If you're seeking a phone with a premium build quality and a sharper screen, the Sony Xperia 1 V may be the right choice for you given its higher screen resolution and glass back, but it is more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. The S20 FE offers a solid performance with a plastic back which can be more durable, and it comes at a mid-range price. Both have similar battery life, but the Sony Xperia 1 V has superior RAM which can make it faster for multitasking. Camera-wise, both phones are capable, but the Xperia 1 V's newer technology might offer slight improvements in photo and video quality. Keep in mind, both phones run on Android and have comparable screen sizes, so your preference may come down to specific features, brand loyalty, or budget. 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 S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has no clear advantages over the Sony Xperia 1 V.
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 V
Very good battery life
Very good display quality
Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.2/10
7.1/10
The Sony Xperia 1 V has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Sony Xperia 1 V both have fair camera capabilities; the Galaxy S20 FE boasts good photo software experience yet only fair selfie quality, while the Xperia 1 V has very good photo software experience and also fair selfie quality. It's important to recognize that while both devices offer fair selfie performance, the Xperia 1 V may provide a slightly better software experience for general photography.
Video Quality
5.5/10
6.4/10
The Sony Xperia 1 V takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE delivers good video stabilization and fair video low light performance, whereas the Sony Xperia 1 V provides very good video stabilization and fair video low light performance. Furthermore, the Galaxy S20 FE has good video software experience and the Xperia 1 V offers very good video software experience, making the latter a preferable option for users prioritizing video capture quality.
Cost
$198
$1,099
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a price of $198 and the Sony Xperia 1 V costs $1,099.
The Sony Xperia 1 V and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE both have only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Sony Xperia 1 V both take fair selfies, reflecting a balance struck between performance and cost. The Galaxy S20 FE's selfie performance is limited by its photo software experience, while the Xperia 1 V, despite newer technology, still produces selfies ranked fair, possibly due to a combination of resolution, dynamic range, or low light performance factors.
Battery
7.8 Hours
8.2 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 V has 8.2 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a screen size of 6.5 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 V is 6.5 inches.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Sony Xperia 1 V compare to other phones
"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."
"The Sony Xperia 1 V is unlike anything else you'll find on the market today. With an ultra-tall 4K OLED panel, a textured glass back for added grip, and all of the manual controls Alpha fans could ask for, this is nothing like modern Android flagships — something that might win over some old-school smartphone fans."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE or the Sony Xperia 1 V
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.
About Sony
Sony has had a long history in the mobile market, entering the scene all the way back in 1993 with its first commercially available phone, the CM-H333. Nowadays, their Xperia line of phones provide well-rounded and sometimes expensive devices with a focus on camera software that includes extensive support for manual tweaking of settings. Sony's dedication to audio quality is also evident in its smartphones, which often feature high-resolution audio support while also being one of the few remaining manufacturers that consistently provide headphone jacks in their phones. The company's version of Android is also considered to be close to stock, enabling a bloatware-free experience for its users.
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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
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.