Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Quick Answer
iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S20 Ultra represent different smartphone philosophies from their respective eras.
The Verdict
iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S20 Ultra represent different smartphone philosophies from their respective eras. The iPhone 13 Pro Max excels with its brighter 1000-nit Super Retina XDR display, superior A15 Bionic processor delivering exceptional performance, and refined camera system with ProRes video recording at 4K 60fps. Its 238g weight feels premium despite the larger 6.7-inch screen. Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra counters with a higher resolution 3200x1440 AMOLED panel, more aggressive 108MP main camera with 8K video capability at 24fps, and a larger 5000mAh battery lasting noticeably longer. The 220g weight is lighter, and 45W charging is faster than Apple's 27W. However, the S20 Ultra costs $300 more at $1399 versus $1099, a significant premium for older Android 10 software versus iOS 15. The iPhone 13 Pro Max's ecosystem integration, consistent software support, and superior computational photography edge out Samsung's megapixel-focused approach. For pure specs enthusiasts who value camera versatility and battery capacity, the S20 Ultra still impresses, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers better real-world performance, longevity through software updates, and premium refinement at a lower price point.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- →ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- →Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- →ProRes video recording up to 4K
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 13 Pro Max
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- ProRes video recording up to 4K
- Macro photography with ultrawide camera
- Cinematic mode for shallow depth-of-field video
Cons
- Very heavy at 238 g
- Notch still present despite slimmed-down design
- Lightning connector limiting transfer speeds
- Large size is unwieldy for smaller hands
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 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 220 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 48 MP, f/3.5, 4x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 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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