Launched at different price points and targeting slightly different markets, the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent compelling choices in the 2020 flagship space. The K30 Pro aimed to deliver flagship performance at a mid-range price, while the S20+ 5G offered a premium, all-around experience. Now, with price drops, the K30 Pro is a serious contender, making a direct comparison essential.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and value, the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset (matching the US variant of the S20+ 5G) delivers comparable processing power, coupled with faster 30W charging, all at a significantly lower cost. However, Samsung's S20+ 5G offers a more polished software experience and wireless charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - China | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 24. Released 2020, March 27 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-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 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.0 (128GB 6GB RAM)
UFS 3.1 (128GB 8/12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM) | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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) |
| Video | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 63 min | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4700 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Neon Blue, Phantom White, Electric Purple, Cyber Gray | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | - | SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02 |
| Price | About 390 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) |
Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Snapdragon 865 offers excellent performance
- Significantly lower price point
- Lacks wireless charging
- Software experience may not be as polished as Samsung's
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Refined software experience with One UI
- Potentially better camera image quality (depending on variant)
- Exynos 990 variant may suffer from thermal throttling
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but the display differences are notable. While specific panel details (like peak brightness in nits) aren't provided, the S20+ 5G likely boasts a higher peak brightness and potentially better color accuracy due to Samsung's Display expertise. The K30 Pro's display, while excellent, is likely tuned for vibrant colors rather than absolute accuracy. Bezels are comparable, but the S20+ 5G benefits from a curved edge display, offering a more immersive viewing experience, though some users find curved displays prone to accidental touches.
Camera Comparison
The camera systems differ significantly in approach. While detailed sensor specs are missing, the S20+ 5G likely features a larger main sensor, benefiting low-light performance. Samsung’s image processing prioritizes vibrant, shareable images, while Xiaomi typically aims for a more natural look. The K30 Pro’s camera system, while capable, likely doesn’t match the S20+ 5G’s overall versatility and image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the K30 Pro is largely a marketing gimmick, offering minimal practical benefit.
Performance
The performance battle hinges on the chipset. The US variant of the S20+ 5G, like the K30 Pro, features the Snapdragon 865 5G. However, the global S20+ 5G uses the Exynos 990. The Snapdragon 865’s Cortex-A77 cores (1x2.84 GHz & 3x2.42 GHz) in the K30 Pro are architecturally superior to the Exynos 990’s Mongoose M5 (2x2.73 GHz) and Cortex-A76 (2x2.50 GHz) cores, offering better sustained performance. The K30 Pro’s LPDDR5 RAM, while not explicitly specified in speed, is likely comparable to the S20+ 5G, ensuring smooth multitasking. The Exynos 990 has historically been criticized for thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential advantage for the K30 Pro’s Snapdragon variant.
Battery Life
The Redmi K30 Pro’s 30W wired charging is a clear advantage over the S20+ 5G’s 25W charging, achieving a full charge in 63 minutes versus a longer duration for the Samsung. While the S20+ 5G offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging – features absent on the K30 Pro – these conveniences come at the cost of slower overall charging speeds. The actual battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the K30 Pro’s faster charging mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery capacity (not specified in the data).
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro if you need uncompromising performance for gaming and demanding tasks, and prioritize value for money. You'll benefit from faster charging and a powerful processor without breaking the bank. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a more refined user experience, require wireless charging, and value Samsung's established ecosystem and camera processing style. It's the better choice for those who prioritize convenience and a premium feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the global S20+ 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 990 has a history of thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during graphically intensive games. While Samsung implemented cooling solutions, the Snapdragon 865 in the K30 Pro (and US S20+ 5G) generally exhibits better thermal management, leading to more consistent performance over extended periods.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Redmi K30 Pro significantly faster in real-world use than the 25W on the S20+ 5G?
Yes, the 30W charging on the K30 Pro translates to a noticeably faster charging experience. Xiaomi claims 100% charge in 63 minutes, while the S20+ 5G takes considerably longer. This difference is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Redmi K30 Pro and the Galaxy S20+ 5G?
Samsung's image processing typically produces vibrant, saturated images designed for immediate sharing, often boosting colors and contrast. Xiaomi generally aims for a more natural and realistic look, preserving details and avoiding excessive post-processing. The preferred style is subjective, but the S20+ 5G's processing is more recognizable to the average smartphone user.
