Apple iPhone XR vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ significantly outperforms iPhone XR across nearly every specification. Its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 3040 x 1440 resolution and 1200 nits brightness dwarfs the iPhone's 6.1-inch 1792 x 828 IPS LCD panel. Camera capabilities heavily favor Samsung, featuring quad lenses including telephoto and ultrawide options versus iPhone's single lens setup, plus superior computational photography with Super Steady video. Performance-wise, Snapdragon 855 with 12GB RAM and Adreno 640 GPU outpace A12 Bionic's 3GB configuration. Battery capacity reaches 4300 mAh with 45W fast charging against iPhone's 2942 mAh with 18W charging. USB-C and Wi-Fi 6 represent modern standards the iPhone lacks. Build quality remains comparable with IP68 water resistance on Samsung. Price difference reflects capabilities: at $1099 versus $749, Note 10+ delivers premium flagship experience with S Pen productivity, while iPhone XR targets budget-conscious users. Note 10+ is the clear winner for power users and multimedia consumption.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XR if…
- →Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- →Great battery life for the era
- →Six vibrant color options
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 XR
Pros
- Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- Great battery life for the era
- Six vibrant color options
- Same A12 Bionic as the XS models
- More affordable entry into Face ID iPhones
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution
- Single rear camera only
- Thicker bezels than XS
- Only 3 GB RAM
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 XR | Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 9 (One UI 1.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 196 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps, Super Steady |
| Depth | — | VGA ToF 3D sensor |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.1, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2942 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 640 / Mali-G76 MP12 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9825 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone XR or the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+.