Oppo Reno 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20
The Verdict
Oppo Reno 12 Pro significantly outperforms Samsung Galaxy Note 20 across nearly every metric despite costing half the price. Display brightness reaches 1200 nits versus 1000 on the Note 20, while refresh rate jumps to 120Hz from 60Hz for notably smoother scrolling. Camera megapixels favor Oppo with 50MP main and telephoto sensors compared to Note 20's 12MP and 64MP, though Samsung's 8K video capability remains impressive. Battery capacity swells to 5000mAh with 80W charging versus 4300mAh and 25W on the aging Note 20. Processing power differs: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy handles modern apps competently while Snapdragon 865+ remains capable but dated. Oppo includes ColorOS 14 on Android 14 versus Android 10 on the Note 20, providing significantly longer software support and security updates. The Note 20's S Pen stylus functionality is absent here, representing its only meaningful advantage. For value-conscious buyers seeking current performance, the Reno 12 Pro delivers substantially better specifications and technology at a fraction of the investment.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Oppo Reno 12 Pro if…
- →Exceptionally thin at 7.4 mm and light at 180 g
- →50MP telephoto adds genuine zoom versatility at this price
- →80W fast charging is among the fastest in the mid-range
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 if…
- →S Pen productivity features
- →5G connectivity
- →Samsung DeX support
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Oppo Reno 12 Pro
Pros
- Exceptionally thin at 7.4 mm and light at 180 g
- 50MP telephoto adds genuine zoom versatility at this price
- 80W fast charging is among the fastest in the mid-range
- 50MP front camera is excellent for selfies and video calls
- AI-powered photo editing features included
Cons
- Dimensity 7300 is modest for the price
- 8MP ultrawide is noticeably weak
- IP65 — resistant to water jets but not submersion
- ColorOS has pre-installed bloatware
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Pros
- S Pen productivity features
- 5G connectivity
- Samsung DeX support
- Good performance with Snapdragon 865+
- Lighter than Note 20 Ultra
Cons
- Plastic (Glasstic) back at $999
- 60Hz display — no 120Hz
- FHD+ only, no QHD option
- Flat display lacked premium feel of Ultra
- Significant compromises versus Ultra model
Full Specifications
| Spec | Oppo Reno 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (ColorOS 14) | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 180 g | 192 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 7i | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 (Glasstic back) |
| IP rating | IP65 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm | 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 50 MP, f/2.0 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/2.0, 2x telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Resolution | 2412 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G615 | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
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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