What's good
- 120Hz screen
- Fast performance
- Affordable
- Available in 6 different colors
What's bad
- Camera is so-so
- Faulty/slow fingerprint scanner
- Fast charge costs extra
The FE stands for Fan Edition -- not exactly the most descriptive label. So what does that mean, and how does it stack up against the rest of the market? Let’s see what the reviews have to say!
Design
Samsung chose to go with the “glasstic” on the backplate with a matte finish. This is just a fancy word for high-end plastic, and some reviewers argued it took away from the phone’s feel. However, others were pleased that the matte texture seemed to do away with ugly fingerprints and smudges.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE also comes in various colors. Orange, mint, navy are just a few of the options. Sure, they’ll likely get hidden under a case, but having options is nice. Just keep in mind that it’s not quite the quality of the rest of the 2020 Galaxy S line-up.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a flat-screen instead of the rounded waterfall screens on many other phones in its price range. Reviewers said it was still possible to accidentally trigger touches on the screen when using the phone with one hand but a lot less than most waterfall screen designs.
The OLED screen is only 1080p. However, the 120Hz refresh rate helps make up for any potential downside there with its smooth motion. Reviewers praised the display for its bright, vibrant picture and color accuracy.
Performance
The phone kept up with similarly priced phones in both real-world tests and benchmarks. Reviewers felt the 120Hz refresh rate made it feel that much faster and more responsive. Multitasking seemed no big feat, and playing games didn’t either -- it sailed through every attempt to tire it out reviewers created.
It doesn’t outperform the top of the charts, but it also doesn’t underwhelm. It’s the right middle -- and that’s perfectly fine given the price.
Software & Storage
The S20 FE runs the average up-to-date Android software with a skin of Samsung's making over top. Some reviewers remarked that the skin and extra apps were excessive, as some of the features were already there from Android. Onboard storage ranges from 128GB to 512GB, with the option for a MicroSD up to 1 TB.
Cameras
The cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE are nothing to be disappointed about. Still, they don’t offer anything new and are even a slight downgrade from the original Galaxy S20.
Thankfully, those downgrades don’t seem to impact picture quality much. The multiple lenses’ seemed to perform reasonably well in good lighting, except perhaps trying to use the ultra-wide lens indoors, which didn’t work out so well.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has excellent battery life --even when used heavily or using the always-on display option. Reviewers stated that keeping the 120hz refresh rate on all day still left them with plenty of battery until bedtime.
The only sad thing is that while it supports a higher rate of fast charge, the box only comes with the lower end charger. So while it’s still a faster charger, you’ll need to spend extra for the fastest charger.
Audio
The listening experience impressed reviewers, both with and without headphones. The Galaxy S20 FE lacks a headphone jack -- but that’s fairly typical in this price range now. However, reviewers had no issues with Bluetooth stability, and pairing was speedy.
Specs at a Glance
- “Glasstic” chassis
- 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display
- Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 processor
- 6/8GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 128/512GB of storage with MicroSD option
- 12/12/8MP front-facing camera
- 4500mAh battery
Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is better than a substantial portion of phones in the mid-tier price range. It doesn’t break any barriers, however, in terms of new features or fashion. Despite this, the phone is more than enough to keep the average person happy.
PC Magazine says, “The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G delivers all the phone performance most people need at a price more people can afford."
Tom’s Guide states, “The Galaxy S20 FE delivers a fantastic 120Hz display, excellent cameras and solid performance for a very reasonable price.”
What the Critics Are Saying...

- Duncan Jaffrey, AusdroidI absolutely love the concept of the Fan Edition line Samsung has to comply executed on the strategy and has delivered a well rounded, no-compromise phone ad just under AUD$1000. While I may want to see it sell for more like $800 perhaps I am unrealistic. One thing is for sure, I will have a hard ti...

- Paul Carroll, DxOMarkOverall we found image quality to be quite similar to the slightly more expensive Samsung Galaxy Note20: the S20 FE delivers good quality in core areas, with generally accurate exposure, pleasant color, and a good texture-to-noise compromise. Performance for zoom, autofocus, preview, and night shots...

- João Carrasqueira, NeowinThe Galaxy S20 FE offers stellar value within Samsung's lineup, and while it's not quite at iPhone SE levels of affordable, it's certainly a strong contender for value king in the Android space.

- Jason England, Android GuysFor $700 or less with trade-in, you get a stunning display, top-notch performance, fantastic battery life, and a great set of cameras. Pretty much everything you’d expect from a high-end phone in 2020, with only a few drawbacks like thicker bezels or a plastic back.

- Ryan Whitwam, The WirecutterThe huge, 6.5-inch OLED screen offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a high refresh rate to make animations smoother. The Galaxy S20 FE has one of the fastest processors available and will get three years of guaranteed OS updates, but the Android software isn’t as good as Google’s version.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Samsung released the Galaxy S20 FE on October 1, 2020.
The Galaxy S20 FE price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Samsung Galaxy S20 FE prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy S20 FE with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy S20 FE has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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