Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20+
The Quick Answer
Both flagships deliver premium experiences but emphasize different strengths. The iPhone 11 Pro Max excels with its refined A13 Bionic processor, exceptional computational photography, and stellar video stabilization through its triple camera setup.
The Verdict
Both flagships deliver premium experiences but emphasize different strengths. The iPhone 11 Pro Max excels with its refined A13 Bionic processor, exceptional computational photography, and stellar video stabilization through its triple camera setup. Its Super Retina XDR display reaches 1200 nits with perfect color accuracy, though the 60Hz refresh rate feels dated. Samsung's Galaxy S20+ counters with a sharper 3200x1440 AMOLED screen refreshing at 120Hz, providing noticeably smoother scrolling and gaming. The S20+ packs 12GB RAM versus 4GB, 5G connectivity, faster 25W charging, and a 64MP telephoto delivering genuine 3x hybrid zoom. Samsung's 8K video recording is impressive but practically limited. The S20+ weighs 40 grams less at 186g, improving daily comfort. Battery capacity favors Samsung at 4500mAh versus 3969mAh. Pricing slightly favors Apple at $1099, though the S20+ at $1199 offers more raw specifications. For photography purists who prioritize computational excellence and iOS ecosystem, the iPhone wins. For Android users wanting cutting-edge displays, faster refresh rates, and 5G readiness, the Galaxy S20+ delivers better future-proofing and versatility.
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…
- →QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
- →5G connectivity
- →microSD card slot retained
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
- QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
- 5G connectivity
- microSD card slot retained
- 12 GB RAM for multitasking
- Good triple camera system
Cons
- 120Hz locked to FHD+ at launch
- $1199 starting price was high
- Slow 25W charging
- DepthVision ToF sensor rarely useful
- Fingerprint sensor sometimes slow
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S20+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 186 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 | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 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, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.7 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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