Huawei P40 vs. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Alternatives

The Huawei P40 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 represent interesting points in the smartphone landscape. The P40, released in 2020, offered a flagship experience at a premium price. The S20 FE 2022, a refresh of Samsung’s popular ‘Fan Edition’, aims to deliver a similar experience at a more accessible price point, leveraging the mature Snapdragon 865 platform. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a more versatile camera system, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 emerges as the better choice. While the Huawei P40 boasts excellent battery endurance, the Snapdragon 865’s superior GPU and wider software support make the S20 FE 2022 a more future-proof option.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41LTE
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSASA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, March 262022, April 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 07Available. Released 2022, April 01
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm (5.86 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), AF12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging22.5W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, BlackCloud White, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Navy
ModelsANA-AN00, ANA-TN00, ANA-NX9, ANA-LX4SM-G781NK, SM-G781NK22
PriceAbout 520 EURAbout 520 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 89h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -28.9 LUFS (Average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 486583 (v8) GeekBench: 12619 (v4.4), 3148 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei P40

  • Exceptional Battery Endurance (89h)
  • Potentially Vibrant Display
  • Huawei’s Image Processing Strengths

  • Limited Software Support & App Availability
  • Older Chipset (Kirin 990)
  • Slower Charging Speed

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022

  • Stronger GPU Performance (Snapdragon 865)
  • Wider Software Support & App Compatibility
  • Faster Charging (25W wired, 15W wireless)

  • Potentially Lower Battery Endurance
  • Samsung’s Software Bloat
  • May Require Software Updates for Optimal Performance

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 features a display capable of reaching 589 nits of peak brightness, providing adequate visibility outdoors. The S20 FE 2022’s display specifications aren’t provided, but Samsung typically excels in display technology. The P40’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel, but without knowing the S20 FE’s contrast ratio, a direct comparison is difficult. The P40’s display is likely optimized for color vibrancy, while Samsung often leans towards more natural color calibration. Users sensitive to flicker may benefit from investigating the PWM dimming rates of both displays, as this data isn't provided.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having strong camera capabilities, but specifics are limited. The P40’s camera is described as ‘Photo / Video’, lacking detail. The S20 FE 2022’s camera specs are also absent. However, Samsung generally prioritizes versatility with multiple lenses, while Huawei often focuses on computational photography and image processing. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance. The S20 FE 2022’s Snapdragon ISP is known for its robust image processing pipeline, potentially offering better dynamic range and detail in challenging conditions. The absence of details regarding OIS on either device makes it impossible to compare stabilization performance.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) versus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). While both are fabricated on a 7nm+ process, the Snapdragon 865 generally exhibits superior GPU performance, crucial for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. The Kirin 990’s CPU configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) is paired with the Snapdragon 865’s (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). The Cortex-A77 in the Snapdragon 865 offers a slight architectural advantage. The S20 FE 2022 benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized drivers and software integration, potentially leading to more consistent performance and better thermal management.

Battery Life

The Huawei P40 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 89 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 22.5W wired charging. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 offers 25W wired charging with PD3.0, 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the P40 has a higher endurance rating, the S20 FE 2022’s faster charging speeds and wireless charging capabilities offer greater convenience. The S20 FE 2022’s PD3.0 support also allows for faster charging with compatible chargers. The P40’s 22.5W charging, while respectable, is slower than the S20 FE 2022’s peak charging rate.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P40 if you prioritize exceptional battery life and are comfortable within the Huawei ecosystem, potentially navigating app availability challenges. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 if you value a more open software experience, strong gaming performance, and a well-rounded camera system with broader compatibility and long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei P40 still receive security updates, and are there any concerns about using Huawei devices in 2024?
Huawei’s access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) is limited due to US sanctions. While the P40 initially shipped with GMS, long-term software support and security updates are less consistent compared to Samsung. Users should be aware of potential app compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 2022 handle demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 865 is well-equipped to handle demanding games. While not the latest chipset, it provides a smooth gaming experience at high settings. The S20 FE 2022’s thermal management is crucial; prolonged gaming sessions may lead to some throttling, but it generally maintains stable performance.
❓ Is the 22.5W charging on the Huawei P40 significantly slower than the 25W on the S20 FE 2022 in real-world usage?
Yes, while 2.5W doesn't seem like a large difference, the S20 FE 2022's support for Power Delivery 3.0 (PD3.0) allows it to leverage compatible chargers for even faster charging speeds. In practice, the S20 FE 2022 will likely charge noticeably quicker from 0-100%.