The Samsung Galaxy S6 was a flagship powerhouse when it launched, while the A20s aimed for affordability. But how do these phones stack up today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S6 boasts significantly superior performance and a premium design, but its age shows in battery life and software support. The A20s offers a more modern experience, longer battery life, and a lower price point, making it a better choice for budget-conscious users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - G920V, G920P | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G920V | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A207F/DS |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13 - G920V | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - SM-A207F/DS |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25 - G920R | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - SM-A207M/DS |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, April | 2019, September 24. Released 2019, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 143.5 x 70.6 x 6.9 mm (5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 in) | 163.3 x 77.5 x 8 mm (6.43 x 3.05 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~70.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Adreno 506 |
| OS | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI Core 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS | - |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired
Wireless | 15W wired |
| Music play | Up to 57 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 700 h (2G) / Up to 650 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 23 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2550 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum | Black, Blue, Red, Green |
| Models | SM-G920P, SM-G920V, SM-G920R, SM-G920W8, SM-G920R4, SM-G920T1, SM-G920AZ, SM-S907VL | SM-A207F, SM-A207M, SM-A2070 |
| Price | About 410 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.43 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.22 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body) | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy S6 (USA)
- Superior Performance
- Excellent Display Quality
- Premium Design & Build
- Good Camera (for its age)
- Aging Battery Life
- Limited Software Updates
- Smaller Screen
- Older Technology
Samsung Galaxy A20s
- Longer Battery Life
- Larger Display
- Affordable Price
- Modern Design
- Lower Performance
- Mediocre Camera
- HD+ Resolution (less sharp)
- Plastic Build
Display Comparison
The S6 features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), offering vibrant colors and sharp details. The A20s has a larger 6.5-inch HD+ (1600 x 720) display. While the A20s provides more screen real estate, the S6's superior resolution and AMOLED technology result in a noticeably better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The S6 has a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, known for its excellent image quality in its prime. The A20s features a 13MP rear camera with a depth sensor and an 8MP front camera. While the A20s' camera is decent, the S6 generally produces better photos with more detail and dynamic range, especially in good lighting conditions.
Performance
The Exynos 7420 in the S6 is a vastly more powerful chipset than the Snapdragon 450 in the A20s. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S6. The A20s is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The A20s has a larger 4000mAh battery compared to the S6's 2500mAh battery. This translates to significantly longer battery life on the A20s, easily lasting a full day of moderate use, while the S6 may require charging before the end of the day.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is for those who prioritize performance and a premium feel, and don't mind an older device. The Samsung Galaxy A20s is ideal for users seeking a reliable, affordable phone with a decent camera and good battery life, prioritizing value over raw power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S6 still worth buying?
It depends. If you prioritize performance and a premium feel and can accept the limitations of an older device, it might be. However, consider the battery life and lack of software updates.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy A20s, being a newer device, is more likely to have received some software updates, although support is likely discontinued. The S6 has no active software support.