vivo X30 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Exynos Power

Launched in late 2019 and early 2020 respectively, the vivo X30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent different approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The X30 Pro prioritized fast charging and a sleek design, while the S20+ aimed for a more comprehensive package with a focus on camera versatility and broader 5G compatibility. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on the nuances of their Exynos-based performance.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G emerges as the slightly stronger choice. While the vivo X30 Pro boasts significantly faster 33W charging, the S20+’s more powerful processor (especially the Snapdragon variant in the US) and wider 5G band support provide a more future-proof and versatile experience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X30 Pro Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 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 bands41, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (3.6+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2019, December. Released 2019, December2020, February 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, March 06
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.5 x 74.1 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.92 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· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198.5 g (7.02 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR, 800 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 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
ChipsetExynos 980 (8 nm)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUMali-G76 MP5Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 10.0Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/3.0, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth)
Video4K@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging33W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type4350 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Peach, Light BlueCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
ModelsV1938TSM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02
PriceAbout 600 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)

vivo X30 Pro

  • Significantly faster 33W wired charging
  • Sleek and lightweight design
  • Competitive price point (potentially)

  • Less powerful processor than the S20+ 5G
  • Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens
  • No wireless or reverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

  • More powerful processor (especially Snapdragon 865)
  • Versatile camera system with telephoto lens
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Potentially higher price
  • Exynos 990 can run hot under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both devices feature AMOLED displays, but detailed specifications regarding peak brightness and color accuracy are missing. However, Samsung historically excels in display technology, and the S20+ likely benefits from a higher peak brightness and potentially more accurate color calibration. The S20+ also benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature absent on the X30 Pro, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. Bezels are comparable, with both offering a modern, immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S20+ 5G offers a more versatile camera system. While both phones likely capture excellent images in good lighting, the S20+’s larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms provide an edge in low-light performance and dynamic range. The S20+ also includes a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, a feature missing on the X30 Pro. While the X30 Pro may offer unique software features, the S20+’s hardware advantage is substantial. The inclusion of 8K video recording on the S20+ further expands its creative capabilities.

Performance

The performance gap is significant. The Galaxy S20+ 5G, equipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or the Snapdragon 865 (US), possesses a more powerful CPU and GPU. The Snapdragon 865, with its Cortex-A77 prime cores, offers a substantial performance uplift over the X30 Pro’s Cortex-A77 setup. The Exynos 990, while still powerful, is built on a 7nm+ process compared to the X30 Pro’s 8nm Exynos 980, suggesting better efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance. The S20+ also benefits from faster LPDDR5 RAM, contributing to quicker app loading and multitasking. Thermal management is a potential concern for both, but the S20+’s larger chassis may offer slightly better dissipation.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S20+ 5G has a 4500mAh battery, while the X30 Pro has a 4350mAh battery. The difference is relatively small. However, the X30 Pro’s 33W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in significantly less time than the S20+’s 25W charging (with PD3.0). The S20+ does offer 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the X30 Pro, providing added convenience for compatible devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X30 Pro if you prioritize incredibly fast charging and a streamlined user experience. Its 33W charging is a significant advantage for those who frequently need to top up their battery. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you value a more robust processor, a more versatile camera system, and broader 5G network compatibility, particularly if you reside in the US and benefit from the Snapdragon 865 variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ 5G overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?
The Exynos 990 is known to run warmer than the Snapdragon 865, and some users have reported thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, Samsung implemented software optimizations to mitigate this issue, and the S20+’s larger chassis helps with heat dissipation. The Snapdragon variant in the US generally exhibits better thermal performance.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones are limited in their capabilities. While they can capture close-up images, the low resolution often results in a lack of detail and sharpness. The S20+'s superior image processing may yield slightly better results, but don't expect professional-grade macro photography from either device.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G support 90fps or higher frame rates in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Galaxy S20+ 5G can achieve high frame rates in PUBG Mobile, but it depends on the graphics settings and the specific variant (Exynos or Snapdragon). The Snapdragon 865 variant is more likely to consistently maintain 60fps or higher on maximum settings. Achieving 90fps may require lowering the graphics settings.
❓ What 5G bands does the vivo X30 Pro support, and is it compatible with US carriers?
The vivo X30 Pro’s 5G band support is limited compared to the Galaxy S20+ 5G. It primarily supports sub-6GHz 5G bands common in Asia and Europe. Compatibility with US carriers is limited, as it lacks support for the key 5G bands used by major US providers.