Which Budget Android Should You Choose: Galaxy S20 FE, Pixel 5, or Pixel 4a 5G?
Last week, Google could bombs its Android market by announcing a flagship device with big batteries, crazy cameras, a Snapdragon 865+ processor and other examples of Google magic created somewhere in an isolated laboratory. Instead, we got the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 – excellent smartphones, of course, but definitely mid-range devices.
In fact, I would even say that you should refrain from buying the new Pixel until you’ve taken a few minutes (or weeks) to review Samsung’s rival mid-range phone just launched by the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. … (This is short for Fan Edition, a naming convention that doesn’t make sense to me.)
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a more powerful phone for the same money as Google’s best Pixel. It’s also available right now, unlike the Pixel 5, which launches in the US on October 29, and the Pixel 4a 5G, which launches sometime in November. But is this the best phone for you?
How do Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Google Pixels fit together?
Before we get started, keep in mind that you shouldn’t judge a phone solely by its performance, as user experience plays a big role, especially if the phone is buggy, bloated, or otherwise inconvenient to use. Hardware is important, but that’s only one part of the equation.
Display
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: 6.5-inch FHD + Super AMOLED with HDR 10+ (407 ppi), 120 Hz refresh rate
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 6.2-inch FHD + OLED display with HDR (413ppi) @ 60Hz
- Google Pixel 5: 6-inch FHD + OLED display with HDR (432 ppi), refresh rates up to 90 Hz
Analysis: In terms of size (not listed above), the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the largest of the three phones in length (roughly 6.3 inches versus 6.1 inches for the Pixel 4a 5G and 5.7 inches for the Pixel 5) … That’s almost an inch wider than the Pixel 5, in case something annoys you. It’s also a big plus if you just want a giant phone .
The most interesting difference between the displays is their refresh rates. The Galaxy S20 FE can accelerate to an incredibly smooth 120Hz. Sure, it will cost you a little battery life, but it will look great. The Google Pixel 4a 5G, on the other hand, hits a maximum frequency of 60Hz – good enough for everyday use, but not that impressive . The Pixel 5 splits the 90Hz difference (if you force it to )
You’ll have to wait for the reviews to see which offers the best color fidelity and usability in various lighting situations – and if the Galaxy S20 FE 120Hz battery life is too much. In general, the displays on all three phones should be suitable for any task. I would not base my buying decision on this factor alone.
Battery
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: 4500 mAh
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 3885 mAh
- Google Pixel 5: 4080 mAh
Analysis: On paper, the size of a phone’s battery doesn’t matter. How the phone uses this battery is a bigger problem. A giant battery doesn’t really matter if the phone’s hardware and software consumes more power than a phone with a smaller battery and a more streamlined design.
Sure, those dimensions are interesting data points – and you could reasonably conclude that the Galaxy S20 FE can probably outlast the Pixel 4a 5G – but I wouldn’t believe that assumption until I saw the phones in action. Also, remember that the new pixels come with Google’s “Extreme Battery Saver” mode, which can really give you more time with the important apps you use on Samsung phones.
CPU
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (on 5G models)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- Google Pixel 5: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Analysis: It’s simple. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a better processor that offers much better graphics performance than what you’ll find in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G. If you want speed, Samsung is your choice.
Google phones aren’t slouchy either, and are good for day-to-day activities, but avid gamers might want to take care of the future a little with the Galaxy S20 FE. In theory, you could even record 8K video with the Galaxy S20 FE if only the phone’s cameras supported such an insane effort.
Memory
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: 6GB (LPDDR5)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 6GB (LPDDR4x)
- Google Pixel 5: 8GB (LPDDR4x)
Analysis: The Pixel 5 has a bit more memory, but you’ll probably have a hard time seeing the difference. This is especially true as the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE technically has faster and more power efficient memory. But now we’re falling through our hair. The processor difference between these phones is more noticeable (although I wouldn’t mind if the Galaxy S20 FE bumped up the storage to 8GB).
Storage
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: 128GB (with optional microSD slot)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 128GB
- Google Pixel 5: 128GB
Analysis: This is all equal except for one key difference: the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE allows you to insert a microSD card if you need more space than 128GB. Google Pixels don’t have that slot, which means you’re stuck at 128GB. That should be more than enough space for most people, especially if you’re good at using cloud storage (like Google Photos) to avoid downloading space-consuming images and videos on your device. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S20 FE earned top marks.
Rear cameras
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: width 12 MP (1.8); 12 MP ultra wide-angle (ƒ2.2); Telephoto lens 8 MP (2.4)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 12.2MP wide (1.7) 16 MP ultra-wide (ƒ2.2)
- Google Pixel 5: 12.2MP wide (ƒ1.7) 16 MP ultra-wide (ƒ2.2)
Analysis: How often do you use a telephoto lens? I know my answer: not really. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has that capability (3x optical zoom) that can outperform any digital zoom that Google has to offer.
As before, photographic quality is something you’ll want to appreciate after reviewers have taken multiple shots with each camera under different conditions. If you only care about the specs, then the Samsung setup wins easily. However, given how proud Google is of its camera software features, I could postpone ordering any new Android until I see some of Google’s fun new features (such as Cinematic Pan, Portrait Light, and Night-Sight portrait pictures) in the real world. If killer photography is the most important requirement for your next smartphone, you’ll probably need a little more proof before you pick a mid-range winner.
Front-camera
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: 32 MP (1.8)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: 8MP (2.0)
- Google Pixel 5: 8MP (ƒ2.0)
Analysis: Megapixels aren’t everything, but Samsung’s selfie camera lets in just a little more light and supports 4x more pixels than Google Pixel phones. Google will need some evil magic (perhaps in the form of Night Sight portraits) to bridge this technology gap.
Video recording
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Up to 4K @ 60fps (or 30fps with image stabilization)
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: up to 4K at 60fps, 1080p at up to 240fps
- Google Pixel 5: up to 4K at 60fps, 1080p at up to 240fps
Analysis: I have not found any information on the slow motion capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, and I assume that you at least have the ability to shoot at 480fps (which will then be converted to 960fps, most likely ). This is slightly better than what Google suggests, but otherwise all phones are the same in terms of video resolution and frame rates.
Price
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: $ 700
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: $ 500
- Google Pixel 5: $ 700
Analysis: Generally speaking, I would rate the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE above the one-star Pixel 4a 5G : it will cost you $ 200 more for a supposedly better display, faster processor, faster memory, secondary camera, and a potentially killer selfie camera. …
If budget is your main concern and you really only use your phone for sparing day-to-day activities, these are all nice upgrades, but I wouldn’t spend $ 200 for anything. I’d be a little more tempted if you could find the Galaxy S20 FE for $ 600 instead of the $ 700 you can at the time of this writing. (If you haven’t been able to find a discount, consider waiting, as prices for Samsung phones tend to drop after launch.)
$ 100 more? A Samsung phone hardly needs the reasonable upgrades you get. However, it’s still more expensive than the Pixel 4a 5G; if you really don’t want to pay more, that’s your decision. But if Samsung ever drops in price to match a Google phone, jump to Samsung – with one caveat: Google Pixels runs a very clean version of the Android operating system and is always first in line for security and major OS updates. Samsung owners usually have to wait. If you enjoy being a leader in the development of new features, this is something to keep in mind as well.
As for the Pixel 5 , the race is a little trickier here, given that both phones were launched at the same price point. All things considered, I would go with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. You usually get much better hardware than what you find on a Google phone.
There are only two additional caveats (besides the update factor) that will get me thinking. First, we don’t yet know how much the improvements to Google’s software will affect the quality of the photos. Samsung may have a little extra hardware on the phone, but its very existence means nothing. Until people can compare both phones side-by-side, I would not assume that one of them has an advantage over the other. If photography is your main focus, I would wait until I buy.
Secondly, we haven’t seen both phones in action, so we can’t estimate their battery life. While a Samsung phone can charge faster (25W maximum versus 18W if you have a supported adapter), we don’t yet know how each device performs compared to the other in day-to-day or heavy use (including video and gaming). We also haven’t seen how Google’s Pixel-exclusive “Extreme Battery Saver” mode works; it could very well give you a lot more time on your phone if you don’t mind limiting yourself to one or two apps.
If these things don’t matter to you, a Samsung phone beats a Google phone on paper – even more so if you can get one for $ 100 cheaper (or less). Hopefully this guide helps you weigh your buying decision as you wait for the Pixel 5 to hit the virtual shelves at the end of the month.