iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra - Which is better - Android

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The best from Apple takes on Samsung's latest as we pit the iPhone 12 Pro Max against the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra!

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

Now a family of four, the iPhone 12 series brings a lot to the table. If you want the best of the lot, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the phone for you. Of course, there are plenty of alternatives to consider, and leading the charge is the newest Samsung flagship, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. How does one of Android’s best fare against Apple’s greatest? Here is a quick look at the iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra!

Specs

	iPhone 12 Pro Max	Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Display	6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED 2,778 x 1,284 resolution	6.9-inch Dynamic OLED 2X 3,088 x 1,440 resolution 120Hz @ Full HD 60Hz @ Quad HD
Processor	Apple A14 Bionic	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus Samsung Exynos 990
Storage	128 / 256 / 512GB	128 / 256 / 512GB
RAM	6GB	12GB
Cameras	Rear: - wide-angle 12MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS - telephoto 12MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom - ultrawide 12MP, f/2.4 - TOF 3D LiDAR scanner Front: 12MP, f/2.2	Rear: - wide-angle 108MP, f/1.8, OIS - Telephoto 12MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom, 50x hybrid zoom - ultrawide 12MP, f/2.2 Front: 10MP, f/2.2
Software	iOS 14	Android 10
Durability	IP68	IP68
Battery	Li-ion 20W fast charging 7.5W Qi wireless charging 15W with Apple wireless charger	4,500mAh 25W fast charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse charging
Dimensions and weight	160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm 228g	164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm 208g
Colors	Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue	Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black

Design

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a well-designed phone, but it’s nothing that we haven’t seen before. Samsung borrows elements from both the previous Note and its other 2020 flagship series and further refines them to make a good looking device. The metal and glass build screams premium, while the Gorilla Glass Victus panels on the front and back should keep the phone from scratching. The Mystic Bronze colorway is the audience favorite, but the more muted Mystic Black and Mystic White are available for those who want them.

On the front is a gorgeous 6.9-inch Dynamic OLED display with curved edges and minimal bezels. Its variable refresh rate can go all the way up to 120Hz at Full HD. The resolution can be bumped up to Quad HD as well. The front-facing camera is housed in a small punch-hole notch, and the fingerprint scanner is under the display, making for an impressive looking all-screen front.

Credit: Apple

The iPhone 12 Pro Max follows a similar pattern. It borrows and further refines elements from previous generations. The large notch remains, which admittedly looks quite dated, but is an understandable compromise to include Face ID. The stainless steel build is fantastic, and the rounded corners look great.

Key upgrades across the board make the 12 Pro Max even more compelling. It packs the largest display on any iPhone yet at 6.7-inches, and the Super Retina XDR OLED display is as impressive as ever. The odd resolution falls somewhere in between Full HD and Quad HD. However, you don’t get faster refresh rates here.

Read more: iPhone 12 series comparison

Apple uses a new Ceramic Shield panel to keep the display safe. It is said to be four times more protective when compared to older iPhones. It’ll be interesting to see how it fares against the likes of the Gorilla Glass Victus and other glass panels in the many scratch and drop tests that we’re bound to see in the next few weeks. The colorway that has piqued everyone’s is the all-new Pacific Blue option, which will likely be the fan-favorite this holiday season.

Overall, there are no real surprises here in the design, but Apple’s upgrades in terms of build quality give it an edge. Either way, both companies’ fans should be happy with what their latest and greatest have to offer.

Features

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes with the fastest processor you can get in the Android world right now: the Snapdragon 865 Plus. However, the gaming-optimized processor is only available in the US and a few other markets, with Samsung favoring its in-house Exynos 990 for Europe and other regions. In either case, you’ll get a whopping 12GB of RAM with the phone.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with the company’s latest processor, the A14 Bionic. Apple also bumped the RAM up to 6GB with the 12 Pro Max. While that spec is decidedly mid-tier in the Android space, Apple’s optimization ensures that it’s more than enough.

Both phones are powerhouses.

The best of Android vs Apple’s latest is a newsworthy battle every year, and 2020 will be no different. What ultimately matters though, is both phones are absolute powerhouses. Performance isn’t going to be an issue with either flagship.

There’s not a lot in common between the two phones, but both devices offer storage variants going up to 512GB. However, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra lets you add even more with a microSD card. Both also come with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.