The Samsung Galaxy S20 series was released in 2020 with two different mobile platforms. Depending on the market and regional version, the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra were equipped with either the Samsung Exynos 990 or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.
This means that two Galaxy S20 phones with the same name can have different processors. The difference is particularly important when comparing performance, battery life, and thermal behavior.
Which processor is in the Galaxy S20
Samsung used the two processors in different markets. The Snapdragon 865 was used in the US, Canada, South Korea, and selected other markets, while the Exynos 990 was used in Europe and many other international markets. Samsung’s specifications explicitly indicate that the processor configuration may vary by market and carrier.
The same regional approach applied to the three main models:
- Galaxy S20 — Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865
- Galaxy S20+ — Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865
- Galaxy S20 Ultra — Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865
Therefore, the model name alone does not tell you which processor a particular phone has. You need to check the regional version or the processor information.
Exynos 990 vs Snapdragon 865 specifications
The two processors use different CPU architectures and clock configurations.
| Processor | CPU configuration | Maximum clock speed |
|---|---|---|
| Exynos 990 | 2 × 2.73 GHz + 2 × 2.5 GHz + 4 × 2.0 GHz | 2.73 GHz |
| Snapdragon 865 | 1 × 2.8 GHz + 3 × 2.4 GHz + 4 × 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz |
Samsung’s European specifications list the Exynos 990 as 2.73 GHz + 2.5 GHz + 2.0 GHz, while Snapdragon 865 specifications show 2.8 GHz + 2.4 GHz + 1.8 GHz.
Some Samsung documentation rounds the Exynos maximum frequency to 2.7 GHz, so both 2.7 GHz and 2.73 GHz can appear in specifications for the same processor.
The Snapdragon 865 was a Qualcomm flagship platform built around the Kryo 585 CPU and Adreno 650 GPU.
Galaxy S20 Exynos 990 vs Snapdragon 865 performance
The processor difference was not just a specification-sheet distinction. Independent testing showed measurable differences between the two versions of the Galaxy S20.
In one Geekbench 5.1 comparison, the Galaxy S20 with Exynos 990 achieved 938 points in single-core and 2,726 points in multi-core. The Snapdragon 865 version scored 923 points in single-core and 3,267 points in multi-core.
| Geekbench 5.1 | Exynos 990 | Snapdragon 865 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 938 | 923 |
| Multi-core | 2,726 | 3,267 |
The results are interesting because the Exynos version was slightly faster in the single-core test, while the Snapdragon version had a clear advantage in multi-core performance.
Longer workloads also exposed a difference in thermal behavior. Testing of the European Galaxy S20 with Exynos 990 showed significant performance throttling during sustained graphics workloads. Performance dropped progressively as the phone heated up, which affected demanding applications and gaming.
This does not mean that every Exynos 990 Galaxy S20 will constantly run slowly. The difference becomes more noticeable during prolonged heavy workloads than during ordinary tasks such as browsing, messaging, or watching video.
How to check which processor your Galaxy S20 has
The easiest way is to check the phone’s hardware information.
The CPU frequency configuration can also be used as a quick identification method:
2.8 GHz + 2.4 GHz + 1.8 GHz → Snapdragon 865
2.73 GHz + 2.5 GHz + 2.0 GHz → Exynos 990
You can also check the exact model number:
Settings → About phone → Model number
The model number identifies the regional version of the smartphone. This is useful when buying a used Galaxy S20 because the same Galaxy S20 model name can refer to phones with different processors.
A hardware-information application can provide another way to check the processor directly.
Why the Galaxy S20 has two processors
Samsung’s use of different processors was due to supply issues, not differences between the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra models themselves.
Samsung used the Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865 in different regional versions of the Galaxy S20 series. The processor was determined by the market for which the phone was manufactured.
| Country or region | Processor |
|---|---|
| United States | Snapdragon 865 |
| Canada | Snapdragon 865 |
| South Korea | Snapdragon 865 |
| China | Snapdragon 865 |
| Hong Kong | Snapdragon 865 |
| Japan | Snapdragon 865 |
| Brazil | Snapdragon 865 |
| Europe | Exynos 990 |
| India | Exynos 990 |
| Other international markets | Exynos 990 in most cases |
