Is Samsung Galaxy M20 the new king in budget segment?
With quad cameras, notched display and mid-end internals, the Redmi Note 6 Pro dominated the latter half of last year in the sub-Rs. 15,000 price point. And now, in 2019, Samsung has upped the ante against arch-rival Xiaomi with the all-new, online-exclusive Galaxy M20. But does this India-focused smartphone have enough to keep the Korean giant relevant in the budget segment? Let's find out.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro features a wide iPhone X-like notch and a sizeable bottom bezel whereas the Galaxy M20 is more aesthetically pleasing with the new Infinity-V display that offers a screen-to-body ratio of over 90%. Further, both the phones have a single-tone basic-looking back casing and house dual cameras as well as a physical fingerprint scanner. Winner: M20 for its modern design.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro features a 6.26-inch full-HD+ (1080x2280 pixels) display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. On the other hand, the Galaxy M20 sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080x2340 pixels) with a taller 19.5:9 aspect and offers more screen area (thanks to the smaller notch). Winner: Galaxy M20 for its marginally crispier and taller display.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro offers a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup with an f/1.9 aperture, Dual-Pixel PDAF, and LED flash. In comparison, the Galaxy M20 comes with a dual rear-camera setup comprising a 13MP (f/1.9) main sensor, paired with a 5MP ultra-wide angle sensor. Winner: Galaxy M20 for its wide-angle sensor that's really hard to find in budget range smartphones.
When it comes to taking selfies, Redmi Note 6 Pro can easily beat even some mid-premium smartphones. The handset sports a dual camera setup comprising a 20MP (f/2.0) primary sensor with 1.8-micron pixels and a 2MP depth sensor. The Galaxy M20 settles for an 8MP (f/2.0) sensor which is supported by a display flash. Winner: Redmi Note 6 Pro for its far superior optics.
Under the hood, Galaxy M20 debuts the all-new 14nm Exynos 7904 chipset, coupled with 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage (expandable up to 512GB). In comparison, the Redmi Note 6 Pro runs on a 14nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, paired with upto 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage (expandable upto 256GB). Winner: Tie. Both the chipsets are almost at par with each other.
Both the phones pack a standard array of sensors including an ambient light sensor, compass, gravity sensor, gyroscope, and a proximity sensor. They also offer a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and camera-based Face Unlock feature. In terms of software, the Galaxy M20 runs Android Oreo-based Samsung Experience 9.5 UX whereas Redmi Note 6 Pro runs Android Oreo-based MIUI10. Winner: Tie.
In terms of connectivity, both the phones support dual-SIMs, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/A-GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, the Xiaomi handset comes with a micro-USB port while the Samsung challenger offers USB Type-C port. Further, with a 5,000mAh battery, the Galaxy M20 easily wins over Redmi Note 6 Pro's 4,000mAh battery. Winner: Galaxy M20.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro costs Rs. 13,999 for the 4GB/64GB variant and Rs. 15,999 for the 6GB/64GB model. On the other hand, the Galaxy M20 is priced at Rs. 10,990 for the 3GB/32GB variant and Rs. 12,990 for the 4GB/64GB model.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro continues to be an impressive offering with great selfie cameras, a full-HD display, and dependable performance thanks to its mid-level chipset and upto 6GB RAM option. However, with a newer design, a vivid display, decent cameras, mid-level internals, and a lower price tag, the Galaxy M20 has everything to make it an affordable yet powerful device. Winner: Galaxy M20.
