Like last year, Samsung has launched two new Galaxy Note phones. And this year, the Note 20 is joined by the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Samsung’s new and gorgeous phablet is aimed at anyone who wants a high-powered phone with all the mod cons, including the S Pen, the powerful Snapdragon 865 Plus, and an extremely capable triple-lens camera module.
It’s not the only big, powerful phone with a grandiose 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, sumptuous display, and more power than you can shake a stick at. Both of these devices have starting prices well above $1,000, so it’s unlikely you can own both. Which one should you spend your money on, and why? We found out.
Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Size | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm (6.48 x 3.04 x 0.32 inches) | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) |
| Weight | 208 grams (7.34 ounces) | 226 grams (7.97 ounces) |
| Screen size | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Screen resolution | WQHD+ | 2,688 x 1,242 pixels (458 pixels per inch) |
| Operating system | Android 10 (under One UI 2.0) | iOS 13 |
| Storage space | 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| MicroSD card slot | Yes, up to 1TB | No |
| Tap-to-pay services | Samsung Pay, Google Pay | Apple Pay |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus | Apple A13 Bionic chip |
| RAM | 12GB | 4GB |
| Camera | Triple lens 108-megapixel, 12MP telephoto lens, and 12MP ultrawide lens rear, 10MP front | Triple lens 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 12MP telephoto rear; 12MP TrueDepth front |
| Video | 8K at 24 frames per second, 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps | 4K at up to 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C | Lightning |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, in-display | No, Face ID instead |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 4,500mAh
Fast charging (25W) Qi wireless charging Wireless Powershare |
3,969mAh
Fast charging (18W) Qi wireless charging |
| App marketplace | 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 Gray, silver, gold |
| Price | $1,299 | $1,100 |
| Buy from | Samsung, AT&T | Apple, Best Buy |
| Review 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 barely any bezel, and there’s a front-facing camera neatly hidden inside a punch-hole in the center of the display. The edges curve gently, and the buttons and S Pen dock have been moved to make using the phone more ergonomic. The iPhone takes a different approach to design, and while it has a similarly slim bezel, the chunky notch at the top of the screen is far more noticeable than the Note 20 Ultra’s punch-hole. It’s not bad looking as a result, though, and the new matte texture on the back feels and looks great.
Each phone has a big OLED display, too, so you’re getting a big screen with a crisp resolution either way. The Note 20 Ultra’s display has an edge in crispness, but you’ll probably have to put your face right up next to the phones to see the difference. You’ll definitely feel the difference between the refresh rates, however. The Note 20 Ultra has a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which means it refreshes twice as often as the iPhone’s 60Hz display. That means the Note feels more responsive and looks smoother.
Durability-wise, 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, which makes it heavier and more durable than the Note 20 Ultra’s aluminum frame — but we think a protective case is warranted for either phone, so it shouldn’t matter too much.
Both of these phones look incredible, 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
These two phones are high-powered flagships, so you know you’re getting amazing power no matter which you end up choosing. The Note 20 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, and this chip will have no problem handling any number of app swaps, 3D games, and anything you can throw at it. The A13 Bionic processor on the iPhone is similar, and though 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 where RAM is concerned — as iOS uses RAM differently from Android, the large difference between the two doesn’t have too much of an impact.
The Note 20 Ultra has the larger battery of the two, and we found it was able to stand up to some pretty heavy use and still make it to the end of the day. However, it’s up against a monster. The iPhone 11 Pro Max showcased amazing longevity in our review, and it’s not hard to see it going for two days with modest use. The Note 20 Ultra has faster charging and Wireless Powershare to charge other devices, but it’s obvious the best battery is one you need to charge the least. The Note 20 Ultra’s battery is impressive, but the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s is almost peerless.
Winner: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Camera
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Every new iteration of a flagship phone will generally see some camera improvements, and these phones are no exception. The Note 20 Ultra has a triple-lens rear module, containing a 108MP main lens, 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide angle lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera around the front, too. Add Samsung’s excellent Single Take software and you’ve got an excellent camera. It takes great, color-soaked images, and the night mode is a worthy inclusion too.
Can it beat the iPhone 11 Pro Max, though? Apple’s new iPhone has only been bettered by Huawei’s P40 Pro and was the top of our best camera phones list until the release of the new Chinese flagship. Needless to say, the three 12MP lenses take some exceptional still images and excellent video. Which one is better? We’re leaning toward the iPhone as having the better photos, but there’s a lot to love about the saturated images the Note creates. This is a tie.
Winner: Tie
Software and updates
iPhone 11 Pro Max Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
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