Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Two 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW is the better choice. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G delivers a more efficient experience with comparable battery life and Google’s excellent camera software, making it ideal for everyday users and photography enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 48, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 260, 261 mmWave | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 20 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 04 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 8.1 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.32 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 168.1 g (5.93 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~566 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 92.8 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 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 | - |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cloud Pink, Cosmic Grey, Cloud White | Mostly Black |
| Models | SM-G981V | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 880 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| SAR | 0.91 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW
- Significantly faster processor for demanding tasks
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Faster wired and wireless charging capabilities
- Potential for higher-resolution camera sensor
- Likely higher price point
- Potentially shorter battery life under heavy load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Excellent camera software and image processing
- Streamlined Android experience with timely updates
- Comparable battery life to the S20
- More affordable price
- Less powerful processor for gaming and intensive apps
- Dimmer display compared to the S20
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S20 5G UW boasts a display that, while not specified in detail here, is expected to be a high-refresh-rate AMOLED panel typical of Samsung flagships. This contrasts with the Pixel 5a 5G’s display, which achieves a measured peak brightness of 861 nits. This significant brightness difference means the S20 will be more visible outdoors under direct sunlight. The Pixel 5a’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a typical OLED characteristic, but the S20 likely offers superior color accuracy and potentially a smoother experience if it features a 120Hz refresh rate (based on S20 series standards).
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are absent, the Pixel 5a 5G is renowned for its computational photography prowess. Google’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver excellent dynamic range and accurate colors, even in challenging lighting conditions. The S20 5G UW, with its likely higher-resolution sensor (typical of Samsung flagships), may offer more detail in optimal conditions, but the Pixel 5a’s software optimization often closes the gap. The absence of information on OIS for either device makes it difficult to assess low-light performance definitively, but Google’s Night Sight mode is a significant advantage for the Pixel.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The S20 5G UW utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This is a substantial step up from the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm), which has a lower-clocked 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime core. The 865’s more advanced architecture and higher clock speeds translate to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. While the 765G is capable, the 865 offers a noticeable advantage in demanding scenarios. The S20's likely use of LPDDR5 RAM further enhances its performance edge.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 122 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the S20’s more powerful processor. This is likely due to the S20’s larger battery capacity (estimated, based on S20 series norms) offsetting the increased power draw. The S20 5G UW supports 25W wired charging with PD3.0, allowing for faster charging speeds than the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W wired charging with PD2.0. The S20 also offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel 5a 5G.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW if you need uncompromising performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value a brighter, more vibrant display. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a streamlined software experience, exceptional still photography, and long-lasting battery life without sacrificing 5G connectivity. The Pixel 5a is the smarter choice for those who prioritize value and usability.