Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max
Like last year, Samsung launched
two new Galaxy Note phones
.And this year, the Note 20 is joined by the
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
.Samsung's gorgeous new phablet is for anyone who wants a powerful phone with all the modern conveniences, including the powerful S Pen, the
Snapdragon 865 Plus
, and an extremely capable triple-lens camera module.
It's not the only big, powerful phone with a grand name, though. The big iPhone of the moment is the
iPhone 11 Pro Max
, and Apple's massive beast is a triumph of engineering, with a stunning design, a lavish screen, and more power than you can shake a stick at. Both of these devices have starting prices well over $1,000, so it's unlikely you'll be able to own both. Which one should you spend your money on and why? We found out.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Cut
164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.48 x 3.04 x 0.32 inches)
158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.32 inch)
Weight
208 grams (7.34 ounces)
226 grams (7.97 ounces)
Screen size
6.9-inch 2X Dynamic AMOLED
6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
Screen resolution
WQHD+
2688 x 1242 pixels (458 pixels per inch)
Operating system
Android 10 (under One UI 2.0)
iOS 13
Storage space
256 GB, 512 GB
64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
microSD card slot
Yes, up to 1TB
Nope
tap-to-pay services
Samsung Pay, Google Pay
Apple Pay
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
Apple A13 Bionic chip
RAM
12 GB
4GB
Camera
108 MP triple lens, 12 MP telephoto and 12 MP ultra-wide lens on the back, 10 MP on the front
12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide and 12MP telephoto rear triple lens; 12MP TrueDepth front
Video
8K at 24 fps, 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
4K up to 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps
Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Ports
USB-C
Flash
Fingerprint sensor
Yes, on screen
No, Face ID instead
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Battery
4500mAh
Quick charge (25W)
Qi wireless charging
Wireless Power Sharing
3969mAh
Fast charge (18W)
Qi wireless charging
Application Market
Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Network support
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon
Colors
Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
Midnight Green, Space Grey, Silver, Gold
Price
$1299
$1100
Will buy
Samsung, AT&T
Apple
,
best buy
Exam score
4 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
Design, display and durability
1.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
2.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a stunning design, especially in the Mystic Bronze color. The massive 6.9-inch AMOLED display stretches from edge to edge with almost no bezels, and there's a front-facing camera neatly hidden inside a punch hole in the center of the screen. The edges curve gently and the buttons and S Pen docking station have been relocated to make using the phone more ergonomic .The iPhone takes a different approach to design, and while it has an equally thin bezel, the big notch at the top of the screen is much more noticeable than the Note 20 Ultra's punch hole. It's not bad, though, and the new matte texture on the back is nice and looks great.
Each phone also has a large OLED screen, so you get a big screen with crisp resolution either way. The Note 20 Ultra's screen has a sharp edge, but you'll probably have to put your face right next to the phones to see the difference. However, you will definitely feel the difference in refresh rates. The Note 20 Ultra has a
super smooth 120Hz refresh rate
, which means it refreshes twice as often as the iPhone's 60Hz screen. This means the Note is more responsive and smoother.
From a durability standpoint, there's less to separate the two. Both have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and both have sleek glass bodies. The iPhone has a stainless steel frame though, making it heavier and more durable than the Note 20 Ultra's aluminum frame – but we think a protective case is guaranteed for either phone, so this shouldn't matter too much.
Both of these phones look amazing, but it's the 120Hz display that gives the Note 20 Ultra an edge the iPhone just can't match.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Performance, battery life and charging
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Both of these phones are high-powered flagships, so you know you're getting incredible power no matter what you choose.The Note 20 Ultra is powered by the
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
, and this chip will have no problem handling a number of app swaps, 3D games, and whatever else you can throw at it. The A13 Bionic processor on the iPhone is similar, and although the A13 tends to get higher numbers in benchmarks, it probably won't translate to a tangible difference in real life. It's a similar story when it comes to RAM - as iOS uses RAM differently than Android, the big difference between the two doesn't matter too much.
The Note 20 Ultra has the larger battery of the two, and we found it to be able to withstand fairly heavy use and still last until the end of the day. However, that's against a monster. iPhone 11 Pro Max exhibited incredible longevity
in our review
, and it's not hard to see it running for two days with modest usage. The Note 20 Ultra has faster charging and Wireless Powershare to charge other devices, but obviously the best battery is the one you you have to charge the least. The Note 20 Ultra's battery is impressive, but the iPhone 11 Pro Max's is nearly unmatched.
Winner: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Camera
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Each new iteration of a flagship phone will usually see camera improvements, and these phones are no exception. The Note 20 Ultra has a triple-lens rear module, containing a 108MP main lens, a 12MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra wide angle. There's also a 10MP selfie camera on the front. Add Samsung's excellent Single Take software and you've got a great camera. It takes great color-soaked images, and night mode is also worthy inclusion.
Can it beat the iPhone 11 Pro Max, though? Apple's new iPhone has only been improved by
Huawei's P40 Pro
and was the top of our
list of best camera phones
until the release of the new Chinese flagship. Needless to say, the three 12MP lenses take outstanding stills and excellent video. Which is better? We're leaning the iPhone to have the best photos, but there are has a lot to like in the saturated images created by the note. It's a tie.
Winner: tie
Software and updates
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Personal taste is key when deciding between Android and iOS. Both operating systems have their pros and cons, and you probably already know which one you prefer. On the plus side, the barriers between the two have fallen over the years. (highlight this year with the
adding widgets
in
iOS 14
), so the swap between the two isn't the seismic change it could have been. It's worth noting that Samsung uses its own Android maker skin on its devices, One UI 2. It adds a bunch more customization options to stock Android, but it's by no means one of our favorite skins.
Although it has some good additions, One UI 2 is probably the reason why updates take so long on Samsung phones. Samsung has been known to take up to six months to deliver the latest versions of Android, which is not the case when you upgrade to iPhone. Apple releases updates to its phones on the same release day, and it also supports iPhones much longer than any other manufacturer.
iPhone 6S
from 2015
will receive iOS 14
, and that level of support isn't something you get from just any Android manufacturer.
Winner: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Features
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The iPhone 11 Pro Max certainly has no shortage of special features. The first is Face ID, Apple's unlocking method that takes a 3D scan of your face and uses it to unlock your phone. This same feature also powers the features Memoji and Animoji and lets you create a cartoon version of yourself or an animal head that copies your head movements.iOS 13 added a great scaling system
dark mode
, which is perfect for when the lights go out.
The iPhone is, however, up against a Galaxy Note, a line of phones renowned for its special features. You have all the features you would expect from a flagship Samsung phone, including Bixby, Dex desktop mode and 5G, but you also have the S Pen. This nifty little stylus can control your phone like a remote or with air gestures, can scribble quick notes on the phone screen, and adds a degree of precision you can't get with a finger. Note takes this quite easily.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Price and availability
You can find the iPhone 11 Pro Max at any major electronics retailer or Apple Store in the United States for a starting price of $1,100, which increases depending on the specs you want to add. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has an even higher average starting price at $1,299.
Overall Winner: iPhone 11 Pro Max
While Apple and Samsung are fierce rivals, each vying for the top spot in the smartphone market, we have to give it Apple on this one because the
iPhone 11 Pro Max
is far superior. This phone is higher quality thanks to its advanced processor, long battery life and excellent camera. When studied side by side, Apple's phone seems like a better option.
If you don't want to have to learn the Mac iOS when you buy the iPhone, you don't have to pick this phone. Whether you're loyal to Android phones or intrigued by S Pen functionality, you might want to check out the
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
.This Samsung phone is still excellent and a decision that will make you happy.However, we believe that the iPhone is ultimately the superior product.
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