Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Economical flagship for everyone
Samsung Galaxy 20 FE or “Fan Edition” is officially announced- a streamlined version of the standard Galaxy 20 that downscaled some of features that average users can do without while retaining features that makes it the most compelling Samsung phone to date for the current times.
A flagship phone with compelling price
With the current economic situation, pricing can make or break any new releases. The 5G version of the S20 FE costs $700 in the US which undercuts its more expensive Galaxy S20 namesake by $300. There is also the 4G LTE variant for other markets outside of US which is expected to be even more affordable. Between this and Samsung’s underwhelming $1,000 Note 20, the choice is a no brainer.
Smooth 120Hz display
In terms of screen size, the 6.5-inch Galaxy S20 FE sits in the middle of Galaxy S20 (6.2″) and the Galaxy S20+(6.7″). Both the more expensive variants have a tougher Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back while the cheaper S20 FE has a Gorilla 3 glass front. There is only Full HD+ resolution for the ‘fan edition’ but giving it a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate keeps it in good company. Mind you, not even the widely criticized Note 20 operates with this high refresh rate, which is actually perplexing for a more recent high-end device. The screen is by the way flat and still rocks a vibrant Super AMOLED panel.
Plastic is Still Fantastic
Unlike the flagship Note 20 that decided to utilize a plastic back, it easier to grasp the decision behind the use of the less premium material for the more wallet-friendly Galaxy S20 FE. It will still look fine though and we tend to cover them with cases anyway. The S20 FE will have a matte finish back and comes with bevy of color selections to feast your eyes on such as lavender, mint, red, orange, and white.
Flagship Grade Chipset
Surprisingly, Samsung didn’t cut back on processing power with super snappy Snapdragon 865 for the 5G enabled S20 FE model, which is similar to the one found in the US version of vanilla Galaxy S20. Meanwhile, the non-5G or 4G LTE variant comes with Exynos 990 chipset which is the same chipset as the non-US Note 20.
Triple Cameras with 3x Optical Zoom
Samsung may get rid of the high megapixel count of telephoto lens and the 8K video capability of the S20 FE, but not having those feature are definitely not a deal breaker at all. The triple camera at the back still shares the same DNA of standard S20s. It has an excellent dual pixel 12MP main camera with IOS, a 12 MP ultrawide lens and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3X digital and up to 30X zoom via software enhancement. Meanwhile, the selfie camera got a megapixel bump with 32-megapixels this time around. In terms of video, it can record of up to 4K footage while video stabilization is handled by a gyroscope and EIS.
4500 mAh Battery with Wireless Charging
The Galaxy S20 FE delivers even more fan service in the battery department. It is a 4,500mAh battery capacity, and paired with a less power hungry screen resolution should deliver a more than satisfying endurance. There is also a wireless charging capability with 15W fast charging and can also do a reverse wireless charging to top up other devices.
Still IP68 rated water resistant
Samsung has provided water resistance to their S-Series flagship devices and thankfully that didn’t change even with the cheaper Galaxy S20 FE. It comes with IP68 dust and water resistant rating of up to 1.5m and 30 mins in the water.
Comes with 5G or 4G LTE Variant
The US will get the 5G model that supports sub-6 networks. For the Verizon US bound Galaxy S20 FE, it will utilize the network’s 5G UW with mmWave. Meanwhile, the 4G LTE variant comes with LTE Cat. 20 modem with download speeds of up to 2.0 Gbps.
The Galaxy S20 FE can be pre-ordered right now via Samsung’s website and will also be offered via carriers. Expected availability is on the 2nd of October.
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