Samsung Galaxy S20+

The Galaxy S20+ has all the ingredients to make a great phone. There's a 120Hz AMOLED panel, the latest internal hardware, great cameras, and all the extras you could ask for. In particular, the cameras make the phone stand out, and while One UI 2.0 isn't quite on the same level as OxygenOS, Samsung has made a lot of positive changes in this area.

Samsung Galaxy S20+

The default choice

Smooth 120Hz AMOLED display

Snapdragon 865 chipset with 5G

Excellent cameras

15W wireless charging

IP68 water resistance

Expensive

No 3.5mm headphone jack

OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro has everything you're looking for in a flagship in 2020. There's an incredible 120Hz AMOLED display backed by the latest hardware, 30W wired and wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, and exciting upgrades to the cameras. Combine that with the fact that OxygenOS is the best skin on Android, and you get a great flagship.

OnePlus 8 Pro

The power you need

Stunning 120Hz AMOLED display

Snapdragon 865 chipset with 5G

Exciting new cameras

30W wireless charging

IP68 water resistance

Clean software with fast updates

No 3.5mm headphone jack

OnePlus is no stranger to making great phones, but it was primarily focused on the value category until last year. That obviously changed with the OnePlus 7 Pro and as good as that device was, it was missing out in a few key areas. OnePlus is now looking to make amends with the OnePlus 8 Pro, which thankfully does not have any omissions. So how does OnePlus' flagship fare against the might of Samsung? Let's find out.

OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+: OnePlus just gives you more value

OnePlus makes some of the best Android phones, but the main issue with its devices in the past was that they didn't have all the extras that you'd normally find in a "true" flagship. Wireless charging and IP68 water resistance, in particular, were two notable omissions from last year's devices, and thankfully OnePlus has rectified that problem this year.

The OnePlus 8 Pro comes with an insane 30W fast charging standard that offers the same charging speeds as its wired system. You also get full IP68 water resistance, and there really isn't any major omission this time around, and that is a big deal.

Let's do a rundown of all the hardware on the OnePlus 8 Pro to give you an idea of what you're getting here. The phone has a massive 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, it is powered by the Snapdragon 865 and has 5G connectivity, and you get 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.0 storage on the base variant, with a 12GB/256GB option also available.

Then there are the extras; you get the same stereo sound configuration as last year, and the haptic feedback is one of the best on Android. Alert Slider continues to be a differentiator, and there's Bluetooth 5.1, AptX HD, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Basically, the OnePlus 8 Pro has all the features that you'll find on the Galaxy S20+, but it also has better haptics and the Alert Slider. The best part is that you're paying less for the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Oh, and the color options on offer with the OnePlus 8 Pro are just gorgeous. The Glacial Green variant is one of the best designs the company has introduced to date. There's also an Ultramarine Blue with an iridescent finish.

Let's talk about the Galaxy S20+ for a minute. Samsung made many changes with this year's flagship, and one of those is the switch to a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung also upgraded the cameras, but other than that, the phone shares the same fundamentals as last year.

Although the S20+ also has an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, you can only use the higher refresh rate when you lower the screen resolution to FHD+. On the other hand, the OnePlus 8 Pro lets you use 120Hz at QHD+ resolution. While Samsung suggested at launch that it may unlock 120Hz at QHD+ later in the year, that has not materialized.

Both devices have similar batteries, with the OnePlus 8 Pro offering a 4510mAh unit while the S20+ comes with a 4500mAh battery. On the charging side of things, Samsung is offering 25W wired charging with 15W wireless charging and 9W reverse wireless charging, with the S20+ able to charge other devices wirelessly. The OnePlus 8 Pro has Warp Charge 30T that charges at 30W (5V/6A), and you also get Warp Charge 30 Wireless via a dedicated wireless charger. OnePlus is setting a new standard for wireless charging here, and there's no other consumer phone that can hit the wireless charging speeds touted by OnePlus.

The in-display fingerprint sensor on the OnePlus 8 Pro is also clearly better than what Samsung is offering. Samsung is the only major player to use an ultrasonic module from Qualcomm, with the rest of the field using an optical solution. Samsung's ultrasonic reader takes longer and isn't as reliable.

Another factor in OnePlus' favor is the software. OxygenOS continues to be the best Android skin, and the OnePlus 8 Pro has already received the update to the Android 11-based OxygenOS 11. While Samsung made many positive changes with One UI over the last 12 months, it is still not as fast at software updates. That said, Samsung promises three years of guaranteed Android updates, so the S20+ will get an additional update.

The Galaxy S20+ wins out in other areas as well. The phone works on all 5G bands on all U.S. carriers, while OnePlus' option is limited to T-Mobile and Sprint. OnePlus is selling a Verizon version of the OnePlus 8 that has mmWave, but the unlocked OnePlus 8 Pro will not work on the carrier. The same goes for AT&T. Although the OnePlus 8 Pro has the requisite 5G bands, it hasn't been tested on the carrier, and as a result, you'll only see 4G connectivity.

And while OnePlus made huge gains in the field of imaging — with the OnePlus 8 Pro offering a 48MP Sony IMX689 sensor — it still lacks in a few areas next to the S20+, particularly around HDR and night-time shots.

OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+: All the hardware you want

OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+: You should just get the S20+

OnePlus has made steady gains over the last two years, and the OnePlus 8 Pro is its best showing yet. The phone ticks all the right boxes, and unlike previous generations, there are no glaring omissions here. You get 30W wireless charging, IP68 dust and water resistance, a gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED screen, and the latest silicon that Qualcomm has to offer.

The OnePlus 8 Pro is a great overall choice, but having used both devices extensively over the course of the year, my recommendation would be to go with the Galaxy S20+. The phone is now on sale for $996 on Amazon (opens in new tab), and at that price, it is an obvious choice.

The OnePlus 8 Pro's main advantage over the S20+ is that it undercut Samsung's flagship by several hundred dollars at launch, but that is no longer the case. With less than $100 between both phones, you're better off spending that little bit more and getting your hands on the Galaxy S20+. You're getting a much better camera and guaranteed Android updates to Android 13.

Samsung Galaxy S20+

Refined design, stellar cameras
The Galaxy S20+ offers the latest hardware available today, including a 120Hz AMOLED panel and 5G. The cameras are the standout here, with Samsung offering a versatile set of sensors that hold up in any lighting conditions. The phone is now available for under $1,000, making it the standout deal.

OnePlus 8 Pro

A great flagship
With exciting hardware and camera upgrades backed by 30W wireless charging and IP68 water resistance, the OnePlus 8 Pro has it all. You get a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display that runs at QHD+ resolution, the user interface is one of the best you'll find on Android, and the cameras are much better than before.