The Samsung Galaxy S20 + does not have it easy: squeezed between the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20 Ultra, it takes a sandwich role, so to speak. Do you know the theory of sandwich children, which psychology often describes as problem children? However, we did not want to assume anything about the S20 + and took a close look at it without prejudice. Here is our report: The Galaxy S20 + in the test.
The S20 + and I – we already knew each other. We had the first “date” at the beginning of February at a pre-event for the release of the S20 series in Munich. At that time I was allowed to take all three flagships from Samsung in hand – and was quite impressed, like you here you can read.
In particular, the AMOLED displays, which make the devices particularly attractive for entertainment and gaming fans, and the cameras of the S20 series convinced me at first glance. But what is my judgment after a long practical test?
Galaxy S20 + in hands-on
As you know, the first impression, in this case the second one, counts. And that is also positive in this case. The Samsung Galaxy S20 + reaches me in chic black packaging: And the S20 + itself is elegantly presented in Cosmic Black – fits, because black is my absolute favorite color anyway.
With a 6.7-inch screen, the Galaxy S20 + is comfortable to hold – but in my opinion it shouldn’t get much bigger. It is in line with the trend that smartphones are getting bigger. If you still prefer a smaller version, you are well advised with the S20, which comes with a display size of 6.2 inches.
Lovers of even larger smartphones, on the other hand, should recommend the S20 Ultra, which has a proud 6.9 inches. My colleague Markus recently took a close look at the premium smartphone – here you read his test report. Back to the S20 +: I quickly got used to the size and can use it well, although I’m actually one iPhone X own, which is much smaller at 5.8 inches.
Fun fact: When using it for the first time, it took me a little while to figure out how to turn off the S20 +. This may also be the case for other users who previously had an older model – because: The Samsung Galaxy S20 + cannot be switched off as usual. If you hold down the power button for a long time, you only open the Bixby voice assistant instead.
To switch off the device, you have to hold down the “Volume down” and “On” buttons. Alternatively, you can of course call Bixby and ask the assistant by voice command: “Turn off the phone.”
Performance – that’s what the S20 + delivers
Like all models in the Galaxy S20 series, the S20 + is equipped with the new Exynos 990 processor. This guarantees decent speed and should work faster than the Exynos 9820 of the S10 series. The S20 + contains Exynos chips, which now also support the new 5G mobile technology. If you get an S20 with 5G support, the module is not integrated on the SoC but built in as a separate chip.
I found the battery life to be more than satisfactory in the long-term test. So I was able to use the device intensively without problems for a day without having to plug it in. With 4,500 mAh, the S20 + is more than solidly equipped. This is also necessary if you consider the rather large display.
Camera – the crucial criterion
As Samsung communicated itself at the official presentation in February, the camera is the decisive purchase criterion for the smartphone. First of all to the bare numbers: The S20 Plus contains a 12 MP main camera, a 64 MP telephoto camera and a 12 MP sensor for ultra-wide shots. In addition, 8K video recordings (with 30 FPS) are also possible.
Also new in comparison to the S10 series: the pixel size of the sensor has been increased for the wide-angle lens, the number of pictures taken in auto or night mode has been doubled and the noise has been reduced thanks to software optimization.
So far so good. In the practical test, the recordings with the S20 + turned out to be more than useful. But see for yourself:
The camera did not completely convince me when zooming. I also missed a special macro function for close-ups. One or two critical voices can also be found online. So there is a need for optimization here – however, the camera delivers otherwise really well. These pictures from your own garden provide proof:
The S20 + should be interesting for you if …
The S20 + could be an exciting device for you if you are looking for a top smartphone that offers excellent performance. Of course, it cannot keep up with the all-round camera performance and the 108 megapixels of the S20 Ultra. But you also save almost 400 euros on the purchase price. You also have to leaf through the 1,000 euros for the S20 + – so it’s not a bargain.
I was particularly impressed by the high-quality display of the S20 + during the test – this makes Netflix and Co. really fun on the go. The camera is also convincing if you lower the expectations a little bit, especially for the zoom. And the device is always reliable with its convincing battery performance.
The question remains whether the S20 + will ultimately hold its own against its two brothers – the small S20 and the large S20 Ultra? I think it will be difficult, but it is quite possible. Compared to the S20 it “only” costs 100 euros more – but you also get a slightly higher quality equipment. Maybe the S20 + will also get competition from the 999-euro smartphone Xiaomi Mi 10 or the Huawei P40 Pro? My conclusion: The sandwich cell phone will find its way. I believe in it.
–
