Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
Both flagships command identical pricing at $1099, yet each excels in distinct areas. Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max delivers superior display brightness (1200 nits) with exceptional HDR performance via Super Retina XDR OLED technology, paired with the blazingly fast A13 Bionic chip that dominates performance benchmarks. Samsung's Galaxy Note 10+ counters with a larger 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen offering sharper pixels, substantially more RAM (12GB vs 4GB), faster 45W charging versus Apple's 18W, and the iconic S Pen stylus absent from iPhone. Camera systems prove competitive: Apple emphasizes computational photography prowess with its proven Night mode, while Samsung offers a 16MP ultrawide and variable aperture main sensor. Battery capacity favors Samsung (4300mAh vs 3969mAh). For creative professionals and productivity-focused users, the Note 10+ justifies selection through its stylus integration and multitasking advantages. Apple loyalists prioritizing refined performance and ecosystem cohesion will find the Pro Max rewarding. Samsung edges ahead for feature density and value proposition.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max if…
- →Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- →Triple camera system with Night mode
- →Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ if…
- →S Pen with air gesture controls and Bluetooth LE
- →Gorgeous 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display
- →45W super fast charging for rapid top-ups
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Pros
- Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- Triple camera system with Night mode
- Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
- 18W fast charger included in the box
- Excellent build quality with matte glass back
Cons
- No 5G connectivity
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Heavy at 226 g
- Wide notch design
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Pros
- S Pen with air gesture controls and Bluetooth LE
- Gorgeous 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display
- 45W super fast charging for rapid top-ups
- 12 GB RAM handles multitasking effortlessly
- Versatile quad-camera system with ToF depth sensor
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors were moving to high refresh rates
- No headphone jack — a first for the Note series
- Exynos variant has weaker GPU performance than Snapdragon
- Glass back is slippery and fragile without a case
- Samsung software updates have ended
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 196 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps, Super Steady |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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