Skip to content
specpair

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20

By SpecPair Editorialphones
Verified specs·AI-assisted analysis·Editorially reviewed
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
$1,099
8.3/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S20
$999
8.6/10
Winner

The Quick Answer

Both flagships deliver premium experiences, but they serve different philosophies.

The Verdict

Both flagships deliver premium experiences, but they serve different philosophies. The iPhone 11 Pro Max dominates with its exceptional A13 Bionic processor, superior computational photography through its triple camera system, and that distinctive Super Retina XDR display with 1200 nits peak brightness. Its 226g weight feels substantial, though the stainless steel frame exudes luxury. Battery capacity sits at 3969 mAh with 18W charging. Conversely, the Galaxy S20 weighs just 163g and includes 12GB RAM versus iPhone's 4GB, leveraging Android's multitasking advantages. Its 120Hz refresh rate display proves noticeably smoother than the iPhone's 60Hz panel, and the Snapdragon 865 processor handles gaming and multitasking exceptionally. The 25W charger and 15W wireless charging significantly outpace Apple's offerings. Camera-wise, the S20's 64MP telephoto with 3x hybrid zoom and 8K video recording sound impressive on paper, though the iPhone's computational approach often delivers superior real-world results. The S20 includes 5G connectivity; the iPhone 11 Pro Max doesn't. At $100 less, the Galaxy S20 offers better value for power-users and Android enthusiasts, while iPhone devotees will appreciate the cohesive ecosystem and proven software optimization. For pure performance and features, Samsung edges ahead.

ValueGalaxy S20
CameraPro Max
BatteryGalaxy S20
DisplayGalaxy S20
PerformancePro Max

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 S20 if…

  • Compact flagship with 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED
  • 5G support across all S20 models
  • 12 GB RAM was generous

Category Scores

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S20
Value
7.8
8.5
Camera
8.8
8.4
Battery
7.5
8.5
Display
8.5
9.0
Performance
9.0
8.8

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 S20

Pros

  • Compact flagship with 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED
  • 5G support across all S20 models
  • 12 GB RAM was generous
  • microSD card slot
  • Lightweight at 163 g

Cons

  • 120Hz required FHD+ resolution at launch
  • $999 base price was a $100 increase
  • Slow 25W charging
  • 64 MP telephoto hybrid zoom not as sharp as optical
  • 8K video was impractical due to file sizes

Full Specifications

SpecApple iPhone 11 Pro MaxSamsung Galaxy S20
SoftwareiOS 13Android 10, One UI 2.1
Body
Weight226 g163 g
MaterialStainless steel frame, textured matte glassAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.8, OIS12 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.210 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps8K@24fps, 4K@60fps
Telephoto12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/2.2
Memory
RAM4 GB12 GB
Storage options64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB128 GB
Battery
Capacity3969 mAh4000 mAh
Charging18W wired25W wired
Wireless charging7.5W Qi15W wireless
Display
Size6.5 inches6.2 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution2688 x 12423200 x 1440
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)12001200
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Adreno 650
ChipsetApple A13 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 865
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0

Want to compare a third product?

Add another product for a 3-way comparison.

Spec data verified from manufacturer sources. Analysis AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. How we compare · Last verified

Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S20.