Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
iPhone 16 Plus delivers a more modern flagship experience with its A18 chip providing superior performance for 2024 applications, brighter Super Retina XDR display at 2000 nits, and faster 25W MagSafe charging. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ remains a formidable device with its quad camera system, higher refresh rate potential, and 45W fast charging, yet its 2019 Snapdragon 855 processor struggles with contemporary apps and lacks 5G connectivity. Display resolution favors Samsung at 3040x1440, though the iPhone's OLED quality and brightness excel. Camera capabilities show different strengths: iPhone emphasizes computational photography and 4K Dolby Vision video, while Note 10+ offers optical zoom and versatile lenses. Battery capacity slightly favors iPhone at 4674mAh versus 4300mAh. For buyers seeking current technology, performance longevity, and modern connectivity standards, iPhone 16 Plus is the clear winner despite Samsung's $200 premium positioning it outdated.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if…
- →Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- →A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- →New Camera Control button
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 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
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 16 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 196 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 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 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | 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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