Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 vs. Galaxy S20+: Which Samsung Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 and Galaxy S20+ represent different points in Samsung's flagship strategy. The Quantum 2, with its unique QRNG security chip, offers a focused experience, while the S20+ aimed for a broader appeal with a more versatile feature set. This comparison dissects their core differences, particularly the chipset choices and their impact on performance and value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around capability and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ is the better choice. However, the Quantum 2 presents a compelling value proposition for security-conscious users, offering a capable Snapdragon 855+ experience at a potentially lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 Samsung Galaxy S20+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands78 Sub6-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, April 132020, February 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, April 23Available. Released 2020, March 06
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.9 x 73.8 x 8.1 mm (6.37 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight176 g (6.21 oz)186 g (6.56 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 (~524 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 120Hz@FHD / 60Hz@QHD refresh rateAlways-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)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 SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm), QRNG security chipsetExynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 640 (700 MHz)Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 11, One UI 3.1Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)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@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, (wide)10 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
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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
Charging25W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, VioletCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
ModelsSM-A826SSM-G985, SM-G985F, SM-G985F/DS
PriceAbout 520 EUR€ 299.97 / $ 189.60 / £ 234.21
SAR-0.72 W/kg (head)     1.03 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.38 W/kg (head)     1.57 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 400.90
RENEWED-$ 288.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 87h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 500114 (v8) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2

  • Enhanced security with QRNG chipset
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Capable Snapdragon 855+ performance

  • Older chipset compared to S20+
  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Limited camera details

Samsung Galaxy S20+

  • More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990)
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Superior battery endurance

  • Exynos variant may suffer from thermal throttling
  • Higher price point
  • Potential for software bloat

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S20+ boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 797 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Quantum 2. While both likely utilize AMOLED technology, the S20+'s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The S20+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a well-tuned panel, though without detailed color accuracy data, a definitive advantage is difficult to claim. Both share a similar 120Hz refresh rate, but the Quantum 2's PWM dimming rate is unknown, potentially impacting users sensitive to flicker.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited to 'Photo / Video' for both. The S20+ likely benefits from Samsung's more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. The Quantum 2's inclusion of a QRNG chip doesn't directly impact image quality but could enhance the security of stored photos and videos. Without specific sensor details (megapixel count, aperture), it's difficult to assess a clear winner, but the S20+'s flagship positioning suggests a more refined and versatile camera experience.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Quantum 2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, while the S20+ shipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or Snapdragon 865 (USA). The Snapdragon 865 represents a generational leap over the 855+, offering improvements in CPU and GPU performance, and 5G connectivity. The Exynos 990, while competitive, has historically faced criticism for thermal throttling under sustained load. The Quantum 2's 855+ benefits from a slightly larger 7nm process node, potentially offering better efficiency, but the S20+'s 7nm+ node and architectural improvements in the 865/990 provide a performance edge. Both devices feature 8GB of RAM, but the type (LPDDR4x vs. potentially LPDDR5 in the S20+) isn't specified, impacting memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S20+ achieves an impressive 87-hour endurance rating, despite sharing the same 25W wired charging speed as the Quantum 2. This suggests a more efficient combination of battery capacity and power management. The S20+ further adds 15W wireless charging (Qi) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Quantum 2. While the Quantum 2's battery capacity is unknown, the S20+'s endurance rating indicates a significant advantage in real-world battery life.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 if you prioritize on-device security with its QRNG chipset and are comfortable with a slightly older, but still capable, Snapdragon 855+ processor. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ if you value a more versatile camera system, faster charging with PD3.0, wireless charging capabilities, and a broader feature set including potentially a more powerful Snapdragon 865 (US variant).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?
The Exynos 990 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially leading to reduced performance during extended gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 865 variant (available in the US) generally performs better in this regard, offering more consistent performance.
❓ What is the practical benefit of the QRNG (Quantum Random Number Generator) in the Galaxy Quantum 2?
The QRNG generates truly random numbers, unlike pseudo-random number generators used in most devices. This enhances the security of cryptographic keys, making the Quantum 2 more resistant to hacking attempts and improving the security of sensitive data like passwords and financial information.
❓ Is the 25W charging speed on both phones sufficient for quick top-ups?
While 25W is a decent charging speed, it's not the fastest available. The S20+ benefits from PD3.0 support, potentially optimizing charging efficiency. Both phones will take approximately 1.5-2 hours for a full charge from 0%, but the S20+'s wireless charging adds convenience.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 855+ in the Quantum 2 compare to the Snapdragon 865 in the S20+ for gaming?
The Snapdragon 865 offers a noticeable performance uplift over the 855+ in gaming, with improved GPU performance and support for features like Variable Rate Shading. While the 855+ is still capable of running most games, the 865 will deliver higher frame rates and smoother gameplay in demanding titles.