iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: old rivals get ultra-competitive

Date:
Sat, 31 Jul 2021 12:00:41 +0000

Description:
Are 2020s pre-eminent super-phones still worthy picks in 2021? We compare Samsung and Apple's top devices.

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If spending upwards of 1,000 on the latest premium smartphone sounds like a tough sell, then what about once those premium smartphones are no longer as fresh as they used to be?

While we absolutely love the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra , both devices rolled out in 2020. That makes them relatively long in the tooth in smartphone terms, which makes a direct comparison all the more fascinating.

There was little to separate these two titanic phones when they first hit the market, with both securing 9 out of 10 Recommended awards from us. So how do they stack up to one another now that theyre a little more seasoned? iPhone
12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra price and availability

The iPhone 12 Pro Max landed with a bang on November 13, with pricing
starting at $1,099 / 1,099 / AU$1,849 for the 128GB model. That leaps up to $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,019 for 256GB, and $1,399 / 1,399 / AU$2,369 for 512GB. iPhone 12 Pro Max (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra hit shops several months earlier on August 21. The entry-level 128GB model initially set you back $1,299 over in the US, whereas in the UK and Australia a 256GB variant cost 1,179 / AU$1,849. In
each territory, a 512GB model bears the RRP of $1,449 / 1,279 / AU$2,199.

That launch was quite a long time ago now, and while Apples prices remain consistent, you may just be able to find a nice discount on the Samsung. Thanks to its unique status and enduring quality, however, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has retained its value relatively well. Design

The iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra were arguably the two most iconic smartphone designs of late 2020. Theyre both still gorgeous specimens today.

With the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple ditched the overfamiliar curves and went with a dramatically flat-edged and sharp-cornered look. We havent seen the likes since the days of the original iPhone SE.

While that look applies across the whole iPhone 12 range, only the Pro models get you a shiny stainless steel rim. The phone is fronted by a unique Ceramic Shield, which provides a four-fold increase in drop protection over bog standard display glass, at least according to Apple. (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is arguably even more handsome than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, at least in its stunning Mystic Bronze tone. Its a little more generic, but the matte back and shiny rim - tapering to a fine point on the edges and flattening out on the top and bottom - give the phone a real sense of class.

We also love the boldness of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultras sticky-outy camera module, despite the fact that you cant lie the phone down flat as a result.

These are both very big phones, though the proportions are slightly
different. At 160.8 x 78.1mm, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is shorter yet wider than the 164.8 x 77.2mm Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Similarly, while Apples
phone is a fair bit thinner at 7.4mm (versus 8.1mm), its also quite a bit heavier at 228g (versus 208g).

Apples distinctive display notch is definitely more intrusive than Samsungs tiny central hole-punch, but it also supplies Face ID. With the Samsung, you have to make do with a slightly sluggish (but very secure) ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor to gain access.

All in all, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra feels a little more wieldy and
manageable than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which gives it the slight edge in design terms. But make no mistake, these are two design icons that havent suffered with the arrival of fresher rivals. (Image credit: TechRadar)
Display

If the design category is a close-run thing, then Samsung wins a clearer victory when it comes to display technology. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultras screen was the best of its time at launch, and it still rocks.

While both screens are large, bright, and sharp OLEDs with vibrant colors,
the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra wins on the details.

At 6.9-inches, its larger than the iPhone 12 Pro Maxs 6.7-inch panel. It also gets brighter to the tune of 1,500 nits, as opposed to the iPhones 1,200
nits.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra display can also hit an elevated 120Hz refresh rate, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is stuck at a disappointing 60Hz. While its hitting that super-fast refresh rate, however, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can only attain an FHD+ resolution. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, by contrast, outputs
at a consistent 2778 x 1284. (Image credit: Future)

Of course, if you drop the Note 20 Ultras display to 60Hz, youll be able to
up the pixel count to a massive QHD (1440 x 3088), so its still advantage Samsung.

The Note 20 Ultras slightly curved display isnt totally distortion-free, unlike the perfectly flat iPhone. But as weve already mentioned, its selfie camera is much less disruptive than the iPhone 12 Pro Maxs Face ID notch. Camera

These were two of the best camera offerings of 2020, and they continue to be competitive even with the arrival of the 2021 crowd.

Both phones offer accomplished triple camera set-ups, but they have subtly different areas of expertise.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a balanced collection of three 12MP cameras covering wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots. The main sensor is the real strong point here, with a 47% bigger sensor size compared to the rest of the iPhone 12 phones. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Its not as big as the Galaxy Note 20 Ultras, though. As is Samsungs wont, it brings out the big hardware guns with a meaty 1/1.33" 108MP wide sensor.

The iPhone hits right back with a wider f/1.6 aperture (the Samsungs is f/1.8), sensor-shift stabilization (which is superior to the Samsungs OIS), and a LiDAR sensor for sharp low light autofocus. Add in Apples unmatched Night Mode algorithms, and this is a camera system that can really excel even in limited lighting.

Indeed, nighttime is where the iPhone 12 Pro Max really shows its metal, as
it can employ Night mode across all of its cameras - even the selfie camera.

Where the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra camera excels is with its zoom capabilities. The iPhone 12 Pro Max might pack a 2.5x optical zoom - the largest zoom of any iPhone - but the Samsung tops it with its 5x optical zoom capabilities. Ignore the claims of a 50x hybrid zoom - they look horrendous. Still, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can certainly take decent 10x hybrid shots. The iPhone 12 Pro Max cant even get close in terms of detail and quality.

Hardware differences aside, much of the contrast here comes down to the color science employed by Apple and Samsung, and which approach you prefer the look of. Apple traditionally adopts a more naturalistic tone that more closely mirrors what youre actually seeing. Samsung typically punches colors up way more, presenting a more exaggerated and Insta-worthy take on reality. (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Apples software really is an advantage here. It employs some impressive software tricks, including Smart HDR 3 and Deep Fusion for smarter shot selection and better contrast. Its ProRAW function employs the super-detailed RAW format without sacrificing the computational improvements of the JPEG format.

When it comes to video, Apple continues to rule the roost. While it only gets to 4K video at 60fps, and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can go to 8K at 24fps, Apples footage simply looks better and more stable.

Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has the better, more complete camera system. Its also the best that Apple offers, whereas Samsung has one-upped itself
with the more recent Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra . But really, youre not going
to be disappointed with either phones camera chops. Specs and performance

Its not even close when it comes to a straight performance face-off between these two phones. The iPhone 12 Pro Max blitzes the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, though that might not matter quite as much as youd think.

A large part of that performance gap comes down to Apples imperious custom chip operation, which means that the latest Apple A-series silicon
obliterates the off-the-shelf opposition. Sure enough, the A14 Bionic that powers the iPhone 12 Pro Max is an absolute beast.

It might only be backed by 6GB of RAM (the Samsung has 12GB), but thats neither here nor there considering the differences between iOS and Android. (Image credit: TechRadar)

But theres a double whammy at play here. Just as Apples own chips are very fast, Samsungs own Exynos chips have rather fallen behind the leading pack of late. And its the Exynos 990 that powers the global model of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Our readers in the US and China have the benefit of getting a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with a Snapdragon 865 Plus from Qualcomm, which is a fair bit faster
and more efficient than the Exynos. But even then, its not as fast as the Apple A14 Bionic.

What kind of difference are we talking about? The iPhone 12 Pro Max gets an average Geekbench 5 multi-core score of 4106, and a single-core score of
1591. A fully up-to-date Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (Exynos model) scores 2748 and 900 respectively.

But we suggested at the outset that this performance gap might not matter all that much. Why is that?

Quite simply because in general and even advanced use, theres very little noticeable difference between these two phones. Both feel fast and fluid in general navigation, and in fact the Samsung arguably feels slightly nippier with that 120Hz display.

3D games, too, run at full whack on both devices. Yes, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is capable of running the most demanding games at superior frame rates, and with more visual effects. But few games will really be fully optimized for this - at least right now.

The future is a different matter, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is certainly the more forward-looking phone of the two. Not only does it have more performance headroom, but Apples peerless software support will keep its device relevant for longer. (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Indeed, software could prove the deciding factor here for many people. Samsungs UI has greater potential for customization and tweaking, while
Apples is cleaner, more uniform, and less cluttered. Google's Play Store is also better populated than the Apple App Store, according to data , though
all the big hitters are present on both.

Elsewhere, both phones give you a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of
storage. Only the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra supplies a microSD slot for expansion purposes, however.

One unique feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the S Pen. Samsungs stylus slots away nicely into the body of the phone, and grants a point of interaction that the iPhone 12 Pro Max cant match.

Being able to make hand-written notes and have those transcribed into proper digital text feels magical, as does being able to draw a picture with a full suite of artistic tools at your disposal. Youll have to invest in a modern iPad and an Apple Pen to experience something similar on iOS. Battery

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a much larger battery than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Were talking 4500 mAh versus 3687 mAh. (Image credit: TechRadar)

But a direct physical comparison will only get you so far. As weve already mentioned, iOS and Android use their resources in very difference ways, and Apples OS is traditionally far more frugal.

In practical terms, the iPhone 12 Pro Max proves to have the best stamina in the iPhone 12 family. Its the only one that will last through a full day of intensive usage, even on dodgy mobile networks.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra isnt as good as its rival, especially with the less efficient Exynos chip, but itll still get you all day performance.
We would tend to get to the end of a fairly heavy day with 20% left in the tank, and those were days filled with taking photos and videos, and watching YouTube on its large screen.

Neither phone is at the top of the game when it comes to recharging. The iPhone only gives you a cable with no power brick included, and itll only support up to 20W wired and 15W wireless. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is better, as it supports up to 25W wired charging, and actually includes a power brick in the box. It too can cope with 15W wireless charging. Takeaway (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Both of these massive phones have aged remarkably gracefully. Theyre still
two of the most striking-looking (and feeling) phones on the market, and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultras S Pen facility continues to keep it relevant despite
the presence of newer, faster models of phone.

The Samsung also sports a superior display to the iPhone 12 Pro, which really looks a little old hat with a mere 60Hz refresh rate. And we know which phone wed want in our pockets for those zoomed-in camera shots.

In terms of future prospects, however, wed have to give the iPhone 12 Pro the edge. Its much, much faster, and together with Apples unmatched legacy support, its going to feel that way for years longer than its rival.

While both phones take great pictures, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has superior all-around chops. It takes better videos, and its Night Mode is arguably the best in the business.

Add in superior battery life, and the iPhone 12 Pro would probably stand as the better buy in 2021. But really, both phones have their own unique perks and quirks. Its a tribute to their enduring quality that wed happily take either. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: to fold or not to fold?



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/iphone-12-pro-max-vs-samsung-galaxy-note-20-ult ra-old-rivals-get-ultra-competitive/


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