Samsung is reportedly hard at work on a cheaper Galaxy S20 phone, dubbed the S20 Lite or S20 Fan Edition. Here’s what we know so far.
Update, August 28, 2020 (9:16 AM ET): Samsung has now confirmed the existence of the Galaxy S20 FE. Check the name and release date section for all the latest. Original article: July 23, 2020: Samsung’s flagship sales are slumping. As demand for more expensive devices drops due to rising prices and the ongoing pandemic, we’re seeing more manufacturers release mid-range alternatives. Samsung could be the latest. According to multiple reports, the company is currently working on a repeat of its Galaxy S10 Lite based on the Galaxy S20 range. Its official name is still up for debate, but whether it’ll be called the Galaxy S20 Lite or Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, here’s everything we think we know about the forthcoming affordable phone below. The Galaxy S20 Fan Edition is reportedly under development with model numbers SM-G780 (global version) and SM-G781 (US version), according to a SamMobile report from June 11. The Galaxy S10 Lite released with model number SM-G770, so all signs point towards a sequel to that particular device. What is now being referred to as the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition from multiple sources, was originally thought to be called the Galaxy S20 Lite. While it seems that the phone will still take its place on the lowest rung of Samsung’s flagship ladder, it’ll seemingly adopt a new moniker. Related: Samsung Galaxy S series: A history of the biggest name in Android The Fan Edition title was first used by Samsung on a re-released device based on the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung may not want to adopt the “Lite” again name as it implies inferiority. That said, the thought of a Fan Edition does remind us of Samsung’s troubled Note. There were further suggestions made in a June 25 report by ETNews that the phone could come with S-Pen support and adopt the “Galaxy S20 Pen Edition” title, but it’s likely that this was a case of a mistranslation. This could point to a Note 10 Lite sequel instead, but considering the Galaxy Note 20 series hasn’t even launched yet, it may be too early for Samsung to be working on an even cheaper version. Samsung confirmed the existence of the Galaxy S20 FE series in what seems to be yet another accidental reveal. On August 28, the device was spotted in a listing on a Samsung Bulgaria’s YouTube Premium offer page, which confirmed the device’s name. The listing also confirmed that Samsung is preparing 4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy S20 FE.
