Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Which is better?

The Google Pixel 5 is the smartphone released in 2020 from the folks behind Android. It offers 5G support in a mid-range device and continues the Pixel tradition of having great cameras and innovative features. That’s all inside a phone that cost $699 at launch. However, Samsung revealed another mid-range smartphone in 2020, the Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition). It has a lot of flagship hardware and features from the earlier Galaxy S20 series of phones. However, Samsung has made a few changes to the Galaxy S20 FE. The final result is that it costs the same as the Pixel 5. So, what are the major differences?

In this article, we will compare and contrast both phones, and offer up our opinion on which one is worthy of your hard earned money Here is our look at the Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.

Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Specs

Design

The Google Pixel 5 has a 6-inch OLED display with a 2,340 x 1,080 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a much larger 6.5 inch Super AMOLED screen with a 2,400 x 1,080 resolution and a higher 120Hz refresh rate. Both also have punch-hole cutouts for the selfie camera and minimal bezels. The Pixel 5 uses the stronger Gorilla Glass 6 on its display while the Galaxy S20 FE has the older Gorilla Glass 3.

See also: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a — Which should you buy?

The Pixel 5 uses aluminum for the back of the phone. This is interesting since the phone supports wireless charging. The Pixel 5 adds this feature via a hole in the chassis covered by a material bio-resin. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE uses a plastic material for its back and an aluminum frame. The Pixel 5 has an old-fashioned fingerprint sensor in the back. The Galaxy S20 FE uses a more modern in-display fingerprint reader. Both phones have IP68 water and dust resistance certification, and both lack a headphone jack. Both also have stereo speakers.

The Pixel 5 comes in Just Black and Sorta Sage colors. Samsung has gone all out with lots of color choices for the Galaxy S20 FE. You can choose from Cloud Navy, Cloud Red, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud White, or Cloud Orange.

Features

Google decided not to put in the fastest processor available for the Pixel 5. Instead, you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has the much faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. Outside the US there is also a cheaper 4G-only version with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 990. Both chips have proven to be much faster than the Snapdragon 765G in our own testing.

Read more: Snapdragon 765G vs Snapdragon 865: How will the Pixel 5 stack up?

In terms of memory and storage, the Pixel 5 has 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM compared to the 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM in the Galaxy S20 FE. Both phones have 128GB of onboard storage, but the Galaxy S20 FE allows for up to 1TB of storage expansion with its microSD card slot, which the Pixel 5 lacks.

The Pixel 5 has a 4,080mAh battery, compared to the 4,500mAh battery on the Galaxy S20 FE. In our reviews of both phones, the Pixel 5 gave us about eight hours on a single charge on an average day of use. It lasted six hours when under heavy use. The Galaxy S20 FE battery lasted for about seven hours of screen time.

In terms of wired charging, the Pixel 5 supports 18W speeds. The Galaxy S20 FE has 15W wired charging out of the box, but if you buy an optional adapter, that can go up to 25W. Both phones support wireless charging, with the Pixel 5 using 12W and the Galaxy S20 FE supporting 15W. Both phones also support reverse wireless charging of other devices.

The Pixel 5 has the same main 12.2MP camera we have seen in previous Pixel phones for the past two years. However, the secondary camera is a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, ditching the telephoto sensor found on the Pixel 4 series. In our full review, we note that while the Pixel 5 takes great shots, the small 12.2MP sensor is starting to show its age, especially in scenes with lots of detail. Google is adding new processing features to its cameras. For example, the phone’s portrait mode will add Google’s low light Night Sight feature and will add locked, active, and cinematic pan modes for taking better video clips. There’s also an 8MP camera in the front.

The Galaxy S20 FE has three camera sensors in the back: a 12MP standard camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera. You also get a 32MP front-facing camera. In our review, the cameras took solid shots from both the front and the back, and the video clips, while limited to 4K at 60fps, are good for everyday use.

Because it’s made by Google, the Pixel 5 comes with Android 11 OS out of the box. The Galaxy S20 FE began shipping with Android 10, and received its Android 11 update in early 2021. Both phones can now get the Android 12 update. The Pixel 5 will get at least two more OS updates, while the Galaxy S20 FE is slated to get at least one more update.

Price

• Google Pixel 5 — $320 (Amazon US)
• Samsung Galaxy S20 FE — $599

The Pixel 5 launched in 2020 for $699 in the US via the Google Store, Google Fi, Verizon, and retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. However, Google is no longer selling the Pixel 5 on its official store. You can still buy the phone unlocked at Amazon, where it currently has the price of $320.

Read more: Best Google Pixel 5 cases

You can currently buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE at $599 in the US, unlocked and without any special deals. You might be able to cut that price down if you trade in an older phone. Only the 5G version is available in the US. Verizon Wireless is selling its own variant, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW which also costs $599, and can connect to the carrier’s “ultra-wideband” 5G network.

Read more: Best Samsung Galaxy S20 FE cases

Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Which should you buy?

On paper, the Galaxy S20 FE beats the Pixel 5 in many categories. Both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and the Samsung Exynos 990 are much faster than the Snapdragon 765G. The display on Samsung’s phone is not only larger but supports 120Hz refresh rates. If you want to play lots of graphically intensive games, the Galaxy S20 FE is the easy choice to make.

In terms of its battery, the Galaxy S20 FE may be the champ in terms of its size. However, the battery does have to power a larger display compared to the Pixel 5. In our reviews, the Pixel 5 lasted about an hour longer in average use, and an hour less with heavy phone use.

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Google’s camera team always has some tricks up its sleeve. Even though the main camera in the Pixel 5 is the same as in previous Pixel phones, Google has consistently proven that its photography magic lies in its software. Samsung’s phone includes both an ultra-wide sensor and a telephoto lens and it takes solid images and video clips

As you’d expect, Google’s track record of offering regular OS and security updates for its Pixel devices is pretty great, and that won’t change for the Pixel 5. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE may get three Android OS updates, but it shipped with the two-year-old Android 10 out of the box. If your biggest concern when buying a phone is getting the latest OS updates, the Pixel 5 the one to get.

It’s a close call between the Pixel 5 and the Galaxy S20 FE Ultimately it really depends on what you might be looking for in a phone. If you want one with a bit longer battery life, solid photos, and excellent security and updates out of the box, the Pixel 5 wins (if you can find one). If you want to have a more powerful processor and a bigger display, the Galaxy S20 FE is the victor.

That’s our look at the Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Which one are you considering?