Apple just announced the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, and of course, they look like the best iPhones to date. So it’s only natural to wonder how they stack up against the high-end offerings from Apple’s biggest competitor, Samsung. To that end, we’re comparing the new iPhones with the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, at least on paper. Here’s how it shakes out:
| Name | Apple iPhone 11 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S10 | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
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| CPU | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Dimensions | 5.67 by 2.81 by 0.32 inches | 5.9 by 2.77 by 0.31 inches | 6.2 by 2.92 by 0.31 inches |
| Weight | 6.63 oz | 5.5 oz | 6.2 oz |
| Screen Size | 5.8 inches | 6.1 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Screen Type | Super Retina XDR | Dynamic AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Screen Resolution | 2,436 by 1,125 pixels | 2,960 by 1,440 pixels | 2,960 by 1,440 pixels |
| Camera Resolution | 12MP, 12MP, 12MP Rear/12MP Front-facing | 12MP, 12MP, 16MP Rear/10MP Front-facing | 12MP, 12MP, 16MP Rear/10MP Front-facing |
| Wireless Specification | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review |
Price
When it comes to dollars and cents, Samsung has a slight edge. The Galaxy S10 starts at $ 899, while the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $ 999. Similarly, the S10+ goes for $ 999 to the 11 Pro Max’s $ 1,099.
When you look at overall value for money, however, it isn’t quite as clear. The iPhone receives guaranteed OS updates for up to five years, making it a stronger sell in the software department than the Galaxy S line (and most Android phones in general). iPhones also typically have better resell value if you like to upgrade often.
Size
Unless size and weight are of utmost importance to you, the difference between the iPhone 11 Pro models and the Samsung Galaxy S10 phones shouldn’t factor into your buying decision.
The iPhone 11 Pro is a little shorter than Galaxy S10, at 5.7 inches to 5.9 inches. The S10 is slightly less wide (2.77 inches) and thick (0.31 inches) than the iPhone 11 Pro, however (2.81 inches wide, 0.32 inches thick). The story is similar for the S10+ and 11 Pro Max, as you can see in the chart above.
When it comes to weight, Samsung has a clear upper hand. The Galaxy S10 comes in at 5.5 ounces to the iPhone 11 Pro’s 6.6 ounces, and the Galaxy S10+ weighs just 6.2 ounces compared with the Pro Max’s 8.0.
Display
Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro models feature a new OLED screen it calls Super Retina XDR. The smaller iPhone comes in at 5.8 inches with 2,436 by 1,125 pixels, while the larger 11 Pro Max comes in at 6.5 inches with 2,688 by 1,242 pixels. Both have 458 pixels per inch, as well as Dolby Vision and HDR. They’re also capable of reaching 1,000 nits of brightness, placing them among the brightest displays on the market.
The Galaxy S10 features a 6.1 inch AMOLED display with 550ppi, while its larger sibling comes in at 6.4 inches with 522ppi. Both displays are HDR10+ certified but lack Dolby Vision.
Camera
Both the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max feature a triple-camera stack with 12MP lenses. The primary wide-angle lens has an f/1.8 aperture; the secondary telephoto lens has an f/2.0 aperture; and the tertiary lens has a 120-degree field of view with an f/2.4 aperture. The front-facing camera also comes in at 12MP with an f/2.2 aperture. All lenses are capable of recording 4K video at up to 60fps.
The Galaxy S10 and S10+ feature triple-sensor arrays as well. The primary lens come in at 12MP and has a variable f/1.5-f/2.4 aperture; the secondary lens comes in at 12MP with an f/2.4 aperture; and the third lens has a 123-degree field of view with an f/2.2 aperture. The front of the Galaxy S10 has a 10MP selfie camera with an f/1.9 aperture, while the S10+ features a second 8MP camera with a 90-field of view and and f/2.2 aperture.
Battery
Apple claims the iPhone 11 Pro will last 11 hours when streaming video over Wi-Fi, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max is rated for 12 hours. Those numbers bump slightly ahead of what we tested on the Galaxy S10 (10 hours, 52 minutes) and Galaxy S10+ (10 hours, 58 minutes).
We haven’t had a chance to test the new iPhones, however, and there are many variables when it comes to battery life. We’ll follow up with our test numbers after we get the phones in to review.
Storage
The iPhone 11 Pro comes in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 has 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage configurations. The Galaxy phones have microSD slots for external storage, making them more flexible. If you take lots of photographs and don’t like to save them to the cloud, we recommend 256GB at the minimum.
The Verdict
On paper, the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max absolutely look like they can give the Galaxy S10 and S10+ a run for their money. That said, we’ve already spent months using the Galaxy phones and will need to spend some quality time with the new iPhones before we can make a decision.
If you’re already and Android or iOS user, however, and you prefer to remain in the same ecosystem, we don’t see any reason why you should switch right now. And in that case, you’re almost certain to be happy with whichever phone you choose.
