Design & Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A20e features a predominantly plastic construction, including the back cover, which may exhibit micro scratches after a short period of use. To maintain its appearance, using a case is recommended. Despite this, the phone offers a comfortable grip due to its narrow size, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S8. The device includes a power button and volume rockers on the side, a 3.5mm jack, USB Type-C, and a speaker at the bottom, while the top houses a microphone. The rear hosts a dual-camera setup and a fingerprint sensor, with a teardrop notch and speaker grille at the front, contributing to an overall pleasing design.
Size and Comfort
The Samsung Galaxy A20e's size, comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S8, provides a narrow and comfortable hold, making it convenient for daily use.
Material and Reflectivity
The plastic back of the Samsung Galaxy A20e, while reflective, lacks the premium quality expected in higher-end models. However, given its budget positioning, this is understandable.
Port and Button Placement
- Power button and volume rockers on the side
- 3.5mm jack, USB Type-C, microphone, and speaker at the bottom
- Sim tray accommodating two SIM cards and a micro SD card
Camera Setup
The rear features a 12-megapixel shooter and a 5-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, along with a fingerprint sensor and Samsung logo. At the front, a teardrop notch and speaker grille complete the design.
Build Quality
While the plastic construction may not exude a premium feel, the Samsung Galaxy A20e offers a comfortable grip and a well-thought-out design, considering its budget-friendly nature.
Unlock Methods
The Samsung Galaxy A20e provides both fingerprint and face unlock methods. However, the fingerprint sensor, located at the back, may be challenging to locate and operate effectively, resulting in slower unlocking times. Conversely, face unlock functionality offers a more reliable and efficient method for accessing the device, accompanied by a playful animation on the teardrop notch.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A20e boasts a 5.8-inch PLS LCD screen, which is a budget-oriented display. Despite the cold color temperature, the screen offers impressive viewing angles and excellent sunlight visibility. However, the whites appear blue, and the color saturation cannot be adjusted in the settings. Nonetheless, the screen's outstanding viewing angles and sunlight visibility compensate for its cold color temperature.
Color Temperature and Saturation
- Screen exhibits a very cold color temperature
- Whites appear blue
- Color saturation cannot be adjusted in the settings
Viewing Angles and Sunlight Visibility
The LCD screen provides exceptional viewing angles and excellent visibility in direct sunlight, enhancing the overall user experience.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A20e is equipped with a 3000 milliamp-hour battery, delivering remarkable battery life. Despite the budget-friendly nature of the phone, the battery performance exceeds expectations, providing extended screen-on time for various activities.
Battery Capacity
The device houses a 3000 milliamp-hour battery, delivering impressive longevity for day-to-day usage.
Screen-on Time
- 5 hours 41 minutes
- 6 hours 24 minutes
- 7 hours with almost two hours of gaming
- 5 hours 40 minutes
- 7 hours of screen-on time
- 6 and a half hours with 2 hours of gaming
- 6 hours 20 minutes with 2 hours of gaming
The Samsung Galaxy A20e's battery life outperforms higher-end models with similar battery capacities, providing extended usability for various tasks.
Recharge Times
Considering the 3000 milliamp hours of battery, the recharge times for the Samsung Galaxy A20e are as follows:
Charging Speed
- 30 minutes: 34% charge
- 1 hour: 72% charge
- 1 hour 40 minutes: Full charge
The recharge times are comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S9, with a full charge taking around 1 hour 40 minutes, providing users with a predictable charging experience.
Gaming Performance
The gaming performance of the Samsung Galaxy A20e may not be exceptional, but it is capable of running popular games such as PUBG. The overall performance, powered by the Xynos 7884 chipset, is not very impressive for a 720p screen. For a detailed comparison of gaming performance and overall device performance, a separate video is available for reference. However, the chipset's performance may not meet the expectations of users seeking high gaming capabilities.
Software Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A20e's software performance, particularly the One UI, has received mixed reviews. While the One UI offers a visually appealing dark theme and the ability to download and apply different themes, it tends to slow down the phone during the application process. The settings menu and certain features of the One UI can be confusing, and the overall performance may be hindered by sluggishness when using certain themes. Additionally, the absence of haptic feedback on the navigation buttons is a notable downside, requiring users to resort to third-party applications for this functionality.
User Interface and Navigation
- The One UI's layout and menu design have been reported as confusing by some users
- Applying themes can significantly slow down the phone
- The absence of haptic feedback on navigation buttons is a drawback
Customization and Themes
While the One UI offers customization options such as themes and the dark mode, the application of themes can lead to performance issues, impacting the overall user experience.
Haptic Feedback
The lack of haptic feedback on the navigation buttons is a notable downside, requiring users to seek alternative solutions for this functionality.
Audio Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A20e features Dolby Atmos and an in-built equalizer, providing users with some degree of control over the audio output. However, the 3.5mm jack output has been criticized for its average quality and lack of bass, resulting in an unsatisfactory audio experience for some users. Additionally, the speaker's maximum volume output has received mixed reviews, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with its performance.
3.5mm Jack Output
- Audio output from the 3.5mm jack is considered average
- Lack of bass in the audio output
Speaker Performance
The maximum volume output of the speaker has received mixed reviews, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with its performance at higher volumes.
Speaker Test
Upon testing, the Samsung Galaxy A20e's speaker exhibits a maximum volume that is not very loud, and the audio quality is subpar, disappointing some users.
Network Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy A20e does not support fast 5G networks, limiting users to 2.4 gigahertz connectivity, which may not provide the fastest network speeds.
VoloKin Spectrum Scoring
The VoloKin Spectrum Scoring system evaluates the Samsung Galaxy A20e across 10 categories, each receiving a score from 1 to 5, resulting in an overall score compared to other phones. The categories include design and build quality, security, battery life, screen quality, sound quality, headphone output, external connectivity, software, performance, and camera quality. The Samsung Galaxy A20e's performance in each category contributes to its overall score, providing a comprehensive assessment of its capabilities.
Design and Build Quality
- Plastic construction, light, and comfortable grip - 4 out of 5
Security
- Excellent face unlock, average fingerprint reader - 3 out of 5
Battery Life
- Exceptional battery life - 4 out of 5
Screen Quality
- PLS IPS screen with cool color temperature - 2 out of 5
Sound Quality
- Speaker volume and quality - 2 out of 5
- Headphone output - 3 out of 5
External Connectivity
- USB Type-C port for external accessories - Positive
Software
- Samsung One UI - 3 out of 5
Performance
- Bearable gaming performance, overall not the quickest - 3 out of 5
Camera Quality
- Selfie camera - 1 out of 5
- Back cameras - 2 out of 5
The Samsung Galaxy A20e attains a VoloKin Spectrum Score of 30 out of 50, positioning it towards the bottom of the assessment table. The score reflects its performance across various categories, providing a comprehensive evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses compared to other devices.
FAQ
Is the Samsung Galaxy A20e a recommended budget phone?
The Samsung Galaxy A20e, priced at £160, may not be recommended as it faces strong competition from other budget smartphones. While it offers a compact design and impressive battery life, certain drawbacks such as performance and display quality may impact its overall value. However, if acquired for under £100, it can serve as a suitable temporary or secondary phone.
What are the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy A20e?
The Samsung Galaxy A20e stands out for its compact size and remarkable battery life, making it an ideal choice for individuals seeking a portable device with extended usability. Additionally, its affordability and compact design make it suitable as a temporary or secondary phone.
What are the key drawbacks of the Samsung Galaxy A20e?
The Samsung Galaxy A20e exhibits certain drawbacks, including subpar performance and display quality, which may impact its overall user experience. Additionally, its pricing, especially when exceeding £100, may not align with its performance and feature offerings, making it less competitive in the budget smartphone market.
