Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers superior performance with the A17 Pro chip, a brighter 2000-nit LTPO OLED display with 120Hz refresh, and a more advanced camera system featuring a 5x telephoto and Dolby Vision video recording. Samsung's Galaxy Note 10+ offers a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with higher resolution (3040x1440), faster 45W charging, and 12GB RAM, though it relies on the aging Snapdragon 855 processor and lacks 5G connectivity. Display quality favors Apple due to superior brightness and smoothness, while Samsung provides more screen real estate. Camera capabilities lean toward iPhone with superior optical zoom and video features. Battery performance is comparable at similar capacities, though Samsung's faster charging provides practical advantages. Value considerations strongly favor iPhone 15 Pro Max: it's $100 cheaper, significantly more powerful, and substantially more future-proof with modern connectivity standards. Recommend the iPhone 15 Pro Max for most users seeking a flagship experience.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- →First Apple titanium frame, lighter than predecessor
- →Powerful A17 Pro chip with hardware ray tracing
- →New 5x tetraprism telephoto camera
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 15 Pro Max
Pros
- First Apple titanium frame, lighter than predecessor
- Powerful A17 Pro chip with hardware ray tracing
- New 5x tetraprism telephoto camera
- USB-C with USB 3 transfer speeds
- Excellent ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Heavy device despite titanium
- No charging speed improvements
- Initial overheating reports at launch
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 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 221 g | 196 g |
| Material | Titanium frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps, Super Steady |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4422 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core) | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | 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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