The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G and S20 FE 2022 represent different approaches to the mid-range 5G market. The A51 5G, released earlier, focused on affordability and broad 5G access, while the S20 FE 2022 arrived later with a more powerful chipset aiming to deliver near-flagship performance at a competitive price. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a significant performance boost over the A51 5G’s Exynos 980, translating to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a better gaming experience. While the A51 5G boasts comparable battery endurance, the S20 FE’s faster charging and overall refinement justify the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A516B/DS | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A516B/DS | LTE |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A516B/DS | SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A516U | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 08 | 2022, April 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, April 29 | Available. Released 2022, April 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.26 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | ANT+ | Virtual proximity sensing
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube White, Prism Cube Pink | Cloud White, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Navy |
| Models | SM-A516F, SM-A516F/DSN, SM-A516N, SM-A516B/DS, SM-A516B, SM-A516U, SC-54A, SM-A516U1, SCG07, SM-A5160 | SM-G781NK, SM-G781NK22 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 520 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.50 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 90h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-29.5 LUFS (Average)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 316007 (v8)
GeekBench: 1867(v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
- Excellent battery endurance (90h rating)
- More affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- Less powerful Exynos 980 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
- Potentially less refined camera system
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Faster 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Likely superior camera performance
- Potentially shorter battery life compared to A51 5G
- Higher price tag
- No specified high refresh rate display
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays capable of infinite contrast ratios, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED technology. However, the Galaxy A51 5G reaches a measured peak brightness of 642 nits. While the S20 FE 2022’s display specs aren’t provided, the S20 FE line generally delivers higher brightness levels, suggesting a potentially more visible screen in direct sunlight. Neither device is specified as having a high refresh rate, meaning scrolling and animations won’t be as fluid as on higher-end models.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Given the S20 FE’s positioning, it likely features a more advanced camera system with a larger main sensor and improved image processing. The A51 5G, while capable, likely prioritizes affordability over cutting-edge camera technology. The S20 FE’s inclusion of features like Single Take mode, absent on the A51 5G, further suggests a more sophisticated camera experience. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is likely on the S20 FE, improving low-light performance and video stability.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The S20 FE 2022’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) is a significant upgrade over the A51 5G’s Exynos 980 (8nm). The Snapdragon 865 features a more powerful CPU configuration – 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 – compared to the Exynos 980’s 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55. The 7nm+ fabrication process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. This translates to a noticeably faster and smoother experience on the S20 FE 2022, particularly in demanding games and applications.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A51 5G boasts an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The S20 FE 2022’s battery capacity isn’t specified, but its more powerful chipset and faster charging capabilities (25W wired, PD3.0, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless) offer a different trade-off. While the S20 FE might not match the A51 5G’s raw endurance, its 25W charging allows for significantly faster top-ups, potentially mitigating any battery life concerns. The A51 5G is limited to 15W wired charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G if you prioritize maximizing battery life and require 5G connectivity on a strict budget. It’s a solid all-rounder for everyday tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 if you demand a more responsive user experience, enjoy mobile gaming, and appreciate faster charging speeds. The Snapdragon 865 offers a substantial performance upgrade for power users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 980 in the A51 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 980 is known to throttle under sustained load, meaning performance will decrease over time during extended gaming. While it's capable of handling most games, you may experience frame drops or stuttering in graphically demanding titles after a while. The Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 2022 is more efficient and less prone to throttling.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the S20 FE 2022 a significant improvement over the A51 5G's 15W charging?
Yes, the 25W charging on the S20 FE 2022 is considerably faster. While exact 0-100% times aren't specified, you can expect a full charge in significantly less time compared to the A51 5G. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 865 impact app loading times and multitasking compared to the Exynos 980?
The Snapdragon 865 offers a substantial improvement in app loading times and multitasking performance. Its more powerful CPU and GPU, combined with optimized software, result in a snappier and more responsive user experience. Switching between apps and launching demanding applications will be noticeably faster on the S20 FE 2022.
