Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 11 delivers excellent value at $699 with the powerful A13 Bionic chip, reliable dual-camera setup producing excellent 4K video, and strong battery life through efficient iOS optimization.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 11 delivers excellent value at $699 with the powerful A13 Bionic chip, reliable dual-camera setup producing excellent 4K video, and strong battery life through efficient iOS optimization. Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra costs nearly double at $1399 but justifies premium pricing with its massive 6.9-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display (1200 nits brightness versus iPhone's 625), significantly faster Snapdragon 865 processor, and vastly superior camera system featuring a 108MP main sensor with periscope zoom and 8K video capability. The S20 Ultra's 5000mAh battery outlasts iPhone 11's 3110mAh unit substantially, while 45W fast charging beats Apple's 18W significantly. Memory differences are stark: S20 Ultra offers 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage against iPhone's 4GB and 256GB maximum. iPhone 11 excels in everyday performance, software stability, and camera consistency for typical users, particularly at its price point. Galaxy S20 Ultra targets enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge specs, zoom capabilities, high refresh rates, and display excellence. Choose iPhone 11 for value and simplicity; choose S20 Ultra if you demand premium features and can justify the substantial price premium.
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 S20 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom headline feature
- →108 MP main camera sensor
- →Large 5000 mAh battery
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 S20 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom headline feature
- 108 MP main camera sensor
- Large 5000 mAh battery
- 45W fast charging
- Massive 6.9-inch QHD+ display
Cons
- Autofocus issues at launch required software patches
- $1399 made it extremely expensive
- Very heavy and large
- 120Hz locked to FHD+ resolution at launch
- 100x zoom quality was mostly a gimmick
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 220 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 48 MP, f/3.5, 4x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3110 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 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 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 11 or the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.