Best Samsung Device Overall – Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
I've been 4-weeks review with a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G (Fan Edition), and I'm still doing all the same crazy things I do daily. What does that translate into? Come find out!
What's all this buzz surrounding the Galaxy S20 FE 5G? The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G packs all the best features of the Galaxy S20 into an affordable package. There's no way around it. Let's start with a big 120Hz display, available in six colours, offers a powerful triple-camera system, delivers really-good performance, provides fast charging, and all with an affordable price tag.
I know that affordable means something different to everyone. Consider what you are getting versus cost. I know that $764.99 Canadian isn't cheap. It's also not at the top of the end of the prices for smartphones. You can also get some really-good smartphones in the $500 range.
Now, Samsung's just around the corner, planning to announce the S21, is the S20 FE still a valid contender? Absolutely.
What are the things most consumers look for?
People are looking at getting a smartphone that will last, that can charge fast, take great pictures, looks good, with a vivid display, and all with something that won't cost them their savings. It needs to work when they want to use it as simple as that.
What's the screen like?
Dropping a 120Hz display that features rich colours, that is bright, responsive, and smooth with its HD+ resolution is where things are. A higher refresh rate on a screen has more fluidity when you're clicking and moving things around. The feeling of a smooth transition and seamless continuity is what Samsung is all about it.
People have been requesting larger screens for their consumption of media and entertainment. With a screen size reaching the 6.5-inches range, I think that's big.
The following video will demonstrate how fluid the screen is versus what most people are used to. The display on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G operates at 120Hz. You'll see a slowdown version so that you can accurately see the difference between the two.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhhdC7Cada0[/embedyt]
Credit: Stetson Doggett
The fingerprint sensor is installed right under the display, near the bottom of the screen. The placement of the fingerprint sensor, in my opinion, is too low. Could the sensor be moved by an inch? I think so, but I also don't design smartphones.
How good are the photos?
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G is on the right track compared to devices such as the Pixel smartphones from Google or the P40 from Huawei. The versatility of the triple-lens and the implementation shows. The back cameras consist of a 12MP ultra-wide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and 123-degree field of view. There's also a primary 12MP camera (f/1.8) and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom (digital). Keeping your selfie game on point with a 32MP complements the ensemble.
The burning question about the photos that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G captures is, are they good, I mean really good. Yes, they are! It rivals easily against the quality of the iPhone's, the Pixel's, Huawei's and others.
Look at the sample gallery I've put together.
Can this beast drive all my apps?
The inside of the beast holds the Snapdragon 865. I know this hardly means much to you. It's super-fast, snappy, responsive, and it'll go places with you. You don't want to be left in the dust waiting for something to happen when you've tapped it. I get it. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G will go with you and move to your speed. I'm 4-weeks in with it, and it drives itself. Keeping everything running and accessible to you is it's memory capacity coming in at 6GB of ram. With all the apps you might have installed, this will make sure that everything is fast and accessible to you when you need it the most.
In short, check emails, video chat, check TikTok, Snapchat, listen to music, do some online shopping or whatever else you do.
Another fun part is the graphic processor that's the one that drives everything you see on that fluid screen. The Adreno 650 lets you enjoy games like PUBG, Candy Crush or even Iron Blade: Medieval Legends RPG. It needs to stay current so that you can enjoy the latest titles in the Google Play store.
How does 5G play?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G capable and will work on the newest networks. But let's address the big elephant in the room, the 5G. 5G is the latest in terms of connection to the world on your smartphone. You can find 5G in most large urban cities. Here's what to consider before jumping on the 5G bandwagon.
The coverage is not widespread, regardless of what the carrier might say. This means you won't always be on 5G; You'll default back to LTE/4G. Local telephone companies are advertising incredible internet speeds on 5G. Take that with a grain of salt. With 5G being this new, the networks for it are not widespread. That it turns causes some battery drain as the device will want to connect to 5G as its default.
Will it last me the day?
When it comes to what powers the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, we have a 4500mAh battery. Most of you are going to be able to get through the day without any issues. In case you need more, you can fast charge both wired and wireless. You can get several hours of battery power in just 30-minutes. Without fast devices can charge, does it matter?
I've been using this device that Samsung sent for over 4-weeks now. I find that 50% of the time, I can get through the day with left-over power. But there have been several instances where I can't even manage a full day. It could be related to many different factors, such as apps, usage, weather condition, network connectivity etc.
What colour choices do I get?
As a consumer, what catches your eye first? Likely how the phone looks, right? Samsung offers some pretty fun choices of colours for Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G; Cloud Navy, Cloud Lavendar, Cloud Mint, Cloud Orange, Cloud Red, Cloud White.
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How's does the music sound?
Everyone listens to music at one point or another. Making use of the earpiece and bottom-firing speaker to create a good listening experience is a great thing. Watching content, playing games or even when having a conversation, the sound comes out crystal clear.
What's the software on it like?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G runs Android 10 with Samsung's One UI 2.5. One UI 2.5 is Samsung's approach to how it should look. As of right now, the security patch is September 1st, 2020. Samsung really needs to up its game with monthly patches. Device security should be a number one priority in any organization which interfaces with the public.
Interested in specs?
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Specs | |||
BODY | Dimensions | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) | |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | ||
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, aluminum frame | ||
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | ||
| Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |||
DISPLAY | Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | ||
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) | ||
| Always-on display | |||
PLATFORM | OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.0 | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 585) | ||
| Adreno 650 | |||
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | ||
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | ||
| UFS 3.1 | |||
MAIN CAMERA | Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.0″, 1.12µm | |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | ||
| 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | |||
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm | ||
| Features | HDR | ||
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps (gyro-EIS) | ||
FEATURES | Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation | |||
BATTERY | Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | |
| Fast charging 25W Fast wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W USB Power Delivery 3.0 | |||
| Colours | Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange | ||
What verdict does it get?
Overall the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a great device that offers value. You get balanced performance, excellent entertainment capability, a set of cameras to take all kinds of pictures, the cost isn't exorbitant, and you get to enjoy something that will last you for as long as you need it. With how fast the market changes when it comes to smartphones, the next new shiny thing is right around the corner. A neat package that comes in at $764.99 Canadian. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G gets a solid 4 out of 5.
