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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a better battery life and a slightly higher quality in camera performance for both still photos and videos compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. However, the Note20 Ultra's screen is slightly larger and it comes with a curved edge, plus it supports a stylus which is not available for the iPhone. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is more expensive, so if cost is a key factor for you, the Note20 Ultra is the more budget-friendly option. The iPhone 13 Pro Max runs iOS, while the Galaxy Note20 Ultra runs Android, which could be a deciding factor based on your preference for a particular operating system. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Very good battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.3
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max leads in photos software experience and excels at taking selfies, which are very important for overall camera satisfaction, contributing to its very good camera performance. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra shows weaker performance in low light photo conditions and a lower selfie score, affecting the fairness of its camera quality.
Photo Quality
7.8
7.3
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have good photos, though the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes somewhat better photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes better selfies and offers a more satisfying photo software experience compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, which achieves good results but with less impressive software handling and selfie capabilities. While both devices perform well in low light conditions and provide dynamic range, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remarkably outshines in the versatility and quality of the front-facing camera which is "very important" to selfie enthusiasts.
Video Quality
8.6
5.9
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max outperforms the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra in video quality because of its superior video resolution and frame rate, more advanced video software, better video stabilization, and greater video dynamic range. Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has notably better low-light video performance and microphone quality, enhancing its capabilities for video recording in various conditions.
Battery
9.6 Hours
6.4 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life.
Cost
$639
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a price of $639 and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra costs $450.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$639 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | August 21, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.9" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 496 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD865+ | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.6/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 6.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4352 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.33" x 3.07" | 6.49" x 3.04" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 oz | 7.34 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Alpine Green, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver | Mystic Black, White, Mystic Bronze | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | March 2023
"The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship. Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone."
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
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TechRadar
Matt Swider | July 2021
"The Note 20 Ultra has it all – almost: a big screen, superb camera, high refresh rate, the S Pen, in-screen fingerprint sensor, super-fast specs, 5G speeds, a fancy curved display. This phone is built for power users who want everything but the fastest charging speeds."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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