Samsung Galaxy S20 Review: Unkillable Battery!

The most influential phone that Samsung makes every year is the Galaxy S series smartphones. This is because any average person would automatically compare it with an iPhone when they are about to decide whether to buy an iPhone or Android phone.

Competing with the iPhone is an enormous deal. Samsung knows that it has a big reputation to protect the Galaxy S series. That’s the reason Samsung made all the right moves with the design of the Galaxy S20.

Read this review to find out what makes the new Samsung Galaxy S20 a great phone.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Flagship phone in 2020

This year we’ve seen a lot of flagship phones released to the market, they are competing against important specs such as the processor and camera count. Here are two fundamental things to consider if you are going to buy a flagship phone.

Refresh rate – A phone with a high refresh rate will enhance your user experience when you are scrolling in the app drawer, web pages, and images. If a flagship phone has a refresh rate of 120Hz that means that you will have a smooth time using your phone, making your eyes feel less exhausted.

Battery – The downside of having a high refresh rate is that the battery runs out faster. Ensure that the battery capacity is big over 4000 mAh and it supports wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Specifications

Display:  6.2 inches 1440 x 3200 pixels | CPU: Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2×2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) – Global | RAM: 8 GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS + 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom + 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.4µm, Super Steady video | Front camera:10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2″, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF  | Platform: Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Battery life: Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable

Chipset/IOS

The Galaxy S20 series comprises two models. The international model uses the Exynos 990 chipset, while the U. S & China version uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 with 8Gb of RAM.

Display & Design of Galaxy S20

The best upgrade made by Samsung in the S20 series is the display.

In the previous years, we’ve seen Samsung going crazy with their screen curves. This year, Samsung played it safe and flattened the S20 phones. I think they have finally mastered the right balance of curviness. When using the Galaxy S20, there will not be any accidental touches on the side screen, allowing you to enjoy the best experience with the Samsung Galaxy S20.

You will love the superfluid 120 Hz refresh rate @ 1080 resolution on the 6.2 inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.

The Galaxy S20 has the sharpest screen since it’s smaller, unlike its siblings the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Galaxy S20 Plus. You will have no problem using the display out in the sun since it automatically adjusts the screen brightness to adapt to that of the environment.

Performance

The ceiling of performance for all the high-end flagship smartphones has been consistent in 2020. As expected, this phone performs every bit of great as the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The user interphase is Samsung One UI 2.1 over Android 10 the interphase is quite polished and fluid, especially if you have the 120 Hz refresh rate on.

Samsung upgrading the RAM from 12 GB to 16 GB doesn’t make much of a difference. Though it doesn’t hurt to have the extra storage capacity. The Galaxy S20 doesn’t lag or slowdown in holding applications. The phone gives you enough storage capacity of 128 GB of storage expandable through micro SD.

The gesture navigation is the same as any Samsung device where swiping back is on the left side of the phone. Also, Samsung has incorporated Google Duo into the phone app, allowing you to start a video call from the main dial.

Battery Capacity & Charging

One thing that you notice with any smartphone that is offering a high refresh rate, is a bigger battery. The Samsung Galaxy S20 is no different, it offers a 4000mAh battery capacity which can last you up to 71 hours the entire day with no problem of the battery running low.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 offers 25 watts fast charging and 15 watts wireless charging.

You will be comfortable with battery life because it offers a high refresh rate. Even if you are using a max refresh rate, a max screen brightness the battery will last up to 70 hours before your phone goes dead.

If you want to extend your battery life, all you have to do is lower the refresh rate to 60 Hz @1440 p and the screen brightness levels. But then again, what’s the fun of using a flagship smartphone if you don’t get to use it at a maximum refresh rate?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra has a bigger battery capacity and the same refresh rate as the Galaxy S20. However, if you are about to have a super long day and you know you won’t get access to a charger, switching the refresh rate down will ensure that your phone lasts the entire day.

Camera & Video Capabilities of Samsung Galaxy S20

The new camera system is also one of the enormous improvements in the Samsung Galaxy S20 with a triple camera.

In daylight qualities from the 12MP main camera with OIS, the photos are sharp and clear. Samsung has toned down and dialed back on the crazy color saturation, giving you a more neutral photo.

The 12MP ultra-wide camera is the same as the one on the Galaxy S20 Plus and the S20 Ultra, its solid, and provides a decent photography experience, but nothing outstanding.

Here is our review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.

64 MP telephotos 3X camera you can zoom to a max of 30X instead of 100X, which is enough and it will give you great clear photos. Night mode is not available here, but the Zoom shots at night photos are okay.

The camera experience for the Galaxy S20 is better than that of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which is because the S20 Ultra had minor issues with the camera that was fixed with software updates on the device. There are certain camera techniques that the Galaxy S20 Ultra has that it lacks in the Galaxy S20 like zoom capabilities, even though it may not be enjoyable or applicable to everyone.

The 4k video looks so good, you would enjoy the videos you take with the Galaxy S20. The content will be sharp and color accurate.

It is also amazing to know that Samsung is providing you with 8k video footage, even though they compromised on the 8k video, 24ps. This is because it has some rolling shutter and it lacks rolling autofocus, meaning that shooting moving objects will be a challenge.

The key thing is that the 8k video shortage doesn’t come from the main camera, instead, it comes from the 64 MP telephoto camera meaning that it crops in a lot of the video shortage.

Extra Features of Samsung Galaxy S20

The camera, battery life, and display are the big specs improvements made by Samsung with the Galaxy S20 device. Here is a quick list of other fantastic features:

• Fingerprint reader
• Stereo speaker at the bottom of the phone
• One UI with all their 25 million features
• 68 water and dust resistance
• Expandable storage
• Punch out the selfie's camera in the front

How Much does the Galaxy S20 Cost in Kenya?

The price of the Samsung Galaxy S20 in Kenya starts from Ksh. 99,000. The phone is available in Cloud blue, Cosmic gray, and Cloud pin.

Accessories

The Samsung Galaxy S20 comes with the following items in the box:

• Phone protector case
• USB Cable
• A 25W charge travel adapter
• USB-C AKG headphones
• Different size earbuds
• Ejector tool for the SIM and microSD tray

Social Proof

There is a mixed reaction from the people who’ve used the Galaxy S20. Here is what some verified purchases from Amazon had to say.

Chinmay Shinde mentioned that the best thing about the phone was the display and the camera

 Samsung have rocked the nation with its tremendous features, giving competitors a tough run for their money. The best thing was the camera and the display of the phone

WhittyOne1 was impressed with the phone and left a 5-star review

Finally pulled the trigger on the regular S20 (unlocked). So glad I did. The feel in hand is terrific. It is quick, and the camera has been great so far.

TimFromLA did not think the phone is worth the price tag of $1000.

Thought the phone is decent but not worth buying my first galaxy, ill give it a 3.5 rating.

Alternatives of Samsung Galaxy S20  

If the Samsung Galaxy S20 isn’t your cup of tea for daily phone usage, Here are the alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy S20.

iPhone 11   

Apple did a fantastic job this year with the iPhone 11 series. The iPhone 11 is Ksh. 30,000 cheaper than the Galaxy S20 and more affordable compared to the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max version.

The wide and ultra-wide-angle camera takes amazing photos at night. Plus the phone uses Apple’s latest chipset, A13 Bionic chipset, making it the fastest smartphones with fantastic battery life.

Read the iPhone  11 review to find out if it's worth buying.

Google Pixel 4 XL     

Samsung’s Galaxy S series smartphones can overwhelm a customer with the extra features that come with the One UI. If you are looking for a simple smartphone, the Google Pixel 4XL would make a perfect fit.

It has the best camera set up, enabling you to take fantastic photos with a slight push. Though the S20 gives you better photos with the ultra-wide-angle lens.

The beauty of Google Pixel 4XL is that they guarantee you to update their software every single month. It means that you will always use the latest software as soon as Google releases them.

 One Plus 7T     

The One Plus 7T offers you great value for money with the specs on the phone. The One Plus 7T offers you a great display screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, making the phone super fast on the latest Snapdragon 855 Plus System on a Chip while offering fast charging.

The phone lacks IP water and dust certification because of the pop-out selfie camera. Good thing they give you lots of RAMs for the smooth and efficient operation of the phone.

There are trade-offs you will make with the One Plus phone because their camera experience isn’t as good as what Samsung provides in the S20.

Like I always say, it’s your money, you get to decide the phone that makes you happy.

Is Samsung S20 Worth Buying? 

Samsung has made all the right moves and has improved on the most important specs. Samsung released the flagships in 202O, the S20 to the S20 Ultra.

With the improvements that Samsung has made on its latest flagship, it makes the phone the default standard when comparing phones. If other phones are going to compete in terms of price, then they have to improve on the specs provided by Samsung.

Is this the best phone we’ve seen Samsung release? No!

The Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra still beat it in some specs, but we recommend that you get this phone. Samsung provides a high refresh rate on a curved AMOLED display, outstanding camera, stereo speakers, fast charge, big battery capacity, and waterproofing certification.