The LG K20 (2019) represents the entry-level smartphone experience, prioritizing affordability. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G, even as a 2019 model, was a premium flagship boasting cutting-edge features like 5G connectivity and a powerful processor. This comparison dissects the vast differences between these devices, helping users understand where their money delivers the most value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G is the clear winner. Its Exynos 9825 (or Snapdragon 855) chipset delivers significantly superior performance, a more capable camera system, and the benefit of 5G connectivity. However, the LG K20 remains a viable option for those on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA |
| 5G bands | - | 78 NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August. Released 2019, September | 2019, August. Released 2019, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 148.6 x 71.9 x 8.3 mm (5.85 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) | 151 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 152 g (5.36 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| | MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~197 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6739 (28 nm) | Exynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8100 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 Pie (Go edition) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.1, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support)
ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired, PD3.0
12W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue | Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black, Aura Pink, Aura Red |
| Models | LM-X120EMW, LMX120EMW, LM-X120, LMX120BMW | SM-N971U, SM-N971N |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 1100 EUR |
LG K20 (2019)
- Extremely affordable price point
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- Compact and lightweight design
- Poor performance for demanding tasks
- Low-resolution display
- Limited camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G
- Powerful processor for smooth performance
- High-quality AMOLED display
- Versatile camera system with advanced features
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Fast charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Higher price compared to the LG K20
- Larger and heavier design
- May exhibit some throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The LG K20’s display specifications are not provided, but as a budget device, it likely features a 720p LCD panel. In contrast, the Galaxy Note10 5G boasts a significantly superior Dynamic AMOLED display. While the exact nit brightness isn't specified, AMOLED technology inherently offers better contrast and color accuracy. The Note10 5G’s higher resolution and panel technology translate to a much more immersive viewing experience, particularly for media consumption. The Note10 5G also benefits from a higher refresh rate, though not specified, likely 60Hz, while the K20 is almost certainly limited to 60Hz.
Camera Comparison
The LG K20’s camera details are limited, but budget phones typically feature lower-resolution sensors and limited image processing capabilities. The Galaxy Note10 5G, however, features a more sophisticated camera system. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the Note10 5G likely includes a larger main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), resulting in better low-light performance and sharper images. The Note10 5G’s image processing algorithms are also far more advanced, offering features like scene optimization and improved dynamic range. The inclusion of multiple lenses on the Note10 5G provides versatility, while the K20 likely relies on software tricks to simulate different shooting modes.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The LG K20’s Mediatek MT6739, a 28nm chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, is designed for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G, powered by either the 7nm Exynos 9825 (EMEA/LATAM) or the 7nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (USA/China), offers a dramatically faster experience. The Note10 5G’s octa-core CPU, featuring high-performance Cortex-A75 and Mongoose M4 cores (Exynos) or Kryo 485 cores (Snapdragon), handles multitasking, demanding apps, and gaming with ease. The 7nm process node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Note10 5G’s RAM is also likely LPDDR4X, faster than the K20’s, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
Battery capacity for the LG K20 is not specified, but budget phones often prioritize cost savings over large batteries. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G’s battery capacity is also not specified, but its 25W wired charging with Power Delivery 3.0 (PD3.0) is a significant advantage. The K20 likely supports slower charging speeds. The Note10 5G also offers 12W wireless charging (Qi) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the K20. While the Note10 5G’s 5G connectivity can impact battery life, the faster charging capabilities mitigate this concern.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K20 (2019) if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media use, and your budget is under $100. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G if you prioritize performance for gaming and multitasking, require a versatile camera system, and want access to 5G networks, even if it means a higher upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9825 in the Note10 5G suffer from overheating issues?
While some early reports indicated potential thermal throttling under extreme sustained loads, Samsung addressed these concerns with software updates. The 7nm process node and efficient thermal design generally prevent significant overheating during typical usage scenarios. The Snapdragon 855 variant generally exhibits even better thermal performance.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Note10 5G actually useful?
The 2MP macro camera on the Note10 5G is a marketing feature more than a genuinely useful tool. Its low resolution limits detail, and the fixed focus distance can be challenging to use. The main camera can often produce better close-up shots with digital zoom.
❓ Can the Note10 5G run demanding games like PUBG at 90fps?
The Note10 5G can run PUBG Mobile at high frame rates, but achieving a consistent 90fps depends on the graphics settings and the specific device variant (Exynos or Snapdragon). Lowering the graphics settings is often necessary to maintain a smooth 90fps experience.
❓ How much storage does the LG K20 (2019) typically offer, and is it expandable?
The LG K20 (2019) typically comes with 32GB of internal storage, which is quite limited. Fortunately, it does offer a microSD card slot for storage expansion, allowing users to add up to 2TB of additional storage.
