A few weeks ago, I was asked to recommend a good smartphone below Rs 50,000; The main criteria are reliability, good camera and non-poor performance. As usual, most options include the OnePlus 9R, OnePlus 9, IQ7 Legend, Xiaomi Mi11X Pro, and Apple iPhone 11 “” Nothing from Samsung in this category? “I was indifferent that Samsung was silent on this section.
Therefore, when this moment was allowed, I was interested to try the Samsung Galaxy S20F5G last week: a smartphone that Samsung sells for Rs 47,999. Not cutting the right side in terms of high affordability and specifications, the S20F5G came and hid behind multiple Chinese “flagship / flagship killers” in the market. Some critics have abandoned it for the use of old hardware and inferior plastic builds.
Since we got the same opinion for the 4G Exynos variant last year, has the upgraded 5G chipset change put it at the top of the recommendation list? Here’s a compilation of what works and what doesn’t.
Galaxy S20F5G: What works for it?
Build and design
The Galaxy S20 series is not a particularly attractive series for smartphones but it did have great appeal. The S20F5G carries the same with a limited color palette. It eliminates the vibrant red and white colors but for those who prefer an underrated design this is one of the few options in the class of the Galaxy S20F5G. There is a display extending from edge to edge, but the bezels are chunky in comparison.
Of course, the geek community hates plastic on premium phones, and those who care about glazed glass, especially IQ7 Legends or OnePlus 9R, can’t apply to the S20F next to it. That said, the fit-and-finish is top-notch, with no cracks or flakes around it. The matte finish of the plastic rear mimics matte glass, and for those concerned with structural rigidity, the metal frame should sigh. Also, it is IP68 water and dust-resistant, which is still rare in this price category.
Performance
The Exynos chip in the 4G variant has created problems with battery life and overall performance. This is not the case with the 5G variant. You got the Snapdragon 865 from last year, which is still a very fast chip anyway. The Galaxy S20F5G, paired with Samsung’s optimized OneUI software, is one of the most stable Android phones I’ve ever used.
Call of Duty: Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India runs Snapdragon 865 high-end mobile gaming in the best out settings. OneUI 3.1 does not display lags or breaks that were familiar with Exynos version. For most users, performance shouldn’t be a concern, especially since Samsung promises three years of Android OS upgrades and four years of security support.
Display and battery
The 6.5-inch AMOLED display I saw live in this price range is a FullHD + panel but Samsung looks hesitant and lively about everything. A 120Hz refresh rate is available when scrolling through Twitter or playing a COD mobile.
And even with 120Hz mode on, the phone can provide one and a half days of battery life with moderate usage. The man 4500 mAh battery usually ends a busy office day with 45-50 percent charge. Wireless charging is available as well, which is a boon.
The camera
The Galaxy S20 FE5G and Apple’s iPhone 11 are currently our top two recommendations for mobile photography enthusiasts in the Rs 50,000 sub-segment. In fact, we suggest you opt for Samsung’s versatility and coherent color calibration. The 3X hybrid zoom camera and well-optimized ultra-wide camera fascinate me in most lighting situations. Even I have compared the output with the cameras of the Oppo Renault 6 Pro and Samsung has always improved.
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Galaxy S20F5G: What doesn’t work
– Bundling of a slow 15W charging adapter with sub-50,000 smartphones so nowadays 2016 is even Samsung’s fastest charger sold out but 25W speed takes an hour to fully recharge. Brands like OnePlus, Oppo and Realmy bundle chargers that work in around 30 minutes. The IQ system does it in about 20 minutes!
– OneUI 3 is nice to look at but has a long learning curve for first time users. Despite being bloated, Samsung’s version of Android has a lot going on. Google Feed gives way to Samsung Freak, an app for capturing live TV streaming. The weather app shows up inside the ads and involves a long process to close it. Also, all Google apps and services have a Samsung part. Pre-loaded applications are present on the hips, especially from Microsoft.
– Snapdragon 865 still Snapdragon 865: a chipset of 2020! If Samsung had planned to release it in India by mid-2021, it would have been understandable to use the new Snapdragon 8. Or, the phone can be priced at the level of the cheap OnePlus 9R. There is no problem with performance now, but what happens in three years?
Conclusion
Samsung has a winning package in the form of Galaxy S20F5G. It may have been overshadowed by the world’s catastrophic IQ, Xiaomis and OnePlus, but don’t get me wrong for dull old phones. It is valuable for what it offers but has adequate firepower under the hood to ensure stable performance. The build quality is great, the display is great, the battery life is reliable and the cameras can make most budding photographers laugh.
If you spend less than Rs 50,000 to spend and search for something reliable, I recommend trying the Galaxy S20F5G. If a trendy design, fast charging, gimmicky camera and cleaner software are more important then OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 are still better choices.
