Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 11 delivers excellent value at $699 with its powerful A13 Bionic chip, reliable dual camera system with ultra-wide lens, and long software support. Samsung's Galaxy Note 10+ commands a $400 premium, offering a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, triple rear cameras including 2x telephoto zoom, triple the RAM (12GB), and faster 45W charging. Display quality favors Samsung significantly with 1200 nits brightness and QHD resolution versus iPhone's 625-nit IPS LCD. Camera systems differ philosophically: iPhone excels at computational photography and video stabilization, while Note 10+ provides more optical zoom versatility. Performance is comparable for daily tasks, though Note 10+ handles multitasking better. Battery capacity advantages the Note 10+ at 4300mAh versus 3110mAh. For budget-conscious buyers seeking solid performance and cameras, iPhone 11 offers exceptional value. Professionals, content creators, and those prioritizing display quality should consider the Note 10+ despite its premium pricing.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if…
- →Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- →Night mode on main camera
- →Dual camera system with ultrawide
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
Pros
- Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- Night mode on main camera
- Dual camera system with ultrawide
- Great battery life for the price
- Wide range of color options
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution on 6.1-inch screen
- No telephoto camera
- 5W charger in the box (no fast charger)
- No 5G connectivity
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 | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 196 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 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 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3110 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 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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