Samsung decided to shake things up this year. In the past, the Galaxy Note series was one large phone. This year, it's two phones: the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+. So for the first time in a long time, we can compare the latest standard iPhone, the 11 Pro, to a Galaxy Note device.

On the surface, the iPhone 11 Pro appears to be a small upgrade from last year's iPhone XS. Physically, you will have a hard time discerning the difference unless you turn it over and see the new triple camera in the corner. But looks are deceiving, as the Apple A13 chip is already a huge upgrade.

On the Android side, there is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. Unlike the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, it isn't a carbon copy of its big brother. There are more changes besides the display and battery size which help keep the cost down. How does it stack up against the iPhone 11 Pro? You'll have to read on to find out.

Comparison Chart

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Why Choose the iPhone 11 Pro

If you want a smaller phone, there's really no comparison between these two devices. The 11 Pro is more in line with the Galaxy S10e, which is Samsung's smallest flagship phone. The Apple iPhone 11 Pro is much shorter than the Galaxy Note 10, making it easier to reach the top for notifications.

For the first time in my time of comparing these two companies' flagships, I can finally say Apple has a higher resolution display than its Galaxy counterpart. The Apple iPhone 11 Pro has a 2436 x 1125 resolution, which is higher than the 2280 x 1080 on the Galaxy Note 10. At 5.8 inches, this amounts to 62 more pixels per inch, resulting in a sharper overall image.

Apple

With the Apple iPhone 11 Pro, you can enjoy the latest version of iOS (iOS 13) as soon as you open the box. The newest update brings over 200 new features and changes, making it one of the bigger updates in years. While Android 10 is out and comes with its own laundry list of changes, it will be a little while before the Galaxy Note 10 receives it.

The front-facing camera now only matches the Galaxy Note 10's ability to shoot in 4K at up to 60 fps but tops it with the addition of slow-motion recording. What Apple is calling "slofie," you can now record slow-motion video up to 240 fps at 1080p.

A slofie. Sigh.

The iPhone 11 Pro still comes with the alert slider for easy management of notification sounds. While Samsung has borrowed many features from Apple over the years, the alert slider isn't one of them. Finally, there is a much more secure Face ID found on the iPhone 11 Pro. Galaxy Note 10 users are stuck with the in-display fingerprint scanner.

Why Choose the Galaxy Note 10

Let's start with the display. The Galaxy Note 10 has one of the best screens on the market. It managed to break many of DisplayMate's records — ones Samsung had already broken with the Galaxy S10. While it does have a lower resolution than the iPhone 11 Pro, it also has a 0.6-inch bigger display. Oh, and it also has no notch.

The S Pen found in the Galaxy Note 10 is one of the only styluses to come with a smartphone. This stylus is powered by Bluetooth, which allows for remote access to the phone via a feature known as Air Commands. Air Commands were first introduced last year with the Galaxy Note 9 and have been improved in this year's model by expanding the number of gestures available. Also, for the first time, Samsung is opening up the SDK to third-party developers, allowing them to add gestures to their apps for even more control.

MKBHD/YouTube

The Galaxy Note 10 has double the RAM of the iPhone 11 Pro. While iOS 13 doesn't need as much RAM as Android, more memory is still better, as it allows you to have more apps open without the need to reload them. The Galaxy Note 10 has one more sensor on its rear camera, a ToF sensor. Known as Depth Vision, this sensor does a better job than the telephoto lens of determining depth of field. Not only does this improve photos, but AR as well.

MKBHD/YouTube

Finally, when it comes to charging, there is hardly a phone with better options. Fast wired charging? Check. The Galaxy Note 10 support 25 W charging which comes in the box. Fast wireless charging? Check. The Galaxy Note 10 supports up to 15 W using the Qi standard. Oh, and it can even charge other Qi enabled devices like the Galaxy Buds.

Cover image via Marques Brownlee/YouTube and The Verge/YouTube

Apple vs. Samsung

Apple vs. Samsung: iPhone 11 Pro vs. Galaxy Note 10 — Full Spec Comparison