Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20
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.
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
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
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S20 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 163 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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