The Samsung Galaxy S20+ represented a flagship experience in early 2020, but with prices dropping and the LG K92 5G offering 5G connectivity at a fraction of the cost, the value proposition has shifted. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, focusing on where each excels and who will benefit most from their respective strengths.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing affordability and 5G access, the LG K92 5G offers compelling value. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ remains the superior choice for those demanding top-tier performance, a brighter display, and a more refined camera experience, justifying its higher price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 29. Released 2020, November 06 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 166.4 x 77.2 x 8.4 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.33 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 | 202.4 g (7.13 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display
120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | 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 SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 619L | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06, 1.0µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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, proximity, compass | 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 | Quick Charge 4.0 | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titan Gray | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | LMK920, LM-K920 | SM-G985, SM-G985F, SM-G985F/DS |
| Price | About 340 EUR | € 299.97 / $ 189.60 / £ 234.21 |
| SAR | - | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.38 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 400.90 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 288.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 87h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.4 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 500114 (v8)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG K92 5G
- Significantly more affordable
- 5G connectivity at a budget price
- Potentially longer battery life in light usage
- Less powerful processor
- Inferior display quality
- Less capable camera system
Samsung Galaxy S20+
- Superior performance and responsiveness
- Brighter, higher-quality display
- More versatile and capable camera
- Significantly higher price
- Potential for Exynos overheating (global variant)
- Older device, may receive fewer software updates
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 797 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the LG K92 5G. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. While the S20+ features an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), the K92 5G’s panel specifications are not provided, suggesting a standard LCD or lower-tier AMOLED. The S20+'s higher resolution and potentially higher refresh rate (depending on the model) contribute to a sharper and smoother visual experience, benefiting content consumers and gamers.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the Samsung Galaxy S20+ is expected to deliver superior image quality. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Samsung’s flagship typically features larger sensors and more advanced image processing algorithms. The S20+ likely benefits from features like Single Take and Pro Video mode, absent on the K92 5G. The LG K92 5G may include a 2MP macro camera, which often provides limited real-world benefit due to its low resolution and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS).
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ offers a substantial performance advantage, utilizing either the Exynos 990 (global) or Snapdragon 865 (USA) chipsets, both built on a 7nm+ process. These chips feature more powerful CPU cores – the Mongoose M5 and Cortex-A76/A77 configurations – compared to the LG K92 5G’s Snapdragon 690. The Snapdragon 690, while capable, is designed for mid-range performance and efficiency. The S20+'s faster RAM (likely LPDDR5) further enhances multitasking and application loading speeds. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 690 in the K92 5G will likely result in more thermal throttling under sustained load than the 7nm+ chips in the S20+.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ achieves an endurance rating of 87 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the LG K92 5G’s battery capacity is not specified, its less powerful chipset and potentially lower screen brightness may contribute to comparable or even slightly better endurance in some scenarios. However, the S20+ supports 25W wired charging, PD3.0, 15W wireless charging, and even 4.5W reverse wireless charging, offering significantly faster and more versatile charging options than the LG K92 5G’s Quick Charge 4.0 support.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K92 5G if you need a budget-friendly 5G smartphone for everyday tasks, streaming, and light gaming, and aren't overly concerned with having the absolute fastest processor or best camera. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ if you prioritize a premium display, powerful performance for demanding applications and gaming, and a more versatile camera system, and are willing to pay a premium for these features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the global S20+ variant suffer from overheating issues?
Early reports indicated that the Exynos 990 variant of the S20+ could experience thermal throttling during prolonged intensive tasks like gaming. Samsung addressed some of these concerns with software updates, but the Snapdragon 865 version generally exhibits better thermal management.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the LG K92 5G actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Typically, 2MP macro cameras offer limited detail and image quality. Due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization, results are often soft and lack clarity. It's a feature that's often included for marketing purposes but doesn't significantly enhance the overall camera experience.
❓ Can the LG K92 5G handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high frame rates?
The Snapdragon 690 in the LG K92 5G can run PUBG Mobile, but likely at medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate. Expect to compromise on graphics quality to achieve smoother gameplay, and don't expect to consistently hit 60fps or higher.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy S20+ with the 25W charger?
Using a compatible 25W PD charger, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ can charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Wireless charging will take considerably longer, around 2-3 hours.
