Meizu 18s vs Samsung Galaxy S20 5G: A Detailed Showdown

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the Meizu 18s, known for its sleek design and powerful internals, and the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, a flagship that set the standard for many. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Meizu 18s boasts a significantly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset and faster charging, offering a more modern performance edge. However, the Galaxy S20 5G benefits from Samsung's established ecosystem, software support, and a more refined camera system, making it a strong contender for many.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 18s 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, 4, 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-G981B
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G981B
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G981U
Launch
Announced2021, September 22. Released 2021, September 232020, February 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, March 06
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions152.4 x 69.2 x 8.2 mm (6.00 x 2.72 x 0.32 in)151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 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 SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 11, Flyme 9.2Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm12 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
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, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 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
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (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
Charging36W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 80% in 33 min, 100% in 55 min25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsLight Blue, White, Aurora, Pink/VioletCosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red
Models-SM-G981, SM-G981F, SM-G981F/DS, SM-G981B/DS, SM-G981U, SM-G981U1, SM-G981N, SM-G981B, SM-G9810, SM-G981W, SC-51A, SCG01
PriceAbout 490 EUR$ 158.44 / £ 144.99 / € 272.39
SAR-1.07 W/kg (head)     1.03 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.38 W/kg (head)     1.52 W/kg (body)

Meizu 18s

  • Faster Snapdragon 888+ Chipset
  • 36W Fast Charging
  • Sleek Design
  • Competitive Price

  • Less Established Software Support
  • No Wireless Charging
  • Camera Not as Versatile as S20 5G

Samsung Galaxy S20 5G

  • Excellent AMOLED Display (120Hz)
  • Versatile Camera System
  • Samsung Ecosystem Integration
  • Wireless Charging

  • Slower Charging Speed
  • Older Chipset (Exynos/Snapdragon 865)
  • Can be more expensive

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S20 5G features a vibrant Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering excellent color accuracy and smooth scrolling. The Meizu 18s also has a high-quality AMOLED display, but details on its refresh rate are less prominent. Samsung's display generally holds an edge in overall visual experience.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S20 5G's camera system is more versatile, offering a wider range of features and generally more consistent image quality. While the Meizu 18s has a capable camera, Samsung's processing and software optimization are typically superior. The S20 5G also has better video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Meizu 18s' Snapdragon 888+ is noticeably faster than the Galaxy S20 5G's Exynos 990 (global) or Snapdragon 865 (USA). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Meizu 18s. The S20 5G is still capable, but the 888+ provides a clear advantage.

Battery Life

The Meizu 18s' 36W charging is significantly faster than the Galaxy S20 5G's 25W wired charging. Both phones offer similar battery capacities, but the Meizu 18s will recharge much quicker. Wireless charging is available on the S20 5G, absent on the Meizu 18s.

Buying Guide

The Meizu 18s is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance, fast charging, and a unique design. The Samsung Galaxy S20 5G is a better choice for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, valuing software updates, and desiring a versatile camera with established reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Meizu 18s worth buying if I'm already in the Samsung ecosystem?
Probably not. The Galaxy S20 5G offers seamless integration with Samsung's services and devices. Switching to Meizu would mean losing that convenience.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Meizu 18s, thanks to its Snapdragon 888+ chipset, will provide a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.