Which Samsung Galaxy S20 is right for you?

Update: Samsung has recently launched its latest flagship Galaxy S23 Series consisting of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Buy your S23 phone today!

Is it time to level-up your phone? We’ve got the skinny on the S20 family, from the S20 FE to the S20 Ultra 5G, and the phones in between.

Are you looking to upgrade your phone, but not entirely sure what all those techy terms mean? Maybe you’re tossing up between the Galaxy S20 FE or S20 Ultra and need a little guidance? Optus has got your back. We’ve summed up all you need to know about the S20 family to make those hard decisions way easier.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

The lowdown: If you’re after value for money and a smaller sized phone compared to many of the other flagship phones on the market right now, this is the one for you.

Alright, let’s start with a little introduction. Everyone, this is Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, S20 FE, this is everyone.

What we’ve got here is a phone that is the literal definition of ‘value for money’. It’s a wee bit smaller than some of the other S20 models, and that’s all a part of its charm. It is capable of accessing 5G, battery life is a pretty solid 4500mAh, which Samsung equates to up to 15 hours of web browsing.

Plus, it’s got a tight camera with 3x Optical Zoom and a number of AI-supported features, including night mode and Single Take. Meaning you’ll get some pro photos from it. Aside from all that, it’s secure, in fact, according to Samsung, the S20 FEs are some of the safest phones Samsung has made to date. The Super AMOLED and Infinity-O Display make the screen on this bad-boy ultra-clear and colour correct. Making TV on the train a whole lot easier.

The round-up:

• CPU Speed: 2.73GHz, 2.5GHz, 2GHz
• Size (Main Display): 164.0mm(6.5" full rectangle) / 160.9mm (6.3" rounded corners)
• Resolution (Main Display): 1080 x 2400 (Full HD+)
• Technology (Main Display): Super AMOLED
• Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple): 12.0 MP + 8.0 MP + 12.0 MP
• Video Recording Resolution: 4k recording
• Slow Motion: 960fps @HD, 240fps @FHD

If you’re still searching for more info on the FE, we have a more detailed roundup of what reviewers have said about the S20 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

The lowdown: This is the phone for you if you’re a sucker for gadgets and cost isn’t a deal-breaker

As the name suggests, it’s S20 but ULTRA. So, you’re getting everything that the S20 has plus a bit more, (for a bit more as well, we’re talking cash).

So, what does an Ultra offer that the original S20 doesn’t? Firstly, the screen experience is bigger, so if you’re a fan of watching movies on the go or gaming on your phone, this could be well-suited. The S20 Ultra 6.9 inch is quite a bit larger than your S20 FE, making watching movies way easier. It’s also got all the cool things like long-lasting battery and more storage.

Lastly, the S20 Ultra’s camera has got a bit more oomph to it. 108MP and 100x Space Zoom, plus it works through something called pixel binning (a process that enables you to take good photos in darkness and when it’s super bright).

The round-up:

• CPU Speed:2.73GHz, 2.5GHz, 2GHz
• Size (Main Display): 174.4mm (6.9" full rectangle) / 170.2mm (6.7" rounded corners)
• Resolution (Main Display): 3200 x 1440 (Quad HD+)
• Technology (Main Display): Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh
• Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple): 108.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 48.0 MP + VGA
• Video Recording Resolution: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @24fps
• Slow Motion: 960fps @HD, 240fps @FHD

If you’re looking for a bit of a hands-on feel of the phone, we have a more detailed review of the S20 Ultra’s features for you to read.

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

The lowdown: This is a goldilocks of the S20 family, with few compromises for less money than the Ultra

When the S20 family launched, as one reviewer put it, "the regular S20 phones are trying to do less, so I think they end up accomplishing more."

The S20+ doesn't include the larger display of the S20 Ultra or the 108MP lens, and keeps things like the 120Hz refresh rate, still has a pretty impressive 64MP telephoto lens, and is the "phone you want to grab when you have to shoot things from a distance and want to capture more detail," in one reviewer’s mind.

So if you're looking for solid function at a reasonable cost, the S20+ may be your best bet.

The round-up:

• CPU Speed:2.73GHz, 2.5GHz, 2GHz
• Size (Main Display): 169.5mm (6.7" full rectangle) / 165.4mm (6.5" rounded corners)
• Resolution (Main Display): 3200 x 1440 (Quad HD+)
• Technology (Main Display): Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh
• Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple): 12MP + 64MP + 12MP + VGA DepthVision
• Video Recording Resolution: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @24fps
• Slow Motion: 960fps @HD, 240fps @FHD

Samsung Galaxy S20 5G

The lowdown: The basic that's anything but

When the S20 family launched, the S20 seemed to fit the vast majority of people’s wants and needs. As one reviewer put it, "whether you're a power user or a social media butterfly, this phone won't leave you wanting anything."

This entry level phone for the S20 family still packs a punch with 120Hz, and nearly all the same technology as the rest - and in fact, you may prefer it if you're updating from a smaller phone model, as this retains a relatively small size at just over 15 cm high, compared to the over 16.5cm high S20 Ultra.

For a pocket friendly powerhouse, take a gander at the S20.

The round-up:

• CPU Speed:2.73GHz, 2.5GHz, 2GHz
• Size (Main Display): 158.3mm (6.2" full rectangle) / 154.1mm (6.1" rounded corners)
• Resolution (Main Display): 3200 x 1440 (Quad HD+)
• Technology (Main Display): Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh
• Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple): 12MP + 64MP + 12MP
• Video Recording Resolution: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @24fps
• Slow Motion: 960fps @HD, 240fps @FHD

The S20 family is great, if you're looking for the 2021 range (the S21 family), explore the S21 Ultra or take a look at our intro to the S21 family from Samsung.

If we’ve convinced you or if you want to peruse the specs a little more, take a look at the S20 family models, the S20 FE , S20+, S20 and S20 Ultra or check out the other phones we’ve got yourself.