-camera setup, and impressive battery life. What more do you really want?