There are compromises with every low-cost smartphone. What we are talking about is Samsung galaxy A20.
Given that this phone belongs to the A-series, you get an AMOLED screen, fast charging, and the new One UI operating system. These benefits are undeniable and crystal-clear.
Although the Galaxy A20 has some drawbacks, including a modest display and noticeable performance lag, the phone’s long battery life and above-average cameras are impressive. The biggest annoyance was how easily it scratched, but that problem is easily resolved with a case.
This Samsung Galaxy A20 review explains why the tempting price comes with limitations, such as performance lag and an easily scratched plastic design.
Table of Contents
Pros And Cons Of Samsung Galaxy A20
Pros
- Outstanding battery life
- Low price
- Good cameras for a budget phone
- Impressive Live Focus camera mode
- Premium design
- AMOLED display
- Dedicated Card Slot
- Excellent software
Cons
- Laggy performance
- Easily scratched
- Low display resolution
Price And Availability Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
The Galaxy A20 we reviewed was sold by T-Mobile through Metro, and it was once available for $239. The Galaxy A20 was previously priced at $250 on T-Mobile. Samsung’s low-cost phone was also sold by Boost Mobile. The more recent Galaxy A21 has replaced the phone.
The A20 in black is available in only one configuration: 32GB of onboard storage and 3GB of RAM; a microSD card can increase storage by up to 512GB.
Design Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
Samsung set out to create inexpensive phones that resemble the company’s more expensive flagship models with its most recent A-series models.
With a 6.4-inch display, ultra-narrow bezels, and a top U-shaped notch housing a front-facing camera, the Galaxy A20 could be mistaken for a more expensive phone. Samsung’s cost-cutting strategies are not immediately apparent when using the phone, just like with the Galaxy A50.
Although it doesn’t feel cheap, the A20’s plastic casing could cause some issues. Compared to Gorilla Glass, the back attracts more fingerprints. Compared to other materials, plastic is also less resilient.
I put the phone in my bag on the way home, and when I got it back, it had two unsightly scratches on the back. I was dismayed to discover that the A20 can’t defend itself from basic elements given that I didn’t have any keys or other objects with sharp edges in my purse. Purchase a case if you plan to purchase the A20.
Performance Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
For its Exynos chips, Samsung uses a very peculiar nomenclature. Even though the Exynos 7904 (Galaxy M20, M30, A30) is less powerful than the Galaxy 7885, it still outperforms the Exynos 7884, which powers the Galaxy A20.
32GB of native storage and 3GB of RAM are included with the device. You can add more microSD storage by using the designated card slot.
In conclusion, the Galaxy A20 is mainly designed for very basic users. Although the performance isn’t quick, there were no stutters when we used it frequently. Hardcore games run poorly, but casual games are playable.
On the other hand, the software is a significant asset. It is incredibly easy to use or navigate Samsung’s new One UI, which is exquisite. The redesigned interface, cool animations, and highly optimized user interface have captured our attention quite well. The Galaxy A20 supports HD streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, just like all recently released Samsung phones.
The screen doesn’t wake up for a full second (or even just a fraction of a second) after the fingerprint sensor has quickly detected and matched your fingers. Although not particularly quick, face unlock is ok.
We had no problems making calls, and the call quality was fine. The Galaxy A20 does not support dual-band Wi-Fi, but it does support dual-band 4G VoLTE.
Display Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
Aside from its 6.4-inch AMOLED display, the Galaxy A20 and A50 are the same sizes. When compared to the FHD+ panel on the A50, the resolution of 1560 x 720 is less sharp, and those missing pixels often become noticeable very quickly. On the A20’s display, text, app icons, and gestures appear slightly jagged.
Thankfully, the A20’s color reproduction and brightness are good for a low-cost phone. In our tests, the device achieved a Delta-E accuracy score of 0.35 while covering 100% of the sRGB color space. (Delta-E scores that are nearer to 0 are better.) Those results are respectable for a low-cost smartphone with an AMOLED display and roughly on par with those of the Moto G7 Power.
The Galaxy A20’s screen measured 465 nits on a light meter, which is a very bright 465 nits. The display is bright enough that you can see it outside on a sunny day, though it is only slightly below the average smartphone brightness of 488 nits. For added convenience when using the phone at night, the A20 has a handy dark mode.
With the A20’s Infinity-V display, which uses a V-shaped cutout to house the phone’s front camera, I encountered one annoyance. When I tried to use the phone with one hand, I frequently found that I was unintentionally brushing up against portions of the display because Samsung’s display virtually eliminates bezels. But maybe as I grew more accustomed to bezel-free phones, I would grow accustomed to that.
Camera Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
A dual camera module that protrudes slightly from the back of the Galaxy A20 houses a 13-megapixel lens with an f/1.9 aperture and a 5-megapixel wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture.
With the second camera, the A20 can capture depth-of-field photographs, giving it a great edge over the identically priced Moto G7 Power and its single rear camera.
I was happy with the way the A20 cameras captured this windowsill scene in our New York office. Automatic light balancing by the A20 ensured a high-quality result. The texture was slightly blurred when I zoomed in on the specifics of the plant’s leaves, but that was to be expected.
The A20’s camera performs exceptionally well outside. Bright contrast in a picture taken in Bryant Park early in the day really makes the tiny red flowers stand out. Unlike the G7 Power’s attempt, which has a blue hue, the neutral colors don’t lean too warm or cool.
The Live Focus feature, which Samsung has transferred from its more expensive devices to the A20, will appeal to those who enjoy the portrait mode found on many flagship phones. I can control how blurry the background is because the camera automatically focuses on the subject, in this case, my coworker Hunter. Although Hunter’s clothing and hair don’t have as sharp of edges as they might on an iPhone, which costs $500 to $750 more than the Galaxy A20, the end result is still quite nice.
I was most impressed by the A20’s 8-MP selfie camera. The color output was vivid and realistic without oversaturating my face. Additionally, the depth option blurred the background of my plain office. You can judge for yourself, but I like my A20 selfie better than my G7 Power selfie.
Connectivity Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
It makes sense that the Galaxy A20 only supports slower 4G LTE connections rather than faster 5G given its age and cost. Even so, I was shocked to see the phone register the fastest download speed On Verizon’s LTE network, which I’ve ever observed during testing: 113Mbps.
Even so, you can rest assured that the Galaxy A20 isn’t a slouch when it comes to utilizing LTE speeds, even though I do believe that’s because of increased network deployment in the specific testing area I was in (just north of Chicago). A Galaxy A20 that has been unlocked will work with all of the major US carriers, but there are also models that are designed for particular carriers.
Battery And Charging Review Of Samsung Galaxy A20
With its 4,000 mAh battery, the Galaxy A20 makes up for its shortcomings. The A20 lasted an impressive 13 hours and 46 minutes in Tom’s Guide battery test, which involves having the phone continuously browse the internet over T-Mobile’s LTE network until the battery runs out. In contrast, the typical smartphone lasts only about 10 hours before dying. The Nokia 7.1, which costs $100 more than the A20 lost power after only 7:42. With a 15:35 score, the Moto G7 Power continues to hold the budget crown, but the A20 is bulkier due to the Moto G7 Power’s larger, 5,000-mAh battery.
The Galaxy A20 supports 15-watt charging, so you can quickly top off the battery. The A20 was approximately 30% charged after 30 minutes of post-battery test charging; it took less than 2 hours to reach 100% power.
Customer Review From Amazon
- “I’ve had this phone for more than a year, and I feel confident sharing my opinions with everyone. I previously owned a Nokia smartphone with a fingerprint scanner and other glitzy features. The connection port on that phone was loose, which is why I left it behind, and it also prevented it from charging. I was hesitant to purchase a new phone because I had that one for less than six months. I should mention that I use Straight Talk and a Nano Sim Card. “
- “I don’t have the newest and greatest technology, as my previous phone was a Galaxy S4, so that should be obvious. However, if you’re like me and just needed a smartphone with a good camera so you could check Auntie May’s status, upload your most recent selfie to Instagram, and perhaps do some shopping on Amazon while waiting at the DMV, this is a great phone for you. I’m not an expert on specs, and that has been addressed by other reviewers.”
- “This phone is dead; it won’t send texts and won’t pick up all calls. It’s a shame that this phone was ultimately discarded.”
- “Fantastic Samsung phone for 2019. Of course, it has all the standard phone functions (call, text, and browse the web), but the display is excellent, and the bezels are incredibly thin. I also like that the phone is unlocked, making it simple for me to swap my old phone’s sim card for this one, which I did with no problems at all (I have Tracfone service, btw). Additionally, Samsung’s phones have a ton of cool features, like Samsung Themes. Another key selling point is the cost. Absolutely satisfied with the purchase.”
- “Now that I use it every day, I use it for calls, texts, YouTube, and other things…Besides playing Minecraft, I also use mobile apps to transfer money, make purchases at drive-thrus, and pay for them. In particular, during a Pandemic, when hand-washing is of the utmost importance, fingerprint ID makes access much quicker than typing passwords into pay machines all the time, and NFC means not having to touch the keypads of pay machines.”
- “After 4 months of ownership, I still think highly of this phone. My favorite phone that I have ever owned, without a doubt. I’ve used Apple products for about six years, and while I typically opt for their “budget” models (I used an iPhone 4 before switching to an iPhone SE), this device easily outperforms those models in terms of value.”
Conclusion
The Redmi Note 7 and Realme 3 Pro, two devices in the same price range, are superior to the Galaxy A20 in terms of specs.
The Galaxy A20 is a strong rival even though it falls short of a Moto G7 Power, a more well-rounded budget phone. The battery life and camera on the Samsung A20 make it a respectable budget buy if you’re looking to save on your next smartphone purchase and don’t mind performance lags.
If you can find the Galaxy A20 for a significant discount, it’s still a good Android phone, but there are newer, more appealing options available.
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