If you are looking for a productivity phone with Android on board, you probably have no better choices than Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ or its 5G variant. It is not a case if it is one of the most expensive smartphones out there. But is it worth the money asked? Should you buy it with that high price tag ahead of its official launch on the global market? Well, one of the best ways to establish it is comparing with the other expensive phones in the market. iPhones are the symbol of elitist phones, that is why we decided to compare it with the iPhone Xs Max. And given its higher price compared to the most important Android competitors, we also chose the most expensive variant of the S line-up: the Galaxy S10 5G. Here is an in-depth specs comparison between the most amazing top-tier phones by Samsung and Apple.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ vs Apple iPhone Xs Max vs Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ | Apple iPhone Xs Max | Samsung Galaxy S10 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm, 196 g | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm, 208 g | 162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm, 198 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.8 inches, 1440 x 3040p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED | 6.5 inches, 1242 x 2688p (Full HD+), OLED | 6.7 inches, 1440 x 3040p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Samsung Exynos 9825, octa-core 2.73 GHz | Apple A12 Bionic, hexa-core 2.5 GHz | Samsung Exynos 9820 octa-core 2.73 GHz or Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.8 GHz |
| MEMORY | 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB – 4 GB RAM, 512 GB | 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 512 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, One UI | iOS 12 | Android 9 Pie, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 12 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.5-1.8-2.4 + f/2.1 + f/2.2 10 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 7 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 12 + 12 + 16 MP + TOF camera, f/1.5-2.4 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 Dual 10 MP + TOF camera f/1.9 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4300 mAh, fast charging 45W, Fast wireless charging 20W | 3174 mAh, fast charging 15W, Qi wireless charging | 4500 mAh, fast charging 25W with Qi wireless charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68 | Dual SIM slot, waterproof (IP68), Face ID | Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68, 5G |
Design
The iPhone Xs Max offers the best materials (stainless steel frame instead of aluminum), the most symmetric design and even the most compact size. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has a higher screen-to-body ratio, but it is a very big phablet due to its huge display. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G comes with an in-display camera and a higher screen-to-body ratio than iPhone Xs Max, as well as smaller dimensions than The Galaxy Note 10+. There is not a clear winner here, it is all up to the user’s tastes.
Display
If I had to choose the best display I would have no doubt: Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ wins. It has a wider panel, it supports the S Pen, it boasts the most awesome color reproduction and it even ships with a high Quad HD+ resolution and the new Dynamic AMOLED technology. The only real advantage of the iPhone Xs Max’s display is the 120 Hz refresh ratio which makes the user experience smoother and better for gamers. But that big notch is not the most desired thing on a phone, despite it contains the great Face ID sensors besides the selfie snapper.
Hardware/Software
Thanks to iOS 12 as the operating system, the iPhone Xs Max provides more reliable performances with higher stability and blazing speeds, despite its hardware department is inferior to both its rivals. The second place goes to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ as it is equipped with an upgraded chipset in its European version: the Exynos 9825 built at 7 nm, unlike the predecessor Exynos 9820 built at 8 nm. Further, it supports S Pen and it has more advanced software for productivity. There is also to consider that Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is the only which features a micro SD to expand the internal storage (you can get up to 1 TB more). But the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G can provide a faster connection thanks to the support to 5G networks, if you have 5G coverage, obviously.
Camera
The quad camera found on the Galaxy Note 10+ is overall the best camera department you can find in this trio. It features Dual OIS for an amazing optical stabilization for both the main sensor and the telephoto lens. Further, it is able to record amazing 4K videos at 60 fps with HDR10+. While Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ wins when it comes to the rear cameras, the Galaxy S10 5G has the most efficient front cameras: a dual setup with a bright 10 MP lens and a TOF camera. iPhone Xs Max is still one of the best camera phones out there, but it is pretty disappointing compared with Samsung’s flagships.
Battery
We believe the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will offer the longest battery life, at least when 5G connectivity is off. It has the biggest battery: a huge 4500 mAh unit, and it even supports reverse wireless charging. Right after, there is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ with its 4300 mAh battery and, since there is no 5G, we have no doubts about its efficiency.
Price
The starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is €1100/$1100, iPhone Xs Max costs €1250/$1100 and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G starts from €1160/$1099. At the end of the day, unless you need the 5G connectivity, we suggest you go for the Galaxy Note 10+ due to the support to S Pen, its bigger and better display, high performances, micro SD support, and more amazing cameras.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ vs Apple iPhone Xs Max vs Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: PRO and CONS
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
PROS
- Amazing and versatile cameras
- Best front camera
- Big battery
- 5G
CONS
- Lower-end hardware
iPhone Xs Max
PROS
- High performance with iOS
- Awesome design and build quality
- Thinner
- Face ID
CONS
- Smaller battery
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
PROS
- Amazing and big display
- Big battery
- S Pen
- Waterproof
- Great cameras
CONS
- Nothing particular
