OnePlus 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus - Raising the bar - Android

The OnePlus 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus are key smartphones for these two industry players. On the one hand, OnePlus is making a firm play for the flagship market, throwing its best technology into its 8 Pro model, with a somewhat controversially higher price tag to match.

On the other, Samsung is revamping its long-running Galaxy S lineup with a new look and photography features as it looks to breathe a new lease of life into the series as we enter the 5G era. The Galaxy S20 Plus plays a key role as Samsung’s anticipated big seller, offering a more affordable entry point behind the obscenely expensive Galaxy S20 Ultra.

With just $100 separating these two smartphones, the OnePlus 8 Pro and Galaxy S20 Plus are going directly head to head in a variety of markets around the world.

So which one is most worth your money and offers the best 2020 flagship experience? Find out in this OnePlus 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus showdown!

All about the displays

Samsung Display provides the panels for both handsets and it’s no understatement to say that both phones aim for the best quality in the industry. Both great displays scored well in our testing suite, but the OnePlus 8 Pro nudged ahead to pinch the crown.

Clarity and colors aren’t a problem for either model, nor is visibility in bright outdoor environments. We’ve come to expect nothing less from Samsung’s high-end AMOLED panels. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro goes above and beyond with its color accuracy, owing to excellent calibration conducted in conjunction with Pixelworks — a company specializing in display technology. You can read more about this in our deep-dive article below.

Editor's Pick

The OnePlus 8 Pro has the best display we’ve ever tested

The OnePlus 8 series, and OnePlus 8 Pro in particular, mark a new high bar for the company. Both handsets pack in some of the latest and greatest bits of mobile tech, with a notable jump …

As well as Samsung’s quality AMOLED technology, the two phones boast a high 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth animations and scrolling. However, only the OnePlus 8 Pro enables this feature out of the box. Consumers who don’t know to trawl through the Galaxy S20 Plus’ settings won’t experience the smoothness of 120Hz.

Battery life seems like the primary reason Samsung left the feature disabled. However, OnePlus is able to offer 120Hz mode, content upscaling, and all-day battery life thanks to various bits of additional technology, including a dedicated display processor.

Although both displays are capable of greatness, OnePlus gives its very best to consumers right out of the box.

Two somewhat different designs

Speaking of displays, Samsung drops its waterfall display for a flatter screen this generation. In a turnaround, the OnePlus 8 Pro now features a curvier display than the Galaxy S20 Plus. This has its advantages given the OnePlus 8 Pro’s large size and heftier weight. The curved display keeps it feasible to wrap your hand around the device and reach right across the display. Although the trade-off is the occasional ghost touch that can be particularly annoying when using gesture navigation. S20 Plus is a fraction lighter and thinner, but that goes a long way in the hand. It’s easy to handle and doesn’t weigh down your pocket. However, both are undeniably large smartphones that might not suit smaller hands.