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Samsung has cut corners and compromised features to keep the Note 20 “economical” compared to the $1,299 Galaxy Note S20 Ultra, so even an 11-month-old iPhone can hold its own. Around the back, the 2 phones are really similar, with both the Note 20 and iPhone 11 featuring a huge camera selection in the top left corner. Even if we call that a wash since benchmarks do not inform the entire story, the Note 20 has a far smaller sized amount of RAM than 2020 premium Galaxy phone users are accustomed to getting– simply 8GB versus the 12GB on the Note 20 Ultra and whole S20 line. The iPhone is still one of the only phones to support an appropriate 3D facial recognition system, and it provides the iPhone a big benefit over the Note 20s ultrasonic fingerprint sensing unit. The Note has always had a stylus on board, and the S Pen on the Note 20 has 9ms latency to match the Apple Pencil, along with a variety of brand-new techniques, including air gestures.
Apple fans tend to notice Whenever Samsung releases a new phone. Its not simply that Samsung is one of the greatest Android phone makers or even that its designs tend to be amongst the closest to Apples, its that Samsungs flagship Galaxy phones are really, actually good. They have the most current processors, screens, and cameras, and the innovative patterns that we see in the latest Galaxy S or Note phone usually make their method to the iPhone.
The Galaxy Note 20 that was revealed earlier this week costs the exact same as the iPhone 11 Pro (a dollar more, to be precise), so you d believe it would trounce it? Samsung has cut corners and sacrificed functions to keep the Note 20 “affordable” compared to the $1,299 Galaxy Note S20 Ultra, so even an 11-month-old iPhone can hold its own.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Design
The iPhone is one of the couple of phones that still has a notch, and it is absolutely beginning to show its age. Like the S20 and most other Android phones, the Note 20 has a little hole in the top of the display screen for the selfie camera, and it is far more appealing to the eye. Obviously, Apple needs a notch for its FaceID camera system, but Samsungs Infinity-O screen is the clear winner.
Alex Todd/IDG
The Note 20 (left) and Note 20 Ultra both been available in shimmery “Mystic” bronze, however the Note 20 is made from plastic, not glass.
While the majority of Samsungs Galaxy phones have actually curved “edge” shows that remove all noticeable side bezels from the front of the phone, the Note 20 is a “flat” phone, so there are bezels all around. Theyre a little thinner than they are on the iPhone 11 Pro, but theyre also unbalanced, so the space at the top and bottom is thicker than the sides. Its close, however I choose Apples balance..
Around the back, the two phones are really similar, with both the Note 20 and iPhone 11 featuring a huge electronic camera array in the top left corner. The Note 20 is likewise much bigger (161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm) and much heavier (194 grams) compared to the iPhone 11 Pro (144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm, 188 grams).
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Display.
The iPhone 11 Pro and Note 20 both have a lot of screen, however Samsungs phone is substantially bigger than any phone Apple sells and almost an inch bigger than the 11 Pro.
Galaxy Note 20: 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED, 2400×1080, 393 ppiiPhone 11 Pro: 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR, 2436 x 1125, 458 ppi.
Alex Todd/IDG.
The Note 20 a 6.7-inch display is bigger but has fewer pixels than the iPhone 11 Pro.
Despite the fact that its about an inch smaller sized, Apple display screen is clearly remarkable to the Note 20s, especially given that Samsung didnt offer it a 120Hz revitalize rate like the Note 20 Ultra. The iPhone 11 Pros display is so great it can even take on the Note 20 Ultra, but versus the Note 20 it is no contest.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Processor, RAM, and storage.
Both of the phones here have the fastest possible processor, with the Note 20 rocking the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the iPhone running the A13, but as weve seen, Apples silicon is greatly superior. Even if we call that a wash because standards do not tell the entire story, the Note 20 has a far smaller amount of RAM than 2020 premium Galaxy phone users are accustomed to getting– just 8GB versus the 12GB on the Note 20 Ultra and whole S20 line. Granted, thats twice as much as the 4GB in the iPhone 11 Pro, but Apple does a far much better task with enhancing its system, as evidenced by the 12GB and 16GB of RAM you get on Samsungs other phones.
For storage, you get 128GB on the Note 20 and simply 64GB on the iPhone 11 Pro. Both need to be plenty for the important things you want to do, however heres hoping the reports that Apple will be doubling the base storage are real. In other places, both phones have IP68 water resistance and neither has a headphone jack.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Biometrics and S Pen.
The factor for the iPhone 11 Pros notch is the TrueDepth camera, which manages Face ID. The iPhone is still among the only phones to support an appropriate 3D facial acknowledgment system, and it gives the iPhone a huge benefit over the Note 20s ultrasonic fingerprint sensing unit. On previous Galaxy phones, Samsungs in-display sensing units have actually been picky and less-than-100-percent reliable, so Apple gets the edge here.
Samsung.
The S Pen is the heart of the Note.
One area where the Note 20 wins hands-down, however, is the inclusion of an S Pen stylus. The Note has always had a stylus on board, and the S Pen on the Note 20 has 9ms latency to match the Apple Pencil, together with a multitude of new tricks, consisting of air gestures. You cant get anything like it on the iPhone– it does not even support the Apple Pencil– and its the Note 20s greatest advantage..
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Battery and 5G.
On paper, the Galaxy Note 20 has a much larger battery– 4,300 mAh vs 3,046 mAh– but in real-world use, both will likely get you through a complete day of heavy lifting. They both support fast charging out of package as well, though Samsungs 25W battery charger will fill your phone up a little quicker than Apples 18W one.
While the iPhone 12 is reported to bring 5G to the iPhone this fall, the iPhone 11 is still a 4G phone. The Note 20, on the other hand, supports both mmWave and sub 6GHz networks on the three significant carriers in the U.S., so youll be able to take advantage of the quick speeds.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: OS and updates.
Disputes between Android and iOS aside, Samsung has assured that the Note 20 will get “up to 3 generations” of Android updates to bring the current features and security to their thousand-dollar financial investment. Thats better than their previous noncommittal upgrade schedule, but it pales in contrast to what you get with the iPhone.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDG.
The iPhone 11 Pro will still be getting updates in 2025.
Apple doesnt particularly use a limit on updates, but the iPhone sixes, which launched in 2015 with iOS 9, will be getting iOS 14 in the fall, a full five years and 4 variation upgrades. The iPhone 11 Pro must be able to set up iOS 18 and possibly even iOS 19 in 2025. Even with the pledge of 3 generations of updates, the Note 20 will be long on the scrap heap already.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Camera.
The iPhone 11 Pro and Note 20 both feature triple-camera ranges and theyll both take fantastic photos:.
iPhone 11 Pro.
Video camera 1: 12MP broad, f/1.8, OISCamera 2: 12MP telephoto, f/2.0, OIS, 2x optical zoomCamera 3: 12MP ultra wide, f/2.4, 120-degree FOV.
Galaxy Note 20.
Video camera 1: 12MP ultra broad, f/2.2, 120-degree FOVCamera 2: 12MP broad, f/1.8, OIS, Camera 3: 64MP telephoto, f/2.0, 3X hybrid zoom.
Alex Todd/IDG.
The Note 20 has excellent cameras, but its low-light capabilities remain to be seen.
I havent had an opportunity to evaluate the Note 20s camera, but its really comparable to the Galaxy S20+, which I have evaluated. Samsung assures that the Note 20 represents “the most significant leap in low light photography in a Galaxy,” nevertheless, so that could bring it up to the iPhones level.
Galaxy Note 20 vs iPhone 11 Pro: Conclusion.
Its hard to look at these phones and not immediately gravitate to the iPhone 11 Pro. The screen may be way larger on the Note 20 and you get 5G and an S Pen, but otherwise, the iPhone 11 Pro either matches or beats it in every category. And if you wait a month or two, youll probably have the ability to get a 6.1-inch 5G iPhone 12 for the exact same cost as the Note 20.
If you really desire a new Note, I d advise spending a couple of more dollars and getting the Note 20 Ultra, which brings a bigger high-res, 120Hz screen, a much better electronic camera, glass body, and 12GB of RAM. If you dont desire invest more than a thousand bucks, the iPhone 11 Pro is the method to go.
