Follow
Samsung has launched their 2020 Galaxy S range at their Unpacked 2020 event. Many of us were expecting the phones to be labelled the Galaxy S11 which logically continues the naming method they have used since the original Galaxy S.
But Samsung has skipped a few (10 to be precise) and gone straight to the S20 for 2020. As expected there have been big improvements in spec over the Galaxy S10, the S20 line up has been given a significant increase in processing power, battery and the camera. The processor in all three is a 7nm 64-bit Octa-Core unit. All three phones have IP68 water resistance. All three devices run Android 10.
There are three models, the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+ and the Galaxy S10 Ultra. This generation of the Galaxy S phones which are Samsung’s flagships phones don’t have headphone jacks.
All of the S20 variants have a Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED, 2X Infinity O Display (3200X1440), HDR10+, 120Hz screen, the difference is in sizing. The Galaxy S20 has a 6.2 inch screen, the Galaxy S20+ has a 6.7 inch display while the Galaxy S20 Ultra has a 6.9 inch screen.
The S20 lets you shoot video at 8K and has a 64MP main camera that comes with smart new AI.
Colourwise the S20 comes in the following options: Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink. The Galaxy S20+ has the options of Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cosmic black while the Galaxy S20 Ultra is available in either Cosmic Grey or Cosmic Black.
Image Credit Samsung
The S20 range will have all phones available in 5G and, if you happen to the US, you will get 4G versions of the S20 and S20 Plus phones. But American buyers market don’t have a choice but to buy a 5G-capable version of these phones. So no 4G versions of these phones for the USA.
How much does the Samsung Galaxy S20 cost? Australian prices start at $1349 and go up to hefty $2249. The Samsung Galaxy S20 range will be available in stores on March 6 2020. All of the S20 models are now available for pre-ordering as of 9am today (February 12, 2020.)
Samsung’s S20 Flagship Range Available in Australia
Following its global launch on February 11, the Samsung S20 flagship smartphone series is now available for pre-order in Australia. The range has eight variants, with the standout being the 6.9” Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. Most of the phones in the Galaxy S20 series have exciting features such as 5G connectivity, with the exception being the lower prices iterations of the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+. Read History of the Galaxy S Series phones.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Specifications
The Galaxy S20 range has three main models – the S20, the S20+, and the S20 Ultra 5G. However, the first two come in two and three variations respectively. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is available in three iterations, meaning that there are eight different forms of Samsung’s latest flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S20
As you would expect, the S20 is the cheapest, whereas the S20 Ultra 5G is the costliest. The entry-level S20 has a 6.2” display with are a resolution of 1440*3200 and a Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection. The screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz when playing Full HD videos that reduce to 60Hz if you upscale the videos to Quad HD.
The Galaxy S20 has two iterations. The first one, which has 4G connectivity, comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage capacity. The 5G model has 12GB RAM and 128GB storage space.
Regarding the camera, the Galaxy S20 captures stunning photos thanks to its 64MP shooter with up to 30X zoom. The selfie camera has a resolution of 10MP.
Under regular use, the 4000mAh in the Galaxy S20 should last a day. The phone also supports 25W quick charging, meaning that you can boost it quickly if you are in a rush.
Lastly, the Galaxy S20 has three colour options – cosmic grey, cosmic blue and cloud pink. The 4G version costs AUD $1,349 while the 5G model is available for AUD 1,499.
Samsung Galaxy S20+
With a 6.7” display and a 4500mAh battery, the Galaxy S20+ has several improved features over the Galaxy S20. The standout difference between these phones is that the S20+ has four lenses on its rear camera as compared to the S20’s three. The Galaxy S20+ is also heavier due to its larger display and a bigger battery.
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ is available in three versions – one with 4G connectivity and the other two with 5G. The 4G model has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The 5G models have 12GB RAM, with the customer between the 128GB and 512GB storage options.
On colour, the Galaxy S20+ comes in cosmic black, cosmic grey and cloud blue. The 4G model will cost you AUD $1,499, while the 5G versions cost AUD $1,649 and AUD $1,899, respectively.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
The Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is the best model in the S20. Its impressive features justify the AUD $2,249 price tag.
An enormous 5000mAh battery powers the 6.9” always-on display. The camera is perhaps one of the best to ever grace a smartphone. It has a 108MP lens and can shoot videos of up to 8K resolution (4320p) at 24 frames per second. Moreover, the lens has a 100X optical zoom.
Another exciting feature of the Galaxy S20 Ultra is fast charging. The phone supports 45W quick charging, meaning it can go from zero to a full charge in 58 minutes. It also works with wireless chargers, although these are much slower.
There are three variations of the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The first two, which have 12GB RAM, have 128GB and 256GB in storage space. The premium option has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage space.
Finally, the Galaxy S20 Ultra has two colour options – cosmic black and cosmic grey.
Software and User Interface
Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S20 runs on Samsung’s custom One UI 2.0 based on Android Q. If you are familiar with Samsung phones, you should have an easy time navigating through the menus.
The user interface has two notable additions. First, there is a new app called QuickShare that allows you to share data with nearby devices over Wi-Fi. Video calling will also be easier thanks to the integration of Google Duo into the Phone app.
The inbuilt Game Booster will no longer close apps forcefully, an issue that many Samsung users reported with previous Galaxy smartphones. Instead, the user can now specify the apps that can keep running when the Game Booster is active.
Performance
The entire S20 lineup runs on the Exynos 990 7nm+ chipset. The chips work together with the RAM to provide a smooth experience free of lags. You can run any app in the Play Store without any issues. However, the chipset relies on an external modem to connect to cellular networks. The default is either 5G or 4G, but it falls back to 3G and 2G if the network weakens.
The upgraded Ultrasonic fingerprint reader is another feature that cuts across the entire S20 range. Samsung that it will be quicker, more accurate and cover a larger surface area. If true, you will be able to unlock your phone faster.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Release Date in Australia
The scheduled release date for the Galaxy S20 series smartphones in Australia is March 6. This is when the phones will be available in brick-and-mortar stores. However, customer can pre-order the gadget as from February 12.
Besides being among the first people to use the Galaxy S20 phones, pre-ordering has another benefit. When you purchase the Galaxy S20+ or the Galaxy S20 Ultra online before March 8, Samsung will give you a free pair of Galaxy Buds+ wireless earphones. The accessory usually costs AUD $299.
Final take
The Samsung S20 range is impressive, at least on paper. The phones are a significant improvement on the S10 series, which was in itself charming. Samsung is setting the pace for the future of mobile photography by including a 108MP shooter in the Galaxy S20 Ultra. There is no doubt that other smartphone makers will use this as a benchmark when designing their flagship models.
It is worth noting that Samsung did an excellent job structuring the S20 series. Even if you go for the cheapest S20, you still get to enjoy features you would find in the premium S20 Ultra. Read about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series for 2021
