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Although Apple has a large market share in the field of smartphones, the iPhone is not for everyone.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is a popular Android alternative with plenty of attractive features and affordable rates. Also, now that the Samsung Galaxy 21 has had time to hit the market, it may be in line for a good deal.

This is what you need to know.

What does the Galaxy S20 phone offer?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 phone, first released in March 2020, is equipped with a 6.2-inch screen, a powerful processor (Exynos 990), 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

It also has a triple camera system on the rear. There is a 64 MP telephoto camera, a 10 MP front camera, and a 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 last but not least, it comes with 5G connectivity so you can stream and download without delay.

How long does the Galaxy S20 battery last?

Samsung says that the 4,000 mAh battery in its Galaxy S20 will give you up to 20 hours of talk time, up to 15 hours of internet use over Wi-Fi, or 14 hours of internet use over 4G.

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Does the Samsung Galaxy S20 have a headphone port?

Yes, but not for your average 3.5mm headphone jack. It uses a USB-C connection, which means you have to use an adapter or pair wireless headphones via Bluetooth. The Galaxy S20 comes with bundled earbuds that use a jack USB-C

What about a micro SD port?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 was the last generation of the phone line to include an SD port, meaning its storage can be expanded with an external memory card. The Galaxy S21 does not have an 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 rates are available for the Samsung Galaxy S20 range?

There are plenty of major market rates to choose from. You might consider a contract where the cost of the device is included in the monthly charge, along with service fees for data, calls and texts.

Alternatively, you can go SIM-only: a simple contract that buys you a bundle of minutes for calls, texts, and a data allowance. Going this route means you have to have your own phone, though.

Contract phones for the Galaxy S20

There are plenty of rates offered by the usual suspects, including EE, giffgaff, O2, Virgin Media, Sky and Three. Contracts are varied and typically range from 12 to 36 months.

Monthly charges start from around £34 and go up to around £50.

While, as a general rule of thumb, the more you spend, the higher your data allotment and the more talk and text minutes you receive, it's worth shopping around to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck.

And beware of contract phones that come with an upfront fee on top of the monthly one - it can range from £4.99 to £199.99. This can add significantly to the total cost of a deal.

SIM-only deals for the Galaxy S20

Many phone users prefer the simplicity that comes with a SIM-only offer. Managing your money is easy as you have to make a fixed payment each month, which is done automatically by direct debit.

It also works well if you can get a good deal on a phone, whether that's finding a new one at a discount or even a refurbished model.

The cheapest SIM-only deals start at around £5 a month. Part of the appeal of SIM-only deals is flexibility. While they do come with a contract, some are as short as 30 days.

As with any other deal, the more you spend, the more data you get and the more calls you can make. So while a deal that costs £5 a month might get you 2GB of data, you can get 18GB of internet for a month for £10. And note that the offers also change over time.

SIM-only plans can be even more profitable if you pay for other people's mobile phones in your household, as some networks offer discounts if you have multiple SIM-only contracts.

SIM-only also works well if your credit history isn't perfect. The criteria you'll need to meet for a SIM-only contract aren't as comprehensive as a contract.

When it comes to buying your own phone, it's important as always to shop around to find the best deal.

A new phone comes with the security of a warranty and being a first-time user. For this, you're looking to pay £650. There is the option of buying second-hand items, though this carries the risk of no buyer protection.

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S20 or Samsung Galaxy S21?

Before making the decision to buy a Samsung Galaxy S20, it's only natural that you want to consider the latest model, the Galaxy S21, which comes with newer technology.

However, it is reductive to say that this makes the Galaxy S21 better than the Galaxy S20. For example, the S21 has a lower resolution screen than the S20, albeit with a higher refresh rate of 120Hz compared to 60Hz. from the last batch.

The Galaxy S21 features incremental gains in processing power and camera technology, but it may not be enough to justify spending the extra money when the S20 can be bought for less.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy S21 drops the S20's micro SD slot, meaning you can't expand your storage with an external memory card.

The S21 comes with up to 256GB of internal memory, double that of the S20, but the missing card slot could be a deal breaker for some users who require as much storage as possible.

Ready to buy?

You can quickly and easily find which S20 phone deals work for you by using a price comparison service. It will look at the latest top deals and present them in an ordered list – cheapest first.

Be sure to read the fine print for deals that catch your eye and don't automatically select the cheapest.

It can be a false economy if you rush in and realize at a later date that the package isn't right for you or if the overall cost is higher after upfront fees are factored in (in the case of phones by contract).

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