Samsung announced the Galaxy S20 lineup at the Galaxy Unpacked event in February 2020. The initial Galaxy S20 announcement included the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and a fourth model arrived a few months later. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the fourth model, and it was announced in September 2020.
Keep reading to learn more about whether you should buy a GalaxyS20 FE in 2021, or if you should consider another model in the Galaxy S20 lineup.
Table of contents:
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE spec comparison
- Display, Design & Colors
- Front & Rear Facing Camera
- Carrier Compatibility
- How much does the Galaxy S20 FE cost in 2021?
- Should you buy a Galaxy S20 FE in 2021?
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE spec overview
The Galaxy S20 FE launched with Android 10 and v2.5 of Samsung’s One UI. An update to Android 11 began rolling out in February 2021, and this arrived with v3.1 of Samsung’s One UI. Samsung has previously promised three years of Android software updates, so the Galaxy S20 FE is expected to receive two more Android software updates.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Samsung Galaxy S20 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | |
Display | 6.5″ Super AMOLED Infinity-O (2400 x 1080) | 6.2″ Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O (3200 x 1440) | 6.2″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O (2400 x 1080) |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
RAM | 6GB | 12GB | 8GB |
Storage | 128GB or 256GB with microSD card slot (support for 1TB cards) | 128GB with microSD card slot (support for 1TB cards) | 128GB or 256GB |
Rear camera | Triple camera with 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 8MP telephoto | Triple camera with 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto | Triple camera with 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto |
Front camera | 32MP selfie camera | 10MP selfie camera | 10MP selfie camera |
Water resistance rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 4,500 mAh | 4,000 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
Charging | Super Fast Charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | Super Fast Charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | Super Fast Charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
3.5mm headphone jack | No | No | No |
Network connectivity | 5G (sub6 / mmWave) and LTE | 5G (sub6 / mmWave) and LTE | 5G (sub6 / mmWave) and LTE |
Size / Weight | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm / 190 grams | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm / 163 grams | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm / 169 grams |
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was released as a lower-priced alternative to the main Galaxy S20 lineup, with the FE standing for Fan Edition. Overall, the Galaxy S20 FE has a similar design to the other models in the S20 lineup. And as you can see from the specs table, it also shares some of the same hardware as the Galaxy S20.
For example, both the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S20 are powered by the same Snapdragon 865 processor, both have options for 128GB of internal storage with support for 1TB of additional storage via a microSD card slot, and both have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Both models also have 5G and LTE connectivity, and the same charging options including Wireless PowerShare. Of course, there are some differences, which you can find with the display and the front and rear camera setups.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S smartphone Comparison Guide
Galaxy S20 FE Display, Design & Colors
The display on the Galaxy S20 FE measures in at 6.5”, which puts it 0.3” larger than the Galaxy S20 5G. The larger size may sound nicer, but the Galaxy S20 FE display is a Super AMOLED at 2400 x 1080 resolution and 407 ppi. In comparison, the Galaxy S20 5G has a 6.2” Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x display at 3200 x 1440 resolution and 563 ppi. That being said, it is important to note that the Galaxy S20 FE display is 1080p and that it supports HDR+ and a high 120Hz refresh rate for smooth motion. While the overall quality isn’t the same as the Galaxy S20, the display on the Galaxy S20 FE should meet your expectations and needs with ease.
The overall look of the Galaxy S20 FE is similar to the other models in the Galaxy S20 lineup, but the Fan Edition has a flat display with rounded corners, as opposed to the curved edges on the Galaxy S20 5G. The Galaxy S20 FE also has an optical in-screen fingerprint sensor for device security, a hole-punch style front-facing camera, and a triple camera array in the upper left corner of the back.
One perk of choosing the Galaxy S20 FE over the other models in the Galaxy S20 lineup is the availability of color. Samsung offers several color options for the Galaxy S20 FE, which include: Cloud Navy, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Red, Cloud Mint, Cloud White, and Cloud Orange.
Does the Galaxy S20 FE have a headphone jack?
The Galaxy S20 FE does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. In fact, none of the models in the Galaxy S20 lineup have a 3.5mm headphone jack. The last models from the Galaxy S smartphone lineup that included a standard headphone jack were the Galaxy S10 family.
While you can’t plug a standard 3.5mm set of headphones directly into your Galaxy S20 FE, you can use a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle adapter. Or alternatively, you can also use a set of Bluetooth headphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds.
Galaxy S20 FE Camera
On the front, you’ll find a hole punch-style 32MP selfie camera. The front-facing camera has a 0.8 micron pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, and an 81-degree field of view. The front camera is perfect for capturing selfies, and it can also be used to record video at up to 4k resolution.
Flipping over to the back of the phone you will find a triple camera array that includes an ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto camera.
- 12MP Ultra wide with 123-degree field of view and f/2.2 aperture
- 12MP Wide angle with 79-degree field of view and f/1.8 aperture
- 8MP Telephoto with 32-degree field of view and f/2.4 aperture
Other highlights of the rear camera include tracking AF, optical image stabilization (OIS), and Samsung’s Space Zoom which brings a 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom and up to 30x Super Resolution Zoom. Features of the rear camera include Night mode, Slow motion, Super Slow-mo, Live focus, Live focus Video, Panorama, Single Take, and more, such as Scene Optimizer, Shot suggestions, and Flaw Detection.
Galaxy S20 FE Carrier Compatibility
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available in a few different models. You can find an unlocked model, along with a general carrier model, and a Verizon-specific model.
- Galaxy S20 FE 5G – SM-G781U1 – Unlocked
- Galaxy S20 FE 5G – SM-G781U – Carrier model for T-Mobile and AT&T (and other carriers)
- Galaxy S20 FE 5G – SM-G781V – Carrier model for Verizon
If you are planning to buy a Galaxy S20 FE 5G for Verizon, the best model would be the SM-G781V. Similarly, if you plan to use your Galaxy S20 FE 5G with T-Mobile or AT&T, the best option would be the SM-G781U. Otherwise, if you want the freedom and flexibility to switch between carriers you should look for the factory unlocked version of the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, which carries a model number SM-G781U1.
How much does the Galaxy S20 FE cost in 2021?
The original MSRP for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was $699. Keep in mind that the S20 FE was intended as a lower-priced alternative to the Galaxy S20. And buying on Swappa means that you can pick up a gently used Galaxy S20 FE 5G for about half the cost! Prices for a newish Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G start at around $360 in July 2021.
Pricing for a newish Galaxy S20 FE 5G from the Swappa marketplace will vary based on several factors, such as the condition and the amount of internal storage. Pricing may also fluctuate depending on whether you are looking for a factory unlocked model or a carrier-branded model. You can review the current availability (and current prices) of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G by tapping the widget below.
Should you buy a Galaxy S20 FE in 2021?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a great phone in 2021. It was originally released in September 2020, which means it isn’t even a year old yet. Not to mention, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G has only received one Android version update and has two more expected updates in the future. The original $699 MSRP was fair, but when you can easily pick one up for less than $400 — the Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a great purchase in 2021.
Of course, if you’re willing (and able) to spend about $100 more — the Galaxy S21 5G would be a great purchase. The Galaxy S21 5G is a generation newer, so that means it’ll get an extra year of support from Samsung (as compared to the Galaxy S20 FE 5G). The Galaxy S21 5G also has a newer and more powerful processor, and higher-quality display.
Regardless of whether you choose to go with a Galaxy S20 FE 5G or pick up a newer model such as the Galaxy S21 5G — you can rest assured knowing that you will find the best deals in the Swappa marketplace. Swappa is a safe, secure, and easy to use marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. And, if you’re still unsure which model to choose, make sure to visit our Samsung Galaxy S Buyer’s Guide.