Sharp Aquos R5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Head-to-Head Comparison

The Sharp Aquos R5G and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent distinct approaches to the 2020 flagship experience. The Aquos R5G, largely Japan-focused, aimed for a streamlined experience with the latest Snapdragon, while the S20+ 5G offered a broader feature set and Samsung’s signature display technology, albeit with regional chipset variations. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, particularly focusing on the impact of the Snapdragon 865 versus the Exynos 990.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G offers a more well-rounded experience, particularly the USA variant with the Snapdragon 865. Its broader feature set, including wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, combined with Samsung’s established software support, outweighs the Aquos R5G’s slight performance edge in some benchmarks.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos R5G Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B
5G bands1, 3, 28, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, February. Released 2020, February2020, February 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, March 06
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions162 x 75 x 8.9 mm (6.38 x 2.95 x 0.35 in)161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
 IPX5/IP6X/IPX8 water/dust resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~544 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 99.5 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIGZO IPS LCD, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby VisionDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)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
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 10Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.7, 52mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 48 MP, f/2.9, 19mm (ultrawide), 0.8µm TOF 3D (depth)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)
Video8K@30fps, 1080p@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3730 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGlare Black, Aurora WhiteCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
ModelsSH-51A, SHG01, SH-R50SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02
PriceAbout 700 EUR$ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.57 W/kg (body)

Sharp Aquos R5G

  • Consistent Snapdragon 865 performance
  • Clean Android experience
  • Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal efficiency

  • Limited regional availability
  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Potentially shorter software support lifecycle

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

  • Versatile camera system
  • Vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Exynos 990 can suffer from thermal throttling (Global variant)
  • Samsung’s One UI can be bloated
  • Software updates can be slower than some competitors

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but diverge significantly in display technology. While specific nit brightness data isn't provided, Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ 5G is known for its vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering excellent color accuracy and peak brightness. The Aquos R5G, while likely offering good color reproduction, doesn’t benefit from Samsung’s display expertise. The S20+’s 120Hz refresh rate (though often dynamically adjusted) provides a smoother visual experience than the Aquos R5G’s standard 60Hz panel. Bezels are comparable, but Samsung’s curved display adds a premium aesthetic.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are limited, but the Aquos R5G likely focuses on computational photography leveraging the Snapdragon’s ISP. The Galaxy S20+ 5G boasts a more versatile camera system, including a higher resolution main sensor (though resolution isn’t specified in the provided data) and advanced features like Single Take. While both phones likely offer good image quality in ideal conditions, Samsung’s image processing tends towards more saturated colors, while Sharp typically aims for a more natural look. The presence of OIS on both devices is expected, but the S20+’s wider range of lenses provides greater creative flexibility.

Performance

The core performance difference lies in the chipset. The Aquos R5G consistently features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G, utilizing a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Galaxy S20+ 5G, however, shipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or the Snapdragon 865 (USA). The Exynos 990’s Mongoose M5 cores, while clocked slightly higher at 2.73 GHz, are generally less efficient than the Snapdragon’s Cortex-A77. This translates to potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load on the Exynos variant. Both phones utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Snapdragon’s superior GPU and thermal management give it an edge in gaming and demanding applications. The USA S20+ 5G, mirroring the Aquos R5G’s Snapdragon 865, offers comparable performance.

Battery Life

Battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, but the Galaxy S20+ 5G offers a clear advantage with its 25W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 for faster charging speeds. The addition of 15W wireless charging (Qi) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging further enhances its usability. The Aquos R5G lacks these wireless charging capabilities, relying solely on wired charging, which is likely slower. While a larger battery capacity on the Aquos R5G could offset the slower charging, the S20+’s charging speed provides a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sharp Aquos R5G if you prioritize raw, sustained CPU performance and a clean Android experience, and are comfortable with a potentially limited software update lifecycle and regional availability. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you value a feature-rich ecosystem, a vibrant display, wireless charging capabilities, and a more robust software support commitment, even if it means potentially dealing with the Exynos chipset’s thermal limitations (outside the USA).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 990 is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during graphically intensive games. This can lead to reduced frame rates and performance dips. The Snapdragon 865 variant (USA) handles heat more efficiently, offering a more consistent gaming experience.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Sharp Aquos R5G a significant drawback?
For users accustomed to the convenience of wireless charging, the Aquos R5G’s omission is a notable limitation. The Galaxy S20+ 5G’s 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging provide added flexibility and convenience.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Aquos R5G and the Galaxy S20+ 5G?
Samsung’s image processing typically produces more vibrant and saturated colors, appealing to users who prefer a punchy look. Sharp generally aims for a more natural and realistic color profile, prioritizing accuracy over visual enhancement.
❓ Will the Sharp Aquos R5G receive long-term software updates?
Given Sharp’s limited global presence and historical software support record, the Aquos R5G is likely to receive fewer software updates compared to the Galaxy S20+ 5G, which benefits from Samsung’s more robust update commitment.