Galaxy S20 FE 5G • Unlocked vs Galaxy S22 5G • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, released in late 2020, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, launched in early 2022, are both Android smartphones from Samsung's popular Galaxy S series. While the S20 FE 5G was positioned as a more accessible option, the S22 5G represents a more recent flagship offering. Key differences lie in their design philosophy, internal components, and camera capabilities, reflecting their respective release timelines and target users. Both devices run on the Android operating system with Samsung's One UI interface, providing a consistent software experience.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support are important factors.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G was initially released in October 2020, with some markets seeing it in early 2021, making it an older device compared to the Galaxy S22 5G, which launched in February 2022. [1, 7, 18, 19, 22, 23, 33]
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G typically received three generations of Android OS upgrades, with Android 13 being its last major OS update. [31, 34] The Galaxy S22 5G, being newer, was promised four Android OS upgrades (up to Android 16) and five years of security updates, extending its software support until around 2027. [2] This means the S22 5G will receive software updates for a longer period.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G is considered moderately repairable, scoring 7.5 out of 10 on some repairability scales, indicating that components like the battery and screen are accessible with some effort. [13, 21] While a specific repairability score for the Galaxy S22 5G is not readily available, newer flagship devices often present more challenges for repair due to compact designs and increased use of adhesives.

The performance of these two Galaxy smartphones varies due to their different generations of internal hardware.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G is equipped with a processor that handles daily tasks, social media, and moderate gaming smoothly. [31] The Galaxy S22 5G features a more advanced processor, providing enhanced capabilities for demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and graphically rich games with greater efficiency. [25]
• Multitasking and Storage: Both devices offer configurations with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for typical multitasking. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage, offering flexibility for users who need more space for photos, videos, and apps. [4, 7, 16, 23, 32] The Galaxy S22 5G does not feature expandable storage, relying solely on its internal 128GB or 256GB options. [6, 14, 20, 25, 27, 36]
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a larger 4500 mAh battery, which generally translates to longer usage times, with many users reporting it can last a full day of heavy use or even two days with moderate use. [1, 9, 10, 15, 30] The Galaxy S22 5G has a smaller 3700 mAh battery, which may require more frequent charging for users with high usage patterns. [6, 14, 25, 26, 27, 36] Both support fast wired and wireless charging. [3, 6, 9, 14, 23, 26, 36]

Both devices offer vibrant displays, but there are distinctions in their technology and viewing experience.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, providing rich colors and deep blacks. [1, 4, 5, 15, 16, 18, 23, 31, 32, 34] The Galaxy S22 5G comes with a slightly smaller 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which offers similar vibrant colors and deep blacks but in a more compact form factor. [8, 12, 14, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36]
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: Both models feature a 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smooth scrolling and fluid animations. [1, 5, 10, 12, 15, 18, 23, 24, 26, 31, 34] The Galaxy S22 5G's display can achieve a higher peak brightness of up to 1300 nits, which can improve outdoor visibility compared to the S20 FE 5G, which some users found challenging to read in bright sunlight. [12, 15, 24, 26]
• Durability: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G's screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. [5, 23] The Galaxy S22 5G features the more advanced Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, offering enhanced durability and scratch resistance. [8, 12, 14]

The camera systems on both phones are capable, but the newer model introduces advancements in sensor technology and video recording.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S20 FE 5G includes a versatile triple-camera setup with a 12-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. [1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 16, 23, 31, 32, 39] The Galaxy S22 5G also features a triple-camera system, but with a higher resolution 50-megapixel main sensor, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. [6, 14, 20, 25, 27, 36] Both offer optical image stabilization on their main and telephoto lenses.
• Photography Performance: The S20 FE 5G delivers good daylight photos with rich colors and decent detail, and its night mode performs adequately. [1, 11, 15, 31] The S22 5G, with its larger main sensor, generally offers improved low-light performance and finer detail capture, especially in challenging conditions.
• Video Recording and Audio: Both devices support 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. [1, 11, 17, 23, 28, 31] The Galaxy S22 5G extends its video capabilities to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second. [6, 14, 25] Both phones provide stereo speakers for media consumption, and their microphones are suitable for calls and video recording. [23, 14]