Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 14 Plus offers a modern, efficient experience with its A15 Bionic chip, excellent 12MP camera system, and vibrant 6.7-inch OLED display, all wrapped in a premium design starting at $899. Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, released earlier, features a larger 6.9-inch 120Hz display with sharper 1440p resolution, more ambitious 108MP main camera with periscope zoom, and 12GB RAM standard, though it's priced $400 higher. Performance-wise, the newer A15 chip edges out the Snapdragon 865+ in real-world speed despite lower specs on paper. However, Note 20 Ultra excels in display refresh rate, zoom capability, and raw megapixels. For users prioritizing current software support, value, and everyday performance, iPhone 14 Plus is the smarter choice. Camera enthusiasts drawn to zoom versatility and high-res stills might still favor the Note 20 Ultra, but its age and premium pricing make the newer iPhone the stronger overall recommendation.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Plus if…
- →Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- →Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- →Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if…
- →S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- →120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- →108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Pros
- Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
- Photonic Engine improves low-light photography
- MagSafe ecosystem for accessories and wireless charging
Cons
- 60Hz display feels outdated compared to ProMotion models
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto camera — only dual lens system
- Notch instead of Dynamic Island
- 12 MP camera resolution unchanged from previous generations
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Pros
- S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- 120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- 108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
- 5x optical periscope telephoto
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
Cons
- Slow 25W charging for a $1299 device
- No charger in the box in some regions
- Large and heavy
- S Pen silo location changed
- microSD slot removed
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 14 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 16 | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 203 g | 208 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.80 mm | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, autofocus | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4325 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz + 4x1.82 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.09 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 | 5.3 | 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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