The Samsung Galaxy Note20 offers a larger screen and slightly longer battery life than the Galaxy S20 FE, which could be good for media consumption and everyday use. It also comes with a stylus for added productivity. However, the Galaxy S20 FE has a higher-refresh-rate screen, which can provide a smoother visual experience, particularly when scrolling or gaming. The S20 FE also has a slightly better video quality camera. Both phones have similar build quality with plastic backs and similar performance, but if you prioritize a smoother screen and camera video quality, the S20 FE could be worth the extra cost. If budget is a main concern, the larger screen and stylus of the Note20 might be more appealing. Both run on Android operating systems but have different release dates, with the Note20 being slightly older. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note20
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy Note20.
Key differences
Cost
$286
$198
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a price of $286 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE costs $198.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both have only fair overall cameras quality.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE have fair cameras mainly due to their selfie performance, which is not outstanding but adequate for typical usage. Both phones offer decent camera versatility with a good range of shooting modes and lens options, but they may struggle in challenging lighting conditions, as their dynamic range and low light performance are fair, not excelling in preserving detail in shadows or highlights or in capturing clear images in poorly lit environments.
Photo Quality
6.4/10
6.3/10
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both have only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both take fair photos. This is partly due to their software experience with photo capture, which is rated as good, suggesting the interface and features are effective but not exceptional. Additionally, both phones have a fair selfie quality, indicating that the front-facing cameras produce decent but not outstanding images.
Video Quality
5.9/10
5.5/10
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both have poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has fair video quality because it has lower scores in video software experience, video dynamic range, and low light performance compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which has good video quality due to better scores in these same categories. Additionally, the Galaxy S20 FE has higher video resolution and framerate, offering superior video stabilization and mic quality, contributing to its overall better video performance.
Battery
8.2 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has 8.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is 6.5 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE compare to other phones
"We think pretty much anyone picking up the Note 20 to take photos will be very happy with the sharpness and appearance of the shots. If you're looking for a phone with an integrated stylus then there's little better than the note-taking potential of this phone. Sure, its 'glasstic' rear and lack of higher refrsh-rate screen are little red marks against its specification, but you can buy the step-up Ultra model if you see that as a problem - although we prefer the smaller price and smaller camera lump of this 'entry' Note model."
"The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a fine phone. The flat display glass may turn off some, but the 120Hz refresh rate turned me on. I really liked the overall size and usability of the phone, and the six different colors mean you’ll likely find a version to suit your personal style. Other pros include solid performance, excellent battery life, and straightforward software."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 or the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.