Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Our Verdict: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is six years newer than the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, and it shows in the specs. The S26 Ultra has a massively higher-resolution main camera, 200MP against the S20 5G Fan Edition's 12MP, and there's more battery in the S26 Ultra, 5000mAh to 4500mAh, which usually means longer between charges. The S26 Ultra has the stronger screen, bigger at 6.9" against 6.5" and sharper at 498 PPI, and the S26 Ultra goes up to 1TB of storage, where the S20 5G Fan Edition tops out at 256GB. The S26 Ultra is the better phone; upgrade from the S20 5G Fan Edition if you want the newer hardware, or hold on if yours still does the job.

Buying outright, the S20 5G Fan Edition starts at £160 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.3
10 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen
6.5" 6.9"
Display
Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1080 x 2400 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
405 498
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
32 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Exynos 990 Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery
4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Android 10 Android
SIM Type
Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm
Weight
190 grams 214 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
- £16.00/mo (£545.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£159.99 £899.00

Prices updated 27 July 2026

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Expert Rating 4.3
10 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen 6.5" 6.9"
Display Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 405 498
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 32 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Exynos 990 Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery 4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Android 10 Android
SIM Type Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm
Weight 190 grams 214 grams
Water Resistance IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts - £16.00/mo
£545.00 upfront
SIM-free £159.99 £899.00
Prices updated 27 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

128GB

Lavender

Refurbished

From £159.99

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

24 Months

256GB

White

300GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£16 per month, £545 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger screen at 6.9" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G's 6.5", the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the sharper display at 498 pixels per inch versus 405, and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G uses a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen panel while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £159.99.

What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is available in 128GB, 256GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra use?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is powered by the Exynos 990, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is the more portable of the two: it's 24g lighter at 190 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is slimmer at 7.9mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rated IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra run?

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G runs Android 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.