Samsung Galaxy S20 vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Android Phones
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and a vibrant display, the Samsung Galaxy S20 offers a compelling package. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III edges ahead for power users and content creators thanks to its superior chipset, slightly better battery endurance, and faster charging capabilities.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| 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 | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 11 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 06 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 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 | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| 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), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | SM-G980, SM-G980F, SM-G980F/DS | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | $ 252.72 / C$ 249.99 / £ 185.00 / € 185.00 | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| 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 82h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -23.9 LUFS (Very good) | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 525029 (v8) GeekBench: 12557 (v4.4), 2750 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S20
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- More affordable price point (post-launch)
- Mature and feature-rich One UI software
- Chipset performance varies by region (Exynos vs. Snapdragon)
- Slightly lower battery endurance
- Slower charging speeds
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Superior chipset performance (Snapdragon 888)
- Longer battery life and faster charging
- Professional-grade camera features and manual controls
- Lower peak display brightness
- Higher price point
- More minimalist software experience may not appeal to all
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 boasts a measured peak brightness of 814 nits, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III, despite a lower 620 nits peak, utilizes a 4K panel and a different color science that appeals to professionals. Both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology. The Xperia 1 III’s 4K resolution, while demanding on the battery, offers a noticeable increase in sharpness, particularly for media consumption. While neither manufacturer specifies PWM dimming rates, the S20’s display is known to be more prone to flicker, potentially impacting users sensitive to it.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but their approaches differ. While both are capable of photo and video, the Xperia 1 III focuses heavily on manual controls and professional features. The Xperia 1 III benefits from Sony’s image sensor expertise, though specific sensor sizes aren’t provided in the data. The Snapdragon 888’s ISP also provides advanced image processing capabilities. The S20’s camera system is more geared towards point-and-shoot simplicity, with Samsung’s signature vibrant image processing. The lack of detail regarding specific lens apertures and sensor sizes makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xperia 1 III’s emphasis on manual control and professional features gives it an edge for serious photographers and videographers.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy S20 shipped with either the Exynos 990 (global) or the Snapdragon 865 (USA). The Xperia 1 III exclusively features the Snapdragon 888 5G, fabricated on a more efficient 5nm process compared to the S20’s 7nm+ Exynos/Snapdragon. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU configuration – Cortex-X1 prime core, three A78 performance cores, and four A55 efficiency cores – provides a performance advantage over the S20’s CPU, particularly in sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660 GPU also outperforms the S20’s GPU, resulting in smoother gaming experiences. Thermal management is also a factor; the 5nm process of the Snapdragon 888 contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 III claims an endurance rating of 82 hours, slightly surpassing the Galaxy S20’s 71-hour rating. This difference is attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 888 chipset and a more optimized software experience. The Xperia 1 III supports 30W wired charging with PD, capable of reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, significantly faster than the S20’s 25W charging. Both phones offer wireless and reverse wireless charging, but the S20’s wireless charging is limited to 15W, while the Xperia 1 III’s wireless charging wattage is unspecified. The Xperia 1 III’s faster charging and slightly better endurance make it the more convenient option for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 if you need a versatile, well-rounded flagship with a bright, color-accurate display and a mature software experience, and are comfortable with the potential for regional chipset variations. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prioritize raw performance, longer battery life, faster charging, and a more specialized feature set geared towards photography and videography, and prefer a more minimalist software approach.