Samsung Galaxy S20 FE vs Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G: A Deep Dive Comparison

Both the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G represent compelling value in the flagship space, particularly as they've aged and seen price drops. The S20 FE offered a taste of Samsung's flagship experience at a more accessible price, while the Mi 10T Pro aimed to deliver uncompromising performance and features. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its consistent Snapdragon 865 performance, faster 33W charging, and competitive pricing outweigh the S20 FE's potential advantages in Samsung's software ecosystem and wireless charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G
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, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, September 232020, September 30. Released 2020, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 02Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)165.1 x 76.4 x 9.3 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.37 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)218 g (7.69 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 650 nits (peak)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 990 (7 nm+) - Version 1Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - Version 2Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77 MP11 - Version 1Adreno 650 - Version 2Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 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", 1.12µm108 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)-
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless33W wired, PD3.0
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud OrangeCosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Aurora Blue
ModelsSM-G780F, SM-G780F/DSM, SM-G780GM2007J3SG, M2007J3SP, M2007J3SI, M2007J17C
PriceAbout 390 EUR€ 141.52 / £ 169.99
SAR-0.97 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.24 W/kg (head)     1.45 W/kg (body)0.57 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 385.00
256GB 8GB RAM-$ 415.00
RENEWED-£ 564.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 118h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1185:1
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 563961 (v8) GeekBench: 3311 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

  • Samsung's One UI software experience
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially better color accuracy (Super AMOLED)

  • Exynos 990 variant suffers from lower performance and thermal throttling
  • Slower wired charging (25W)
  • Potentially higher price

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G

  • Consistent Snapdragon 865 performance
  • Faster 33W wired charging
  • Competitive pricing

  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • No wireless charging
  • IPS LCD display may not offer the same contrast as AMOLED

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, but differ in other aspects. The Mi 10T Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 630 nits and a 1185:1 contrast ratio, providing a vibrant and visible experience. While the S20 FE's display specs aren't explicitly provided, Samsung typically excels in color accuracy and calibration. The S20 FE's display technology is likely Super AMOLED, known for its excellent contrast, while the Mi 10T Pro uses an IPS LCD panel. This means the S20 FE will likely offer deeper blacks and a more visually striking image, but the Mi 10T Pro's higher peak brightness could be advantageous in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Mi 10T Pro's camera setup is more focused on delivering high-resolution images. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, detailed sensor information is lacking. However, the Mi 10T Pro's emphasis on a primary sensor capable of high-resolution output suggests a stronger focus on detail capture. The S20 FE likely benefits from Samsung's image processing algorithms, known for vibrant colors and dynamic range. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on both devices is crucial for stable video recording and sharper low-light photos, but specific implementation details are unknown. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both phones is largely a marketing gimmick and offers limited practical benefit.

Performance

The performance landscape is complex. The Mi 10T Pro consistently utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G, featuring an octa-core CPU with a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core and 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 performance cores. The S20 FE, however, shipped in two variants: one with the Exynos 990 and another with the Snapdragon 865. The Exynos 990, built on a 7nm+ process, generally trails the Snapdragon 865 in sustained performance and thermal efficiency. The Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10T Pro, coupled with optimized cooling, will deliver more consistent frame rates during extended gaming sessions. Both phones share 8GB of RAM, but the Mi 10T Pro's consistent chipset provides a clear advantage.

Battery Life

The Mi 10T Pro boasts an endurance rating of 118 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 33W wired charging with PD3.0, allowing for a significantly faster 0-100% charge compared to the S20 FE's 25W charging. The S20 FE offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Mi 10T Pro. While the S20 FE's battery capacity isn't specified, the Mi 10T Pro's endurance rating suggests a well-optimized power management system. The faster charging speed of the Mi 10T Pro is a significant advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE if you prioritize Samsung's One UI software experience, value wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities, and potentially benefit from the Snapdragon 865 variant if available in your region. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G if you prioritize raw performance, faster wired charging, and a more aggressive price point, and are comfortable with Xiaomi's MIUI software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the S20 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 990 variant of the S20 FE is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, leading to reduced performance during extended gaming. The Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10T Pro manages heat more effectively, providing a more consistent gaming experience.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras on both the S20 FE and Mi 10T Pro offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included as a marketing feature but rarely deliver impressive results compared to using the main camera in a close-up mode.
❓ Can the Mi 10T Pro run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
Yes, the Mi 10T Pro's Snapdragon 865 chipset and 120Hz display are capable of running PUBG Mobile at 90fps with the appropriate settings. However, achieving a stable 90fps may require lowering graphics settings depending on the specific device configuration and game version.
❓ What are the key differences between Samsung's One UI and Xiaomi's MIUI?
Samsung's One UI is known for its clean interface, extensive customization options, and tight integration with Samsung's ecosystem. Xiaomi's MIUI is more feature-rich and offers a wider range of customization options, but can sometimes feel cluttered and includes more pre-installed apps (bloatware).