Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 Pro delivers superior performance through its A15 Bionic chip, which outpaces the Galaxy Note 10+ in real-world speed and efficiency. Its 120Hz LTPO Super Retina XDR display with adaptive refresh rates creates a smoother user experience than the Note's static 60Hz panel, despite being smaller at 6.1 inches. Camera capabilities are competitive: the iPhone excels with Cinematic mode and ProRes video, while the Note 10+ offers more megapixels and a versatile camera array with ToF sensor. Battery life favors the Note's 4300mAh capacity with faster 45W charging versus iPhone's 3095mAh and 20W wired charging. However, the iPhone 13 Pro runs iOS 15 with guaranteed longevity, whereas the Note 10+ shipped with Android 9. At $1099 versus $999, the Galaxy Note 10+ offers better value with larger screen and bigger battery, but the iPhone 13 Pro's performance leap, modern software, and superior display technology make it the more compelling flagship choice overall.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro if…
- →ProMotion 120Hz adaptive display
- →Cinematic mode and ProRes video recording
- →Durable Ceramic Shield front cover
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 13 Pro
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz adaptive display
- Cinematic mode and ProRes video recording
- Durable Ceramic Shield front cover
- Excellent A15 Bionic performance
- All-day battery life
Cons
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- 12 MP camera system unchanged resolution
- Notch instead of Dynamic Island
- Relatively small 3095 mAh battery
- Starting at $999 was expensive
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 13 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 203 g | 196 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5, 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, ProRes, Cinematic mode | 4K@60fps, Super Steady |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 3x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/1.8 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3095 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz + 4x1.82 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 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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