Asus Zenfone 7 vs Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with a vibrant display and established brand support, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G (Snapdragon variant) is the better choice. However, the Zenfone 7’s unique flip camera and competitive performance make it a strong contender for those seeking something different and value-focused.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus Zenfone 7 | Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 01 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUI | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation) | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.6, AF | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation) | HDR |
| Single | VGA | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Triple | Motorized flip-up main camera module | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 450 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 10 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black, Pastel White | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | ZS670KS, ASUS_I002D, I002D | SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02 |
| Price | About 910 EUR | $ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97 |
| SAR | 1.03 W/kg (head) 1.28 W/kg (body) | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.52 W/kg (head) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -82.1dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 42h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.422:1 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 76dB | - |
Asus Zenfone 7
- Unique flip camera design
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Excellent battery endurance (42h)
- Clean software experience
- No wireless charging
- Less established brand recognition
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Vibrant and color-accurate display
- Established brand and support
- Snapdragon variant offers excellent performance (USA)
- Exynos variant can suffer from thermal throttling (Global)
- Slower 25W wired charging
Display Comparison
Both phones utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but differ significantly in display approach. While specific nit brightness isn't provided for the Zenfone 7, its 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel. The S20+ 5G, lacking LTPO technology, doesn't have the variable refresh rate benefits of newer displays, but its color accuracy is likely superior due to Samsung’s display expertise. The Zenfone 7’s smaller form factor may appeal to those preferring a more manageable device size, though the S20+ 5G’s larger screen offers a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Zenfone 7’s standout feature is its flip camera module, housing both main sensors. This eliminates the need for a notch or hole-punch, maximizing screen real estate. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the flip mechanism allows for high-quality selfies using the primary sensor. The S20+ 5G relies on a traditional front-facing camera. Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Zenfone 7’s unique approach provides a distinct advantage in selfie quality and design. The S20+ 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms, potentially delivering more vibrant and shareable photos, but the Zenfone 7 offers a more flexible shooting experience.
Performance
The chipset is a key differentiator. The USA variant of the S20+ 5G and the Zenfone 7 both feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), meaning comparable CPU performance – both utilize the Cortex-A77 architecture. However, the global S20+ 5G uses the Exynos 990, which, while also 7nm+, employs Samsung’s Mongoose M5 cores. Benchmarks at the time of release indicated the Snapdragon 865 generally outperformed the Exynos 990, particularly in sustained workloads due to better thermal management. The Zenfone 7’s cooling solution, while not detailed, appears sufficient to maintain performance, while the Exynos S20+ 5G was known to throttle under heavy load. Both phones feature ample RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking.
Battery Life
The Zenfone 7 boasts an endurance rating of 42 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. Its 30W wired charging with PD3.0 is faster than the S20+ 5G’s 25W charging. The Zenfone 7 reaches 60% charge in 34 minutes and 100% in 93 minutes, while the S20+ 5G’s charging times are slower. The S20+ 5G adds 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Zenfone 7. While the S20+ 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the Zenfone 7’s efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to its impressive endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus Zenfone 7 if you need a truly unique camera experience with the flip mechanism, prioritize a clean software experience, and want a phone that stands out from the crowd. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a more polished and feature-rich ecosystem, value wireless charging, and require the broader support network of a major brand. The S20+ is also the better choice for users in regions receiving the Exynos 990 chipset if thermal throttling is a concern.