The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) has quickly become a beloved option in the smartphone market, offering flagship-level features at a more accessible price point. As tech enthusiasts, we've put this device through its paces to see how it holds up in real-world use. Let's dive deep into what makes the S20 FE a compelling choice for smartphone buyers in 2023.
Design and Build Quality: Practical Meets Premium
Samsung made some interesting choices with the S20 FE's design. While some may balk at the use of a plastic back instead of glass, this "glasstic" material offers several practical advantages. The phone feels surprisingly premium in hand, with a smooth, almost velvet-like texture that's both pleasing to touch and resistant to fingerprints. Available in a range of vibrant "cloud" colors including mint, red, navy, lavender, and white, the S20 FE allows for more personal expression than many flagship devices.
The plastic construction also contributes to the phone's relatively light weight of 190 grams, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods despite its large 6.5-inch screen. Samsung hasn't skimped on durability either – the S20 FE boasts an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, matching more expensive flagships. This level of protection means the device can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, providing peace of mind for everyday use.
Display: A Visual Feast
The S20 FE's 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display is undoubtedly one of its standout features. With a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and support for HDR10+, the screen delivers vivid colors and deep blacks characteristic of Samsung's top-tier panels. The 120Hz refresh rate is a game-changer for user experience, offering buttery-smooth scrolling and animations that make the phone feel incredibly responsive.
In our testing, the display achieved a peak brightness of 679 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The screen covers 133.3% of the sRGB color gamut and 100% of the DCI-P3 space, resulting in rich, accurate colors that pop without appearing oversaturated. For those who prefer a more natural look, the "Natural" color mode in the display settings provides a well-calibrated alternative to the default "Vivid" mode.
Performance: Punching Above Its Weight Class
Under the hood, the S20 FE is powered by Samsung's Exynos 990 chip (in some regions) or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (in others). Our review unit featured the Exynos variant, which, while sometimes criticized compared to its Snapdragon counterpart, still delivers flagship-level performance in most scenarios.
In benchmark tests, the S20 FE with Exynos 990 achieved a multi-core score of 2,928 on Geekbench 5, which is competitive with other high-end devices from 2020. Real-world performance is where this phone truly shines. We experienced smooth multitasking, quick app launches, and excellent gaming performance. Demanding titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 ran flawlessly, maintaining high frame rates even at maximum graphics settings.
The phone's 6GB of RAM (8GB in some variants) proved sufficient for keeping multiple apps in memory, though power users might notice occasional reloads when switching between numerous heavy applications. Storage options of 128GB or 256GB, expandable via microSD, offer ample space for apps, media, and documents.
Camera System: Versatility Meets Quality
The S20 FE's triple camera system might seem modest on paper, but it delivers impressive results across various shooting scenarios. The main 12MP sensor (with optical image stabilization) captures detailed, well-exposed shots in good lighting conditions. Colors are natural and less oversaturated compared to previous Samsung phones, a change many photography enthusiasts will appreciate.
The 12MP ultra-wide camera provides a 123-degree field of view, perfect for landscapes or group shots. While there's some noticeable distortion at the edges, it's less pronounced than many competing ultra-wide lenses. The 8MP telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom, which proves genuinely useful for capturing distant subjects without significant loss in quality. Digital zoom is available up to 30x, though we found results beyond 10x to be of limited use due to reduced detail and increased noise.
Low-light performance is a pleasant surprise, thanks to the combination of optical image stabilization and software optimization. Night mode produces bright, clear images even in challenging lighting conditions, though it does require a steady hand or surface for best results.
Video capabilities are solid, with 4K recording at 60fps possible on both the rear and front cameras. While not quite reaching the video quality of top-tier flagships, the S20 FE produces stable, detailed footage that's more than adequate for most users.
Battery Life and Charging: Endurance with Options
The S20 FE packs a substantial 4500 mAh battery, which easily lasts through a full day of moderate to heavy use. In our testing, with the display set to 120Hz, we consistently achieved 6-7 hours of screen-on time. Switching to 60Hz extended this to 8-9 hours for users prioritizing battery life over smooth animations.
Charging options are plentiful, with support for 25W fast charging (though only a 15W charger is included in the box), wireless charging up to 15W, and reverse wireless charging for topping up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. In our tests, the included 15W charger took the phone from 0 to 100% in about 90 minutes, while a separately purchased 25W charger reduced this to around 75 minutes.
Software and User Experience: Refined and Feature-Rich
The S20 FE runs Samsung's One UI 2.5 based on Android 10, with an update to Android 11 (One UI 3.0) already available in many regions. Samsung's software has come a long way in recent years, offering a clean, intuitive interface with minimal bloatware. Features like Edge Panels for quick access to apps and contacts, and robust customization options allow users to tailor the experience to their preferences.
Samsung DeX support is a standout feature, allowing users to connect the phone to an external display for a desktop-like experience. This can be particularly useful for productivity tasks or presentations, extending the phone's versatility beyond typical mobile use cases.
Long-Term Value and Updates
Samsung has committed to providing three generations of Android OS updates for the S20 FE, ensuring the device will remain current and secure for years to come. This commitment to long-term support adds significant value to the phone, especially for users who prefer to keep their devices for extended periods.
Conclusion: A True Fan Favorite
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE successfully bridges the gap between mid-range and premium smartphones, offering an experience that will satisfy most users without breaking the bank. Its thoughtful balance of features, performance, and price make it a standout option in the increasingly competitive "budget flagship" segment.
While it may not have the absolute latest specs or the most premium materials, the S20 FE nails the essentials: a gorgeous display, versatile cameras, solid performance, and reliable battery life. For tech enthusiasts and casual users alike, it represents an excellent value proposition in the smartphone market.
Whether you're a Samsung fan looking for a more affordable option or simply in the market for a high-performing smartphone under $700, the Galaxy S20 FE deserves serious consideration. It proves that you don't need to spend top dollar to get a premium Android experience in 2023, cementing its place as a true fan favorite.
