ZTE Axon 20 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G: A Detailed Comparison
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its significantly brighter display, more powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset, and longer battery life outweigh the Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera novelty. While the Axon 20 5G offers a unique feature, the S20 FE provides a more polished and capable overall experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 20 5G | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Europe | 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 | 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 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 / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 Sub6 - International | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 01. Released 2020, September 10 | 2020, September 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, October 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 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 | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10.5 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 2 MP |
| Triple | - | 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 | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display | 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 | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), 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 | 30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min | 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 4220 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Blue, Purple, Sunrise Yellow | Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange |
| Models | A2121, A2121E, A2121G | SM-G781B, SM-G781B/DS, SM-G781U, SM-G781U1, SM-G781W, SM-G7810, SM-G781N, SM-G781V |
| Price | About 720 EUR | $ 137.00 / C$ 531.23 / £ 169.00 / € 199.00 |
| SAR | - | 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 82h | Endurance rating 110h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.3 LUFS (Good) | -26.3 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 320399 (v8) GeekBench: 1957 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 543986 (v8) GeekBench: 3296 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 20 5G
- Innovative under-display camera technology
- Competitive price point
- Decent battery endurance (82h)
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Under-display camera image quality compromises
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Flagship Snapdragon 865 processor for superior performance
- Significantly brighter and more vibrant display
- Longer battery life (110h) and versatile charging options
- Higher price tag
- Traditional notch or punch-hole camera design
- Can be prone to throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 822 nits compared to the Axon 20 5G’s 406 nits. This translates to far better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both phones feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting similar black levels, but the S20 FE’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage. The Axon 20 5G’s primary draw is its under-display camera, which, while innovative, introduces compromises in screen uniformity and image quality compared to traditional notch or punch-hole designs. The S20 FE’s display is simply more usable in a wider range of conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the details matter. While specific sensor details are missing, the S20 FE’s Snapdragon 865 ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more advanced, leading to better image processing, especially in low-light conditions. The Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera is a technological feat, but image quality is demonstrably lower than the S20 FE’s front-facing camera. The S20 FE’s camera system is likely to offer more consistent and higher-quality results across various shooting scenarios. The absence of details on the Axon 20 5G’s main sensor makes a direct comparison difficult, but the S20 FE’s flagship processor gives it a significant edge in image processing.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G utilizes the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), a flagship processor, while the ZTE Axon 20 5G is equipped with the SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865’s octa-core CPU, with its 2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core, offers substantially higher single-core performance than the Axon 20 5G’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. This difference is noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. While both use 7nm process technology, the 865’s more advanced architecture and higher clock speeds provide a clear performance advantage. The S20 FE also benefits from potentially faster RAM options, though both phones are available with 6GB or 8GB.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G delivers a significantly longer endurance rating of 110 hours compared to the ZTE Axon 20 5G’s 82 hours. This suggests the S20 FE’s battery optimization and potentially more efficient chipset contribute to superior battery life. While the Axon 20 5G supports 30W fast charging (QC4, 60% in 30 min), the S20 FE offers 25W wired charging (PD3.0), 15W wireless charging (Qi), and even 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The S20 FE’s broader charging options and longer endurance make it the more versatile choice for users who prioritize battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 20 5G if you are fascinated by emerging display technology and want to experience an under-display camera, even if it means compromising on raw performance and display quality. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G if you prioritize a smooth, responsive user experience, a vibrant display, and a reliable camera system, and are willing to pay a premium for these features.