Samsung Galaxy S20+ vs Huawei P40 Pro+: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users in 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ offers a more compelling package. While the Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts superior battery endurance and faster charging, the S20+'s wider availability, potential for Snapdragon 865 performance, and established software ecosystem make it the more practical choice.
| 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 | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 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 | 186 g (6.56 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 (~525 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) | - |
| 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 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue | White Ceramic, Black Ceramic |
| Models | SM-G985, SM-G985F, SM-G985F/DS | ELS-N39, ELS-AN10 |
| Price | € 299.97 / $ 189.60 / £ 234.21 | About 1000 EUR |
| SAR | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.38 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 400.90 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 288.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 87h | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.4 LUFS (Very good) | -27.4 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 500114 (v8) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S20+
- Potential for Snapdragon 865 performance (US variant)
- Wider availability and established software ecosystem
- Slightly brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Lower battery endurance compared to P40 Pro+
- Slower charging speeds
Huawei P40 Pro+
- Superior battery life (95-hour endurance rating)
- Significantly faster wired and wireless charging
- Potentially better low-light camera performance
- Limited availability and software ecosystem concerns
- Lower display brightness
Display Comparison
Both the S20+ and P40 Pro+ feature 'Infinite' contrast ratio displays, typical of high-end OLED panels. However, the S20+ edges out the P40 Pro+ with a measured peak brightness of 797 nits versus 760 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the S20+'s display is slightly more vibrant in outdoor conditions, making it preferable for media consumption on the go. Neither manufacturer specifies refresh rates in the provided data, but both were flagship devices capable of 120hz.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are marketed as camera powerhouses, but their approaches differ. The provided data doesn't detail specific camera specs beyond 'Photo / Video' capabilities. However, the P40 Pro+ is known for its penta-camera system, including a 50MP main sensor, while the S20+ features a 12MP main sensor. This suggests the P40 Pro+ captures more detail in optimal lighting conditions. Huawei's image processing tends towards more saturated colors and aggressive sharpening, while Samsung aims for a more natural look. The P40 Pro+'s larger sensor size likely provides better low-light performance, but without detailed specs, a definitive judgment is difficult.
Performance
The chipset choice significantly impacts performance. The global S20+ utilizes the Exynos 990 (7nm+), while the US variant receives the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The Snapdragon 865 generally offers superior sustained performance and thermal management due to its more efficient manufacturing process. The P40 Pro+ is powered by the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). While the Kirin 990's CPU core configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) is competitive, the Snapdragon 865's Adreno 650 GPU provides a noticeable advantage in gaming. Both devices feature 8GB of RAM, but the S20+'s potential for faster LPDDR5 RAM (depending on configuration) could contribute to snappier multitasking.
Battery Life
The Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving a 95-hour rating compared to the S20+'s 87-hour rating. This translates to a longer time between charges for typical usage. 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, allowing it to charge other devices, while the S20+ provides a slower 4.5W reverse wireless charging capability. The P40 Pro+'s charging speed is a major benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ if you prioritize a readily available device with a strong software experience, and potentially benefit from the Snapdragon 865's thermal efficiency. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you absolutely need the longest possible battery life and fastest charging speeds, and are comfortable with the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem and potential software concerns.