Which Version of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Should You Buy?

Samsung released its latest flagship smartphone earlier in the year, naming it the Galaxy S20, not the S11 as many had expected. It contained minor processor upgrades on the S10, with more memory and improvements to the cameras. 

Like with its previous models, Samsung released multiple versions of the S20, each with minor variances in spec and a significant difference in price. So if you want the S20, which model should you opt for? Here are some factors to consider.

Gaming

All of the models in the Galaxy S20 range will run the games currently available to download fine. Since the internals of all the models are mostly the same, there is little to gain from buying the S20 Ultra for performance alone. 

The additional 16 GB of memory available in the top S20 Ultra model will have little benefit for the current crop of games, but may be more useful if you plan to hold onto the phone for a few years. If you do, the S20 Ultra with 16 GB of RAM will be slightly more future-proof than the others.

You’ll have no trouble running any type of game, whether you enjoy playing classic card games like PokerStars, RPG games like Eternium, or FPS games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. None of these games will even push the S20 to its limits. It’s likely not 

The S20 Ultra’s larger screen may be better for gaming if you’d like a slightly bigger image, or you find that the larger spacing out of the on-screen buttons will help. Otherwise, there’s little need for anything other than the base model.

The gaming experience on all devices will be comparable to a dedicated gaming phone like the ROG Phone 2. 

Battery Life

The S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra each have different battery sizes, the biggest being in the top range model. The S20 Ultra has a whole 1,000 mAh more than the base model. This means it’ll run for around an extra hour if you just leave it doing some lightweight work. Although the mid-range S20+ has a slightly smaller battery, it lasts almost as long as the S20 Ultra.

Photography

All of the phones in the S20 range have fantastic cameras. You’ll get sharp, vibrant images whether you take photos on the base model S20 or the top range S20 Ultra.

The S20 Ultra has some additional features that set it apart from almost any other device on the market. It has a 108 MP wide-angle lens, creating huge photos that will work just as well on its 4K screen as on a giant canvas. 

Instead of the 3x optical zoom that you find on the S20 and S20+ models, the Ultra had a 10x hybrid optical zoom for taking sharp, close-up photos.

If you like shooting videos, all phones work just as well. They can shoot in 8K, although only with 24 fps, and they handle 4K and 1080p with ease, reaching a maximum of 60 and 240 fps respectively. 

Size

The higher up the range you go, the bigger the phone. The base model S20 has a 6.2-inch screen. The S20+ is slightly bigger at 6.7 inches, and the S20 Ultra bigger again at 6.9 inches.

The larger models sacrifice pixel density though. The S20 packs in 563 pixels per inch, while this drops to 525 and 511 for the S20+ and S20 Ultra respectively. Although the density is lower, it’s unlikely to be noticeable to the vast majority of users. 

The 0.7-inch difference between the base and top models is mostly a matter for personal preference. If you like bigger phones, you’ll like the S20 Ultra. If you don’t, the S20 is the one you want. 

Price

The biggest difference between the handsets is the price. None of these models are cheap, with the base model S20 starting at $999. The mid-range S20+ ranges between $1,199 and $1,299, while the S20 Ultra starts at $1,399 but will cost $1,499 if you want the version with more memory and storage. 

The S20 is not the cheapest flagship smartphone on the market in Spring 2020, but you get a lot for your money, especially in terms of performance and camera specification. Whether you choose the more expensive version will depend on whether you want to give your photos a little edge.