Motorola Edge+ (2020) vs Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: Which Flagship Still Holds Up?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Edge+ (2020) offers a more consistent experience thanks to its Snapdragon 865 chipset and superior battery endurance rating of 100h. While the Galaxy S20+ 5G boasts faster 25W charging and a potentially brighter display, the Exynos 990’s thermal concerns and slightly lower battery life make the Edge+ the more reliable daily driver.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge+ (2020) | Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B |
| 5G bands | 5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 mmWave/Sub6 - Verizon | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 22 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, May 14 | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in) | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+ | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm, AF TOF 3D, (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) |
| Video | 6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Smokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic Gray | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | XT2061-3 | SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02 |
| Price | About 670 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) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 574155 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Motorola Edge+ (2020)
- Consistent Snapdragon 865 performance
- Excellent 100h battery endurance
- Avoids Exynos 990 thermal throttling
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Missing refresh rate specification
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
- Faster 25W wired charging with PD3.0
- Potentially brighter display
- Established Samsung ecosystem
- Exynos 990 prone to thermal throttling
- Slightly lower battery endurance
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but the display differences are subtle. While specific nit brightness data isn't provided, Samsung historically excels in display technology. The Galaxy S20+ likely offers higher peak brightness, beneficial in direct sunlight. However, the Motorola Edge+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting deep blacks. The lack of refresh rate specification on the Edge+ is a drawback compared to the S20+'s likely 120Hz option, impacting smoothness. Bezels are comparable, but Samsung’s color accuracy is generally more refined out-of-the-box.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are limited, but the focus should be on the main sensors. While both likely feature multi-camera setups, the quality of image processing and sensor size are crucial. Samsung’s image processing tends towards vibrant, saturated colors, while Motorola aims for a more natural look. The absence of specific aperture information makes it difficult to assess low-light performance. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are largely marketing fluff and offer minimal practical benefit. OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is critical for video recording, and its presence and effectiveness on both devices would be a key factor.
Performance
The chipset is the core differentiator. The Motorola Edge+ consistently features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G, while the Galaxy S20+ 5G shipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or the Snapdragon 865 (USA). The Snapdragon 865’s Cortex-A77 cores, combined with its efficient 7nm+ process, provide a performance edge over the Exynos 990’s Mongoose M5 cores. The Exynos 990 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, impacting gaming and intensive applications. The Edge+’s consistent Snapdragon configuration avoids this issue. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Edge+'s thermal advantage allows it to maintain peak performance for longer.
Battery Life
The Motorola Edge+ boasts an endurance rating of 100 hours, a significant advantage over the Galaxy S20+ 5G. While the S20+ offers faster 25W wired charging with PD3.0, and 15W wireless charging (Qi), the Edge+'s 18W wired and 15W wireless charging are adequate. The S20+'s 4.5W reverse wireless charging is a minor convenience. The Edge+'s superior battery endurance suggests a more efficient combination of chipset and battery capacity, translating to longer real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2020) if you prioritize sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value long battery life. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a more established brand ecosystem, faster charging speeds, and potentially benefit from a brighter display for outdoor visibility, understanding there's a risk of thermal throttling under heavy load.