TCL 40 XE vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G: A Detailed Showdown

Looking for a new smartphone but overwhelmed by the choices? We're pitting the budget-friendly TCL 40 XE against the still-powerful Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and determine which device best suits your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a superior camera, and a brighter display. However, the TCL 40 XE provides a compelling option for those on a tight budget seeking basic smartphone functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 40 XE	Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 - USA	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - USA	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands	SA/NSA	2, 5, 41, 66, 71 Sub6 - USA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	eMMC 5.1	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 Sub6 - International

Launch
Announced	2023, February 26	2020, September 23
Status	Available. Released 2023, June	Available. Released 2020, October 02

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	164.5 x 75.4 x 0 mm (6.48 x 2.97 x 0.0 in)	159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	195 g (6.88 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size	6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 650
OS	Android 13, TCL UI	Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) 1/4.0", 1.12µm	2 MP
Triple	13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) 1/4.0", 1.12µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Browser	-	HTTP / WAP 2.0
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

Battery
Charging	18W wired	25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-by	-	Up to 300 h
Talk time	-	Up to 5 h
Type	Li-Ion 5000 mAh	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Starlight Black	Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange
Models	T609SPP	SM-G781B, SM-G781B/DS, SM-G781U, SM-G781U1, SM-G781W, SM-G7810, SM-G781N, SM-G781V
Price	About 100 EUR	$ 137.00 / C$ 531.23 / £ 169.00 / € 199.00
SAR	1.38 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body)	0.70 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.50 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body)

Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM	-	$ 361.99
128GB 8GB RAM	-	$ 589.97
256GB 8GB RAM	-	$ 769.99

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 110h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 543986 (v8) GeekBench: 3296 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

TCL 40 XE

Affordable
Decent battery life
Large display
Expandable storage (likely via microSD)

Lower performance
Less impressive camera
Dim display
Slower charging

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

High performance
Excellent camera
Bright and vibrant display
5G connectivity
Fast charging (wired & wireless)
Reverse wireless charging

Higher price
Older model (potential software update limitations)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display (822 nits peak) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The TCL 40 XE's display is adequate but lacks the same level of brightness and color accuracy. The S20 FE 5G also has a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations feel more fluid.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G's camera system is a major advantage. It offers better image quality, more features, and improved low-light performance. While the TCL 40 XE's camera is functional, it struggles in challenging lighting conditions and lacks the advanced features of the Samsung.

Performance

The Snapdragon 865 5G in the Galaxy S20 FE 5G delivers vastly superior performance compared to the Mediatek Dimensity 700 in the TCL 40 XE. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience on the S20 FE 5G. Gaming performance is also significantly better on the Samsung device.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life with an endurance rating of 110h. However, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G supports faster 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and even reverse wireless charging, providing greater convenience.

Buying Guide

The TCL 40 XE is ideal for users prioritizing affordability and basic features like calling, texting, and light social media use. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is perfect for users who demand high performance, a great camera, and 5G connectivity, and are willing to invest more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the TCL 40 XE a good phone for basic use?

Yes, the TCL 40 XE is a decent option for basic tasks like calling, texting, and browsing the web, especially if you're on a tight budget.

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G still worth buying in [current year]?

Absolutely! Despite being an older model, the S20 FE 5G still offers excellent performance and features, and can often be found at a discounted price.

❓ Does the TCL 40 XE have 5G?

No, the TCL 40 XE does not support 5G connectivity.

❓ What is the difference between the Snapdragon 865 and the Dimensity 700?

The Snapdragon 865 is a significantly more powerful chipset than the Dimensity 700, offering better performance in all areas, including gaming and multitasking.