The best smartphones you can buy right now
Our top choices aren’t just flagships.
Samsung Galaxy S20
87
Engadget Review
Few Android flagships look as good as the Galaxy S20, and fewer even sport features this advanced. Samsung’s latest sports a smooth 120Hz screen, versatile triple-camera setup and 5G support (depending on your carrier), making it one of the best Android phones on the market.
The right amount of phone for the money.
Cherlynn LowMarch 16, 2020
Pros
- One-hand friendly design
- Smooth and beautiful display
- Long battery life
Cons
- No mmWave support on T-Mobile
- Cameras struggle with autofocus (pending software update)
Samsung
Galaxy S20
Engadget
87
Critics
10 reviews87
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users
4 reviews65
AVERAGE USER SCORE
View All Critic & User Reviews
Samsung Galaxy S20
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (4)
- 87AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE10 ReviewsTom's Guide80Samsung Galaxy S20 reviewThe biggest reason not to get the Galaxy S20 is its battery life. It's runtime is about an hour behind the iPhone 11 Pro, and that delta increases nearly 2.5 hours with the S20's 120Hz display mode enabled. Overall, our top pick among Samsung's new Android phones is the Galaxy S20 Plus, because it offers a larger display and longer endurance.CNET90Top-shelf specs, but plenty of room for refinementOf Samsung's three new Galaxy S20 5G phones, the smallest, cheapest Galaxy S20 is my favorite. It's just as stuffed with top-shelf features as the Galaxy S20 Plus and S20 Ultra, from its tack-sharp screen to advanced camera skills. But apart from screen and body size, the differences between S20 models are almost negligible.phoneArena90Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus ReviewThe Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus might not quite have all the bells and whistles of the S20 Ultra, but they have two key advantages: they are not as gigantic as the Ultra and while expensive as well, their price is not quite as excessive as the $1400 price of the Ultra.GSM Arena80Samsung Galaxy S20 reviewSamsung's marketing has been quite straightforward in describing the upgrades it brings and the phone manages to deliver a solid and consistent experience all at more palatable pricing. In fact, the exuberant pricing on the Ultra makes the S20 look a pretty good deal in comparison. Which may have been the strategy all along.TechRadar905G, a 120Hz display and more debut on the Galaxy S20The Samsung Galaxy S20 isn’t the most cutting-edge of Samsung’s S20 lineup – that honor goes to the Galaxy S20 Ultra – but it’s still a powerful phone with an ergonomic and attractive design, and the introduction of new features like 5G, the 120Hz display and upgraded rear cameras make it an outstanding handset in its own right.The Verge90Just rightI bought and used the Galaxy S10, and so I have a pretty solid frame of reference for the S20. Despite Samsung’s claims, it does feel more like an S11: a solid improvement over last year but not a “new generation” of phones. It’s also got too much of Samsung’s legacy of limiting software updates in it to be the start of something genuinely new.Android Central90A near-perfect, pocket-friendly powerhouseWith the richest 120Hz screen around, battery for days, and top-of-the-line performance, Samsung makes a flagship that actually justifies its premium price without being too full of itself or too overstuffed to hold comfortably.CNN90The Galaxy S20 and S20+ succeed as the best option for the massesIt's safe to say the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ are terrific Android smartphones. The cameras, unlike the flagship, offer a reliable and easy way to capture life. Furthermore, Samsung really continues to cement top-tier status with displays, and it's all wrapped up in a smooth Android 10 experience powered by a fast processor.9to5Google80Smartphones this good shouldn't have questionable camerasSamsung is the biggest Android manufacturer and its Galaxy S series is the pinnacle of what it delivers for the year. It’s the first device Samsung releases every year, the showcase for new technologies and a blueprint for the year’s Note too. The Galaxy S20 delivers so, so much and really only falls on its face with the camera. Outside of that glaring issue, it’s a really great smartphone!TrustedReviews90Samsung Galaxy S20 ReviewFor most people, the Samsung Galaxy S20 is the best Android phone available right now. This will likely be the biggest selling flagship Android device of the year, with a lot of happy customers. Yes, some other handsets offer a few extra tricks (Oppo Find X2 Pro, for example) and some have a better camera (the Pixel 4, for instance, especially in low-light) but no other phone offers a package that’s quite as complete as the S20.
- 65AVERAGE USER SCORE4 ReviewsHenry10July 17, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Honestly too big, needs the headphone jack back. Would have been nice to get a proper black color on the regular S20. Felt like a half assed incremental upgrade. Build quality didn't feel as premium as past phones. I ended up switching back to my old phone.Sneak80July 16, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I've been using the Galaxy S20 since it launched. The camera is great. The phone fits comfortably in my hand. I like that it is slightly narrower than the S10. I am extremely glad that the bixby button is gone and I'm also glad that Samsung didn't put the power and volume buttons on the "wrong" side like they did with the Note 10 and 10+. The display is amazing, which is not surprising.What I don't like is that the finger print reader doesn't unlock my phone every time. I haven't recorded actual stats, but it feels like my thumb only unlocks the phone 75% of the time. The facial recognition is fast and good, but I work with the public so now my face is covered most of the day. Apart from the usual slightly-faster-processor and slightly-better-camera features, the only thing that really sets this apart from the S10 is the 5G capability, which doesn't really matter. Vzw customers can only access 5G in starts and stops, AT&T pretends that 4G LTE CA is the same thing as 5G and the speed of T-Mobile's 5G feels like its just strong LTE.The phone is great, but paying for a 5G antenna that you won't use to its potential seems like a waste of money.I got mine with a carrier promotion, so I'm not paying for the phone.Siddhi90July 16, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetDavid80July 16, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The S20 is a good phone, but not a great phone at the price. For a premium phone there are a few things I am disappointed with. One of my biggest frustrations is the tediously slow on-screen fingerprint unlock, to the point that I am considering switching back to an LG V series. (I've also spent a lot of time with a Huawei P30 Pro which unlocks much quicker than my S20, and even my son's Samsung A70's on-screen fingerprint unlock is noticeably quicker than my S20.) Swiping the screen, pressing the side button, trying to use the fingerprint unlock... It can be quite a frustrating exercise trying to get into the S20!The reviews about the S20's battery life seem to be quite positive, but I have been disappointed with my phone's battery life compared to my previous phones and the phones off others in my family.Most other features are as expected from a flagship phone. Overall the S20 is a satisfactory phone, but at the price I expect it to be closer to perfection. My previous flagship (LG V30+) gave a better overall ownership experience... to the point that I have even considered going back to it.
Key Specs
TYPE
Smartphone
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android
SCREEN SIZE
6.2in
INTERNAL MEMORY
128GB
CAMERA
Yes
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