Last year, Samsung entered the flagship killers segment by releasing the amazing Galaxy S20 FE (which stands for Fan Edition). The new handset provides flagship-class hardware at a modest price, as well as other specifications which you can usually find only on top-tier flagships. A few days ago, a new Snapdragon version of the 4G variant went official. Is this device enough to fight the best flagship killers by Xiaomi? Does it offer a higher value for money than POCO F3? Let’s discover this together through a comparison between the specifications of POCO F3 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G.
Xiaomi POCO F3 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G Snapdragon version
| Xiaomi POCO F3 | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G Snapdragon version | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm, 196 g | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm, 190 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), AMOLED | 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, octa-core 3.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD Slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 11, MIUI for POCO | Android 11, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 48 + 8 + 5 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.5 front camera |
Triple 12 + 8 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 32 MP f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4520 mAh, fast charging 33W | 4500 mAh, fast charging 25W and fast wireless charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, 5G, IP68 waterproof |
Design
None of these devices has a flagship-like design and build quality, but they are above average. I would personally go for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G because it is waterproof with the IP68 certification and it has a sturdy aluminum frame. On the other hand, the POCO F3 has a glass back, but it is not waterproof: it still offers protection against water and dust, though. The POCO F3 has the IP53 certification. Despite the POCO F3 has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, it is thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G. But with the latter, you get an in-display fingerprint scanner and a more compact body.
Display
POCO F3 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G are very similar when it comes to the specifications of the displays. They both feature an AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a Full HD+ resolution, and the HDR10+ certification, as well as a high peak brightness. We are talking about above-average displays with great image quality and a smooth viewing experience. The real important difference between these panels is the diagonal: the POCO F3 has a wider 6.67-inch display, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G has a 6.5-inch screen. As already mentioned, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G has an in-display fingerprint reader, while POCO F3 does not.
Specs & Software
The POCO F3 is a way better handset if we talk about hardware departments. First of all, it comes with a stronger chipset: the Snapdragon 870 which sits in the middle between the Snapdragon 865+ and the Snapdragon 888. The chip is paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 native storage. As the name suggests, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G does not support 5G connectivity, while the POCO F3 does. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G has a micro SD slot, while the POCO F3 has no expandable storage.
Camera
The best camera phone of this comparison is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G. While the POCO F3 features a disappointing midrange-class triple camera with a 48 MP main sensor, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G has a high-end camera setup with a 12 MP main camera, an 8 MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom, a 12 MP ultrawide camera, and dual OIS. Even the front camera is better with its 32 MP resolution.
Battery
The POCO F3 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G have the same battery capacity and given that the components are not so different, they feature a similar battery life. With the POCO F3 you get faster charging speeds thanks to a power of 33W, while Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G offers wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, unlike the POCO F3.
Price
The POCO F3 has a starting price tag of €369/$450 in the global market, for the base variant with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G costs €669/$815 in the same memory configuration. Overall, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G is a better phone as it features better cameras, wireless charging, and it is waterproof. Unfortunately, the POCO F3 is pretty disappointing in terms of photo quality, if compared to other high-end devices. But the POCO F3 has a way higher value for money due to its very affordable price. You can get it for just €369, €300 less than the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G, and you even get 5G connectivity.
Xiaomi POCO F3 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G Snapdragon version: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi POCO F3
PRO
- Better hardware
- Faster charging
- Glass back
- Splash resistant
CONS
- Inferior cameras
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G Snapdragon version
PRO
- IP68 waterproof
- Wireless charging
- Better cameras
- Aluminum frame
CONS
- Higher price
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