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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20

By SpecPair Editorialphones
Verified specs·AI-assisted analysis·Editorially reviewed
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
$1,099
8.3/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S20
$999
8.4/10

The Quick Answer

Both flagships deliver excellent performance but excel in different areas.

The Verdict

Both flagships deliver excellent performance but excel in different areas. iPhone 12 Pro Max dominates with its Super Retina XDR OLED display at 1200 nits brightness and the powerful A14 Bionic chip, which still ranks among the fastest processors available. Its camera system shines for computational photography and video stabilization, particularly with Dolby Vision HDR recording at 4K@60fps. However, the 226g weight and 60Hz display feel dated compared to competitors. Galaxy S20 counters with a lighter 163g build, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 3200x1440 resolution, and superior raw camera specs: 64MP telephoto with 3x hybrid zoom and 8K video recording capability. The larger 4000mAh battery and faster 25W charging provide practical advantages for daily use. S20's 12GB RAM versus iPhone's 6GB matters less due to iOS optimization, but Android flexibility appeals to power users. Display refresh rate and screen resolution favor Samsung significantly at this size. Camera performance depends on use case: iPhone excels at video and night mode, Samsung offers superior zoom and megapixel count. Price-wise, both are premium devices at similar costs, though the S20 offers more RAM and faster charging. iPhone 12 Pro Max wins for video creators and ecosystem enthusiasts, while Galaxy S20 suits those prioritizing display smoothness and zoom capabilities.

ValueGalaxy S20
CameraPro Max
BatteryGalaxy S20
DisplayGalaxy S20
PerformancePro Max

Who Should Buy

Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if…

  • Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
  • Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
  • Excellent battery life for an iPhone

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 12 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S20
Value
7.8
8.1
Camera
8.8
8.6
Battery
7.8
8.2
Display
8.5
9.0
Performance
9.1
8.7

Pros & Cons

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Pros

  • Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
  • Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
  • Excellent battery life for an iPhone
  • Dolby Vision HDR video recording
  • 5G support across sub-6 and mmWave

Cons

  • No 120Hz ProMotion display
  • Heavy at 226 g
  • 60Hz refresh rate felt dated in 2020
  • Lightning port
  • No charger included in the box

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 12 Pro MaxSamsung Galaxy S20
SoftwareiOS 14Android 10, One UI 2.1
Body
Weight226 g163 g
MaterialStainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield frontAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS12 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.210 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR8K@24fps, 4K@60fps
Telephoto12 MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/2.2
Memory
RAM6 GB12 GB
Storage options128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB128 GB
Battery
Capacity3687 mAh4000 mAh
Charging20W wired25W wired
Wireless charging15W MagSafe15W wireless
Display
Size6.7 inches6.2 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution2778 x 12843200 x 1440
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)12001200
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Adreno 650
ChipsetApple A14 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 865
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0

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

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