Samsung Galaxy S20 vs. Huawei P40 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Flagship Differences
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the Huawei P40 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its significantly superior 95-hour endurance rating, coupled with faster 40W wired and wireless charging, overshadows the S20’s slightly brighter display. However, the S20’s availability of the Snapdragon 865 in the US offers a performance edge for gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Huawei P40 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 11 | 2020, March 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 06 | Available. Released 2020, June 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 226 g (7.97 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 |
| Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 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 | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| 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@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Infrared Face ID, 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 | 40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red | White Ceramic, Black Ceramic |
| Models | SM-G980, SM-G980F, SM-G980F/DS | ELS-N39, ELS-AN10 |
| Price | $ 252.72 / C$ 249.99 / £ 185.00 / € 185.00 | About 1000 EUR |
| SAR | 0.76 W/kg (head) 1.01 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.28 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 71h | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -23.9 LUFS (Very good) | -27.4 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 525029 (v8) GeekBench: 12557 (v4.4), 2750 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S20
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Snapdragon 865 variant offers strong performance (US model)
- More widely available software ecosystem
- Inferior battery life compared to P40 Pro+
- Exynos 990 variant prone to throttling
- Slower charging speeds
Huawei P40 Pro+
- Exceptional battery life (95-hour endurance)
- Faster 40W wired and wireless charging
- Versatile camera system
- Slightly dimmer display
- Huawei ecosystem limitations
- Potential software update concerns
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 boasts a peak brightness of 814 nits, exceeding the Huawei P40 Pro+'s 760 nits. While the S20 is brighter, both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. The difference in brightness is noticeable in direct sunlight, giving the S20 a slight edge for outdoor visibility. However, neither manufacturer specifies PWM dimming rates, making it difficult to assess potential flicker-related eye strain for sensitive users.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the P40 Pro+’s camera system is more comprehensively documented. The P40 Pro+’s strength lies in its versatile camera setup, though specific sensor details are missing in the provided data. The S20’s camera performance is solid, but lacks the P40 Pro+'s reputation for low-light photography and zoom capabilities. The absence of details on the S20’s camera sensors makes a direct comparison difficult, but the P40 Pro+ likely holds an advantage in overall image quality.
Performance
The performance landscape is complex. Globally, the Galaxy S20 shipped with the Exynos 990, while the US received the Snapdragon 865. The Snapdragon 865, built on a 7nm+ process, generally offers superior sustained performance and thermal management compared to the Exynos 990. The P40 Pro+ utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (also 7nm+), featuring a slightly different CPU core configuration (2x Cortex-A76 vs S20's Mongoose M5 and A76). While clock speeds are comparable, real-world performance differences depend heavily on software optimization and thermal throttling. The S20’s potential for throttling on the Exynos variant is a concern for prolonged gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Huawei P40 Pro+ decisively wins in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 95 hours compared to the Galaxy S20’s 71 hours. This 24-hour difference is substantial. Furthermore, the P40 Pro+ supports significantly faster charging: 40W wired and 40W wireless, versus the S20’s 25W wired and 15W wireless. The P40 Pro+ also offers 27W reverse wireless charging, a feature the S20 provides at only 4.5W. This means the P40 Pro+ can top up accessories much faster. While the S20’s battery is adequate, the P40 Pro+ offers a far more convenient and long-lasting experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 if you need a compact flagship with a vibrant display and prefer the wider ecosystem of Google services. The Snapdragon 865 variant (US model) is ideal for demanding mobile gamers. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prioritize exceptional battery life, fast charging speeds, and a versatile camera system, and are comfortable with the Huawei ecosystem.