While Apple has a huge market share in the smartphone arena, the iPhone isn’t for everyone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 is a popular Android alternative with many attractive features and affordable tariffs. Moreover, now it’s time for the Samsung Galaxy 21 to hit the market, you may be lining up for a good deal.
Here’s what you need to know.
What does the Galaxy S20 phone offer?
First released in March 2020, the Samsung Galaxy S20 mobile phone is equipped with a 6.2-inch screen, a powerful processor (Exynos 990), 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
There is also a triple camera system on the back. It has a 64 MP telephoto camera, 10 MP front camera and 12 MP wide camera, as well as 30x space zoom.
It has a powerful battery (see below) and supports fast wireless charging. An in-display fingerprint sensor is included, and finally, it comes with 5G connectivity for lag-free streaming and downloading.
How long will the Galaxy S20 battery last?
Samsung says the 4,000mAh battery in the Galaxy S20 will give you up to 20 hours of talk time, up to 15 hours of internet use over wifi or up to 14 hours of internet use over 4G.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S20 have a headphone jack?
Yes, but not for your average 3.5mm headphone jack. Uses a USB-C connection; that means you have to use an adapter or pair the wireless earbuds via Bluetooth. Galaxy S20 comes with earphones that use USB-C connector.
What about a micro SD port?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 was the last generation phone line to have an SD port meaning its memory can be expanded with an external memory card. Galaxy S21 has no SD card slot.
What colors does the Samsung Galaxy S20 come in?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 is available in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink and Cloud White.
What tariffs are available for the Samsung Galaxy S20 series?
There are many mainstream market tariffs to choose from. You might consider a contract where the cost of the device is added to the monthly fee, with service charges for data, calls and texts included.
Alternatively, you can opt for SIM only – a simple contract that buys you a bundle of minutes for calls, text messages and a data allowance. However, going this route means you have to have your own handset.
Contract phones for Galaxy S20
Many tariffs are offered from the usual suspects, including EE, giffgaff, O2, Virgin Media, Sky and Three. Contracts are varied and typically range from 12 to 36 months.
Monthly fees start at around £34 and go up to around £50.
As a general rule, the more you spend, the more data allowance you have, and the more call minutes and messages you get, the more you need to stick around to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Beware of the prepaid contract phones in addition to the monthly fee – they can cost anywhere from £4.99 to £199.99. This can significantly increase the overall cost of a deal.
SIM only deals for Galaxy S20
Many phone users prefer the simplicity that comes with a SIM only deal. Managing your money is hassle-free as you have one flat payment each month that is automatically made.
It also works well if you can find a brand new phone at a discount or even a refurbished model and get a good deal on a handset.
The cheapest SIM only deals start at around £5 per month. Part of the appeal of SIM-only deals is flexibility. While it comes with a contract, some are as short as 30 days.
As with other deals, the more you spend, the more data you get and the more searches you can make. So while a deal that costs £5 a month can get you 2GB of data, you can get 18GB of internet per month for £10. And remember that deals can change over time, too.
If you have multiple SIM-only contracts, SIM-only plans may be more cost effective if you pay for the cell phones of other people in your household, as some networks offer discounts.
SIM only works well even if your credit history isn’t perfect. The criteria you must meet for a SIM only contract is not as extensive as a contract agreement.
When it comes to buying your own handset, shopping for the best deal is as important as ever.
A brand new handset comes with warranty and assurance of being the first user. You’re considering paying £650 for it. There is the option to buy second-hand, but that comes with the risk of not having buyer protection.
Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S20 or Samsung Galaxy S21?
Before making your decision to buy a Samsung Galaxy S20, it is natural to consider the newer model Galaxy S21, which comes with newer technology.
However, it would be reductive to say that this makes the Galaxy S21 better than the Galaxy S20. For example, the S21 has a lower resolution display than the S20, but with a higher 120Hz refresh rate compared to the latter’s 60Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy S21 offers incremental gains in processing power and camera technology, but that may not be enough to justify spending the extra money while the S20 can be bought for less.
Elsewhere, the Galaxy S21 leaves the S20’s micro SD slot, which means you can’t expand its storage with an external memory card.
The S21 has up to 256GB of internal memory – double that of the S20, but the missing card slot can be a deal breaker for some users who need as much storage as possible.
Are you ready to buy?
Using the price comparison service, you can quickly and easily find which S20 phone deals work for you. It will scan the latest best deals and present them in an organized list – cheapest first.
Be sure to read the small print for deals that catch your eye and don’t automatically pick the cheapest.
This can be a false economy if you rush to find out at a later date that the package isn’t right for you, or if you factor in prepayments and the overall cost is higher (in the case of contract phones).