Samsung is just about done when it comes to flagship phones in 2020 – we think – so it's time to turn our attention to what it has in store for 2021. The next top-tier Samsung phone could be called the Galaxy S30 or the Galaxy S21, depending on who you believe.
Whatever the name of the handset, it looks as though the high-end Ultra version of the phone is going to come packing a battery with a rated capacity of 4,855mAh, as per some document digging and model number matching done over at MyFixGuide.
That equates to a typical capacity of around 5,000mAh, which is the figure that manufacturers usually use for their marketing and specs lists: that would put the Galaxy S21 Ultra battery exactly on a par with the one in the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
That doesn't mean actual battery life would be the same though – screen size, power efficiency and various other factors all play a part. We're hoping Samsung would be able to make some internal tweaks to eke out more life from the same capacity.
Galaxy quest
If Samsung sticks to its traditional annual schedule, then the Galaxy S21 phones should be making an official appearance around February time – though like everything else at the moment, the tech calendar is in a state of flux.
That's still a few months off, but we've already come across plenty of rumors, leaks and speculation about what's in store for Samsung's next flagship phones. Will these handsets come with super-fast 65W charging? Could they feature in-screen cameras? Time will tell.
What we can say with a certain degree of confidence is that the new phones will get a bump in terms of their performance and the quality of the camera array, and we would expect multiple models to appear, as with the Galaxy S20 line from this year.
Samsung will know it can't afford to stand still with its flagship phone series: the Pixel 5, the iPhone 12 and the OnePlus 8T are all launching in the next couple of weeks, which means Samsung will have plenty of high-end competition by February.
The Premiere, a 4K laser projector from Samsung that’s designed as an alternative to its high-end QLED TVs, is now available to order. There are two models: the $3,499 LSP7T which gives you up to an 120-inch projection, and the $6,499 LSP9T which goes up to 130-inches. Samsung describes both as “ultra short throw” projectors, meaning you get massive projection sizes even when the unit is placed directly in front of your wall or screen.
Maximum projection sizes aren’t the only thing separating the two projectors. The LSP9T is brighter at 2,800 ANSI lumens, compared to 2,200 ANSI lumens for the cheaper model. This obviously means it provides a brighter image, but it also means its image should be clearer when there’s more ambient light in the room. The more expensive LSP9T also has a 40-watt, 4.2-channel audio system compared to a 30-watt, 2.2-channel setup for the LSP7T.
The projector is the first to support the HDR10+ standard.Image: Samsung
Otherwise the two projectors share a lot of specs. Both are powered by the same Tizen operating system as Samsung’s TVs, and both can be controlled via the Alexa and Bixby voice assistants. They’re both laser projectors, which should mean their light sources will last longer than the bulbs used in traditional projectors. Samsung also advertises The Premiere as the first projector to support HDR10+, although the format hasn’t been as widely adopted as other HDR standards like Dolby Vision.
Both projectors are available to order on Samsung’s website starting today. The site notes that shipping is expected by October 16th. If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, then check out our recent guide to the best projectors, where our top picks start at the slightly more affordable $899.
Samsung’s Good Lock suite of customization tools recently received two exciting new modules — Pentastic and Wonderland. In case you missed our coverage of these modules, the new Pentastic module lets you theme the S Pen experience on your Samsung device and the Wonderland module lets you create live wallpapers from any still image of your choice. Now, Samsung is teasing yet another Good Lock module, called Keys Cafe, that will let you personalize the Samsung Keyboard app.
As per a recent press release from the company, the upcoming Keys Cafe module will let you customize the Samsung Keyboard app as per your preference. It will include support for keyboard height and width adjustment, key layout repositioning options, a wide range of themes to customize the look of the keyboard app, and dynamic effects that will bring your keyboard to life.
Additionally, the Keys Cafe module will come with a gamification feature that aims to help you minimize typos by turning typing into a game. The feature will give you a score and ranking based on your performance, which is expected to help you improve your typing accuracy over time. The Keys Cafe module will be available on Samsung devices running One UI 2.1 and above starting next month. In order to use the module, you’ll also need to update the Samsung Keyboard app to version 5.1.05.
Along with the upcoming Key Cafe module, Samsung has announced an update for the Home Up module. The update will introduce a new Share Manager feature that will let you hide specific share commands from the sharing window, manage your Direct Share contacts, and select the apps you want to see in the sharing window. The new Share Manager feature will soon be available on devices running One UI 2.5 and above.
Furthermore, Samsung is pushing an update for the MultiStar module with a new I ♡ Galaxy Tablet feature. The feature includes a Wireless Keyboard Share option that lets you connect your tablet’s physical keyboard with your Galaxy smartphone for a better typing experience. It also lets you quickly switch between the two devices at the tap of a button. This update has already started rolling out to Galaxy tablet users and it’s supported on tablets running One UI 2.5.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. is proud to introduce the newest product in its outdoor LED display portfolio, the XPR-B, a flexible, all-in-one display solution for a variety of small and medium-sized businesses including schools, local entertainment complexes, quick-serve restaurants (QSRs) and hospitality. Dubbed the ‘LED in a Box’ the XPR-B comes complete with a simple, web-based content management solution allowing business owners, restauranteurs and administrators to disseminate important information quickly.
“At the onset of the pandemic, Samsung saw an opportunity to help a multitude of industries – including retailers, restauranteurs, schools and medical campuses – get back to business through the use of display technology,” says Mark Quiroz, Vice President, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “The XPR-B was developed to help small and medium-sized business owners stay nimble by providing a platform for seasonal and time-specific advertising, wayfinding and provide an additional method of direct communication with customers.”
With a stress-free installation of uni-body cabinet structure, businesses do not need to worry about a cumbersome setup. With a distinctive cabinet design, the display is tailored to the user’s needs with a flexible and effortless installation meaning users can obtain the LED Signage in as little as two weeks. Additionally, the integrated content management solution that allows users to conveniently create, schedule and deploy exclusive content that is inviting to customers.
Further, the display provides exceptional picture quality with clear visibility in all conditions. It was built to weather the elements through rigorous performance testing, ensuring high uptime even in the toughest environments giving business owners peace of mind. Moreover, the display offers multiple operational safeguards to prevent errors and interruptions and features a new, more efficient power supply that comes with a back-up built-in so the display will never lose power and shut-down.
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“XPR-B signage provides a turnkey solution for customers. That ease of use brings the potential for higher ROI on ad dollars compared to traditional advertising methods for small businesses,” says Kevin Izatt, Product Manager, Outdoor LED, Samsung Electronics America. “Whether you’re a school that needs a new display to welcome students or a small business who wants to update customers on what it’s doing to keep shoppers safe, this solution has something for everyone.”
The XPR-B joins Samsung’s growing portfolio of XPR displays, which includes the XPR-S, a solution developed for professional sports and customers that need max brightness, and the XPR-E, meant for customers who do not require prolonged periods of max brightness. Using the same technology behind the popular XPR-E modules and components, the XPR-B comes in two sizes – 1m x 2m and 1.5m x 3m – with each size available in single and double face and in 8mm, 10mm and 12mm pitch to match the unique needs of each customer. Further, the display’s low profile design and 5.9” depth creates a more aesthetically pleasing display while the front ventilation removes side and rear airflow clearance requirements.
Samsung could seriously step up the charging speed of its next Galaxy flagship, based on South Korean certification details that have recently come to light.
Dutch site GalaxyClub has unearthed a document noting a new 65-watt "travel adapter" with the designation EP-TA865. The current maximum speed Samsung's latest flagships can charge at is 45 watts, though most of the company's devices ship with either 15W or 25W bricks.
65-watt charging would make for another sizable step up in speed, though the Samsung Galaxy S21 won't be the first to hit that threshold. We've already seen 65W adapters from the likes of Oppo and Xiaomi, and OnePlus plans to join their ranks with the upcoming OnePlus 8T. OnePlus claims this will allow the 8T to reach 58% capacity in 15 minutes, and full capacity in 35 minutes.
The OnePlus 8T will feature a 4,500-mAh battery, which is a size that will likely be incorporated in at least one of Samsung's forthcoming Galaxy S21 series devices. The recently-released Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which also packs a 4,500-mAh power pack, reached 56% after a half-hour of charging in our testing with its packed-in 25W brick.
Samsung's current 45W brick costs $50, meaning owners will likely have to shell out a decent chunk of change for 65W charging, unless Samsung surprises us and includes the new adapter in box with its upcoming phones.
Current Samsung flagships also top out at 15W for wireless charging, which is decent but not the fastest we've seen. In that respect, OnePlus again leads the way, having introduced 30W wireless charging that's twice as fast on its OnePlus 8 Pro. The OnePlus 8T isn't expected to support this feature, as OnePlus typically restricts more premium capabilities like wireless charging to its most premium models. (And there will be no OnePlus 8T Pro model, the phone maker says.)
With smartphones taking on more power demands these days — from fast refresh rates to 5G connectivity — battery sizes have ballooned in recent years, and charging speeds have had to increase in kind so that the latest models don't require forever and a day to charge. Given that Samsung frequently releases new handsets with the latest and greatest tech and features, the Galaxy S21 certainly figures to benefit from an increase in peak charging speed.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE makes a very good first impression. And that's because it doesn't feel like a 'lite' flagship. For a very reasonable $699, you get nearly all the top features in the Galaxy S20 — including a 120Hz display, triple cameras with 30x Space Zoom and even a larger battery — for a $300 cheaper list price.
You can also tell that Samsung is gearing the Galaxy S20 FE toward younger shoppers. For one, the 32MP selfie camera is shaper than the front camera on the Galaxy S20. And you can get the S20 FE in six colors.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE specs
Price: $699
Screen: 6.5-inch AMOLED (2400x1080: 120 Hz) CPU: Snapdragon 865 RAM: 6GB Storage: 128GB, expandable up to 1TB Rear cameras: Triple-lens: 12MP main (ƒ/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2), 8MP telephoto with 3x zoom (ƒ/2.4) Front camera: 32MP (ƒ/2.2) Battery size: 4,500 mAh Size: 6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 inches Weight: 6.7 ounces
As you might expect, Samsung had to cut corners in a few places to keep the price down, from the display resolution and RAM to the charger and plastic back. But none of these trade-offs are dealbreakers for me. I've been using the Galaxy S20 FE for a few days, and it has the potential to be one of the best phones for the money. Here are my pros and cons so far.
Samsung Galaxy S20 review: Price and release date
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a price of $699 and begins shipping Oct. 2, with pre-orders live now. It comes in just one configuration, with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, though owners can expand storage by up to 1TB with a microSD card.
Those who preorder a Galaxy S20 FE will also get $70 in credit at Samsung's store, which is enough to take a decent chunk of change off a pair of Galaxy Buds Live or a Galaxy Watch 3.
The Galaxy S20 FE is available through AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. The Verizon variant, dubbed Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW, supports the carrier's millimeter-wave 5G network for much faster speeds in urban areas.
Some retailers already have the Galaxy S20 FE on sale for $599, or $100 off, so check out all the Galaxy S20 FE deals so far.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Design and colors
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE will stand out in a crowd with its six color options. You can take your pick from Navy, Lavender, Mint, Red, White and Orange. We checked out the Navy option, which has a sophisticated sheen to it. Just note that the color selection will vary by carrier.
Samsung makes a couple of design concessions in the name of affordability, but this phone doesn't look for feel cheap. The back uses polycarbonate (plastic) instead of glass, but Samsung did a nice job curving it around the sides to make the handset feel unified and solid.
(Image credit: Future)
When you put the Galaxy S20 FE side by side with the regular Galaxy S20, it's easy to tell that the former has thicker bezels. However, once you start using the S20 FE it's fairly close to a full-screen experience. It also helps that the cutout from the S20 FE's front camera is smaller than on the regular S20.
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE doesn't cut corners when it comes to water resistance. The handset is IP68 rated, which means it can handle a dunk with ease.
Measuring 6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 inches and weighing 6.7 ounces, the Galaxy S20 FE is a bit thicker and heavier than the regular Galaxy S20 (5.9 x 3 x 0.31 inches, 5.7 ounces), but that's not a surprise given the FE has a larger display than the S20 (6.5 vs 6.2 inches).
I do have one complaint about the Galaxy S20 FE's design, and it's the choice of fingerprint reader. Unlike the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 series, the S20 FE uses an optical sensor embedded in the display instead of a more accurate ultrasonic sensor. As a result, I encountered more false negatives trying to unlock the phone than I would like.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Display
(Image credit: Future)
I'm glad that the Galaxy S20 FE features a 120Hz display, which I think is a better feature to bring over from the regular Galaxy S20 than its sharper quad HD resolution. The S20 FE makes do with a full HD+ screen with 2400 x 1800 pixels.
The 120Hz setting delivers smoother scrolling and better gameplay in a growing array of titles that support 120Hz panels. Thumbing through NYTimes.com was buttery smooth, and I enjoyed fluid animation when playing Marvel Contest of Champions as I used Iron Man to fire a laser at The Punisher.
Samsung's OLED panel really shined when watching an episode of Cobra Kai. As Sam LaRusso crashed into a dessert table, the explosion of color really came through, with pops of green, blue, brown and orange.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Cameras
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE is one of the most versatile camera phones for the price, offering a trio of rear lenses, plus a front 32MP camera for selfies.
The back cameras consist of a 12MP ultra-wide shooter with a f/2.2 aperture and 123-degree field of view. There's also a main 12MP camera (f/1.8) and a 8MP telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom (digital).
The Galaxy S20 FE 30x Space Zoom in action. Not bad! #GalaxyS20FE pic.twitter.com/7JwEzojLLYSeptember 28, 2020
I had fun testing out the Space Zoom on the Manasquan River in New Jersey. I could zoom in on a boat from far away, and the Galaxy S20 FE got me in close enough to make out the two passengers and the sides of the vessel. It's definitely grainy up close but it's still pretty impressive for a phone.
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE also did a fine job capturing this close-up of a portulaca flower. The pink came out darker than real life, but I appreciated the level of detail in the water droplets around the petal.
I compared the Galaxy S20 FE against the more expensive iPhone 11 Pro Max in this portrait, and Samsung's phone held its own. The S20 FE did a better job illuminating my face, even if it's a bit blown out. However, the water and surrounding trees look richer in the iPhone's shot, and the blur effect is a bit more subtle.
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The Galaxy S20 FE also performed well when I took several shots at a nearby park. When I shot a photo on a hiking trail, the S20 FE rendered the trees and leaves with pretty sharp detail, and the sunny sky didn't blow out the shot.
I next challenged the Galaxy S20 FE with a shot of trees in a shadowy foreground, a rippling river in the center and a line of trees and puffy clouds in the background. Overall, the exposure looks pretty well balanced, and this is a pic I would be happy to share.
The Galaxy S20 FE delivered a brighter photo of this tree in darkness with its Night mode. The lights on the right side are a little blown out, but overall you can make out more detail in the brick, trees and grass in Samsung's photo.
The 32MP selfie camera on the Galaxy S20 FE gives you a normal and ultra-wide option for maximum flexibility, which comes in handy when you want to fit more people in the shot.
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung says this selfie shooter uses what's called tetra binning (which combines four pixels into one to capture more light) and a re-mosaic algorithm (which remaps pixels into a conventional color patter for producing more detailed pics in bright conditions).
In my testing I found that the Galaxy S20 FE had a tendency to smooth my face, though I'm not complaining too much. My blue shirt certainly pops and there's a fair amount of detail in my hair.
I also tried out the Galaxy S20 FE's Super Steady mode, which is designed to minimized camera shake when you're in motion. I noticed only a slight difference with the setting on when walking at a moderate pace, so Super Steady is probably best for more rigorous activities and action sports.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE packs a Snapdragon 865 processor and pairs that with 6GB of RAM, which is half as much as the 12GB in the regular Galaxy S20. You also get 128GB of storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card.
In my everyday use, I found the Galaxy S20 FE to be quite responsive, whether I was switching between a dozen open apps or racing around the track in Asphalt 9. I did notice a hint of lag when exiting to the home screen at times, but overall the S20 FE has performed well thus far.
In Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance, the Galaxy S20 FE scored 3,006 in the multi-core test. That's not far behind the Galaxy S20, which notched 3,147. We will report back with other benchmark results soon.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Battery life and charging
(Image credit: Future)
The Galaxy S20 FE should last you through most of your day on a charge. It's equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery, which is bigger than the 4,000 mAh battery in the Galaxy S20 and the same size as the Galaxy S20 Plus.
After unplugging at 7 a.m. and using the Galaxy S20 FE regularly for several hours, it still had 55% juice left at 4:16 p.m. We'll be running our web surfing test over 5G to see how the Galaxy S20 FE holds up and if it can land on our best phone battery life list.
The bad news is that the Galaxy S20 FE ships with a 15W charger, which is notably slower than the 25W charger that comes with the regular Galaxy S20. You can buy a 25W charger for faster charging with the FE, but it's going to cost you an additional $29.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The competition is heating up for flagship phones that cost less than $700, and the Galaxy S20 FE could be tough to beat. It offers a big display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, strong cameras and solid performance in a colorful design. I can deal with the plastic back and most other trade-offs versus the regular Galaxy S20; I just wish Samsung included a more advanced ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
The powerful zoom, in particular, should help the Galaxy S20 FE stand out against the likes of the Google Pixel 5 and OnePlus 8T. Google's handset should shine in the camera department as well, while OnePlus is already touting charging that's four times more powerful than Samsung's. But we'll have to see how the competition shakes out with these upcoming phones.
Overall, though, Samsung's biggest competitor is itself. The regular Galaxy S20 can be found for under $700 on sale, and even the bigger 6.7-inch Galaxy S20 Plus also dips below $700 at times. So we would definitely look for Galaxy S20 FE deals for $599 or less if you're going to make the plunge. Stay tuned for our final verdict soon.
Despite smartphone brands ramping up the storage capacity of devices, Google Photos is an app that most people rely on to make space. However, it seems like some Samsung users are facing a problem with Google Photos. According to a report by Android Police, Samsung’s motion photos format is not being saved on Google Photos. What motion photos does is that it enhances still images by adding a video or audio clip, every time a photo is clicked in this particular mode.
The report states that motion photos saved in Google Photos is giving the video and audio a complete miss. While Samsung’s motion photos feature has been around for some time, Google Photos started supporting it last year only.
On Google Photos’ Support Forum, a user pointed out this bug. In the post, the user said, “After Samsung added the feature of sound to motion pictures included on the OneUI 2.5 update, the motion photos are not showing up in Google Photos and, by consequence, not being backed up to the cloud.The pictures are showing fine but, just the live pictures stopped to work.”
Following this post, several other users chimed in and said that they were facing the same problem. A user said that he was facing the issue on his Samsung Galaxy S10+ while another had the problem on Galaxy Note 10.
Neither Google nor Samsung has made an official comment about this problem. It’s not clear what may be causing this bug to pop up but some Samsung users’ photos in this particular format aren’t being backed up or saved in Google Photos.
You can only buy one Galaxy S20. Make sure it's the right choice for you.
Sarah Tew/CNET
As the tech world buzzes about Samsung's newest devices -- the Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 FE -- now might be a great time to revisit the lineup Samsung announced at their first Samsung Unpacked event of 2020, back in February. A lot has changed since the unveiling of the Galaxy S20 line. As the coronavirus pandemic grew, smartphone shipments around the world plunged 38% in February. The timing is admittedly odd. Shopping for a new phone like the Samsung S20 Ultra, S20 Plus or standard Galaxy S20 in the midst of a global public health crisis may not seem like your first instinct or inclination. But the S20 Ultra is already on sale from its original launch price, and if more price cuts are on the horizon as Samsung shifts focus to the Note 20 and Fold 2, the price could be right for one of its flagship phones from earlier this year.
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Keep an eye out for discounts and bundles, and in the meantime, find out which Galaxy S20 is best for you. We start with the main differences among the models, each phone's biggest benefits and which one excels at the most important categories. Scroll to the end to compare specs.
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Which Galaxy S20 is which?
The Galaxy S20 trio is about more than just a scale of smallest and cheapest to largest and most expensive. They share commonalities, like a sharp, vibrant screen technology, Android 10 software and a 120Hz screen refresh rate that can make scrolling and gameplay liquid smooth. (Warning: It can also eat up battery reserves.)
But there are some notable differences between them in specs, performance and maneuverability that affect how they fare in day to day use.
Here are some main differences:
Galaxy S20 Ultra: 6.9-inch screen, heavy and bulky, most camera features, fastest 5G
Galaxy S20: 6.2-inch screen, same camera as Plus, slower 5G except for Verizon
Buy the Galaxy S20 Ultra if…
You love an enormous screen
Price is not a consideration
You enjoy every camera whistle and bell
Buy the Galaxy S20 Plus if…
You like a large screen
Want to access the fastest form of 5G
Seek long battery life
Buy the Galaxy S20 if…
You prefer a smaller phone
Fastest 5G speeds aren't a priority
Value for money is an important consideration
The differences between Galaxy S20 phones go beyond price and size.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Best screen experience: Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is personally my least favorite of the three. It's too expensive for what it is (at launch, the price started at $1,399, £1,199 or AU$1,999), and it feels like a literal brick (7.8 ounces or 220 grams). But I can't deny that its screen size makes it the best S20 for watching videos and reading the internet, simply because of its larger screen.
Resolution is actually the lowest of the S20 phones, but its pixel density is so high, I doubt you'll notice.
Most powerful camera: Ultra, but...
On paper, the Ultra wins here. It has two features unique to the Galaxy S20 line: a 108-megapixel main camera that works through a process called pixel binning (read that article, it's fascinating), and up to 100x zoom.
That sounds impressive, and the technology is intriguing. In reality, though, I rarely yearned for either feature, and I don't miss them when I'm using another phone. To use the 108-megapixel setting, you must first tap a setting, take the photo and then, in editing mode, crop in. The purpose is to get a detailed picture using this method than you might otherwise get from the main camera alone, especially if you can't get close to the subject. It's a roundabout way to zoom in on a shot.
The thick, heavy Ultra wants to be the camera king.
Juan Garzon/CNET
Using the 100x zoom is much more straightforward, but unless you really, really need to get that close, the resulting image will be grainy and barely usable. It works better the farther from the subject you are.
Meanwhile, the 12-megapixel main camera, 64-megapixel telephoto sensor and the 30x zoom on the S20 Plus and S20 did just what they needed to do. You can still take a 64-megapixel photo and crop in for more detail, though this process doesn't use pixel binning. (See the comparison chart below for more camera specs.)
Longest battery life: Still up in the air
Two factors determine battery life on the Galaxy S20 phones: If you're on 4G or 5G, and if you're using the 60Hz refresh rate (default) or have turned on the 120Hz option. I tested all three phones over 4G, because 5G wasn't available where I was testing. I also observed battery conditions in the real world with both the 60Hz and 120Hz screen settings for all three phones.
This is where it gets a little messy. I can't comment on how 5G factors in yet, but in general, the use of 5G can lower battery life. And CNET's comprehensive lab tests -- in airplane mode and over Wi-Fi, and with 60Hz and 120Hz screen selections -- have been temporarily interrupted as we all adjust to quarantine life. They will resume.
All the Galaxy S20 phones support wireless charging and reverse wireless charging to another device.
Angela Lang/CNET
In the meantime, I can tell you that despite having the largest battery reserves (5,000 mAh), I was surprised that the Ultra's battery life drained quickly for me when I used the 120Hz refresh rate option.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S20 Plus' smaller battery (4,500 mAh) lasted just as long as the S20 Ultra in the CNET lab tests we were able to conduct. The Galaxy S20 (4,000 mAh) and S20 Plus have both lasted me from morning till night, though if you tap into 5G data and use the 120Hz option round the clock, you may need to top up before going out for a long night -- probably not a priority these days.
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Best 5G: A draw
The Galaxy S20 Ultra and S20 Plus both support the type of ultrafast 5G data transfer called millimeter wave (aka mmWave). The Galaxy S20 relies on the form of 5G loosely referred to as midband, or Sub-6. Midband 5G has relatively lower peak speeds, but is designed to travel greater distances and be more accessible indoors. Remember, even "slow" 5G is still expected to give you faster data transfer than 4G speeds.
There are exceptions, however. Verizon announced it would release a variant of the Galaxy S20 5G phone that does work with its mmWave network -- we just don't have an exact date yet. In some countries, such as the UK and Australia, you can buy 4G-only versions of the Galaxy S20, as well.
That makes 5G a potentially deciding factor between, say, buying the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20 Plus. If you're looking to future-proof your phone as much as possible, the S20 Plus is the logical choice. If the networks in your area are slower on the draw and 5G won't be fully developed where you live for several years, then you'll hardly miss out with a 4G or 5G Galaxy S20.
Best value for money: Galaxy S20
By virtue of its lower price, the Galaxy S20 is the best value for money, but that's hardly a blanket statement. The entry-level device costs $1,000 at full retail price in the US, which is significantly more than other entry-level phones like the iPhone 11, which starts at $699.
Even the $950 Galaxy Note 10 is less than the S20. Samsung justifies the price hike with the 120Hz screen and camera features, even though the image quality, while very good, didn't demolish the competition. If Samsung, retailers and carriers offer compelling deals and bundles, this is going to be the phone that will be put in the best position to compete.
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