Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Fan Version (FE) is a smartphone particularly designed for followers, based on the South Korean tech big. Samsung claims it listened to its customers and made probably the most reasonably priced model of the S20 attainable whereas nonetheless providing high-end options, together with stellar battery life and strong digicam expertise.
In some methods, the S20 FE jogs my memory of OnePlus as a result of it designed its smartphones particularly with its customers in thoughts. It wasn’t at all times about promoting the most effective smartphone in the marketplace, however the firm would take heed to complaints made with different units and repair these points with their handset.
Whereas the S20 FE was not made with my private style in thoughts (I’ll contact on {that a} bit later), I perceive what Samsung had in thoughts when it created this piece of {hardware}.
I can definitively say that Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ is my favorite smartphone I’ve used this 12 months to date, and the S20 FE does numerous the identical issues as that machine, which makes it a worthwhile buy.
To say the least, this telephone isn’t good, and I got here throughout a few considerations, however for probably the most half, I believe Samsung really made a fairly good machine for its followers.
Elegantly flat
From a design standpoint, the S20 FE appears to be like like the corporate’s Galaxy A71 mid-range smartphone with barely thicker bezels. This isn’t significantly fairly from my perspective, given I liked the design of the S20+ and its barely curved display edges that create an nearly bezel-less design. Even the A71’s smaller black bars make for a greater aesthetic than the S20 FE.
Regardless of the marginally thicker bezels, the handset nonetheless appears to be like smooth. And The digicam cutout on the ‘Infinity-O’ show is definitely smaller than the S20 collection and the A71, which I assumed was a pleasant contact.
On the underside of the telephone, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, which I anticipated and don’t thoughts since I usually use Bluetooth headphones. In contrast to the opposite S20 smartphones, the FE doesn’t include USB-C wired earbuds. It’s value noting that Samsung’s Galaxy Note collection additionally lacked wired earbuds. On the fitting facet of the machine, there’s a quantity rocker and energy/Bixby button.
Whenever you flip the handset over to its again, you’re greeted with the now-familiar feeling of plastic, much like the Galaxy Note 20. I don’t know which followers wished this plastic materials, however I wasn’t one among them. What’s good about this plastic rear is that it is available in tons of cool colors, together with ‘Cloud Lavender,’ ‘Cloud Crimson,’ ‘Cloud Orange,’ and extra.
Nevertheless, there’s a $450 worth distinction between the Galaxy Word 20 and the S20 FE that makes the plastic on the rear of the S20 FE much more acceptable than it was on the Word 20.
Moreover, regardless of the plastic, I like the best way the again feels, and it doesn’t entice fingerprints or smudges, which is at all times a plus.
2There’s additionally a triple digicam setup within the high proper nook that appears much like the Word 20’s.
Clean as the opposite S20s
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE additionally has a decrease decision than the S20 handsets with a 1080 x 2400 pixel decision, in comparison with the 1440 x 3200 decision out there on the opposite S20 collection units.
Aspect by facet, you possibly can inform the standard distinction between the S20 FE and the S20+ or Pixel 4 XL, but it surely’s not that noticeable. To most individuals, the S20 FE’s show will nonetheless look spectacular and vibrant.
Moreover, the S20 FE sports activities a 120Hz refresh price that makes on-screen animations look particularly fluid. The next refresh price ends in smoother movement when scrolling, swiping and gaming.
The S20 FE doesn’t have the identical difficulty because the Word 20 or different S20 collection, the place it’s unable to change to a 120Hz refresh price with the show set to WQHD+ contemplating its display solely function an FHD+ decision.
It’s value noting that this isn’t the identical variable show out there on the Word 20, which modifications the refresh price relying on what you’re doing with the telephone.
Take a snap for the followers.
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE’s fundamental digicam sports activities a 12-megapixel major shooter, an 8-megapixel telephoto digicam with 3x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter. This S20 machine lacks a depth sensor, but it surely nonetheless takes nice footage.
You may undoubtedly see a few of Samsung’s scene optimization at work when taking footage, making every shot extra vibrant and barely oversaturated, however I don’t thoughts it anymore.
I assumed pictures have been detailed, clear, crisp and provided an incredible vary of color in addition to very good distinction. With the world on shutdown because of the ongoing pandemic, I really didn’t take any pictures of different individuals, since I haven’t seen my pals or household in fairly a while, which implies that I haven’t been in a position to take a look at out the portrait mode or how the S20 FE handles footage of faces with beards or lengthy hair.
The S20 FE’s digicam is great and ok for every part the common smartphone customers might want to put it clearly.
Furthermore, the standard of its Night time mode footage is nice. I discovered that the S20+’ have been a bit brighter, however the distinction is negligible, and anybody taking footage at evening with the S20 FE will probably be glad.
Samsung’s Night time mode footage aren’t as sharp as Huawei’s, and a few element is misplaced, however for probably the most half, these photos are good. Much like Huawei’s low-light mode, Samsung’s S20+ requires customers to carry their telephone nonetheless whereas taking photographs, and in case your arms shake, it can lead to a considerably blurry image.
That mentioned, I skilled sudden points with the S20 FE’s digicam. I discover while you activate the S20 FE in ultrawide mode at evening, it generally causes the digicam app to crash instantly, and when it doesn’t, it’s fairly sluggish. When utilizing the ultrawide digicam at evening, the standard isn’t that nice both, and the images are very darkish. That is solely a difficulty when utilizing the ultrawide shooter at evening.
The telephone additionally sports activities an 8-megapixel telephoto digicam able to taking 3x zoom footage that look nice. Once more, Huawei’s P40 Pro does a greater job, however the S20 FE’s photos are clear and detailed.
Telephone selfie shooters aren’t at all times that nice as a black man as a result of these cameras are, to place it merely, not made for me. I discovered that the FE’s shooters made my pores and skin look a bit brighter, however the color isn’t that far off from my precise pores and skin tone. In actual fact, the color was higher than it was with the S20+, and I assumed that the telephone did a fairly good job of just about reproducing my precise pores and skin tone, in order that’s saying one thing.
Not loopy robust, however nonetheless works
The S20 FE options 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 865 processor. It’s necessary to notice that that is half as a lot RAM as the opposite S20 smartphones, and generally, that is surprisingly noticeable.
The S20 FE can deal with about 10 apps open directly; whereas, the S20+ may deal with about 15 apps and runs them at a speedier tempo. With the S20 FE, every part however the digicam app appears to be actually fast, although generally I’ve observed that re-launching some apps takes a second longer than I anticipated. That mentioned, I would solely be noticing this as a result of I used the S20+ for a number of weeks.
What’s necessary to notice is how nice the S20 FE’s battery life is. I constantly get greater than a day and a half of utilization out of the telephone, and I solely ever used the machine with a 120Hz refresh price. I may get wherever from seven to 9 and a half hours of display time relying on whether or not I used to be watching numerous YouTube and Netflix, or if it was extra of a chill day and spent it scrolling by Instagram, Twitter and studying the information.
