The OnePlus 8T+ 5G and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G represent compelling options in the mid-to-high range, but cater to slightly different priorities. The S20 FE, initially a flagship-level device, has seen price drops, while the 8T+ aimed for a balance of speed and features. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G offers a more well-rounded experience, particularly at its current pricing. While the OnePlus 8T+ 5G's performance is likely strong (given its segment), the S20 FE's proven Snapdragon 865 chipset, brighter display, and established camera system provide a safer bet.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 41, 66, 71 Sub6 - USA |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 Sub6 - International |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, September. Released 2011, September | 2020, September 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, October 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 111.4 x 57.1 x 16.1 mm (4.39 x 2.25 x 0.63 in) | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 63.8 g (2.22 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | Flashlight | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~200 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.0 inches, 12.4 cm2 (~19.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 650 |
| OS | - | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64MB ROM, 32MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 300 entries | - |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 1.3 MP | 2 MP |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | - | HTTP / WAP 2.0 |
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, Email, IM | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | Analog TV
MSN, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter applications
MP3/WAV player
MP4/H.263 player | Virtual proximity sensing
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 400 h | Up to 300 h |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery (BL-4L) | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Blue, White | Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange |
| Models | - | SM-G781B, SM-G781B/DS, SM-G781U, SM-G781U1, SM-G781W, SM-G7810, SM-G781N, SM-G781V |
| Price | - | $ 137.00 / C$ 531.23 / £ 169.00 / € 199.00 |
| SAR | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.50 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 361.99 |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 589.97 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 769.99 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 110h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.3 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 543986 (v8)
GeekBench: 3296 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus 8T+ 5G
- Potentially faster performance (depending on configuration)
- Likely fast software updates from OnePlus
- May offer a more streamlined user experience
- Limited publicly available specifications
- Uncertain camera performance
- Unknown battery life and charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Bright and color-accurate display (822 nits)
- Proven Snapdragon 865 performance
- Versatile camera system with OIS (likely)
- Snapdragon 865 can throttle under heavy load
- Software updates may be slower than OnePlus
- Plastic back may feel less premium
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 822 nits, a significant advantage over what we'd expect from the OnePlus 8T+ 5G in this price bracket. While the S20 FE's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, the Super AMOLED panel delivers excellent blacks. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G likely utilizes an AMOLED panel, but without specific data, we can't assess its color accuracy or peak brightness. The S20 FE's higher brightness translates to better outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a versatile camera system, though specific sensor details are missing. Its photo and video capabilities are well-documented in reviews. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G's camera specs are unavailable, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the S20 FE's established image processing pipeline and likely optical image stabilization (OIS) provide a more predictable and reliable photography experience. We'd caution against relying heavily on any 2MP macro lens found on either device.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), but the S20 FE's configuration – an octa-core CPU with a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 – provides a detailed view of its processing power. The 8T+ 5G's CPU configuration remains unknown, but the Snapdragon 865 is a capable chipset for demanding tasks. The S20 FE is available with up to 8GB of RAM, while the 8T+ 5G also offers 6GB and 8GB options. The S20 FE's thermal management will be crucial, as the Snapdragon 865 is known to throttle under sustained load; the 7nm+ process helps, but isn't a complete solution.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G achieves an endurance rating of 110 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 25W wired charging with PD3.0, 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G's battery capacity and charging speeds are unknown, but the S20 FE's charging options are more comprehensive. The 110-hour endurance rating suggests a real-world usage pattern that will comfortably get most users through a full day.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 8T+ 5G if you prioritize a potentially faster overall experience and are comfortable with a brand known for rapid software updates, even with limited publicly available specs. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G if you value a brighter, more color-accurate display, a well-regarded camera system, and a more established ecosystem with wider accessory availability, all at a competitive price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865 is known to generate heat under sustained load. The S20 FE's 7nm+ process helps mitigate this, but some throttling is possible during extended gaming. Managing game settings and ensuring adequate ventilation can help minimize overheating.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included for marketing purposes but rarely deliver significant improvements over standard photos taken with the main sensor. Don't base your purchase decision on the macro camera alone.
❓ What kind of storage does the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G use?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G utilizes UFS 3.1 storage, which is fast and responsive, contributing to quicker app loading times and smoother multitasking.
❓ How does the software experience differ between OnePlus and Samsung?
OnePlus' OxygenOS is known for its clean, near-stock Android experience with useful customizations. Samsung's One UI is more feature-rich and visually distinct, offering a wider range of options but potentially feeling more cluttered to some users.
