Apple iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Quick Answer
These phones represent vastly different value propositions at significantly different price points.
The Verdict
These phones represent vastly different value propositions at significantly different price points. iPhone 13 costs $799 and delivers exceptional performance with the A15 Bionic chip, a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED display (800 nits), and reliable 12MP cameras with Dolby Vision 4K video. Its 3227 mAh battery supports 20W wired and 15W MagSafe charging, weighs just 174g, and runs iOS 15 with industry-leading optimization. Galaxy S20 Ultra at $1399 showcases more aggressive specifications: a massive 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (1200 nits brightness), 108MP main camera with OIS, 48MP periscope zoom lens, and 12GB RAM. Its 5000 mAh battery and 45W charging provide longer endurance, though the phone weighs 220g and runs aging Android 10. For most users, iPhone 13 delivers superior value with excellent performance, premium build quality, and software longevity at a much lower price. Galaxy S20 Ultra's camera versatility and larger display appeal to enthusiasts willing to pay considerably more, but its older software and higher cost make it the weaker choice today. iPhone 13 wins decisively for mainstream buyers seeking balanced flagship performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 if…
- →Significantly improved battery life over iPhone 12
- →Cinematic mode for video storytelling
- →Strong A15 Bionic chip handles anything
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
Pros
- Significantly improved battery life over iPhone 12
- Cinematic mode for video storytelling
- Strong A15 Bionic chip handles anything
- Bright and vibrant OLED panel
- Solid value compared to Pro tier
Cons
- Only 60Hz display while Android rivals offered 120Hz
- Lightning connector showing its age
- Notch remains largely unchanged
- No telephoto camera
- USB 2.0 transfer speeds over Lightning
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 | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 220 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 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 | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 48 MP, f/3.5, 4x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3227 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-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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