Apple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is the cheaper of the two at $699 versus $799, a difference of about $100. The Apple iPhone 17 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 17 stands out for a19 chip with improved efficiency, while Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is praised for flagship snapdragon 865 at a reduced fan edition price. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 if…
- →A19 chip with improved efficiency
- →Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- →48MP main camera with improved processing
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G if…
- →Flagship Snapdragon 865 at a reduced Fan Edition price
- →120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare at this price point
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17
Pros
- A19 chip with improved efficiency
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- 48MP main camera with improved processing
- ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Still only 27W wired charging
- No telephoto lens
- 8GB RAM vs 12GB on Pro models
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Pros
- Flagship Snapdragon 865 at a reduced Fan Edition price
- 120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare at this price point
- IP68 water resistance and wireless charging
- MicroSD expansion for additional storage
Cons
- Plastic Glastic back instead of glass at flagship pricing
- 25W charging is slow compared to competitors
- Software updates have reached end of life
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- 32 MP front camera can oversharpen selfies
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 10 (One UI 2.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic (Glastic) back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147 x 71 x 7.8 mm | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3600 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.80 GHz) |
| GPU | 5-core GPU | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.0 | USB-C 3.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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