Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 offers a noticeable performance uplift, coupled with significantly faster 65W wired and 50W wireless charging. However, the S20 5G UW remains a viable option for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing a familiar Samsung experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 260, 261 mmWave | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 20 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 04 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 8.1 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.32 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168.1 g (5.93 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~566 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 92.8 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| 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 | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cloud Pink, Cosmic Grey, Cloud White | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | SM-G981V | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 880 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| SAR | 0.91 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW
- Lower price point offers excellent value.
- Familiar Samsung One UI experience.
- Still a capable performer for everyday tasks.
- Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless).
- Older Snapdragon 865 chipset.
- Potentially shorter software support lifespan.
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Faster Snapdragon 888 processor.
- Blazing-fast 65W wired and 50W wireless charging.
- Superior display brightness and LTPO technology.
- Higher price tag.
- OxygenOS may not appeal to all users.
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load.
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display shines with a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, offering a more vibrant viewing experience in direct sunlight compared to the S20 5G UW (brightness data unavailable, but typically around 600-700 nits for S20 series). While both likely utilize high-refresh-rate panels, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate for improved power efficiency. Bezels are comparable, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s curved display may appeal to some users, while others may prefer the S20 5G UW’s flatter screen.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer capable camera systems, but details beyond 'Photo/Video' are limited. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s collaboration with Hasselblad suggests a focus on color science and image processing. The Snapdragon 888’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more advanced, enabling better noise reduction and dynamic range. Without specific sensor size or aperture data for the S20 5G UW, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison, but the 9 Pro likely benefits from a newer sensor and improved image processing algorithms. The S20 5G UW's camera is still very good, but the 9 Pro likely has an edge in low-light performance and overall image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+), while the OnePlus 9 Pro features the Snapdragon 888 (5nm). This process node shrink translates to improved thermal efficiency and performance for the 888. The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core provides a significant performance boost over the S20’s Cortex-A77. While both phones feature 8GB or 12GB of RAM, the OnePlus 9 Pro benefits from faster LPDDR5 RAM, contributing to snappier multitasking. The 888’s Adreno 660 GPU also offers a substantial graphics performance advantage, crucial for demanding games.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the S20 5G UW’s unspecified battery capacity. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging can fully charge the device in just 29 minutes, while the S20 5G UW’s 25W charging takes considerably longer. Similarly, the 9 Pro’s 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) is significantly faster than the S20 5G UW’s 15W wireless charging. The 9 Pro also offers 5W reverse wireless charging, while the S20 5G UW provides 4.5W.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW if you need a reliable flagship experience at a significantly lower price point, and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. You'll appreciate Samsung's established software ecosystem and the still-capable Snapdragon 865. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize raw performance, blazing-fast charging (both wired and wireless), and a more modern chipset with potential for longer software support.