Whenever Samsung launches a brand new cellphone, Apple followers have a tendency to note. It’s not simply that Samsung is likely one of the greatest Android cellphone makers and even that its designs are usually among the many closest to Apple’s, it’s that Samsung’s flagship Galaxy telephones are actually, actually good. They have the newest processors, shows, and cameras, and the modern developments that we see within the newest Galaxy S or Note cellphone usually make their approach to the iPhone.
So it’s only pure to match them. The Galaxy Note 20 that was revealed earlier this week prices the identical because the iPhone 11 Pro (a greenback extra, to be actual), so that you’d assume it could trounce it, proper? Not a lot. Samsung has reduce corners and sacrificed options to maintain the Note 20 “affordable” in comparison with the $1,299 Galaxy Note S20 Ultra, so even an 11-month-old iPhone can maintain its personal. But which one ought to an unbiased client purchase?
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Design
The iPhone is likely one of the few telephones that also has a notch, and it’s positively beginning to present its age. Like the S20 and most different Android telephones, the Note 20 has a small gap within the prime of the show for the selfie digicam, and it’s far more interesting to the attention. Of course, Apple wants a notch for its FaceID digicam system, however Samsung’s Infinity-O show is the clear winner.
The Note 20 (left) and Note 20 Ultra each are available shimmery “Mystic” bronze, however the Note 20 is manufactured from plastic, not glass.
While most of Samsung’s Galaxy telephones have curved “edge” shows that take away all seen aspect bezels from the entrance of the cellphone, the Note 20 is a “flat” cellphone, so there are bezels throughout. They’re a bit of thinner than they’re on the iPhone 11 Pro, however they’re additionally unbalanced, so the house on the prime and backside is thicker than the edges. It’s shut, however I want Apple’s symmetry.
Around the again, the 2 telephones are very related, with each the Note 20 and iPhone 11 that includes a large digicam array within the prime left nook. Samsung’s is rectangular and extra distinguished than Apple’s sq. housing, however each are bulbous, bumpy, and considerably unpleasant. Aside from the colour variations—bronze is the brand new colour for the Note, whereas Apple’s signature iPhone 11 hue is midnight inexperienced—the Note 20 has a plastic end versus Apple’s glass protecting. The Note 20 can be a lot bigger (161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3mm) and heavier (194 grams) in comparison with the iPhone 11 Pro (144 x 71.4 x 8.1mm, 188 grams)
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Display
The iPhone 11 Pro and Note 20 each have loads of display, however Samsung’s cellphone is considerably bigger than any cellphone Apple sells and practically an inch larger than the 11 Pro.
Galaxy Note 20: 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED, 2400×1080, 393 ppi
iPhone 11 Pro: 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR, 2436 x 1125, 458 ppi
Alex Todd/IDGThe Note 20’a 6.7-inch show is larger however has fewer pixels than the iPhone 11 Pro.
Even although it’s about an inch smaller, Apple show is clearly superior to the Note 20’s, particularly since Samsung didn’t give it a 120Hz refresh price just like the Note 20 Ultra. The iPhone 11 Pro’s show is so good it may well even tackle the Note 20 Ultra, however towards the Note 20 it’s no contest.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Processor, RAM, and storage
Both of the telephones right here have the quickest potential processor, with the Note 20 rocking the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the iPhone operating the A13, however as we’ve seen, Apple’s silicon is vastly superior. But even when we name {that a} wash since benchmarks don’t inform the entire story, the Note 20 has a much smaller quantity of RAM than 2020 premium Galaxy cellphone customers are accustomed to getting—simply 8GB versus the 12GB on the Note 20 Ultra and full S20 line. Granted, that’s twice as a lot because the 4GB within the iPhone 11 Pro, however Apple does a much better job with optimizing its system, as evidenced by the 12GB and 16GB of RAM you get on Samsung’s different telephones.
For storage, you get 128GB on the Note 20 and simply 64GB on the iPhone 11 Pro. Both must be a lot for the belongings you need to do, however right here’s hoping the rumors that Apple will likely be doubling the bottom storage are true. Elsewhere, each telephones have IP68 water resistance and neither has a headphone jack.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Biometrics and S Pen
The motive for the iPhone 11 Pro’s notch is the TrueDepth digicam, which handles Face ID. The iPhone remains to be one of many solely telephones to help a correct 3D facial recognition system, and it provides the iPhone an enormous benefit over the Note 20’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. On earlier Galaxy telephones, Samsung’s in-display sensors have been finicky and less-than-100-percent dependable, so Apple will get the sting right here.
SamsungThe S Pen is the guts of the Note.
One space the place the Note 20 wins hands-down, nevertheless, is the inclusion of an S Pen stylus. The Note has all the time had a stylus on board, and the S Pen on the Note 20 has 9ms latency to match the Apple Pencil, together with a slew of recent methods, together with air gestures. You can’t get something prefer it on the iPhone—it doesn’t even help the Apple Pencil—and it’s the Note 20’s greatest benefit.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Battery and 5G
On paper, the Galaxy Note 20 has a a lot larger battery—4,300mAh vs 3,046mAh—however in real-world use, each will probably get you thru a full day of heavy lifting. They each help quick charging out of the field as properly, although Samsung’s 25W charger will fill your cellphone up a bit of faster than Apple’s 18W one.
While the iPhone 12 is rumored to deliver 5G to the iPhone this fall, the iPhone 11 remains to be a 4G cellphone. The Note 20, then again, helps each mmWave and sub 6GHz networks on the three main carriers within the U.S., so that you’ll be capable of benefit from the quick speeds. However, the truth of 5G is that many individuals don’t have it, and even those who do aren’t seeing the insane speeds that it’ll someday ship. Most of the time you’re going to be utilizing 4G, anyway.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: OS and updates
Debates between Android and iOS apart, Samsung has promised that the Note 20 will get “up to three generations” of Android updates to deliver the newest options and safety to their thousand-dollar funding. That’s a lot better than their earlier noncommittal replace schedule, but it surely pales compared to what you get with the iPhone.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGThe iPhone 11 Pro will nonetheless be getting updates in 2025.
Apple doesn’t particularly provide a restrict on updates, however the iPhone 6s, which launched in 2015 with iOS 9, will likely be getting iOS 14 within the fall, a full 5 years and 4 model upgrades. So the iPhone 11 Pro ought to be capable of set up iOS 18 and perhaps even iOS 19 in 2025. Even with the promise of three generations of updates, the Note 20 will likely be lengthy on the scrap heap by then.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Camera
The iPhone 11 Pro and Note 20 each characteristic triple-camera arrays and so they’ll each take unbelievable footage:
iPhone 11 Pro
Camera 1: 12MP large, f/1.8, OIS
Camera 2: 12MP telephoto, f/2.0, OIS, 2x optical zoom
Camera 3: 12MP extremely large, f/2.4, 120-degree FOV
Galaxy Note 20
Camera 1: 12MP extremely large, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV
Camera 2: 12MP large, f/1.8, OIS,
Camera 3: 64MP telephoto, f/2.0, 3X hybrid zoom
Alex Todd/IDGThe Note 20 has nice cameras, however its low-light capabilities stay to be seen.
I haven’t had an opportunity to check the Note 20’s digicam, but it surely’s similar to the Galaxy S20+, which I’ve examined. You’ll be capable of take glorious images for positive, however in my expertise, the iPhone 11 Pro is the stronger shooter, particularly in low mild. Samsung guarantees that the Note 20 represents “the biggest leap in low light photography in a Galaxy,” nevertheless, so that would deliver it as much as the iPhone’s stage. Regardless, you’ll take superb footage with both cellphone.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Conclusion
It’s onerous to take a look at these telephones and never instantly gravitate to the iPhone 11 Pro. The display could also be means larger on the Note 20 and also you get 5G and an S Pen, however in any other case, the iPhone 11 Pro both matches or beats it in each class. And for those who wait a month or two, you’ll most likely be capable of get a 6.1-inch 5G iPhone 12 for a similar value because the Note 20.
If you actually desire a new Note, I’d advocate spending a couple of extra {dollars} and getting the Note 20 Ultra, which brings a bigger high-res, 120Hz display, a greater digicam, glass physique, and 12GB of RAM. But for those who don’t need spend greater than a thousand bucks, the iPhone 11 Pro is the best way to go.