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The OnePlus 8T got announced recently, and one of Samsung’s phones is one of its main competitors. We’re, of course, talking about the Galaxy S20 FE. In this article, we’ll compare the OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. These two phones are both flagship-grade phones that are well below the $1,000 price tag. Both of them feature premium specifications, and both will be quite appealing to consumers for a number of reasons, with their price tag being one of the main reasons.
Both of these phones come with the flagship SoC from Qualcomm, both of them feature OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate, extremely thin bezels, and so on. If you’re unwilling to break the bank for a new phone, and you really want flagship-grade performance, you should definitely consider one of these two devices. That being said, in this article, we’ll compare them in a number of ways. First, we’ll list their specifications, and then move to the design, display, performance, battery, camera, and audio categories. With that out of the way, let’s kick off the OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE comparison.
Specs
| OnePlus 8T | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE | |
| Screen size | 6.55-inch fullHD+ Fluid AMOLED (120Hz) | 6.5-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display (120Hz) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR4X | 6GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1; Non-Expandable | 128GB; Non-Expandable |
| Rear cameras | 48MP (Sony IMX586, f/1.7, 0.8um, OIS, EIS) 16MP (ultra-wide, Sony IMX481, f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV) 5MP (macro, 3cm focal length) 2MP (monochrome) |
12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1.8um pixel size, Dual Pixel AF, OIS) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size, ultrawide) 8MP (f/2.4 aperture, 1.0um pixel size, telephoto, 3x optical zoom, OIS) |
| Front cameras | 16MP (Sony IMX471, f/2.4, 1.0um, EIS, Fixed Focus) | 32MP (f/2.2 aperture, 80-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size) |
| Battery | 4,500mAh, non-removable, 65W fast battery charging | 4,500mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, Wireless PowerShare |
| Dimensions | 160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4mm | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm |
| Weight | 188 grams | 190 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 11 OxygenOS 11 |
Android 10 One UI 2.5 |
| Price | $599 | $699 |
| Buy | OnePlus | Samsung |
OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Design
When it comes to the design, these two phones do look somewhat similar. Both of them offer thin bezels, flat displays, and a similar shape. Their rear cameras are also placed in the same spot, basically. There are quite a few differences here, starting with the build materials. The Galaxy S20 FE features a plastic back, combined with an aluminum frame. The OnePlus 8T, on the other hand, comes with an aluminum frame as well, which is combined with a glass back.
The OnePlus 8T is slightly lighter than the Galaxy S20, at 188 grams, compared to 190. The two devices are almost equally tall and wide, while they’re exactly the same in terms of thickness. So, even in the size department, these are direct competitors. The OnePlus 8T includes a display camera hole in the top-left corner, while the Galaxy S20 FE’s is centered. Rear camera modules are placed in the top-left corner on both phones.
The OnePlus 8T includes four cameras inside its rear camera module, while the Galaxy S20 FE sports three. Both phones include a single camera on the front. Both of them feature curved backs, while the OnePlus 8T’s does feel more premium due to the glass black. Company brandings are placed on the back of each phone. Both devices are quite slippery, so keep that in mind, as you’ll probably want to use a case. These two devices are also not small by any means, but they’re not exactly the largest phones out there either.
OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Display
When it comes to the display category, both of these phones have plenty to offer. Both devices come with fullHD+ displays (6.55 and 6.5-inch, respectively), and those displays are even the same in terms of resolution / aspect ratio. We’re looking at 2400 x 1080 panels here. Both devices feature AMOLED displays, with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both of those panels are flat, and both support HDR10+ output. Gorilla Glass protects both displays as well. Even the screen-to-body ratio is almost identical on these two phones.
So, are the two displays any good in general? Well, yes, definitely. These two AMOLED panels are amongst the best fullHD+ displays we’ve seen, that’s for sure. The colors are vivid, viewing angles are great, and blacks are deep, as they should be. In fact, looking at these two displays side-by-side, we really can’t make up our mind which one is better. Even if you compare them to some great QHD+ displays out there, chances are you won’t be able to see the difference. These fullHD+ displays are that good. You can’t go wrong with either of them.
OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Performance
The performance aspect is also great on both devices. These two phones are immensely powerful, needless to say. Both are fueled by the Snapdragon 865 SoC, which is Qualcomm’s flagship processor. Both devices ship with fast flash storage, and the OnePlus 8T and Galaxy S20 FE include 8GB and 6GB of RAM respectively. All in all, their hardware components are great, and in combination with really good software, you’ll get great performance here.
The OnePlus 8T includes Android 11 out of the box, while Android 10 comes pre-installed on the Galaxy S20 FE. Both OxygenOS and One UI are mature Android skins, which are highly-optimized. That, in combination with the hardware, results in a really great performance. Both phones are buttery smooth, and can handle anything you throw at them, really. They can both go head-to-head with the most powerful smartphones in the market, as they are amongst the most powerful handsets out there.
The OnePlus 8T may feel a bit smoother, but that’s mostly due to slightly different animations. Both smartphones are immensely fast, no matter if you’re gaming, multitasking, opening, and closing apps, consuming media… it really doesn’t matter. Chances are that these two devices will remain fresh in the performance department for quite some time, which is yet another reason for you to consider getting one. Do note that even though 6GB of RAM on the Galaxy S20 FE wasn’t an issue during our usage, it may become one in the future.
OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Battery
Both of these phones feature a 4,500mAh battery pack, while having the same processor, and quite similar displays. They should offer the same battery longevity as well, right? Well, no, not really. We’ve had considerably better results with the OnePlus 8T, to be quite honest. The Galaxy S20 FE didn’t really get much further than 5 and a half hours of scree-on-time during our usage, before dying. The OnePlus 8T, on the other hand, was able to constantly cross the 7 and a half-hour mark, even 8 hours on several occasions.
We’re not sure why is that, but it probably has something to do with the software. Not only is the OnePlus 8T running Android 11, but OxygenOS is probably better optimized and lighter than One UI. We’re only guessing, of course, but the difference is considerable. So, if you’re a power user, and plan to use your phone a lot during the day, the OnePlus 8T will probably provide you more longevity in the battery department. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Now, if wireless charging is something you’re interested in, the Galaxy S20 FE is your only option. The device supports 15W wireless charging, while the OnePlus 8T doesn’t support it at all. The OnePlus 8T does offer faster charging in general, though. It offers 65W fast wired charging, compared to 25W on the Galaxy S20 FE. Do note that you’re getting a 15W charger in the Galaxy S20 FE box, though, so you’ll need to spend extra to get a 25W one. The OnePlus 8T already ships with a 65W charging brick.
OnePlus 8T vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Cameras
As far as camera performance goes, both are really good, but are not the best out there. Not many people will complain about cameras on either phone, though. Both devices can provide great-looking shots during the day, no matter the lighting, really. The images turn out sharp, with good white balance, and dynamic range. The Galaxy S20 FE tends to provide more saturated images, which are a bit heavier on the processing side. The shots from the OnePlus 8T also tend to be a bit heavy on the processing, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as both manage to do a great job.
When the light goes away, they’re quite capable as well. Both come with dedicated camera modes for low light photography. Those modes can do a really good job of lighting up the scene. Even in auto mode, though, these two phones do an excellent job in low lighting. They’re not at the level of Google’s new Pixel phones in that regard, but they’re really good none the less. The video side of things is not a problem either, while front-facing cameras are good, but nothing special.
Audio
When it comes to audio, well, these two phones are nothing to scoff at either. They come with stereo speakers, which do offer really full, and compelling sound. The speakers on the Galaxy S20 FE have been tuned by AKG, by the way. Both sets of speakers also get quite loud, and the distortion is barely noticeable at the very highest of volumes. The sound output is well balanced, and the speakers are not tinny at all.
If you hook up a good pair of headphones, whether be it through a wire or wirelessly, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The sound is good across the spectrum, even though both devices could provide a bit more bass. Vocals are clear at all times, and do not get overpowered by anything. A 3.5mm headphone jack is not present on either phone, so you’ll have to use a Type-C port or Bluetooth.