Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) vs Samsung Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S5 Active phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.7"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
5.1"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x1920
16
MP
MP
2.1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
2800
mAh
mAh
(Removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
27 Advantages 
6 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| Super AMOLED Plus / Super AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / Autofocus |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +10 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note20 SM-N981U (Snapdragon) - Unlocked | Bell Samsung Galaxy S5 Active SM-G870W for Canada |
| Country or region available |  USA |  Canada |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 8/21/2020, Announced: 8/5/2020 | 5/30/2014 |
| Depth | 8.3 millimeters (0.33 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 75.2 x 161.6 millimeters (2.96 x 6.36 in) | 73.4 x 145.3 millimeters (2.89 x 5.72 in) |
| Weight | 192 grams (6.72 ounces) | 170 grams (5.95 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP67 certified: dust proof and waterproof over 1 meter and 30min. MIL-STD-810G military certified: salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistant. |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED Plus | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.7" inches | 5.1" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~89.2% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~67.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 393 PPI | 432 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | HDR10+ Always-On Display | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| System version | Android 10 | Android 4.4.2 KitKat |
| Firmware update | Android 13 | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| User Interface | One UI 2.5 / 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.0 | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (SM8250-AB) (7nm) | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC (28nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 3.09GHz Kryo 585 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 585 (Quad-core) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2.5GHz Krait 400 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 650 (250-646MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 330 578Mhz |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| RAM memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (103GB available) UFS 3.0 | 16GB (11GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 128GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1024 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE | LTE Cat4 700/850/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600 |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 41, 66, 71) | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.027mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.2120°13mm1/2.55"1.4µm | 16 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4608x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/1.76" inches | 1/2.6" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video only main camera |
| Camera extras | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 10 megapixels | 2.1 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3872x2592 pixels | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.2" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | FM | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | MicroUSB 2.0, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Micro-B USB MHL-2 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4300 mAh | 2800 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | 29 hours (1.2 days) |
| Standby | feature not registered | 480 hours (20 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (Swype), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Mystic Gray, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Blue • Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor • Bixby • Samsung Wireless DeX • Samsung Pay (MST, NFC) • Stylus pen (Bluetooth integration) | • Colors: Camo Green, Titanium Grey, Ruby Red • Picture-taking during video recording • HAC M3/T4 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 0.78W/kg (head), 0.92W/kg (body) | 0.65W/kg (head), 1.09W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.667W/kg (head), 0.451W/kg (body) |