1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 159.8 × 74.5 × 8.4 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | The Honor 70 is slightly taller and thinner, potentially feeling more streamlined in hand. The S20 FE 5G is a bit wider and thicker. |
| Weight | 190g | 178g | The Honor 70 is noticeably lighter, which can improve comfort during extended use. |
| Build Quality (Screen) | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | The S20 FE 5G has a known level of screen protection, while the Honor 70's screen protection is unknown, making the S20 FE 5G potentially more durable. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | The Honor 70 has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness. |
| PPI | 407 | 395 | Virtually identical sharpness to the naked eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, but the Samsung's AMOLED might have slightly better power efficiency. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | The S20 FE 5G offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. The Honor 70 brightness is unknown, which is a significant drawback. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | The Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 5G is a flagship-level chipset from its time, offering slightly better sustained performance for demanding tasks and gaming compared to the Snapdragon 778G+ in the Honor 70, which is a very capable upper mid-range chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 623,000 | 600,525 | Real-world performance is very similar, but the S20 FE 5G is slightly faster. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 642L | The Adreno 650 in the S20 FE 5G provides better graphics performance for gaming and GPU-intensive applications. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB or 12 GB | The Honor 70, with its optional 12GB RAM, offers better multitasking capabilities, especially with numerous apps running in the background. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.80µm | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49", 1.00µm | The Honor 70 boasts a higher resolution sensor, potentially capturing more detail in good lighting conditions. However, the larger pixel size and wider aperture of the S20 FE 5G might result in better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.80µm | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2", 0.70µm | The S20 FE 5G has a wider aperture and slightly larger sensor, potentially resulting in better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.0 | None | The S20 FE 5G offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing for clearer zoomed-in photos compared to the digital zoom of the Honor 70. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.2 | The Honor 70 has a much higher resolution for its ultra-wide lens, allowing for more detailed wide-angle shots. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | The Honor 70 allows for dedicated macro photography, which is unavailable on the S20 FE 5G. |
| Video | 4K@60fps with EIS | 4K@30fps with EIS | The S20 FE 5G can record 4k video at 60fps, for smoother video recording. |
| OIS | Yes | No | S20 FE 5G has optical image stabilization, which helps a lot with video recording |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4800mAh | The Honor 70 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | The Honor 70 charges significantly faster, allowing for quick top-ups. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | None | The S20 FE 5G offers the convenience of wireless charging, which is absent on the Honor 70. |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 4.5W | None | The S20 FE 5G can wirelessly charge other devices, like earbuds, a feature not available on the Honor 70. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 10 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | The Honor 70 has a newer out-of-the-box Android version, which may mean longer software support from the manufacturer. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | The Honor 70 has a slightly newer Bluetooth version, potentially offering better connection stability and efficiency. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos | Hi-Res Audio | Both offer enhanced audio experiences, catering to different preferences. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones don't have expandable storage, so choose storage option accordingly. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Advantages:
- Brighter Display: Significantly better outdoor visibility.
- Flagship Performance: Slightly better performance due to the Snapdragon 865 chipset.
- Optical Zoom: Dedicated telephoto lens for better zoomed photos.
- Wireless Charging: Adds convenience and versatility.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Better image stabilization.
- Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
Honor 70 Advantages:
- Lighter Design: More comfortable for extended use.
- Faster Charging: Quickly top up the battery.
- Higher Resolution Wide-Angle Lens: More detailed wide-angle shots.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro photography.
- Newer Bluetooth: Potentially better connection stability.
- Larger RAM Option: 12 GB RAM improves multitasking (depending on configuration).
- Newer Android Version: Shipped with a newer operating system.
Trade-offs:
- S20 FE 5G: Heavier, older software version out-of-the-box.
- Honor 70: Unknown screen protection, no wireless charging, weaker zoom capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G:
- Ideal User: Someone who values performance, outdoor visibility, and wireless charging. Gamers, photographers who need optical zoom, and users who frequently use their phones in bright sunlight will appreciate the S20 FE 5G.
- Use Cases: Gaming, outdoor photography, watching videos in sunlight, using wireless charging pads.
- Price-to-Value: If found at a competitive price, the S20 FE 5G offers great value due to its flagship chipset and features.
Honor 70:
- Ideal User: Someone who prioritizes a lightweight design, fast charging, and a newer software experience. Social media enthusiasts and users who take many wide-angle and macro photos will find the Honor 70 appealing.
- Use Cases: Social media photography, fast charging for busy lifestyles, enjoying a modern Android experience.
- Price-to-Value: Offers good value for its features, especially the fast charging and high-resolution wide-angle camera.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is outdoor screen visibility? If you frequently use your phone in bright sunlight, the S20 FE 5G is the clear winner.
- Do you value wireless charging and optical zoom? If yes, the S20 FE 5G is a better choice.
- How important is fast charging and a lightweight design? If these are priorities, the Honor 70 is more appealing.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Frequent traveler who needs long battery life and fast charging: Honor 70
- Scenario 2: Gamer who wants the best possible graphics performance: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Scenario 3: Social media user who takes a lot of photos, especially wide-angle shots: Honor 70
- Scenario 4: User who spends a lot of time outdoors and needs good screen visibility: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
My Choice
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G.
Reasoning:
While the Honor 70 has some appealing features like a lighter design and faster charging, the brighter display and flagship-level performance of the S20 FE 5G are more crucial to my personal use case. I frequently use my phone outdoors, and the superior brightness of the S20 FE 5G's display is a significant advantage. Additionally, the Snapdragon 865 provides a smoother experience for demanding applications. The availability of OIS is also a big plus for video recording and photos. While the S20 FE 5G is an older device, it still offers flagship-level performance and features that outweigh the benefits of the Honor 70 for my specific needs.
