This week alone, a number of prominent smartphones including the OPPO Reno4 Pro, Google Pixel 4a, Vivo X50 series, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note20 series had been launched in Singapore.
Since these devices will go on sale in the local market this month, I think its a good idea for us to run a quick comparison for some of these devices that cost above S$800 to guide you in your next smartphone purchase.
The devices we will comparing in this article will be none other than the OPPO Reno4 Pro, Vivo X50 5G and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G.
Display
Starting with the front display, all these devices are equipped with the punchy AMOLED display with full HD+ screen resolution. For the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G, it utilizes a more advanced Super AMOLED+ display which is slightly more superior than the Super AMOLED display on the OPPO Reno4 Pro, as well as the AMOLED display on the Vivo X50 Pro 5G.
However, its worth noting that the Galaxy Note20 only features a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate while the OPPO Reno4 Pro and Vivo X50 Pro 5G both have a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. On top of that, the Galaxy Note20 4G has a flat panel, while the OPPO Reno4 Pro and Vivo X50 Pro 5G boast a curved display.
Although users will certainly benefit from the more vibrant Super AMOLED+ display on the Galaxy Note20 4G, but refresh rate still remains an important feature for a smooth user experience. For instance, users can take advantage of a 90Hz refresh rate on game titles which are able to support 90Hz frame rates.
Other than that, all three devices will be able to support HDR10+ contents and come with an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Processor
Coming to its processor, the Galaxy Note20 4G no doubt has the more powerful Exynos 990 SoC. The OPPO Reno4 Pro and Vivo X50 Pro 5G are both powered by the mid-ranger Snapdragon 720G and Snapdragon 765G SoC respectively.
Despite that, its quite disappointing that the local model of the Galaxy Note20 4G is still equipped with the Exynos 990 SoC instead of the even more powerful Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+ SoC which is used in the U.S., China, Korea and Japan’s model. Keeping in mind of its price tag, it isn’t much to ask for the more powerful Snapdragon 865+ SoC.
Cameras
Speaking of cameras, its undeniable that the Vivo X50 Pro 5G has the most innovative camera systems among the trio. The Vivo X50 Pro 5G is the first commercially available smartphone that features a Gimbal-style stabilization system for its 48 megapixels Sony IMX598 main camera at the back.
Other than that, the Vivo X50 Pro also has another three supporting cameras which include an 8 megapixels ultra-wide lens, 13 megapixels portrait lens, as well as an 8 megapixels telephoto periscope lens.
In terms of zooming capabilities, the Vivo X50 Pro 5G also leads the pack with its impressive 60x digital zoom. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G and OPPO Reno4 Pro on the other, have a maximum level of 30x and 10x zoom respectively.
For selfies, both the Vivo X50 Pro 5G and OPPO Reno4 Pro are equipped with a 32 megapixels selfie camera, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a 10 megapixels selfie camera at the front.
Since the actual quality of the photos could only be compared through photo samples, we will not be going into an in-depth comparison in this aspect.
However, we can’t deny that the Vivo X50 Pro 5G has a much more exciting cameras system among the trio.
Battery
All three devices have almost the same battery capacity. The Vivo X50 Pro 5G comes with a 4,315mAh battery under the hood, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G and OPPO Reno4 Pro have a battery capacity of 4,300mAh and 4,000mAh respectively.
However, the OPPO Reno4 Pro will be equipped with the blazing-fast 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging technology which is capable of delivering a full charge around 36 to 37 minutes.
Therefore, the OPPO Reno4 Pro definitely has a way more advanced fast-charging solution than both the Vivo X50 5G and Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G which take more than an hour for a full charge.
Verdict
If you’re an average user who do not require the functionalities of a S-Pen, the OPPO Reno4 Pro is definitely a perfect smartphone which offers a well-balanced specs with a sleek-looking design.
The Snapdragon 720G SoC housed within the device is certainly powerful enough to handle all types of tasks for most average users. It will only be a deal breaker if you’re one of those hardcore gamer who play at maximum graphics on games like PUBG Mobile.
However, you probably won’t be looking at any of the phones here if you belong to this group of users as the recently announced ROG Phone 3 will be a more suitable option.
Most importantly, the OPPO Reno4 Pro retails at just S$899 – the most affordable model among the trio.
On the other hand, for users who enjoy photography or videography, the Vivo X50 Pro 5G could be a preferred option. The Gimbal camera system along with a more powerful 5G-ready Snapdragon 765G SoC definitely make the additional S$200 worth. From the exterior, it looks pretty stylish too.
As for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G which retails at S$1,398, I personally felt that the device is slightly overpriced. Some of the reasons include what I’d mentioned earlier – it utilizes an Exynos 990 SoC instead of the more powerful Snapdragon 865+ SoC which is used in U.S. model. Moreover, it has a standard 60Hzn refresh rate and a plastic-build which makes it hard to justify for its hefty price tag.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy Note20 4G is still the most powerful smartphone among the trio and it offers the exclusive S-Pen support which the OPPO Reno4 Pro and Vivo X50 Pro 5G aren’t able to bring to the users. This is a deal-breaker feature for users who’re accustomed to the enjoyable doodling and note-taking experience which the S-Pen entails.
Therefore, it really boils down to your usage pattern and preference to decide which is the most suitable device for you. Here’s the summary of my personal opinion:
- If you’re looking for a sub-S$1,000 smartphone with well-balanced specs, then the OPPO Reno4 Pro is a good option.
- If you’re an avid photographer who want to try out the exciting “Gimbal-style camera system”, then the Vivo X50 Pro is a good consideration.
- If you’re a fan of S-Pen and do not mind the slightly higher price tag, then you can outright pick the Samsung Galaxy Note20 4G.
In our next comparison, we will be comparing the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G against other heavyweights in the local market including the OPPO Find X2 Pro (Review) and the Huawei P40 Pro Plus.
