Meizu 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Performance and Feature Comparison

The Meizu 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent distinct approaches to the 2020 flagship experience. The Meizu, often a value proposition, challenges Samsung’s established dominance with a focus on raw performance and fast charging. This comparison dissects their key differences, particularly the chipset variations and charging capabilities, to determine which device delivers the best experience in 2024.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G (specifically the Snapdragon variant) is the better choice. However, the Meizu 17 Pro offers compelling value and faster charging for those willing to accept potential software quirks.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 17 Pro Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B
5G bands41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, May 08. Released 2020, May 112020, February 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, March 06
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions160 x 77.2 x 8.5 mm (6.30 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)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 10, Flyme 8.1Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
Features5-LED dual-tone flash, Auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 129˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/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
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, QC3, 45% in 30 min 27W wireless25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsMint, Black, WhiteCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
Models-SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02
PriceAbout 560 EUR$ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.57 W/kg (body)

Meizu 17 Pro

  • Faster wired and wireless charging
  • Potentially better value for money
  • Snapdragon 865 variant offers competitive performance

  • Less established brand reputation
  • Software experience may be less polished
  • Limited global availability

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

  • Polished and feature-rich software
  • Strong brand recognition and support
  • Excellent display quality (likely)

  • Exynos 990 variant may suffer from throttling
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

While both devices utilize 7nm+ fabrication, display specifics are missing. Assuming both employ AMOLED panels (typical for this class), the key differentiator would be peak brightness and color calibration. Samsung historically excels in display technology, likely offering a more vibrant and color-accurate experience. The absence of refresh rate data is a significant omission; however, the S20+ was available with a 120Hz option, which would be a major advantage if present. Bezels are likely comparable, given the similar design philosophies of minimizing them.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are limited. Both phones likely feature multi-camera systems, but the sensor sizes and lens apertures are critical. Without this data, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is crucial for video recording and low-light photography, and is expected on both. The Meizu 17 Pro’s image processing style is likely to be more saturated and contrasty, typical of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, while Samsung generally aims for a more natural look. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and unlikely to significantly impact image quality.

Performance

The chipset is the core battleground. The USA-market S20+ 5G and the Meizu 17 Pro both feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), utilizing the same octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This suggests near-identical CPU performance. However, the global S20+ uses the Exynos 990 (7nm+), which employs a different CPU architecture (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5, 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The Mongoose M5, while powerful, has historically been less efficient than the Cortex-A77, potentially leading to more thermal throttling under sustained load. The Meizu 17 Pro’s cooling solution, not specified here, will be crucial in maintaining peak performance. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed (e.g., 5500MHz vs 6400MHz) is unknown and could impact multitasking.

Battery Life

Battery capacity is not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the charging speeds are a clear differentiator. The Meizu 17 Pro boasts 30W wired charging with QC3 support and a remarkable 27W wireless charging capability. The S20+ 5G offers 25W wired charging with PD3.0 and 15W wireless charging (Qi). The Meizu’s faster charging, both wired and wireless, translates to significantly less downtime. The 4.5W reverse wireless charging on the S20+ is a niche feature, useful for charging accessories but not a primary selling point. The actual 0-100% charge times will depend on battery capacity, but the Meizu 17 Pro is expected to be considerably faster.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 17 Pro if you prioritize maximizing performance-per-dollar and require exceptionally fast charging speeds, and are comfortable with a less mainstream software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you value a polished, feature-rich software ecosystem, a more established brand reputation, and broader accessory availability, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the global S20+ 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 990 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during demanding games. While Samsung implemented software optimizations, the Snapdragon 865 variant generally offers better thermal performance. Users should expect potential frame rate drops or reduced performance after prolonged gaming on the Exynos model.
❓ Is the 27W wireless charging on the Meizu 17 Pro significantly faster than the 15W on the S20+?
Yes, the 27W wireless charging on the Meizu 17 Pro is substantially faster. It can add a significant percentage of battery life in a short amount of time, making it a convenient option for topping up the battery throughout the day. The S20+'s 15W wireless charging is comparatively slow.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect on the Meizu 17 Pro?
Meizu's software update track record is less consistent than Samsung's. While the 17 Pro initially launched with Flyme OS, based on Android, long-term support and timely updates may be limited compared to the S20+ 5G, which receives regular security patches and OS upgrades from Samsung.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 version of the S20+ 5G offer a noticeable performance improvement over the Exynos version?
Yes, the Snapdragon 865 version generally provides a smoother and more consistent gaming experience due to its superior thermal efficiency and slightly better GPU performance. Benchmarks and real-world testing consistently show the Snapdragon variant outperforming the Exynos model in demanding tasks.