The Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S22 – which are two of the best phones Samsung has ever released – hold several similarities in the spec sheet, such as memory and the possibility of fast charging. Despite this, it is possible to notice significant improvements in the 2022 phone compared to the 2020 release. Some of these increments may even justify the higher price of the Samsung S21 successor. Check out the specs of the devices in the following comparison.
Samsung Galaxy S20 vs Samsung Galaxy S22
| Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | March 2020 | February 2022 |
| Current price (e-commerce) | $269 | $799 |
| Screen | 6.2 inches | 6.1 |
| screen resolution | Quad HD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels) | Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) |
| Processor | Exynos 990 (octa-core up to 2.73 GHz) | Exynos 990 (octa-core up to 2.8 GHz) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 or 256 GB |
| Memory card | yes, microSD up to 1TB | No |
| Main camera | Triple camera: 64, 12, and 12 MP | Triple camera: 50, 12, and 10 MP |
| Front Camera | 10 MP | 10 MP |
| Operating system | Android 10 (One UI 2.5) | Android 12 (One UI 4.1) |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 3,700 mAh |
| Dimensions and weight | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm; 163 grams | 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and 168 grams |
| Colors | gray, blue, and pink | green, pink, white, black, and violet |
Screen and design
Both the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S22 are Samsung’s flagships of the 2020s and 2022s, respectively. The smartphones follow the same standard bar format, introduced by Samsung a few years ago, with a glass body and aluminum frame.
The screens are similar: both phones feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens with 120 Hz, which makes the images displayed in games and movies more fluid. The screens also feature high brightness, but the S22’s screen should be brighter.
The difference between the screens is in the resolution, which is higher on the older device. While the S20 has Quad HD+ resolution (3200 x 1440 pixels), the S22 has received a decrease in resolution and displays images “only” at a Full HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels). The difference, however, should not be felt by most users, since for mobile devices, Full HD+ resolution should be sufficient.
Both feature Gorilla Glass protection – Gorilla Glass 6 for the S20 and Gorilla Glass Victus+ for the S22 – and have very similar main camera modules, differing only in the bezel. The front cameras, meanwhile, are housed in the same spot, centered on the screen.
Cameras
The Galaxy S22 follows the same triple camera model as the Galaxy S20, although it features an inversion in the main camera: while the S20 has a 12 MP main sensor and 64 MP telephoto camera, the S22 brings a 50 MP main sensor and 10 MP telephoto lens.
In practice, in general, the S22 should focus on delivering higher quality and higher resolution photos while the S20 should focus on a higher resolution for zoom shots.
The Galaxy S22’s sensor module is organized as follows:
- 50 MP main (f/1.8)
- 10 MP telephoto (f/2.4)
- Ultra-wide 12 MP (f/2.2)
- Front 10 MP (f/2.2)
The camera of both smartphones, however, should deliver above-average results, as they feature optical (OIS) and digital (EIS) stabilization, as well as shooting in 4K on the front module and 8K on the main module.
The Galaxy S20’s cameras are organized as follows:
- 12 MP main (f/1.8)
- 64 MP telephoto (f/2.0)
- 12 MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
- 10 MP Front (f/2.2)
Performance and Storage
While the Galaxy S20 has Samsung’s own Exynos 990 processor, the S22 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The difference between the two should be reflected in more power and better power management for the more modern device. In raw numbers, while the S22 processor can reach 3 GHz, the S20 chip reaches 2.73 GHz.
According to specialized websites like Versus, the S22’s performance should also be better when using the Internet, on Wi-Fi, or on mobile networks. Produced with an architecture of only four nanometers (three less than the S20), the S22 delivers lower power expenditure. The GPU of the newer device is the Adreno 730, which performs 157% better than the Mali-G77 MP11 GPU of the Galaxy S20.
There are a few differences in memory. Both have 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The difference is the microSD card, accepted only by the S20.
Battery
The battery of both Galaxy phones is modest, but the Galaxy S22 delivers less power – it is only 3,700 mAh compared to 4,000 mAh for the S20. This difference should not be reflected, however, in shorter usage time, since the 2022 model does better power management.
Both phones make use of 25W fast chargers and up to 15W wireless charging. There is also the possibility of using the devices as wireless chargers for accessories.
Android Version
A major differentiator of the Galaxy S22 is the operating system update. While the S20 arrives in the hands of users with Android 10, upgradeable to version 11, the S22 already has the current system, Android 12, on board and with the possibility of upgrading to Android 13 as of February 2023. This version comes integrated with Samsung’s own One UI 5.0 custom interface. Among the system, changes are design customization and improvements in the way text are copied.
According to Samsung’s update policy, the S22 is guaranteed up to four updates for One UI and five years of security updates. And this is one of the biggest differences compared to the S20, since the latter should only have updates until 2023, completing the smartphone’s four-year update cycle.
Additional Features
Both of Samsung’s devices have the best features, but the two-year gap between releases ensures the Galaxy S22 has significant improvements. While the S20 has Bluetooth 5.0, the S22 has version 5.2 – which improves the user experience, particularly in streaming audio and locating other Bluetooth devices.
But both have similarities in the NFC connection, which enables the use of Samsung Pay to make payments by proximity and also have the possibility of connecting to Wi-Fi networks of 2.4 and 5 GHz, which differ by signal strength and connection distance. The two devices also have an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, integrated into the screen, which can be used both for unlocking and as a password for applications and payments.
Another similarity is the IP68 certification, which gives maximum protection to the phones and makes them resistant to water and dust. Despite this, only the S22 has 5G internet, which became popular in the country this year. The negative point is that both no longer have a headphone jack with a P2 plug.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S20 can be purchased on Amazon for $269. The phone has been replaced by the Galaxy S20 FE, an updated version that suffered some cuts in the technical sheet. The S22 is also available for purchase for $799.
- Buy Galaxy S20
- Buy Galaxy S22
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