We compare the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S20 with the Samsung Galaxy S10 to see which flagship smartphone is, on paper, the best.
| Samsung Galaxy S10 in Camera PhonesSamsung has updated its top-of-the-line flagship smartphone range with the Galaxy S20 series and, as you would expect for a premium range, all three smartphones (S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra) tick all of the boxes when it comes to impressive specs. But, are the improved attributes and in the introduction of new features good enough to take the S10's spot in our 'Best Camera Phones For Photography 2020'?
We will, of course, be finding out the answer to this question when we put the Galaxy S20 through its paces in a full review but for now, we're going to compare the on-paper specs of the Galaxy S20 with the Galaxy S10 to see how they compare/differ when put head-to-head.
Read our hands-on preview of the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra smartphones
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Price
You can currently purchase the Samsung Galaxy S10 for around £589 with 128GB of memory while the Samsung Galaxy S20 will be available for £799. The Samsung Galaxy S10+ is priced at £669 (128GB) and when the Samsung Galaxy S20+ will be released, it'll be priced at £999. An Ultra version will also be available for over £1000.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 range will be available in various colour options from 13 March 2020 and we do expect the price of the new smartphone to decrease over time, as the Galaxy S10 has.
- Samsung Galaxy S10 - £589
- Samsung Galaxy S20 - £799
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S20 and Samsung Galaxy S20 both have a triple rear camera set-up and they're pretty similar, offering a main (wide) lens, telephoto for when reach is needed and an ultra-wide-angle for landscapes and other scenarios when you need a wider view.
Camera | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S10 |
Main (wide) | 12MP f/1.8 (OIS) | 12MP f/1.5-f/2.4 (OIS) |
Telephoto | 64MP f/2.0 (OIS) | 12MP f/2.4 (OIS) |
Ultra-Wide | 12MP f/2.2 | 16MP f/2.2 |
Front | 10MP f/2.2 with AF | 10MP f/1.9 with AF |
The standout figure is the 64MP telephoto lens on the Galaxy S20 which features 3x optical and 30x digital zoom whereas the 12MP telephoto lens on the Galaxy S10 just has 2x optical zoom and digital zoom up to 10x.
Both smartphones feature cameras with optical image stabilisation (on the wide and telephoto cameras) and they also share some similar camera app options such as scene optimisation modes, Live Focus, Pro Mode and more. There is one mode on the Samsung Galaxy S20 camera app which you don't see on the Galaxy S10 and that's the Single Take mode. When you select Single Take mode, the Galaxy S20 uses all of the lenses on the rear camera, along with AI, to pick out specific moments and once the device has finished capturing all of the shots, you're presented with a portfolio of images (and video) to choose from.
Video sees the recording resolution jump from 4K on the Galaxy S10 to 8K on the Galaxy S20 and there's now a Pro video mode which gives you access to controls such as exposure and aperture while filming. Samsung has also worked on the Super Steady stabilisation, adding improvements to the AI and hardware so video footage should be smoother when captured with the Galaxy S20.
The selfie camera on both smartphones is a 10MP camera, with AF, and 4K video recording, however the S20 has a f/2.2 aperture, compared to the f/1.9 aperture on the S10, however we expect there probably won't be too much difference in performance.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Display
There's a 0.1-inch difference between the display on the Samsung Galaxy S20 (6.2-inch) and Samsung Galaxy S10 (6.1-inch) which isn't really that much different (take a look at the Ultra with its 6.9-inch display if size matters to you). There's a slight difference in resolution/screen quality as the S10 has a a WQHD+ with a 3200 x 1440 resolution, whereas the Galaxy S10 is a QHD+ display with a 3040 x 1440 resolution.
Display | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S10 |
Screen Size | 6.2-inch | 6.1-inch |
Screen Resolution | WQHD+ 3200 x 1440 |
QHD+ 3040 x 1440 |
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Design
In terms of overall size, the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S10 are quite similar with the Galaxy S20 measuring 151.7mm x 69.1mm x 7.91mm and the Galaxy S10 measuring 149.9mm x 70.4mm x 7.8mm. There's only 6g in weight between them, too with the Galaxy S20 coming in the heaviest at 163g and the Galaxy S10 weighing 157g.
Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S10 | |
Size | 151.7mm x 69.1mm x 7.91mm | 149.9mm x 70.4mm x 7.8mm |
Weight | 163g | 157g |
Both are lovely designed smartphones with premium constructions and from the front, they don't look very different with curved displays and smooth edges. Bezels are small and the only thing that breaks up the large displays are the punch-hole selfie cameras which sit in slightly different places on each device. Both have glass screens/backs with an aluminium frame and they're both also IP68 water/dust resistant certified.
On the back, there's been a design change as the rear camera is now housed in a rectangle found in the top left corner of the Galaxy S20 whereas, previously, it was a horizontal line on the Galaxy S10.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Battery Life, RAM & Storage
You get a better battery on the Galaxy S20 with 4000mAh vs the 3400mAh battery on the Galaxy S10. There's also a 5G version of the Galaxy S20 available (unlike the Galaxy S10) and the Galaxy S20 has more RAM, too, launching with 12GB whereas the Galaxy S10 has "just" 8GB of memory.
Storage is pretty much the same with both devices offering 128GB version but there is a 256GB Galaxy S10 available. You can expand the memory with a MicroSD card or take a look at the Galaxy S20 Plus/Ultra.
Features | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S10 |
Battery | 4000mAh | 3400mAh |
RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
Memory | 128GB (expandable with MicroSD) | 128GB, 256GB (expandable with MicroSD) |
5G | Yes | No |
Samsung Galaxy S20 Vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Final Thoughts
You're always going to get smartphone fans who upgrade just because they can (and it's a new/shiny device they can show off) but for those who are more money-conscious, upgrading right away is something you might want to hang back on. Yes, there are a few new features which stand out, including the 64MP telephoto lens, better quality screen and improved battery, but these additions won't be enough for everyone to pay the higher retail price. Having said that, if you want a smartphone with decent camera specs, processing that won't slow down for quite some time and future-proofed 5G, the Galaxy S20 will be a smartphone you'll probably use for a few years to come.
We'll be putting the Galaxy S20 camera to the test in a full review where we'll be able to bring you a more comprehensive opinion on how it performs and if it's better than the Galaxy S10.
For more, have a read of our 'smartphones for photographers top list' and we also have a more budget-friendly top list: 'Top 10 Best Budget Camera Phones For Photography Under £300'.
Buy Now
![]() We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Samsung Galaxy S10 SEARCH |
![]() We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Samsung Galaxy S10 SEARCH |
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