EDITOR'S NOTE: Since its release date in 2020, the Galaxy S20 FE has been replaced by new Galaxy S-series models. The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the Galaxy S20 FE's release, and availability will differ from when we first reviewed this device.
You can upgrade to a newer Galaxy phone , or you may still be able to find refurbished models of this device through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: The verdict
The Galaxy S20 FE delivers most of its pricier siblings' best features at a more affordable price. While the phone clearly makes compromises, none of them feel significant. Out of Samsung's 2020 flagships, the Galaxy S20 FE is the easiest to recommend.
What we love
- Great value
- Reliable camera
- Gorgeous display
What could be improved
- Battery could be better
- Bezels could be a little slimmer
The essentials
- Performance: Top tier.
- Battery: Just one full day per charge; some may need a quick top-up.
- Screen: As is the case with Samsung smartphones, simply lovely.
- Camera: Pretty damn good! Takes good photos in most conditions.
85/100
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a phone defined by its compromises. For all intents and purposes, it's a cut-down Galaxy S20 where Samsung slashed features in order to bring down the price tag. With phone prices continually climbing in the upper echelon of devices, a more affordable Samsung flagship is very much welcome. The question is, did Samsung make the right compromises?
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The Galaxy S20 FE is a clear step down from its pricier siblings when it comes to build quality. This is most noticeable on the phone's back, which is plastic, rather than the glass that has adorned Samsung S-series devices since the Galaxy S6. Fortunately, it's a rather nice plastic. Samsung mercifully avoided going down the "glasstic" route—plastic made to look shiny like glass—and have just gone for a solid-feeling back. It doesn't have the same lux feel you get from a more premium device, but hey, it doesn't really matter if you're going to slap a case on your phone anyway.
At the same time, you may not want to cover up your Galaxy S20 FE. The S20 FE is one of those rare phones available in something other than black or white. Instead, you pick from white, navy, red, orange, purple, or green. Having had a chance to see every device in person, orange is my personal pick. And hey, even if you decide not to put a case on your Galaxy S20 FE, the plastic back is much less likely to break than glass in the event that you drop your phone.
Another key difference between the S20 FE and the rest of its cohort is its display. Firstly, it's flat, rather than curved. While curved screens have a premium look, my personal preference is a traditional flat display. The bezels are also a little more prominent, but that really doesn't make a difference day-to-day.
The screen itself runs at a resolution of 1080p+, while the other S20 devices are all capable of hitting Quad HD+. Samsung did, however, keep the 120Hz refresh rate, which makes all motion on your phone look that little bit smoother. While the rest of the Galaxy S20 family can hit a higher resolution, which can lead to your screen looking sharper, they also default to 1080p+ out of the box. In fact, moving up to Quad HD+ will knock down the refresh rate to a more conventional 60Hz in order to preserve battery life. While some will definitely enjoy the option of a higher-resolution screen, the S20 FE maxing out at 1080p+ isn't as much of a compromise as it may seem, especially because it's still the same kind of high-quality display we've come to expect from Samsung.
One area where Samsung hasn't made a single compromise is performance. While iPhone alternatives like the Google Pixel 5 and LG Velvet are powered by a more mid-tier Snapdragon 765G processor (which is nonetheless a great processor), the Galaxy S20 FE has the same brains you'll find in any other Samsung flagship. You'll find an Exynos 990 in the 4G model, while the 5G model is powered by a Snapdragon 865. The Snapdragon 865 is the faster of the two, but any performance differences should be imperceivable to most. I've been testing the 5G model running the latest version of Android, and it's as zippy as you'd expect a flagship phone to be.
The Galaxy S20 FE also features the same primary camera as you'll find in the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy Z Fold 2. On paper it's not quite as impressive as the 108MP lens you'll find in the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Note20 Ultra, and you don't get any gimmicks like 100x Space Zoom, but for the most part, it's a more reliable camera experience. For example, the Note20 Ultra struggled to capture sharp shots of fast-moving objects and could add blocky artifacts to low-light images. Neither of these is an issue on the S20 FE.
In addition to an excellent primary lens, there's a solid ultra-wide lens and 3x zoom lens. The 3x zoom lens can do up to 30x hybrid zoom, but you really shouldn't go past 10x. 10x isn't anything to get excited about, but it's certainly serviceable in a pinch. Here's a comparison between zoom ranges:
The Galaxy S20 FE does adequately when it comes to battery life. I was getting about 4.5 hours of screen time per charge with 5G and 120Hz switched on (both of which are battery-demanding features). For comparison, I was only getting 3 hours per charge on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra with those features on. The Galaxy S20 FE falls a little short of the Google Pixel 5, but for the most part, it should still last a full day per charge for most.
And while the Galaxy S20 FE may be a little less premium than the rest of Samsung's flagship devices, you still get a couple of trimmings like water resistance and wireless charging that are far from a given at this price point.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE—Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is easily Samsung's best phone for the year. Very few of the features Samsung cut to keep the price down affect the overall experience. In some cases, they make it better. It's not flashy, but it doesn't need to be. It never felt like I was missing out when it came to camera quality or processing prowess. I would have liked to see a little extra oomph from the battery, but it's hard to complain otherwise.
The biggest challenge the Galaxy S20 FE faces is the fact that Samsung flagship smartphones perpetually go on sale through carriers. Samsung itself has even discounted the Galaxy S20 5G, which makes picking between it and the Galaxy S20 FE a much trickier proposition. Why does a cheaper device need to exist if its more expensive siblings have already been marked down to a lower MSRP? At the same time, we've already seen the Galaxy S20 FE 5G discounted to the price of the 4G version, and we'll almost certainly see more discounts with the launch of the new Galaxy S21 5G line.
Samsung's pricing conundrum aside, the Galaxy S20 FE is an excellent phone that represents great value. If you’re looking for a reliable Samsung phone that won’t break the bank, this is the one.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Camera Samples
Alex Choros
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