Introduction
This one's for the fans! Or for the chemistry students with a penchant for iron alloys? It's not 'lite,' that's for sure. This is the Galaxy S20 FE 5G (or Fan Edition). The latest member of the S20 family comes with some spec changes to meet a lower price point, while still maintaining important bits to qualify for the S-series badge.
One of those is the high-end chipset, and that's a good point to clarify that not all FEs are the same - there is a 5G-capable version and an LTE-capped one. The 4G-only model follows the usual regional differentiation with some parts of the world getting the Exynos 990 while others have their FEs equipped with the Snapdragon 865.
On the other hand, the 5G model is Snapdragon-only this time, regardless of locale. It's this version that we're reviewing, though we may be dropping the '5G' when referring to the phone for the remainder of this review.
Placed in between the S20 and S20+ in terms of screen size, the Fan Edition packs a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display. This one's not HDR10+ compliant and has a FullHD resolution next to its QHD brethren, but Samsung did keep the 120Hz refresh rate.
As part of the tri-set of cameras on the FE, it gets to keep the S20s main big-sensor 12MP shooter. The ultra wide-angle cam takes 12MP shots too, but from a smaller imager than on the non-fan editions. And the telephoto is different too - fans will be shooting with an 8MP almost-3x zoom unit, as opposed to the slightly odd 64MP non-tele tele setup on the S20 and S20+. Meanwhile, the selfie camera on the FE is a 32MP Tetracell unit, which may sound like an upgrade compared to the 10MP modules of the S20 and S20+, but there's more to that as you go deeper. We'll be doing all sorts of camera comparisons later on, of course.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G specs
- Body: 159.8x74.5x8.4mm, 190g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame; Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified), IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins); Colors: Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange.
- Display: 6.5" Super AMOLED, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 407ppi; 120Hz refresh rate.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+): Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 585); Adreno 650.
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
- OS/Software: Android 10, One UI 2.5.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 8 MP, f/2.0, 73mm, 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 13mm, 1/3.0", 1.12µm; LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama.
- Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm; HDR.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K, 1080p.
- Battery: 4500mAh; Fast charging 25W, Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W, USB Power Delivery 3.0.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer; NFC; stereo speakers.
Tere are some other less apparent downgrades here and there. Like the Gorilla Glass 3 instead of 6 on the front and the plastic back where the non-fan S20s have more Gorilla Glass 6. The Fan Edition also tops out at 8GB of RAM (6GB in the base version), while the regular S20s start at 8GB and can be had even with 12GB.
Whether it's an upgrade, a downgrade, or simply a side-step, the Fan Edition gets an optical fingerprint reader, not the controversial ultra-sonic reader of the other phones in the Galaxy S and Note roster.
Filed strictly under downgrades, however, is the retail bundle.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G unboxing
The S20 FE's box is Fan Edition too - it's not the black packaging of the true flagships. It's still the same thick cardboard, only white, and the S20 name is printed on the front, just like on the non-FEs. There are many emoji-looking imprints, something you don't get on the regular S20 or Note20 boxes.
There's special treatment on the inside too, but not the good kind. The accessories package is rather sparse, and besides the phone, you're only getting an adapter and a cable to go with it. Even worse, it's the plain old Adaptive Fast Charging unit that's Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 compliant - 15W max, USB-A out - lame. Non-fans are treated to a 25W adapter and earphones, but the budget cuts for this one didn't allow for such frivolous expenses.
Design
The Galaxy S20 FE has a distinctly Samsung looks, thanks to the central punch hole in the display and the camera arrangement on the back. Despite the obvious brand affiliation, the Fan Edition doesn't quite accomplish an S-series impression - it gives off more of an 'A' vibe.
Galaxy S20 FE (left) next to the Galaxy S20+
For example, the Fan Edition has thicker bezels all around, and we all know nothing says 'premium' quite as loud as minimal bezels. It's not like the black frame around the display is overly thick. It's just that it's not as 'flagship-grade' as on the other S20s.
Galaxy S20 FE (left) next to the Galaxy S20+
Another mark of a high-end phone, particularly in Samsung's world, is a curved screen. While they have been reducing the effect on recent models, the S20 phones still have a millimeter of a sloped edge on the sides. Well, the FE is entirely flat.
Galaxy S20 FE (left) next to the Galaxy S20+
The punch hole is tiny, we'll give the FE that - it's tinier than what the Note20 has, for what that's worth. Then again, it's also tiny on the Galaxy A51 5G, for example.
Galaxy S20 FE (left) next to the Galaxy S20+
Perhaps the one most notable difference in the build quality of the Fan Edition compared to the other S20s is the material used for the back. Where the S20 and S20+ used glass, the S20 FE's rear panel is plastic. It's got a satin finish, and it's about as slippery as they come. While it rarely looks pristine, it's certainly miles better than a glossy glass panel when it comes to accumulating fingerprints.
Despite the change in material, the Galaxy S20 FE is still IP68 - like the big boys. Not that we expected the rear panel to be any more water permeable than a glass one, it's just that dust and water protection is hard to find at this price point.
The S20 FE is available in six colors - Navy, Lavender, Mint, Red, Orange, and White, all of them with a Cloud prefix. Our review unit is the blandest of the bunch, the Cloud Navy one.
Over on the front, the AMOLED display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 - it's not the sixth generation that you can find on the S20 and S20+, and it's not the Victus that the Note20 Ultra gets either. Meanwhile, the vanilla Note20 has Gorilla Glass 5.
What's not changed is the frame material - it's aluminum on the FE as it is on the other S20s. The bits along the frame are arranged identically too. The power button and the volume rocker are on the right in a slightly enlarged portion of the otherwise slender aluminum outline, while nothing is spoiling the minimalist left side. The bottom is home to the USB-C port, the main loudspeaker, and the primary mic.
Controls on the right • Nothing on the left • USB port and bottom-firing speaker
Up top is the secondary mic and the card slot. In the back-to-back tray of our dual SIM unit, you can insert one nano-SIM and microSD, or two nano-SIM, but you can't do all three at the same time - same as on the S20 bunch.
Card slot and a mic up top • Back-to-back tray with a shared microSD slot
The Galaxy S20 FE measures 159.8x74.5x8.4mm, which is 2mm shorter than the S20+, but 0.8mm wider and 0.6mm thicker. While the height difference is hardly noticeable, the extra thickness, marginal increase in width, and the flat front all combine to create a boxier in-hand feel when comparing against the S20+ - and the S20+ does have a bigger display, at that.
6.5-inch AMOLED isn't Dynamic, still 120Hz
The Galaxy S20 FE is equipped with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display - it doesn't carry the 'Dynamic' branding of the other S20s or the Note20 Ultra. So it's also kind of like the vanilla Note20, only better - it does support a 120Hz refresh rate, unlike the plain Note.
Resolution is FullHD, or 1080x2400px in a 20:9 aspect for a pixel density of 393ppi. You could say it's a downgrade compared to the 1440p panels of the other S20s, though an argument could be made that it's really the same - after all, if you run the non-FEs at 120Hz, their display resolution is similarly capped at 1080p.
When it comes to brightness, however, the Fan Edition is as good as the other S20s. With the slider operated manually, we measured 404nits on the FE, with a healthy boost to double that in bright environments if you have the adaptive brightness enabled. The 823nits we measured on the Galaxy S20 FE isn't quite as high as the Note20 Ultra's 1024nits, but it's a couple dozen more than the S20+.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, |
White, |
||
| 0 | 404 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 823 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 379 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 797 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 397 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 814 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 504 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 1024 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 400 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 705 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 496 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 803 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 405 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 617 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 529 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 741 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 516 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 854 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 522 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 854 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 511 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 622 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 525 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 635 | ∞ | |
Color reproduction is handled in a typical Samsung manner. There are two modes - Natural and Vivid. Natural is tailored for sRGB content, and we measured an average dE2000 of 2.4 for our set of sRGB test swatches - fairly accurate, but others have done even better. A notable lack of 'pop' is characteristic for this mode, too, as is normal.
Vivid mode is the one you get outside the box, and that's pretty colorful. It covers a wider color gamut, and we measured an average dE2000 of 3.9 for DCI-P3 test patterns with white having a moderate blue shift (around 6 units). This mode gets a five-position cool-to-warm slider and bumping that all the way to the right makes for more accurate whites (dE2000 of 2) and a slightly better overall result (average dE2000 of 3.4). There are additional RGB sliders if you want to tweak the color reproduction further.
The high refresh rate implementation is the older, non-adaptive kind. The phone will respect the setting you have in the menu, and that's that - if you have it at 120Hz, it'll stay there regardless of inactivity or viewed content. The UI, social apps, browsers, video playback - it's all 120Hz. Games are an exception to this rule. However, as usual - if you have the phone set at 120Hz, but the game doesn't support a high refresh rate, it'll switch down to 60Hz. Obviously, if you keep it at 60Hz, it'll be at 60Hz all the time.
Display settings
One thing worth noting is that Netflix does not support HDR playback on the FE as of writing this - YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, on the other hand, do, so the phone definitely supports HDR, but it will up to Netflix to enable the streaming support in HDR. The DRM Info app reports the phone is indeed capable of HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG playback, and it has Widevine Level 1.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G battery life
The Galaxy S20 FE is powered by a 4,500mAh battery - the same capacity as on the S20+ and Note20 Ultra. Mind you, we have the 5G version of the Fan Edition for testing, so it's equipped with the Snapdragon 865 chipset - usually, our Galaxy review units have Exynos chipsets inside. Naturally, we tested the S20 FE in both 120Hz and 60Hz modes with our lives made easier by the lack of smart adaptive refresh rate switching.
In 120Hz mode, we clocked 13:40h on our Wi-Fi web browsing script - a properly excellent result for 120Hz browsing. The Mi 10 Pro and One Plus 8 are in the same ballpark, but they only go as high as 90Hz. At 120Hz, the OnePlus 8 Pro and the Galaxy S20+ can only do 11 hours, though that's an Exynos S20+, so not a direct comparison, strictly speaking.
In video playback, the Galaxy S20 FE was good for 15:31h, and that's 2 hours more than the S20+, again at 120Hz. In our testing, the FE also posted some of the best results for standby power draw and voice calls that we've gotten from a Snapdragon 865 phone.
All of the above means that the Galaxy S20 FE 5G has an overall endurance rating of 110h with the display set at 120Hz.
When switched to 60Hz, the S20 FE ups the numbers somewhat, adding an hour of web browsing and three hours of video playback, for an overall Endurance rating of 118h. Solid!
Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSer App. The endurance rating above denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so that our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritty. You can check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Battery charging
The Galaxy S20 FE supports fast wired charging up to 25W with Samsung's USB PowerDelivery with PPS adapter. The caveat here is that the phone is supplied with the old, Qualcomm QC2.0-compliant 15W adapter - even the S10 Lite had the proper 25W brick!
Anyway, with the bundled adapter, we got a full charge from flat in 1:35h with just 37% in the battery indicator at the half-hour mark. A much better 57% in 30 minutes and okay 1:10h to a full charge is what you can expect if you purchase Samsung's 25W charger separately, or if you have a PPS-capable third-party charger that goes to 25W or above.
30min charging test (from 0%)
- Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
77% - vivo iQOO 3 5G
76% - OnePlus 8
69% - Galaxy S10 Lite
63% - Galaxy S20+
62% - Galaxy S20 FE (25W)
57% - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
56% - Sony Xperia 5 II
45% - Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
43% - Galaxy S20 FE (15W bundled)
37%
Time to full charge (from 0%)
- vivo iQOO 3 5G
0:50h - Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
0:50h - OnePlus 8
0:53h - Galaxy S20+
0:57h - Galaxy S10 Lite
1:02h - Galaxy S20 FE (25W)
1:10h - Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
1:23h - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
1:32h - Galaxy S20 FE (15W bundled)
1:35h - Sony Xperia 5 II
1:49h
What the S20 FE does better than the S10 Lite, we'll give it that, is wireless charging - last year's Lite doesn't have it, the Fan Edition does. It's specced as on the regular S20, so it should be able to charge at up to 15W from compatible pads, and it supports Wireless PowerShare allowing you to charge other devices off of the FE's back.
Speaker test
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G has the usual Samsung stereo speaker setup with a bottom-firing main speaker and the earpiece serving as a second channel. In portrait orientation, the earpiece gets the left channel by default, while in landscape, the phone will switch them around to match the orientation.
The Fan Edition earned a 'Good' rating for loudness in our test - about as loud as a Zenfone 7 Pro, not quite as much as a OnePlus 8. The Galaxy sounds clean at max volume with well-defined highs and vocals, decent lows.
Use the Playback controls to listen to the phone sample recordings (best use headphones). We measure the average loudness of the speakers in LUFS. A lower absolute value means a louder sound. A look at the frequency response chart will tell you how far off the ideal "0db" flat line is the reproduction of the bass, treble, and mid frequencies. You can add more phones to compare how they differ. The scores and ratings are not comparable with our older loudspeaker test. Learn more about how we test here.
Audio output quality
We've recently discontinued our audio output quality test.
The reason for that is that most phones that arrived for testing were already excellent in this regard. Whatever difference there was, it was marginal and probably indistinguishable to anything but our lab equipment.
OneUI 2.5 and Android 10, 3 OS updates too
The S20 FE runs on the same OneUI 2.5 that debuted on the Note20 and was later released to the S20s and last year's flagships as well. Again, it's not dramatically different from the 2.1 version, or the plain 2.0. In any case, there's Android 10 running underneath the in-house overlay, and the FE is on the list of phones that will get three major OS updates - so Android 13 is the end of the line for it.
The lockscreen is a familiar sight with a couple of shortcuts in the bottom corners and notification icons under a clock. Always on display is, of course, available and it can be shown all the time, according to a daily schedule, or when summoned with a tap.
The fingerprint icon can be set to show on the AoD, but even if it isn't visible, the phone is on the alert and will unlock if you place your finger in the correct spot. The sensor is positioned notably lower on the FE than it is on the other S20s - but since you're unlikely to be switching from an S20 to S20 FE, that's no big deal.
The sensor is a different kind too - this one is optical, while the non-FEs get ultrasonic ones. It still doesn't give you that instant unlock feeling that you can get from a OnePlus, for example, and it takes an extra split second to get you to the homescreen. It is, however, more reliable than the ultrasonic ones - we had fewer failed attempts on this one that we normally get with the S20s.
If for whatever reason you're not thrilled about the FE's fingerprint reader, there's also face recognition. It's just camera based, no 3D face scanning, but it still offers a convenient (if not as secure) way to access to your homescreen.
Lockscreen • Always-on display • Biometrics
When it comes to the UI basics, OneUI 2.5 on the Fan Edition is the same as on the other Galaxies. Gesture navigation is available and you can choose that in the initial setup process or later on. A system-wide dark mode is par for the course too.
Homescreen • Folder view • App drawer • Notification shade • Quick toggles • Task switcher
The FE gets the latest redesign of Edge Panels too with the larger icons and moved pane names, while the core functionality has remained the same. It gives you quick access to apps, actions, tools, etc. with a single swipe from the side with the usual customization options for panes and handle location. In the Edge screen sub-menu, you will also find Edge lighting - a feature that can light up the outline of the UI in an ever-growing selection of glow types to gently alert you of any new notifications.
Edge screen
Nearby Share that got announced just before the Galaxy Note20 and debuted there is present on the S20 FE, as it will be on all Androids, eventually. Pre-existing Galaxy-only sharing features are still here. Quick Share is Samsung's latest name for the company's sharing solution based around Bluetooth for device discovery and Wi-Fi direct for actual data transfer that works with Samsungs only - really old ones too. Music share, meanwhile, lets you connect the Galaxy to a BT speaker and use the phone as a hub for other phones to connect to the speaker.
So many sharing options
Synthetic benchmarks
The Galaxy S20 FE 5G we have for review, being the 5G version, is only available with a Snapdragon 865 chipset inside. The 4G variant has the usual regional divide where some countries get the Snapdragon, others receive the Exynos 990.
The Fan Edition comes in one of three memory configurations - 6/128GB, 8/128GB, and 8/256GB, and we have the base version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Meanwhile, the S20+ 5G comes with 12GB of RAM for each of its three storage versions (128/256/512GB), the S20 5G can be had with 8 or 12GB of RAM and only 128GB of storage, while the 4G-only S20 and S20+ only come in 8/128GB trim.
The benchmark performance of the S20 Fan Edition is predictably great. Single-core CPU results in GeekBench are on par with other S865 devices, as well as Samsung's Exynos 990-based handsets. A starker difference can be seen in multi-core tests between S865 and E990 phones, the latter trailing behind, but the FE in Snapdragon trim is up there with the other Snapdragons of the day.
GeekBench 5.1 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 8
3399 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
3374 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
3322 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
3302 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
3296 - Motorola Edge+
3295 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
3289 - Huawei P40 Pro
3197 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
2750 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
2715 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
2703 - LG Velvet
1905 - Motorola Edge
1862
GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
996 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
950 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
931 - OnePlus 8
919 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
910 - Motorola Edge+
910 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
906 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
902 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
895 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
886 - Huawei P40 Pro
780 - LG Velvet
586 - Motorola Edge
586
In Antutu, the Galaxy Z Fold2 (with the Snapdragon 865+) pulls ahead of the non-plus-equipped S20 FE, though the Fan Edition still outscores the Exynos S20s we've tested. As you may have noted above, we've also included the LG Velvet and Motorola Edge that use the Snapdragon 765 - the chipset of the Pixel 5, for an early sort-of comparison with the Google phone.
AnTuTu 8
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
602934 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
578056 - Motorola Edge+
574155 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
573276 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
564907 - OnePlus 8
564708 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
543986 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
527612 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
525029 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
515538 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
500114 - Huawei P40 Pro
496356 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
489371 - Motorola Edge
305989 - LG Velvet
297372
In graphics tests the FE's strong record continues. It consistently ranks in the top half of the charts for fps count in GFXBench, never winning, but never falling behind. It also typically edges ahead of the S20s - once again, Exynos ones in our testing.
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
91 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
90 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
89 - Motorola Edge+
89 - OnePlus 8
88 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
87 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
86 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
86 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
86 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
85 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
85 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
84 - Huawei P40 Pro
75 - Motorola Edge
34 - LG Velvet
33
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Motorola Edge+
83 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
79 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
78 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
77 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
75 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
73 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
59 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
53 - Huawei P40 Pro
52 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
45 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
43 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
43 - Motorola Edge
32 - LG Velvet
29
GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
55 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
54 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
52 - OnePlus 8
52 - Motorola Edge+
52 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
51 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
51 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
51 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
51 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
51 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
50 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
50 - Huawei P40 Pro
44 - LG Velvet
19 - Motorola Edge
19
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Motorola Edge+
48 - OnePlus 8
46 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
46 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
45 - LG V60 ThinQ 5G (new run)
44 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
44 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
42 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
42 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
33 - Huawei P40 Pro
31 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
26 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
25 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
24 - Motorola Edge
18 - LG Velvet
16
Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Motorola Edge+
32 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
31 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
30 - OnePlus 8
30 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
29 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
27 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
26 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
22 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
17 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
15 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
14 - Motorola Edge
12 - LG Velvet
11
Aztek OpenGL ES 3.1 High (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Motorola Edge+
33 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
33 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
32 - OnePlus 8
31 - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
31 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
30 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
29 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
22 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
19 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
19 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
17 - Motorola Edge
12 - LG Velvet
11
3DMark SSE OpenGL ES 3.1 1440p
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
7687 - Motorola Edge+
7409 - OnePlus 8
7290 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
7215 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
7132 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
7127 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
7035 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
6819 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
6735 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
6723 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
6610 - Huawei P40 Pro
6062 - Motorola Edge
3004 - LG Velvet
2987
3DMark SSE Vulkan 1440p
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
7002 - OnePlus 8
6720 - Motorola Edge+
6666 - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
6605 - Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
6490 - OnePlus 8 Pro (120Hz, 1440p)
6425 - Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p)
6398 - Galaxy S20+ (120Hz, 1080p)
6354 - Galaxy S20+ (60Hz, 1440p)
6311 - Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p)
6248 - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
5879 - Huawei P40 Pro
5637
2801
2758
The Galaxy S20 FE delivers top-level performance - as expected from its high-end chip. It also does so with a relative consistency that's not all that common, and repeated benchmark runs don't lead to lower results. It warms up a bit in the process, but doesn't really get hot-hot. Overall, a great showing.
Triple camera is kinda different, doesn't disappoint
The Galaxy S20 Fan Edition comes with a different camera system than the S20 and S20+. That is to say two out of three modules are different, the main unit is the same. That uses a 12MP sensor with big 1.8µm pixels behind an f/1.8 aperture lens. Image stabilization and dual pixel autofocus are on the list of features too.
The ultra wide angle cam covers a modestly larger field of view than what you can get with the other S20s - though at 123 degrees vs. 120 degrees and with the software correction accounted for, that's hardly a difference. The aperture on this one is f/2.2 as on the other models, and just like them it has no autofocus. The resolution is the same as well - 12MP. The big difference here is in pixel and sensor size - the FE has smaller pixels at 1.12µm on a smaller 1/3" sensor, next to the 1.4µm and 1/2.55" numbers of the S20 and S20+ specsheet.
On to the telephoto then. The FE is fitted with an 8MP tele camera that has a 76mm equivalent focal length. Measured from the 26mm of main cam, that's about 2.9x zoom which can pass for 3x in our book. This camera has an f/2.4 aperture lens and smallish 1.0µm pixels. Compare that to the 1.07x optical zoom and 64MP resolution of the S20 'tele' that does its zooming in software.
Over on the front, another change awaits. The Fan Edition gets a 32MP Quad Bayer sensor for selfies, instead of the conventional 10MP unit on the S20 and S20+. This one has the same f/2.2 aperture and 25mm focal length equivalent, but there's one notable downgrade - autofocus is missing.
The S20 FE gets the familiar Samsung Camera app which is straightforward and easy to use. The basics are as usual - swiping left and right will switch between available modes, and there's an option to re-arrange, add or remove some of the modes from the viewfinder. Vertical swipes in either direction will switch between front and rear cameras.
The familiar tree designation for zoom control is here too - three threes for ultra wide, two trees for man cam (moderately wide) and single tree for telephoto. As before, once you hit the one-tree toggle, an extra set of buttons show up, with additional preset zoom levels at 2x, 4x, 10x, 20x and 30x. Pinch to zoom is also available.
Selfie zoom levels on the FE adopt the logic Samsung's been using for a while and we've been complaining about for a while. By default, you're getting a cropped in view equivalent to a 32mm focal length and 6.5MP resulting images. To get the full coverage of the camera, you need to tap on the zoom toggle.
The viewfinder has the customary set of icons with the settings cog wheel located in the upper left corner of the screen. The usual stuff like video resolution, grid lines, location data, etc., can be found in the menu, as well as the ultra-wide lens correction, tucked in under the 'Save options' category. You can also turn on and off the Scene optimizer on a global scale. HDR is handled in the new way we got with the S20s - it's Auto HDR on or off, but it's missing a forced on setting.
There's a Pro mode too and the FE gets the full-featured one, as opposed to the more stripped down version on lesser models. We appreciate the granular exposure controls and manual focus with peaking, but there's still no live histogram or the ability to operate the telephoto or the ultra wide cams.
Camera UI
Daylight image quality
In broad daylight and with its main cam, the Galaxy S20 FE takes similar, yet different pictures, compared to the S20+ we had on hand. Mind you, it's a Snapdragon Fan Edition versus an Exynos regular edition, so the change of chipset could have its own effect on the processing in addition to the other possible variables.
The FE shots have narrower dynamic range - certainly not the impressive results of the S20+. Colors are not as vivid either and if you're a fan of Samsung's particular colorful look, the FE could be a little too muted for you.
Daylight comparison, main cam (1x): Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
None of that goes to say that the Fan Edition takes bad photos, no. They are sharp and detailed and, as we've come to expect from Samsungs - practically noise free. And for all our preferences for punchier colors, the ones out of the FE are more accurate than the S20+'s.
Daylight samples, main cam (1x)
The ultra wide cam is not the same, so at least whatever differences there are here, they're to be expected. The more restrained colors on the FE are among them, that theme continues. Interestingly, the FE's ultra wide is a touch sharper too - not by a lot, but it is noticeable. Dynamic range is about on par between the two.
Daylight comparison, ultra wide cam: Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Here are a few more samples from the FE.
Daylight samples, ultra wide cam
As usual, there is software distortion correction enabled by default. We'd keep it that way, unless artistic expression calls for the bulging non-corrected look.
Distortion correction: On • Off
The telephoto cam is the other new bit on the Fan Edition. Weirdly enough, that too outputs 12MP images and as best as we can tell these are upscaled as opposed to being a composite between the tele for the center and the main cam for the periphery.
Daylight samples, tele cam (3x)
In terms of sharpness the results are comparable between the Fan Edition and the S20+. Noise performance is a lot better on the FE, though the non-FE does have wider dynamic range.
Daylight comparison, tele cam (3x): Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Low-light image quality
In low light, images from the FE's main camera are more similar to the S20+' results, more so than in daylight. If we must point out the slight differences, the S20+ does a better job at containing the highlights around light sources while looking on a pixel level, the FE has a bit more detail and some extra noise to go with that.
Low-light comparison, main cam (1x): Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Switch the two phones to Night mode, and you'd be hard pressed to find a difference between them. You'll get virtually identical detail and hardly any noise from either of them. Highlight preservation is the same too, as is the boost in the lower midtones. There are textbook Night mode results, if a little conservatively applied.
Low-light comparison, main cam (1x), Night mode: Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
After sunset, the FE's ultra wide fares a little better in some respects than the one on the S20+, counterintuitive as that may be. It holds on to saturation, while the S20+ images look discolored. The more aggressive noise reduction on the FE leaves a lot less noise to look at, though the S20+ has a bit more detail among the noise grain. Overall, it's not the downgrade we thought it might be, this ultra wide.
Low-light comparison, ultra wide cam: Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Going into Night mode, it's actually straight-up superior. The FE's images are consistently sharper than the S20+'s here, while dynamic range is the same.
Low-light comparison, ultra wide cam, Night mode: Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Zooming in to 3x to for the tele comparison, we're seeing another minor upset - the FE inches ahead as well. We're seeing improved detail, lower noise levels, and wider dynamic range.
Low-light comparison, tele cam (3x): Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
The gap between the two gets narrower in Night mode, and both produce pretty good photos given some light to work with. That third shot on the S20+ is more of an outlier, we had no issues of this sort in other scenes.
Low-light comparison, tele cam (3x), Night mode: Galaxy S20 FE • Galaxy S20+
Once you're done with the real world samples, head over to our Photo compare tool to see how the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G stacks up against the competition.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G against the Galaxy S20+ and the OnePlus 8 in our Photo compare tool
Portrait mode
Live focus mode (Samsung's portrait mode) produces okay results on the S20 FE. Our wall panelling strikes again, confusing the algorithms, but in less specific scenarios the phone delivers good subject separation and natural-looking background blur.
Live focus (Portrait mode) samples
Life focus mode works particularly well on non-human subjects where it doesn't have to deal with stray hair and other overly random bits. Having said that, the sharp outline of the building behind the street sign is anything but natural.
Live focus (Portrait mode) samples, non-human subjects
Selfies
Selfies on the Fan Edition are an odd story. You'd expect 8MP shots out of a 32MP Quad BAyer imager, but these end up being 10MP. That was the case on the S10 Lite and Note10 Lite as well, both with 32MP front-facing cams. A lot like the 12MP output of the 8MP rear tele cam, we gather that Samsung just wants the FE to output the same image sizes as the non-FEs.
Image quality is decent at base ISO though they quickly deteriorate in even moderately dim conditions (samples 2 and 3). In good light (samples 1 and 4), you'll get well detailed images with pleasing skin tones. Dynamic range is respectable as well.
Selfie samples, wide mode
Here's how these scenes would look in the default cropped in mode - now in 6.5MP.
Selfie samples, crop mode
A full-res 32MP mode is available as well. It delivers extra detail in well lit situations, though it's questionable why you'd want all of it. Conversely, in dimmer light, results will be no different than what you'd get if you upscale the 10MP shot to 32MP - plus it's not a very good 10MP shot in dim light to begin with.
Selfie samples, 32MP
Selfie portraits often exhibit iffy subject detection - and that's not just because of the subject's torture-test-grade excuse for a hairstyle. Take a look at the wall panelling on the left in the first image, or the leftmost poster in the second one.
Selfie samples, Live focus (Portrait) mode
Video recording
The Galaxy S20 FE records video up to 4K60 with its main camera. The ultra wide can do 4K and 1080p but only at 30fps. Technically, so too can the telephoto, though to get it to record at 60fps in either resolution, you need to switch to tele first and then change the frame rate from settings. Additionally, how it manages to get 3840x2160px capture from a sensor that's nominally 3264x2448px, is a bit perplexing.
Anyways. Video quality from the FE's main cam is, well... adequate. While 1080p footage is comparable to the S20s', 4K on the FE is notably inferior in terms of sharpness and detail. It's not properly bad, it's just not as good as it can be in this respect. Other than that, on a global scale the videos have likable colors and dynamic range is excellent.
More or less the same holds true for the ultra wide cam too. 4K footage isn't up to the standard of the non-FE S20s when it comes to sharpness. Again, no complaints when you step back from 1:1 examination - colors are pleasing and dynamic range is great.
And we finally get to the telephoto for a nice surprise. Zoomed in videos from the FE look very good in 4K, comparable to ones out of the S20+ and enjoyable on their own. Colors are on point, dynamic range is wide, and somehow there is nice fine detail in what has to be slightly upscaled footage.
Electronic stabilization is available in all modes on all cameras on the Galaxy S20 FE. On the main cam it works great and irons out walking, does smooth pans and stays planted if you have the phone pointed in one direction.
We had less pleasing experience with the ultra wide that can't hold a steady 30fps frame with the stabilization on and tends to produce abrupt jolts every now and then, whether walking, standing still or panning. The telephoto is somewhere in between - it keeps a constant frame rate and while a little shaky, it's consistently just a little shaky.
Here's a glimpse of how the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G compares to rivals in our Video compare tool. Head over there for the complete picture.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G against the Galaxy S20+ and the OnePlus 8 in our Video compare tool
Competition
With the Galaxy S20 FE context is really important, more important than with most other phones. It's got a flagship chipset inside and a 120Hz Super AMOLED display with battery life that's spectacular for the combo, plus a hugely capable camera system, all in an IP68-rated body. Okay, that's no big deal, there are a lot of phones that can squeeze into the above description. But the key bit is that they're either a lot more expensive, or have regional appeal. The S20 FE? You can have that everywhere, for well under the price of a true flagship.
For example, in the US, the S20 FE is only available in 5G trim, and while its MSRP is $700, it's been going for $600 since launch, unlocked. An S20 5G, meanwhile, is $1000 (by the way, so is the S20+ 5G, because US).
In Europe, a 4G-only Fan Edition starts at around €630, with a €100 premium if you want the 5G variant. For the S20+ those numbers are €700+ and €900+ - from reputable retailers, that is. And if you have your eyes set on getting a Snapdragon in a Galaxy S20 on this continent, for one reason or another, it's really just the Fan Edition 5G.
In India, you can't officially get the 5G version, but the LTE flavor has a list price of INR50K. Compare that to INR78K for an S20+ and INR70K for an S20.
Yes, we meant pricing when we said context.
The closest you can get to the S20 FE's price (and get it globally) is the OnePlus 8 - that one goes for $600/€650/INR45K. The Galaxy's display goes up to 120Hz (90Hz on the OP) and it has a telephoto camera plus a microSD slot. The 8 has longer battery life and faster charging capability, but it's not like the Galaxy is lacking in this respect.
If you're in Europe and exploring the possibility for an S20 FE 5G, that puts the Asus Zenfone 7 on the table and it'll get you wider 5G band coverage. More importantly, it'll come with a flip up mechanism that brings unmatched main camera versatility to selfies.
A case could be made for the brand new Mi 10T Pro 5G. With a 144Hz display, 108MP main camera and a 5,000mAh battery it's looking really promising on paper, and early impressions from the ongoing review process indicate it can deliver. This one, with 5G capability, is more affordable than the Galaxy S20 FE with no 5G.
A very smart buy if you're in India is the iqoo 3. Starting at INR35K for a 4G variant (since there's no 5G Fan Edition in India anyway), the iqoo 3 matches the S20 FE's 8GB/128GB and has spectacular battery life, a headphone jack and a decent camera. The Galaxy does counter with other niceties like a microSD slot, IP68 rating, 120Hz display, and... well, overall superior camera. Hm, but you could grab the iqoo 3 5G and have next-gen connectivity, 12 gigs of RAM and 256GB of storage for 10% less than a 4G Fan Edition.
OnePlus 8 • Asus Zenfone 7 ZS670KS • Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G • vivo iQOO 3 5G
Galaxy S20 FE money also buys you a Google Pixel 5, a flagship by name but a midranger at heart with an inferior chipset and a limiting camera system among other deficiencies. It does have wide 5G support, Google's software and all that. We really wouldn't, though. And we usually would or at least consider it.
Verdict
This one is for the fans, isn't it? But if you aren't one already, the Galaxy S20 FE may very well convert you - a Samsung flagship at the core at a friendlier price.
A few concessions had to be made for the lighter price tag and it's almost as if the least expensive one bugs us the most - the charger dates back to the Galaxy Note4 times. The plastic back isn't as classy as the glass one on higher-end Galaxies, though this could be a con or pro, depending on where you stand. For whatever reason, we're not finding the FE's 4K recording up to the S20 standard, and we have about as clear an explanation about the lack of HDR in Netflix on this one. And lastly, the selfie camera isn't the best Samsung can offer.
But that's about it. The Fan Edition may not be a true top-tier device by the book, but it's got the key markings of one with just the right corners cut to meet a more appealing price point. It then represents amazing value - for a Galaxy in particular, but also against competing offerings. It's got our recommendation.
Pros
- IP68 rating for dust and water protection, variety of color options.
- Smooth 120Hz Super AMOLED display.
- Top-class battery life.
- Getting the 5G version bags you a Snapdragon-powered Galaxy in Europe.
- The ultra wide and tele cameras aren't the downgrades they appear to be compared to the other S20s, the triple camera as a whole is mostly great.
Cons
- Bundled with a slow 15W charger.
- Plastic back looks fine but is the opposite of 'premium'.
- No AF for selfies, unreliable portrait mode on the front cam.
- 4K video recording is uninspiring.
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