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Samsung Galaxy S20 test / review

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On this page:
Price Samsung Galaxy S20
Unpacking
First configuration
Finish
Specifications
CPU / GPU Performance
Benchmark Antutu/3DMark
Network performance
Wifi performance
GPS performance
Battery range
Photo camera test
Audio quality
Screen quality
Biometry
Operating system
Test / Review conclusion
Test Reviews

Samsung Galaxy S20 test / review


Published on: 12-06-2020 / Modified: 02-11-2020
Chinese manufacturers are invading Samsung's territory a little more each year, but so far Samsung has always managed to keep its high-end smartphones safe from comparison.

With the arrival of the Poco F2 Pro from Xiaomi, things may change, so it was a good opportunity for me to test the Samsung Galaxy S20.

I had tested a Samsung Galaxy S10+ last year and even if it's a very good phone, I'm one of the only ones to have discovered some important flaws such as its poor radio signal quality making it lose the network faster than a mid-range phone.

So I'm going to let you discover what the Galaxy S20 has in its belly.

Manufacturer web site:
https://www.samsung.com

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.

Price Samsung Galaxy S20

The list below shows the prices for the Samsung Galaxy S20 from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.

The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!

Timeline

10/06/20 purchase of the Samsung Galaxy S20 at Orange Belgium
12/06/20 start of the test

Why this phone?

I'm not in the habit of testing high-end smartphones because they're just too expensive. I pay for my phones like everyone else, giving 800€ for a phone hurts my wallet.

However, I sometimes make exceptions so I don't lose my edge in the high-end segment. Last year I tested the Samsung Galaxy s10+, this year it will be the Samsung Galaxy S20 and I probably won't buy another one.

My annual choice for the high-end segment was also motivated by the arrival of the Poco F2 Pro which comes to compete with the S20 on its territory for almost half its price. The battle is likely to be interesting, so I'm going to test both phones at the same time.

Unpacking

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 1


I'm so used to testing entry-level phones that I don't pay attention to the packaging because often the box contains the bare minimum.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is a high-end phone and you can feel it right from the packaging. Its black box is sober but the interior is arranged in small compartments containing small boxes with various accessories. The Samsung Galaxy S20 is delivered with a charger, a USB cable type C, earphones and the cushions to be placed on the earphones. The box also contains a manual and a needle to open the sim drawer.

The contents of the box is not exceptional but the whole is carefully packed.



First configuration

All Androids phones offer a fairly similar start-up procedure and even brands with their own interface generally follow the same line of conduct.

This was the case for Samsung as well but with the S20, a lot has changed to the point that the boot procedure is not at all like anything I've tested before.

The procedure starts with a screen that asks you to accept the terms and conditions and all sorts of things about privacy. Some criteria are optional but when you go to accept the terms and conditions, the phone will select all the optional criteria even if you hadn't selected them. You can always deselect them before going to the next step but I find that very borderline for a brand like Samsung.

After accepting the terms and conditions, you should normally retrieve the information from your previous phone and until now a Google account was sufficient. Samsung is now forcing the installation of the Smart Switch application on your old phone to sync the content with the Galaxy S20. The usual procedure with Android is simple and works very well, Samsung didn't need to add an extra application. It's not very convenient but it hides something else in reality. By accepting the transfer you accept Samsung conditions on your old device as well. This way you allow Samsung to see what you transfer while this type of information was only accessible by Google in the past. It's hard to say what Samsung will do with this information but the fact that I don't have a choice bothers me.

The rest of the process follows a more classic path and in the end, Samsung will invite you to create an account like Xiaomi or Huawei does and if you don't want to, you will receive a small reminder screen to encourage you to register a second time. This practice is quite common among most manufacturers, they all want to free themselves from the power of Google. I can understand the strategy but it doesn't make me want to share my information with every manufacturer when I change phones.



I usually don't have as much to say for this section of the test and that' s not all, I have one last piece of information to bring up. The Samsung Galaxy S20 was almost burning up after the startup procedure. This is a problem I had already noticed on the Galaxy S10+ when I was filming but here I encountered the problem of overheating on something simple enough that should not lead to overheating.

Finish

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 4


Samsung manufactures high-end phones with impeccable finishes. I had already noticed it with the S10+, this Galaxy S20 is very elegant and nothing is left to chance. Samsung has managed to put a large screen in a phone of below average size and weight, I had almost forgotten what it was like to have such a thin phone with such a good fit in my hand.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 7


The top of the phone is covered with metal where the edges alternate between metal and glass. This will probably help to protect the phone from scratches that can easily appear on this part of the phone. The SIM drawer is at the top of the phone.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 12


The bottom of the phone follows the same logic as the top with its metallic outline. It has a USB C port and a speakerphone. The Galaxy S20 offers two exits for the sound, the first one is at the bottom, the second one is very discreet, it is located at the level of the listening speaker where the ear is usually placed.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 9


When I tested the S10+, I was disturbed by the position of the buttons because the on/off button was high on the right and the volume buttons were on the left. Samsung reverted to a more conventional configuration with the volume buttons and the on/off button on the right side of the phone. These buttons are metallic and give an impression of solidity, you can feel the effect of the pressure.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 8


With the S10+, Samsung had made an original choice with a glass back reflecting the light with blue and red. The Galaxy S20 is much more sober, it offers a glass back in a plain and sober color. The surface is perfectly smooth and will quickly leave fingerprints but this is the case for all phones using this kind of surface.

The photo sensor is located in the top left corner and is visible from the back of the phone. This has become quite common.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling photo 14


The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S20 occupies 89% of the screen area where the screen of the S10+ occupied 86% of the screen area. The Samsung Galaxy S20 therefore offers an almost perfect full-screen experience.

I was expecting the Samsung Galaxy S20 to offer an impeccable level of finish and it really does, I even find that this model has a better level of finish than the S10+. The feeling given by the finishes is something very personal and very subjective but I think Samsung has managed to produce a beautiful phone with proportions that are almost ideal for one-handed use.

Specifications


The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.I tested the 8Gb / 128Gb version of the Samsung Galaxy S20, this phone is codenamed SM-G980F. There is another version that is 5G compatible but I have not tested it.



CPU / GPU Performance



Samsung is one of the few manufacturers to produce its own processors, the Samsung Galaxy S20 is equipped with a Samsung Exynos 990 processor and to find an equivalence in performance in the Snapdragon range, you have to go for a Snapdragon 855 or higher.

The Samsung Exynos 990 delivers breathtaking performance, it's the most powerful mobile processor I've been able to test so far but the competition is there with especially the Poco F2 Pro which is equipped with a Snapdragon 865.

At the graphics level, the Samsung Galaxy S20 is equipped with an ARM Mali-G77 MP11 GPU, this one also delivers a breathtaking performance and to find an equivalence in the Adreno range it is necessary to turn to at least an Adreno 650.

With this combination of CPU and GPU, Samsung has produced a high performance phone. It's probably not the best on the market but it's in the top rankings. Nothing will be able to resist it, no game or application will be able to fully exploit this power.

The power and performance will make the phone warm up and when the Samsung will use its power, its temperature will also rise to a fairly high level. You will obviously not burn yourself holding the phone but it will be so hot that it will be unpleasant to hold. My performance test with Antutu made the CPU go up to 62°C!

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

The Samsung Galaxy S20 scores over 500,000 points with Antutu, that's 150% more than I got with a Galaxy S10+. The gain in performance is absolutely huge. Chinese manufacturers are also making progress in this area, but the difference between two generations is not as marked.

The Galaxy S20 gains in performance at CPU and GPU level, Samsung did not try to compromise. Bravo Samsung!



The Samsung Galaxy S20 scores 6802 points in the 3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme test. This is simply the best score I've been able to measure so far and it's probably one of the best scores at the time of writing.

With a score like this, you will be able to play all the games without any performance issues.




Gaming

To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.With such power, the Samsung Galaxy S20 can not be challenged by PUBG Mobile.

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The game is perfectly fluid, the depth of vision is maximum, the textures are very detailed. I don't think any game available today is capable of putting the Samsung Galaxy S20 in trouble.

Network performance

Unlike Chinese manufacturers, Samsung produces phones with global coverage, so you don't have to worry about which version to buy.

The Galaxy S20 offers a very wide frequency coverage, you will be able to use all frequencies available in Europe.


Signal 4G (before december 2020)

The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance.


Not yet available / tested

Signal 4G (from December 2020)

I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.

To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.

Overview of the phones tested with this methodology



Download/Upload speed

To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.

Not yet available / tested

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.


Wifi signal

I measured a signal of -23 dBm near the router, it's a good score that ranks the Samsung Galaxy S20 a little above average.

At distance I measured a signal of -74 dBm, this score and an average score, it is neither good nor bad.

I think that the back of the phone is used to pick up wifi because the signal was better when the back of the phone was free of any obstacle.





Download/Upload speed

To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.I got a download speed of over 350 Mbps and the speed seemed artificially limited, I suspect that the Galaxy S20 can easily go higher but my internet provider did not allow me to go higher.

With a score like that, the Galaxy S20 ranks among the best phones I've tested.




GPS performance


To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal. The Samsung Galaxy S20 captures a wide range of satellites such as GPS network, Galileo, Beidou, ... etc....

I tested the accuracy of the positioning and unfortunately it is not good, I obtained an accuracy of 4 meters with fluctuations between 4 and 6 meters while I was in a completely clear area. I also filtered the satellites and I did not get a better accuracy with Galileo.

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I still have to do a road test to confirm if this is accurate.


Battery range

[battery product="samsung-galaxy-s20" capa="4000" lg="en"]

Battery life has never been a strength for Samsung, and this new Galaxy S20 won't fundamentally change that. With a 4000 mAh battery, Samsung is a bit behind its Chinese competitors. Luckily the Galaxy S20 manages its battery well enough to get by. It offers a performance comparable to the Honor 9x which was already good enough in this area.

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.

Hardware

On the market, there are two major manufacturers for photo sensors, there is Samsung and there is Sony. On these high-end models, Samsung has always managed to combine optical quality and processing quality, the Galaxy S10+ was one of the best photo phone at the time of its release.

The Galaxy S20 is equipped with a standard Samsung S5K2LD 12 megapixel sensor that is also found in the Galaxy S20+. It is also equipped with a Samsung Bright S5KGW2 zoom which is an evolution of the sensor used in the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The last sensor is a Samsung S5K2LA ultra wide angle sensor that I haven't seen in other phones yet.

Default app

I've tested a lot of Chinese phones in the last few months and although they are all progressing on the photo level, they haven't bothered to review their default photo app and you often end up with a huge amount of options that are often useless.

Samsung has taken the step of not going in that direction and that's fine. The default application has 4 modes (photo, video, single take, plus) to give quick access to the most common features. If you want more, you can access the other functions in the "more" menu.

The zoom button is superimposed on the screen as in Xiaomi but Samsung has added a bubble around the icons which allows you to see these icons much better when the brightness is important. The zoom can be adjusted in steps but Samsung also offers the possibility to set exactly the desired zoom level. The options for each mode can be found at the top of the screen.

Samsung doesn't seem to want to rush into the pixel war where a Xiaomi constantly tries to increase the number of available pixels. For photography, the standard is 12 million pixels for Samsung and there is a 64 million pixel mode. For video on the other hand, Samsung offers the possibility to shoot videos in 8k, I have not yet seen this possibility on another phone.

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Photo quality


Photo test / studio

First example: ƒ/1.8 1/423 5.4 mm 50 ISO
samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion prueba test photo 1


Exposure: slightly underexposed
Sharpness: very good
Colours: slightly too dark
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The Galaxy S20's main sensor does quite well in the studio because many phones can't handle artificial light well. The picture could have been a little more exposed but if you look at my pictures taken with other phones, you'll see that the Samsung does well without being the best.

Second example: ƒ/2.2 1/322 2.2 mm 50 ISO
samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion prueba test photo 3


Exposure: slightly underexposed
Sharpness: medium
Colours: slightly too dark
Depth of field: shallow
Distortion: slight
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: visible

The wide-angle sensor produces a picture quite similar to the basic sensor if you look only at the exposure and colors. However, the sharpness is poorer, the depth of field is shallow, and despite ISO 25, the image is grainy.

Third example: ƒ/1.8 1/309 5.4 mm 50 ISO
samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion prueba test photo 4


Exposure: slightly underexposed
Sharpness: medium
Colours: slightly too dark
Depth of field: shallow
Distortion: slight
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: visible

The Galaxy S20 does not have an optical zoom, it is a digital zoom made from the main sensor (see first picture). The properties of the image are therefore the same as the first photo, but with the zoom, you can better realize the level of sharpness of the photo. The level of detail is really excellent, the contours are precise without being forced.

If I take these photos individually, I think that the Samsung produces good photos in the studio but it is only by comparing it with other phones that we can see it.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion prueba test photo 5

The Redmi Note 9s produces a picture with colors a little too warm but the sharpness is as good as the Samsung's, the exposure is also better.

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion prueba test photo 6

The Realme 6 also produces pictures with too warm colours but here the exposure is less good and the sharpness less pronounced.

The Samsung therefore produces good photos but the gap with entry-level phones is not as large as it used to be.

Photo test / sunny

First example: ƒ/1,8 1/3296 5,4 mm 50 ISO
samsung galaxy s20 test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo qualite sun 9


Exposure: good
Sharpness: very good
Colours: perfectly saturated
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

I tested the Galaxy S10+ last year and at that time it was one of the best photo phones. The Galaxy S20 raises the bar a bit higher by offering bright, properly saturated photos and exemplary sharpness.

I had taken my Sony A7 III with me during the Samsung photo test so I could compare a good smartphone with a very good SLR camera.

sony alpha a7 iii test photo 6


The Sony produces sharper, more saturated photos, but the Samsung's performance is far from being ridiculous. The Sony costs almost 2000€ without optics, the Samsung costs less than 1000€ and offers an ease of use that the Sony can't offer.

Let's go back down to earth for a moment to compare the Samsung with another smartphone that is positioned as a competitor to the Galaxy S20. Here's a picture taken with the Poco F2 Pro
poco f2 pro test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo qualite 4

This phone costs 30 to 40% less than the Samsung and delivers a good performance as well. The colors are duller but the sky is more detailed.

Second example: ƒ/2 1/670 5.9 mm 50 ISO
samsung galaxy s20 test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo qualite sun 11

Exposure: good
Sharpness: very good but smooth in clouds
Colours: good saturation
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

I had used the zoom for my studio test and probably went too far because I had gotten a digital zoom. With this picture I discovered that the Samsung had an optical zoom, the difference in focal length is not very important but the zoom is real, I think the Samsung combines an optical and digital zoom.

You can see here that the zoom focuses on one where the clouds are denser and this is reflected in the image processing, the color processing is different, the colors are warmer but the sharpness is still good. The details of the sluice in the background of the image can be seen quite well.

Third example: ƒ/2,2 1/2376 2,2 mm ISO 50
samsung galaxy s20 test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo qualite sun 10

Exposure: good
Sharpness: very good
Colours: good saturation
Depth of field: good
Distortion: slight
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The wide-angle focal length is not the shortest among all the phones I tested but it's enough to capture a wide enough landscape without losing quality. Wide-angle sensors are usually not as good as other sensors, this is not the case with this Galaxy S20, the wide-angle sensor produces excellent pictures, I even find that the color processing is better than with the main sensor.

These three examples illustrate quite well what the Galaxy S20 is able to do, here are some other examples that will confirm what I described above.



In good light conditions like these, the Galaxy S20 is therefore one of the best cameras like the s10+ was when it was released.

Photo test / cloudy

Not yet available / tested

Test photo / night

Not yet available / tested

Video quality


Stabilisation

I haven't had the opportunity to test many phones with effective video stabilization, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ was the best phone I could test. The Galaxy S20 will not only offer good stabilization but it will do it in 8k! Video stabilization requires a lot of processing power and doing it in 8k requires even more power.

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Video normale conditions
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 is one of the first phones to be able to film in 8k. The quality of the videos is really good and the most surprising thing is that the phone is able to play them without any problem where playing this kind of video on a computer can be a problem.

I find here the optical qualities of the sensor with a good level of exposure, saturated colors and a very good level of sharpness. The movements are also quite fluid.

Samsung has set the bar very high, this phone is probably one of the best phones for video.

Video low light

Not yet available / tested

Audio quality

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.
Samsung's high-end phones are generally good for audio quality and I think this Galaxy S20 will follow the same trend.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is equipped with two external speakers, one located on the lower edge of the phone and the other installed at the speakerphone level for telephony.

It is therefore capable of producing stereo sound and even though the sound produced by the speakers will never be able to compete with a real audio installation, the Galaxy S20 manages to produce a very good sound.

All I have to do now is to do the technical test to see if it is capable of knocking out the S10+ which was until now the best phone in terms of audio quality.

Update:
The Samsung Galaxy S20 does not have a jack port that allows me to do my technical test, the phone does not come with an adapter. I tried the USB to Jack adapter from another phone but the Samsung was displaying an error message.

I bought an adapter on Aliexpress and it will probably take 2 or 3 weeks before I receive it and can perform this test.

Frequency Response

This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line. Not yet available / tested

Dynamic Range

This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.Not yet available / tested

Noise Level

This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.Not yet available / tested

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.

Colorimetry

samsung galaxy s20 test avis review recensione opinion beoordeling screen calibration


Samsung produces its own screens and generally these screens are of very good quality. The best display I had been able to test so far was the Samsung Galaxy S10+, so I was curious to see if the S20 could do better.

I won't make you wait any longer, the Galaxy S20 has a better screen than the S10+, this screen is superb. Colorimetrically, it gets an average dE of 1.4 where I got 2.0 with the S10+. In addition to colorimetric accuracy, Samsung's Amoled screen offers infinite contrasts, the blacks are truly black and this gives unparalleled depth to the images. I've already tested phones for less than 200€ that offered good colorimetry but what they lack is the image depth offered by the Samsung and that makes all the difference.

It is possible to change the color settings from the phone settings. By default, the Samsung uses a mode where the colors are very saturated, it gives the impression that all the colors are more vivid and it's nice to look at but from a colorimetric point of view it's incorrect. It is therefore necessary to switch to normal mode to obtain the values of this test.

The white temperature is also excellent, I measured 6443K where the white should be at 6500K, so the whites are quite white where many phones offer a slightly bluish white.



Brightness / Contrast

When I push the brightness to the maximum and without external constraints, the Samsung Galaxy S20 produces a maximum brightness of 330 cd/m², this is a very average value which is more than enough to read the screen when the light is not too strong. On the other hand if I expose the phone to a strong source of light (ex: sun), the brightness climbs to 510 cd/m². This is not the highest value I could measure but it is enough to use the phone in the sun.

The great strength of the amoled screens is the contrast and this can be seen as soon as the phone starts up where you can see the Samsung logo literally floating on a black screen where an entry level phone will only be able to display a dark grey. The viewing angles are also excellent.

Biometry

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is equipped with a fingerprint sensor located on the screen. The positioning of this sensor is correct but I find that its efficiency could be better, I often have to go through it several times to unlock the screen and overall it's a slower process than a classical fingerprint sensor.

Facial recognition works well, I didn't notice any differences with other devices. If the brightness drops, the efficiency decreases, it's the same with other phones.

Operating system

Samsung is one of the few manufacturers capable of providing a brand specific operating system. The Samsung UI system is undoubtedly one of the most advanced on Android. If you're used to Samsung and then have to switch to a phone running a pure Android version, you'll probably regret your Samsung.

This maturity of the operating system offers many advantages because you don't need to download applications for all sorts of uses but the flip side of the coin is that you are linked to Samsung. The Korean manufacturer pre-installs a large number of applications, they are not mandatory but Samsung will try to favour them. It's not dramatic but some people are really allergic to the presence of unwanted applications.

Overall I like Samsung UI quite a lot, it's a complete and easy to use system.

The things I like less are the following:

Samsung Daily
Samsung Daily aggregates information for you, this information is available on the screen on the left of the home screen. This news feed is much less relevant than what I find for example on the Xiaomi.

Keyboard
Samsung's keyboard can become very annoying when you have to write messages in several languages because it will impose its choices on you and you will have to make changes all the time afterwards.

Classification of applications:
Samsung's application drawer classifies applications with no apparent logic, applications are not sorted alphabetically or by date of installation, everything is mixed up.

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested

Accessories Samsung Galaxy S20

Compare Samsung Galaxy S20 with the others

Test / Review conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is expensive, it's probably the most expensive phone I've tested in 2020. Is it the best phone? Based on the score, yes, it is the best phone I have tested because it scores the highest but it only scores a few points higher than other phones that cost less. It is the eternal debate on the cost of the big brands compared to the Chinese competitors who are trying to make a place for themselves on the market, so I will limit myself to summarising the performance of the phone, each one will judge the relevance of the price according to his means.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 swims a little against the current in terms of its size. Most Chinese competitors produce large phones and they are generally quite heavy. The Galaxy S20 is smaller and lighter than most of the phones I test.

On the performance side, the Galaxy S20 offers a high level of performance but is being overtaken by phones like the Poco F2 Pro, performance is no longer a territory occupied by the big brands. The Galaxy S20 heats up quite strongly when it is used, its cooling is less efficient than the Poco F2 Pro.

For the picture, the Galaxy S20 is undoubtedly one of the best phones in 2020. I'm not sure it has the best sensor from a technical point of view but Samsung has managed to add a really effective processing layer, the sensor gives good results in just about any conditions.

The Galaxy S20 is a reference on many points, its weaknesses are not really big weaknesses as the lowest scores are average scores, if I had to name just one I would probably take the GPS which offers a precision a little below average.

Strengths

Quality of finish
Size/weight
Screen quality (120hz)
Photo quality
Speed 4G/Wifi
Performance for games

Weaknesses

Battery life (in 120hz, one day of autonomy max)
GPS accuracy
Fingerprint reader a bit slow
Cooling

Alternatives to this product

Price aside, the Poco F2 Pro is a credible alternative to the Galaxy S20. It offers better performance, better cooling, longer battery life,... for 200€ less.

In the same price range, you have to consider phones like the Xiaomi Mi 10 or the top of the range at Oneplus or Huawei.





Laurent Willen LAURENT WILLEN
Head of myself on this blog

I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.

My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.
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If you want to set off on an adventure without losing the comfort of electricity, you need a portable battery! I've tested a 1300W one for maximum range.
Urtopia Carbon One : test / review
The Urtopia should reconcile geeks with cycling. This bike is a connected electric bike made entirely of carbon fibre. Futuristic look, connected bike, ...it speaks to me!
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro: test / review
The Redmi Note Pro range has always been characterized by good performance and good pictures, the Redmi Note 10 Pro will hit even harder with an Amoled display and a 108 million pixel photo sensor!
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: test / review
After a somewhat disappointing Redmi Note 9, Xiaomi is back in force with a very promising Redmi Note 10 that will probably once again shake up the competition.
Umidigi Bison : test / review
After the Ulefone Armor and the Doogee S58 Pro, I decided to test a third rugged phone with the Umidigi Bison. On paper it offers a very good performance/price ratio. Will this new Umidigi outperform its competitors?
Poco M3 : test / review
Poco woke up in 2020, after the F2 Pro and the X3, here is the M3 which comes to attack the entry level with a floor price that will undoubtedly shake up the smartphone market.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite test / review
Every year I test the new version of the Xiaomi Mi XX Lite, I have started my tests with the Mi 8 Lite and with each iteration Xiaomi takes the level a little higher but how far can they go?
Test, review and comparison of GPS trackers/tracers (Invoxia vs Hangang TK901)
With a GPS tracker you can track your vehicles or people on a map as in the movies but what is this type of object really worth?
XGIMI Mogo Pro: test, reviews and prices
The Mogo Pro is my second projector from XGIMI, it is one of the first portable projectors in 1080, will it succeed in establishing itself as a reference on the market?
Nvidia Shield TV 2019 test / review
The Nvidia Shield TV is the king of all Android TV devices, it litterally chews anything you throw at it (local video, streaming, games, music,...). It's also one of the most expensive product, is it worth the money?
Nebula Cosmos Max 4k test & review
A 4k projector below 1000€? It's a first, I had to test it. Will it compare with the other projectors I've tested?
Xiaomi Mi Laser TV 150 test / review
For a long time laser projectors were out of price and it is again Xiaomi who breaks the prices with a very interesting machine but which will not be adapted to all types of use.
Doogee S58 Pro test / review
The Doogee S58 Pro is in a class of phone that I am not used to testing, this phone is designed to be shock resistant and you could almost knock someone out because it is so heavy.
Samsung Galaxy A21s test / review
The Samsung Galaxy A21s is a competitor to the Redmi range but will it be able to outperform the value champion?
Poco F2 Pro review - comprehensive and objective test
I'm not used to testing phones in this price range but on paper the Poco F2 Pro can take on a Samsung Galaxy S20 without blushing. What about in reality?
Xiaomi Redmi Rating 9 test / review
The Redmi 2020 vintage has arrived. The Redmi has grown and gained weight to offer a bigger screen and better battery. Will it be enough to face the growing competition?
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro : test / review
I tested the Mi 9T Pro in 2019 and concluded that it was one of the best phones in its price range. The Mi 10T Pro costs an extra €200 at launch, so I had to break my piggy bank to buy it. Will it do better than its predecessor?
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T : test / review
Xiaomi has just scrambled things up again with the Redmi Note 9T which comes in a little bit above the Poco X3 with some new features and a bit of old things.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite : test / review
Xiaomi has managed to blur the lines even more by adding the Mi Note range to its catalogue with this Lite version of the Mi Note 10 released at the end of 2019.
Redmi 9A test / review
Redmi is tackling the price bracket below €100 with a smartphone that seems to stand up to the competition. Is this really a good deal?
Redmi 9C test / review
Redmi is attacking the price range below €100 with a smartphone with reasonable specifications. Is this really a good deal?
Samsung Galaxy S20: review/test
I don't often test the top end, but I sometimes make a few exceptions to get an idea of what's going on in this segment. This time, my victim is the S20.
Rock Space repeater/extender: test / review
Your wifi signal is not good? Maybe you need a repeater/amplifier to get a better range and a better wifi signal.
Xgimi H1 test - review one year after buying
Xgimi H1 is a new chinese video projector coming from crowd funding. Is it any good? Let's check.
Sonic Soak test and review
Sonic Soak is a new gadget cleaning almost everything with ultrasound, does it deliver its promise ? Let's check out!
Samsung Galaxy S10 + : objective test, reviews and prices
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has it all, it doesn't lack anything (except you maybe). At this price level, we expect the best, but how different is it from the competition?
Amazon Fire TV Stick review/test
Amazon has successfully packaged a lot in its Fire TV stick. This small object will transform your TV or projector experience. On paper, nothing beats the Stick but what is it worth in reality?
Amazon Fire TV Stick: full and objective test, reviews and prices
Amazon has successfully packaged a condensed technology in its Fire TV stick. This small object will transform your TV or projector experience. On paper, nothing is done better. What is the reality?
Test / Avis mini pas pas cher (moins de 200€)
J'ai testé un mini pc de 12 cm de côté, totalement silencieux, consommant 25W max et suffisamment performant pour la bureautique et home cinéma.
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