vivo X50 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range and Flagship Power

The vivo X50 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent interesting points in the Android landscape. The X50 Pro arrived as a strong contender with a focus on camera and battery life at a competitive price, while the S20+ 5G, though initially a flagship, has seen price drops making it a more accessible option. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value in today's market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and a capable camera without breaking the bank, the vivo X50 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 88-hour endurance rating and competitive chipset offer excellent value. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G remains a compelling choice for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem and demanding a more refined software experience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X50 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, 12, 17, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 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 / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, June 01. Released 2020, June 122020, 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 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 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
Weight181.5 g (6.42 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)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 SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUAdreno 620Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.5Android 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
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (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@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 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 NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM 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, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging33W wired, 57% in 30 min25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type4315 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsDark Blue, Light BlueCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
ModelsV2005A, 2006SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02
PriceAbout 440 EUR$ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.34 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.57 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAMRp 5,876,500-
256GB 8GB RAMRp 9,499,000-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 88h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.8 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 323736 (v8) GeekBench: 1937 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

vivo X50 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (88h endurance)
  • Faster 33W wired charging
  • Competitive price point

  • Less powerful chipset than S20+
  • No 120Hz display

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

  • More powerful processor (Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865)
  • 120Hz display for smoother visuals
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Shorter battery life
  • Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
  • Higher price

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G boasts a higher-end display experience, though the vivo X50 Pro isn’t far behind. While both feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the X50 Pro’s measured 503 nits max brightness is respectable, but likely falls short of the S20+'s peak brightness capabilities, which typically exceed 600 nits. Samsung’s display technology, historically, offers superior color accuracy and outdoor visibility. The S20+ also benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate, absent on the X50 Pro, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. This difference is particularly noticeable for gamers and frequent social media users.

Camera Comparison

Both phones prioritize camera capabilities, but approach it differently. The vivo X50 Pro focuses on a versatile setup, while the S20+ aims for a more refined, all-around experience. While specific sensor details are limited for the X50 Pro, its emphasis on photo and video suggests a strong imaging pipeline. The S20+’s camera system, with its larger sensors and advanced image processing, excels in low-light conditions and offers more sophisticated video recording features. The S20+’s image processing tends towards more saturated colors, while vivo often aims for a more natural look. The presence of OIS on both devices is crucial for stable video recording and sharper low-light photos.

Performance

The chipset is where the most significant difference lies. The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G shipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or the Snapdragon 865 (USA). Both are 7nm+ processors, but the Snapdragon 865 generally offers superior thermal management and sustained performance. The vivo X50 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, a 7nm chip designed for a balance of performance and efficiency. While the Snapdragon 765G is capable, the Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865 in the S20+ provide a noticeable performance uplift in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The S20+'s CPU, with its Cortex-A76/A77 cores, offers higher clock speeds than the Kryo 475 cores in the X50 Pro, translating to faster app loading and multitasking. The S20+ also benefits from potentially faster RAM, depending on the configuration.

Battery Life

Battery life is a clear win for the vivo X50 Pro. Its impressive 88-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses what’s typically achievable with the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G. The S20+’s 25W wired charging with PD3.0 is decent, but the X50 Pro’s 33W charging allows for a 57% charge in just 30 minutes, offering a faster top-up. The S20+ also includes 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the X50 Pro. However, these conveniences are offset by the S20+'s lower overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X50 Pro if you need exceptional battery life, a versatile camera system, and a more affordable price point. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and value. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a wider range of accessories, and the potential for faster performance (particularly the Snapdragon variant) – and are willing to pay a premium or accept slightly shorter battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ 5G suffer from overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 990 variant of the Galaxy S20+ 5G is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during demanding games. This can lead to reduced performance and frame rate drops. The Snapdragon 865 variant generally handles heat more effectively.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included as a marketing feature rather than a genuinely useful tool. The results are typically soft and lack the sharpness of dedicated macro lenses or higher-resolution sensors.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G reliably maintain 60fps in graphically intensive games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 865 variant of the Galaxy S20+ 5G can generally maintain 60fps in PUBG at high settings. However, the Exynos 990 variant may experience occasional frame drops, especially during intense firefights, due to thermal throttling. Lowering graphics settings can improve stability.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the vivo X50 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G?
Samsung's One UI offers a feature-rich and polished software experience with a strong emphasis on customization. Vivo's Funtouch OS, while improved over time, is often considered less refined and may include more pre-installed bloatware. Samsung also provides longer software support and updates.