iPhone 12 Pro Max versus Samsung Note 20 Ultra: which smartphone is best for you?

When premium smartphones go head-to-head, it's hard to decide which is the best option for you. If you're investing in a high-end smartphone, you'll want to know the best features.

iPhone 12 Pro Max: super fast with a professional camera

A beautiful phone designed with a lot of modern technology. The A14 Bionic chip, the same as in the iPhone 12, delivers excellent performance and makes the phone faster than the Samsung Note 20 Ultra. If gaming is important to you, then this high-end performance is the optimal choice.

However, the Note 20 Ultra's screen has a sharper OLED panel with better brightness.

The triple cameras on both phones offer the latest technology and in terms of image quality they are virtually the same, except that the Samsung has slightly better camera quality in low light.

The 12 Pro Max claims the winner with its night mode feature, which takes sharper photos when used in extended low light. Video footage also comes out on top, with the 12 Pro Max being more stable and clearer.

Although the battery is smaller than the Note 20 Ultra, Apple's iOS is said to be better at optimising its use and reducing the smartphone's power consumption. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is no exception, allowing you to enjoy your device longer throughout the day.

Samsung Note 20 Ultra: No need for pen and paper

The S Pen is an extra feature that sets the Samsung Note 20 Ultra apart from the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It's a great tool if you like to take Notes or draw your ideas, especially on commutes if you don't want to take your laptop out.

The Note 20 Ultra has a larger screen than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, at 6.9 inches versus 6.7 inches - an important detail if you're obsessed with screen size and like to watch videos. The Samsung also has a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, which is double the 60Hz of the Pro Max.

In terms of optics, the Note 20 Ultra's camera has an advantage over the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with its 5X optical zoom beating out the iPhone 12 Pro Max 2.5X only. Both devices feature Protective Glass, with the Samsung sporting Gorilla Glass, which is deemed to be more durable, as it is built with ceramic glass.

You can choose up to 512GB of storage on each device, with the Samsung having the added benefit of a microSD card to store extra videos and games - particularly useful these days when we keep so much data on our smartphones in general.

It's not an easy choice, as these two phones are at the top of the list as anyone's first choice. We would choose the iPhone 12 Pro Max if we had to, because of its unbeatable processing power and excellent night mode capabilities.