Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Review (2020): The Perfect Flagship Balance

Introduction: The All-Round Flagship

When Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 lineup in early 2020, it introduced three powerful devices, the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra.

The Galaxy S20+ quickly became the favorite among users who wanted a premium phone without the ultra-size and price tag. It offered a beautiful 6.7-inch 120Hz display, versatile quad-camera system, and massive battery, making it the ideal choice for power users and everyday consumers alike.

It wasn’t just a bigger S20, it was the sweet spot in Samsung’s 2020 lineup.

Design and Build: Sleek and Premium

The Galaxy S20+ refined Samsung’s minimalist design language with precision.

• Dimensions: 161.9 × 73.7 × 7.8 mm
• Weight: 186 g
• Material: Gorilla Glass 6 front and back, aluminum frame
• Colors: Cosmic Gray, Cloud Blue, Cloud Black

The phone’s design was both elegant and modern. The curved edges and thin bezels gave it a premium, immersive look, while the centered punch-hole camera offered symmetry and visual balance.

Despite its larger size, the S20+ remained surprisingly comfortable to hold. Samsung’s attention to detail in build quality was unmatched, delivering a solid yet lightweight device that looked and felt luxurious. The matte-like finish resisted fingerprints and smudges, keeping it clean and professional throughout daily use.

Display: Immersive 120Hz Experience

Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the Galaxy S20+ was among the best in the world when it debuted.

• Display Size: 6.7 inches
• Resolution: 3200 × 1440 (Quad HD+)
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz (FHD+)
• HDR Support: HDR10+ certified
• Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 6

The 120Hz refresh rate transformed the smartphone experience, making every motion smooth and natural, from gaming to browsing. Colors were vibrant, contrast was deep, and viewing angles were perfect. Watching HDR content on Netflix or YouTube felt cinematic, while gaming was buttery-smooth and visually stunning.

Samsung also allowed users to toggle between 60Hz QHD+ and 120Hz FHD+ modes, letting you choose between maximum sharpness or ultra-smooth performance. In 2020, this display set the gold standard for all premium smartphones.

Performance: Built for Power and Speed

At its core, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ was powered by some of the fastest processors available at the time.

The Snapdragon 865 (in some regions) and Exynos 990 (globally) both delivered blazing-fast performance, handling multitasking, gaming, and 8K video capture effortlessly. Paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage, app loading times were instant, and file transfers were lightning fast.

The Galaxy S20+ also introduced 5G connectivity, making it one of the earliest phones to support next-generation mobile speeds. Even today, it holds up surprisingly well for general performance, proving just how far ahead Samsung was in 2020.

Camera System: Quad-Lens Flexibility

One of the main highlights of the Galaxy S20+ was its versatile quad-camera system, designed for professionals and casual users alike.

• Main Camera: 12 MP (f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS)
• Telephoto Camera: 64 MP (f/2.0, 3x hybrid optical zoom, OIS)
• Ultra-Wide Camera: 12 MP (f/2.2, 120° field of view)
• DepthVision Camera: Time-of-Flight sensor for improved depth and portraits
• Front Camera: 10 MP (f/2.2, Dual Pixel AF)
• Video Recording: 8K @ 24fps, 4K @ 60fps, Super Slow Motion @ 960fps

Zoom and Detail

The 64 MP telephoto lens offered crisp 3x hybrid optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom, capturing distant objects with stunning clarity.

Ultra-Wide Brilliance

The 12 MP ultra-wide lens made it easy to shoot landscapes, architecture, or large groups without distortion.

Professional Video Capabilities

The 8K video mode delivered remarkable sharpness, and users could even grab 33 MP still images from their footage.

Night and Portrait Modes

Low-light performance was excellent, with improved noise control and AI-powered optimization. The DepthVision sensor helped create realistic bokeh effects for professional-looking portraits.

Overall, the Galaxy S20+ camera struck a perfect balance between creative flexibility and ease of use.

Battery Life: Power That Lasts

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ packed a 4,500 mAh battery, larger than the standard S20 and optimized for all-day performance.

Charging and Battery Features:

• 25W Fast Charging (wired)
• 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
• Wireless PowerShare (reverse charging)

With moderate use, the phone easily lasted a full day. Even under heavy tasks like gaming or video recording, it consistently delivered strong endurance. The adaptive battery management in One UI 2 intelligently adjusted background activity for improved efficiency. When it was time to recharge, the 25W fast charger restored hours of use in just 30 minutes.

Software Experience: Simple, Smart, and Secure

Running on Android 10 with One UI 2, the Galaxy S20+ offered a polished, user-friendly experience.

Key Software Features:

• Gesture Navigation: Full-screen gestures for smoother control
• Digital Wellbeing: Manage screen time and app limits
• Link to Windows: Connect your phone and PC seamlessly
• Samsung Knox Security: Built-in protection for data and privacy
• Game Booster: Optimizes gaming performance and battery use

The interface was intuitive, visually clean, and highly customizable, from themes to always-on display settings. Over time, Samsung rolled out updates to Android 11, 12, and even 13, keeping the S20+ relevant and secure for years beyond launch.

Audio and Connectivity

Samsung maintained a high standard for audio and connectivity on the S20+, though it officially dropped the headphone jack.

• Stereo Speakers tuned by AKG
• Dolby Atmos Audio
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Wi-Fi 6
• USB Type-C Audio Output
• NFC and Samsung Pay

The stereo speakers were loud and clear, providing rich sound with excellent separation. Dolby Atmos enhanced the listening experience for both movies and games. Although the headphone jack was gone, USB-C and wireless audio both delivered superior sound quality for audiophiles.

5G and Connectivity

The Galaxy S20+ came with 5G support on select models, ensuring faster data speeds and lower latency for streaming and gaming.

Other connectivity options included:

• Dual SIM (Hybrid)
• GPS, NFC, and MST (for Samsung Pay)
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Expandable storage up to 1 TB

The combination of modern connectivity and classic features made the S20+ a reliable companion for productivity, travel, and entertainment.

Galaxy S20+ vs Galaxy S20: What’s the Difference?

The S20+ stood out for its larger display, extra camera sensor, and longer battery life — all while maintaining the same powerful performance. For many users, it was the perfect middle ground between compact convenience and pro-level capability.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Beautiful and immersive 120Hz display
• Excellent camera system with 8K video
• Great battery life and fast charging
• 5G connectivity
• Premium design and build quality
• Long-term software support

Cons:

• No headphone jack
• Exynos variant slightly less efficient
• Premium launch price

Conclusion: The Best of Both Worlds

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ remains one of the most balanced and capable smartphones Samsung has ever produced. It delivered flagship power, professional-grade photography, and all-day endurance in a sleek and manageable form.

While the Galaxy S20 Ultra targeted enthusiasts and the S20 catered to minimalists, the S20+ struck the ideal balance, the perfect flagship for everyone. Even years later, it continues to be remembered as one of Samsung’s most refined devices, blending innovation, beauty, and performance into a timeless design.

Specs