Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Overview: A Smartly-Rounded Low-Price Flagship
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE (LTE), which introduced final 12 months, has up to now been a cast contender within the cheap flagship section. Whilst it carried out smartly in maximum of our exams, there have been some drawbacks. It did get a bit of heat beneath rigidity, and its battery lifestyles used to be simply moderate; each issues that the OnePlus 8T (Overview) treated higher on the identical value degree.
In 2021, Samsung determined on launching the 5G model of the Galaxy S20 FE (Overview) in India, and it is referred to as the Galaxy S20 FE 5G. It’s mainly the similar telephone, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor (and X55 5G modem) as a substitute of the Exynos 990. Does the transfer to a Qualcomm processor maintain the shortcomings we skilled with the LTE variant? Extra importantly, does making an investment in a smartphone with a year-old processor at this value degree make sense in 2021? Let’s in finding out!
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G value in India
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is priced at Rs. 47,999 in India. In contrast to the 4G style, it’s to be had in one 8GB RAM + 128GB garage configuration. Consumers can choose from Cloud Army, Cloud Mint, and Cloud Lavender finishes. With a aggressive value, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G takes at the OnePlus 9 (Overview), ASUS ROG Telephone 5 (First Impressions), and Vivo X60 Professional (Overview), all of which might be priced beginning at round Rs. 49,999.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G design
There aren’t any beauty adjustments between the 4G and the 5G fashions of the Galaxy S20 FE. The telephone seems similar to the 4G style and has the similar button placement, with the facility and quantity buttons at the proper. The main speaker is positioned on the backside, subsequent to the USB Sort-C port and the mic. The earpiece speaker is hidden in a tiny slit on the most sensible finish of the show, and doubles up as the second one speaker to supply stereo sound which is loud and transparent.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G’s total design is blank and minimalist
The full design seems blank and minimalist, with a colour-matched digicam module that hardly protrudes from the rear panel. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a steel body that is sandwiched between a sheet of show glass at the entrance and a plastic panel at the again. The rear panel is curved to fulfill the body on all 4 facets and has a easy matte end that feels top rate. The glass overlaying the show is flat, which would possibly have appeared like an ordinary selection final 12 months, however feels at house subsequent to the top rate Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ (Overview) smartphones which even have flat shows in 2021.
My overview unit got here within the Cloud Mint end, and it showcases a light yellow gradient when considered at an attitude. The matte texture is non-slippery and is excellent at rejecting fingerprints, however alternatives up mud relatively simply.
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G, identical to the 4G style, could also be rated IP68 for mud and water resistance, which is a huge deal for the reason that a number of competing smartphones (which might be priced a bit of upper) don’t be offering this.
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs and tool
In comparison to different telephones to be had at this value degree lately, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G’s processor is mainly a 12 months outdated. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor used to be introduced in 2019 and began appearing up in smartphones within the first part of 2020. It used to be the flagship processor utilized by just about all smartphone producers who have been taking a look to push out the primary wave of 5G smartphones in India.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC
Whilst a year-old SoC is not a large deal for the informal consumer, the leap from the Snapdragon 865 processor to the Snapdragon 888 is relatively large relating to efficiency, and different producers be offering the latter for best an extra Rs. 2,000.
Nonetheless, Samsung can justify its pricing since the Galaxy S20 FE 5G provides options that different smartphones on this value section don’t. The IP68 score will permit you to take your smartphone for a dip in a pool, and 15W wi-fi charging is relatively handy. You’ll even opposite rate different smartphones or equipment at 4.5W. Whilst those options would possibly no longer depend as must haves for many customers, they do beef up the top rate smartphone enjoy.
One UI 3.Zero comprises a number of Samsung-branded apps
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G runs Samsung’s One UI 3.1, which is according to Android 11. Blended with the 120Hz refresh fee show, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G felt relatively fluid in day-to-day use. I felt no hiccups in anyway when operating local apps, third-party apps or switching between the 2. There are many preinstalled Samsung apps. The telephone additionally comes with a couple of third-party apps from Microsoft and Fb, however those together with a number of Samsung apps (like Samsung Store, Samsung Participants, Samsung World Objectives, Notes, Web and so forth.) may also be uninstalled if no longer wanted. Right through the overview length, I used to be no longer bombarded with commercials or promotional notifications. I did obtain the occasional notification from the Galaxy App Retailer, however those may also be grew to become off within the gadget settings.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G efficiency and battery lifestyles
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 is also a 12 months outdated, however it is no slouch and provides dependable flagship-grade efficiency with regards to common duties and gaming. The telephone carried out significantly better than the Exynos 990-powered Galaxy S20 FE in our exams (even supposing some rankings is probably not at once related because of benchmark updates).
AnTuTu reported a rating of 6,41,038, whilst Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core effects have been 560 and three,136 respectively. Those are upper than what the Exynos-based style controlled (4,62,330 in AnTuTu; 517 and a couple of,573 in Geekbench) however are less than the efficiency figures we now have observed from Snapdragon 888-powered smartphones in the similar value section.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE within the Cloud Mint end
Asphalt 9: Legends ran easily, with the graphics set to Top High quality and 60fps mode enabled. The telephone warmed up a bit of all through gameplay however didn’t get scorching.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 could also be relatively able to dealing with a recreation like Name of Responsibility: Cellular relating to graphics. The sport ran at Very Top graphics and body fee with out a hiccup. Alternatively, I realized some contact sensitivity problems and that dampens the enjoy in video games that require a prime level of accuracy. There used to be noticeable lag when taking part in Name of Responsibility: Cellular and it sounds as if that the 120Hz show (with a 180Hz contact sampling fee) may just no longer stay alongside of my hands. With this incapacity to correctly goal at a goal, I finished up dropping many of the fits that I performed all through the checking out procedure.
The 6.5-inch Tremendous AMOLED show showcases oversaturated colors when the use of the default Vibrant display screen mode. Transfer it to Herbal and the colors glance relatively uninteresting however I discovered this significantly better. I want there used to be a preset between the 2 modes which can have delivered colors that have been a bit of extra restrained, particularly for looking at films or presentations.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G includes a hole-punch show
The FHD+ solution delivers a crisp 407ppi, which intended that the entirety from textual content to photographs and movies appeared relatively sharp. Whilst the brightness used to be enough indoors, the show used to be slightly legible outdoor beneath the afternoon solar. Samsung does no longer point out HDR in its spec sheet, however it kind of feels to be supported.
Within the show settings, one can modify the display screen’s refresh fee, however it could actually best be set to 60Hz (for longer battery lifestyles) or 120Hz (for a smoother enjoy). Right through the overview length, I most often saved the show operating at 120Hz.
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G clocked 18 hours and 22 mins in our HD video loop battery take a look at, which is relatively excellent for a top rate smartphone. The Exynos style, with the similar 4500mAh battery capability, ran the similar video loop take a look at for 12 hours and 44 mins, which is a bit of low. In extraordinary use, which incorporated operating social media apps, checking emails, an hour of calls and an hour or two of gaming with the show set to 120Hz, I most often ended the day with about 20-30 p.c left, which is relatively spectacular.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G provides higher battery lifestyles than the Exynos-based Galaxy S20 FE
In 2021, this is a bit sudden to discover a top rate Android smartphone with just a 15W charger within the field. Nonetheless, charging occasions weren’t too unhealthy, with the battery charging as much as 33 p.c in 30 mins, 51 p.c in an hour, and 100 p.c in 1 hour and 38 mins. The smartphone does strengthen 25W charging, however you’ll have to acquire your personal charger.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G cameras
Whilst the digicam setup stays the similar as at the LTE style, the processor change from an Exynos 990 to a Snapdragon 865, may just result in minor variations in picture processing and subsequently the outcome. So, I determined to place the Galaxy S20 FE 5G’s cameras via their paces. As anticipated, the effects weren’t too other from what we noticed in our overview of the 4G style.
The rear module is composed of a 12-megapixel f/1.Eight wide-angle digicam, an 8-megapixel f/2.Four telephoto digicam (3X optical zoom) and a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide digicam. Selfies are treated by means of a 32-megapixel f/2.2 digicam that shoots 8-megapixel binned photographs.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G’s digicam setup stays the similar as at the LTE style
The digicam interface stays the similar as on some other top rate Samsung telephone operating One UI 3.1. There are simply available controls that permit you to modify the side ratio, timer, and flash, and turn between cameras. The listing of default modes is customisable and the slots may also be swapped and personalized as consistent with a consumer’s necessities.
The video mode permits you to transfer the video solution with simply two faucets, which is relatively handy. The again panel close to the digicam module does get a bit of scorching when holding the viewfinder on for roughly 10 mins, however cools down temporarily when you go out the digicam app.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G daylight picture samples. Most sensible to backside: Extremely-wide, usual, 3X zoom (faucet to peer complete dimension)
Pictures shot in sunlight got here out brilliant, colourful, and relatively saturated. Whether or not you might be capturing flora, culmination, and even surroundings, the colors pop relatively a bit of, which is standard of maximum Samsung smartphones. The dynamic vary is relatively excellent, however HDR processing does move overboard from time to time, leading to a dreamy impact. The sharpness and main points in pictures are relatively spectacular for a smartphone on this value section. Symbol high quality and white stability stay constant even if switching between cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G daylight picture samples. Most sensible: 1X zoom, backside: 3X zoom (faucet to peer complete dimension)
The smartphone includes a telephoto digicam with 3X optical zoom, which shoots crisp photographs in sunlight. The similar digicam additionally doubles up as a macro shooter because it permits you to get nearer to the item in comparison to the principle digicam. That is essential, as there is no devoted macro digicam.
Portrait pictures pop out relatively blank with excellent edge detection, however the Galaxy S20 FE 5G falters from time to time (with a noticeable halo), when the topic isn’t nonetheless.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Night time Mode digicam samples. Most sensible: Broad (1X), backside: Extremely-wide (0.5X) (faucet to peer complete dimension)
Put up sundown, pictures got here out a bit of murky with reasonably decreased dynamic vary within the shadows, however they nonetheless appeared relatively excellent. The Night time mode takes care of those minor shortcomings and assists in keeping streetlights and brilliant spots from getting overexposed, whilst bumping up the brightness and main points. The telephone shot crisp pictures in low-light scenes when Night time mode used to be used with the principle wide-angle digicam, however delivered best satisfactory pictures when used at the ultra-wide-angle digicam.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G selfie samples. Most sensible: Auto mode, backside: Night time mode (faucet to peer complete dimension)
Selfies in the usual and portrait modes got here out relatively sharp and blank with excellent edge detection in sunlight, however grew to become out murky and lacked intensity in low-light capturing eventualities. The evening mode could also be to be had at the entrance digicam and did a excellent activity of keeping up element and giving a way of intensity to the selfies.
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G guarantees so much relating to video, and unusually delivers relating to high quality as smartly. Movies shot at 1080p and 4K (30 and 60fps) with the principle rear digicam got here out crisp and full of element, and have been additionally smartly stabilised when strolling. My best gripe used to be with the ultra-wide-angle digicam, because it tended to overexpose scenes. The selfie digicam additionally controlled movies relatively smartly and provides 1080p and 4K recording choices. 4K video shot with the selfie digicam lacked stabilisation and appeared relatively jerky. In low-light eventualities, movies shot at any solution got here out blurry and a bit of noisy, however stabilisation used to be first rate.
Verdict
To the informal consumer, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE 5G would possibly no longer seem to be a lot of an improve for the reason that it best provides 5G strengthen to the spec sheet. This is able to had been high-quality if this telephone have been introduced along the 4G style in India in 2020, find it irresistible did in different portions of the arena.
Now we have reviewed the 4G style and it is simple to inform that the Snapdragon 865 silicon makes relatively a distinction relating to efficiency, and likewise does not warmth up up to Samsung’s personal Exynos SoC.
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G could be essentially the most entire cheap flagship providing relating to options at the present time, for the reason that it provides optical zoom, wi-fi charging, and an IP68 score. Those options, together with its colourful OLED show, nice cameras, excellent battery lifestyles and cast on a regular basis efficiency make it a compelling choice. Alternatively, it is onerous to suggest to a gamer given its contact sensitivity problems.
If you’re in search of efficiency, there are smartphones just like the Xiaomi Mi 11X Professional (Overview) and the iQoo 7 Legend that get you the Snapdragon 888 processor and sooner charging from Rs. 39,990. If you’ll stretch your funds by means of Rs. 2,000, there is the OnePlus 9 (Overview), which provides the Snapdragon 888 processor, a very good show that may maintain brilliant daylight, sooner charging, and no contact sensitivity problems when gaming.
