Samsung just announced three new Galaxy S20 phones.
Not only do they offer the company's best mobile cameras and displays yet, they all feature 5G network connectivity.
Considering Apple is Samsung's biggest competition, a comparison between the Galaxy S20 and iPhone 11 lineups is inevitable.
We've gathered specs for all six phones in the table below and are comparing the highlights to help you decide which one is right for you.
Price
Samsung's lineup consists of the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
The S20 sells for $999.99 with 128GB of storage. The Galaxy S20+ goes for $1,199.99 and the S20 Ultra is $1,399.99 for 128GB. Both the S20+ and S20 Ultra are available with 512GB of storage, but we don't know how much more those models cost at press time.
Apple offers a little more variety when it comes to pricing.
The iPhone 11 starts at $699 with 64GB of storage.
There's also a 128GB version for $749 and a 256GB model for $849.
The iPhone11 Pro starts at $999 for 64GB.
A 256GB variant is available for $1,149 and a 512GB model sells for $1,349.
Finally, the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 for the 64GB base model, with 256GB going for $1,249 and 512GB for $1,449.
If you're looking to spend less than $1,000, Apple is the clear winner here.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Lineup Display
Since the entire Galaxy S20 lineup features Dynamic AMOLED panels with 3,200 by 1,440 pixels, size is the primary difference among the trio.
The Galaxy S20 is the smallest at 6.2 inches, while the S20+ comes in at 6.7 inches and the S20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
Of course, the smaller display, the higher the pixel density, but unless you're looking at your phone through a magnifying glass, you're not going to notice the difference.
It's worth noting the Galaxy displays can run at 120Hz in 1080p mode, which makes for smoother scrolling and gaming.
Apple iPhone 11 The iPhone 11 is the only phone here with an LCD.
It measures 6.1 inches and has a resolution of 1,792 by 828 pixels.
It's sharp, but the colors aren't nearly as vivid as you get on its OLED counterparts. The iPhone 11 Pro features a 5.8-inch, 2,436-by-1,125 Super Retina XDR OLED, while the 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with 2,688 by 1,242 pixels.
We're reluctantly giving this round to Samsung.
There's really not a significant different between any of these displays (save for the iPhone 11), but the higher resolution on the S20 line should be better for playing back 8K video.
Cameras
For the most part, the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20+ have the same rear camera stack.
The primary lens comes in at 12MP with an f/1.9 aperture.
There's also a 64MP telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture, and a 12MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture.
The S20+ adds a time of flight sensor (TOF) for improved depth mapping.
The front-facing camera comes in at 10MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Both the Galaxy S20 and S20+ have 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom as well as 30x super-resolution zoom.
The 64MP sensor leverages tech called pixel binning to downsize for more reasonable 16MP output.
It also comes in handy when using the camera's Space Zoom feature, which employs optics and software to net an effective 30x zoom.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is a completely different beast.
Its primary lens comes in at 108MP with an f/1.8 aperture.
The telephoto lens clocks in at 48MP with an f/3.5 aperture, while the 12MP ultrawide sensor has an f/2.2 aperture.
There's also a TOF sensor for depth mapping.
The front-facing camera is 40MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
Like the S20 and S20+, the S20 Ultra provides pixel binning on its 108MP rear lens as well as its 40MP front-facing lens.
And thanks to the 108MP lens, the S20 Ultra supports 10x Hybrid Optic Zoom and 100x Space Zoom.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max The iPhone 11 has two 12MP lenses.
The primary lens has an f/1.8 aperture while the secondary ultrawide lens has an f/2.4 aperture with a 120-degree field of view.
The front-facing camera comes in at 12MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
The phone features 2x optical zoom out and digital zoom up to 5x.
There's also optical image stabilization on the wide-angle lens.
The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max feature a rear camera stack with three 12MP lenses.
The primary lens comes with an f/18 aperture, while the secondary lens has an f/2.4 aperture with a 120-degree field of view.
There's also a telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture. Both phones feature 2x optical zoom in and out and digital zoom up to 10x.
There's also optical image stabilization for the wide and telephoto lenses.
We haven't yet had the opportunity to put the S20 line through our usual series of lab tests, so we don't know how well its cameras will fare in the real world.
Apple, meanwhile, already has a proven track record with the iPhone 11 line, which are among the best camera phones we've tested.
We'll have to get our hands on the Galaxy S20 before naming a winner.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Battery
The Galaxy S20 has a 4,000mAh battery, a significant bump up from the S10's 3,400mAh.
The S20+ has a 4,500mAh cell, while the S20 Ultra comes in at 5,000mAh.
The iPhone 11 features a 3,100mAh battery, the iPhone 11 Pro comes in at 3,046mAh, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 3,969mAh.
We've tested the batteries on these phones extensively since they were released last year, and have always been able to make it through the day without recharging.
On paper it looks like the Galaxy S20 trio leads the pack, but this is another category where we're withholding judgement until we have an opportunity to test the phones ourselves.
Between the 5G modem and faster screen refresh rate, we don't know if the S20's extra battery capacity will translate to longer battery life between charges.
Apple iPhone 11 Lineup Processor
All three Galaxy S20 models ship with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor.
The S20 and 20+ feature 12GB of RAM, and you can get the S20 Ultra with either 12GB or 16GB.
All three iPhone 11 models feature an Apple A13 Bionic processor with 4GB of RAM.
Apple's chipsets have traditionally been faster than Qualcomm's, though early benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 865 may beat out the A13 Bionic.
And while the Galaxy S20 family has significantly more memory, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be faster, since Android requires more memory than iOS to ensure smooth operation.
5G Connectivity
All three Samsung Galaxy S20 models feature 5G connectivity, but they don't all offer the same type of 5G connectivity.
Right now, the Galaxy S20 offers sub-6GHz 5G, which means you'll see better coverage and building penetration than 4G, but not the increased speed and lower latency provided by millimeter-wave 5G.
And since some carriers don't have any live sub-6GHz at this time, you won't be able to connect to 5G until they do.
Verizon will release a special edition of the Galaxy S20 with multi-band support in the spring.
The Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra will support sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G. This means you'll get all the benefits of sub-6GHz, as well as super-fast 5G speeds when you're close to a millimeter-wave antenna.
Apple has yet to release an iPhone with 5G coverage, so the Galaxy line easily wins here.
That said, if you want 5G, we recommend skipping the Galaxy S20 in favor of the S20+ or S20 Ultra.
The Verdict
On paper, the Galaxy S20 lineup looks to provide formidable competition to Apple's iPhone 11 family, but we can't recommend you go out and spend $1,000+ on a phone we haven't tested.
Based on our previous experience with Galaxy devices and what we've seen so far, however, we feel pretty confident the Galaxy S20 and its ilk will be among the very best Android phones you can buy when they come out March 6.
We should have full reviews of each phone before then, so make sure to check back soon before spending your hard-earned cash.
Samsung just announced three new Galaxy S20 phones.
Not only do they offer the company's best mobile cameras and displays yet, they all feature 5G network connectivity.
Considering Apple is Samsung's biggest competition, a comparison between the Galaxy S20 and iPhone 11 lineups is inevitable.
We've gathered specs for all six phones in the table below and are comparing the highlights to help you decide which one is right for you.
Price
Samsung's lineup consists of the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
The S20 sells for $999.99 with 128GB of storage. The Galaxy S20+ goes for $1,199.99 and the S20 Ultra is $1,399.99 for 128GB. Both the S20+ and S20 Ultra are available with 512GB of storage, but we don't know how much more those models cost at press time.
Apple offers a little more variety when it comes to pricing.
The iPhone 11 starts at $699 with 64GB of storage.
There's also a 128GB version for $749 and a 256GB model for $849.
The iPhone11 Pro starts at $999 for 64GB.
A 256GB variant is available for $1,149 and a 512GB model sells for $1,349.
Finally, the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 for the 64GB base model, with 256GB going for $1,249 and 512GB for $1,449.
If you're looking to spend less than $1,000, Apple is the clear winner here.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Lineup Display
Since the entire Galaxy S20 lineup features Dynamic AMOLED panels with 3,200 by 1,440 pixels, size is the primary difference among the trio.
The Galaxy S20 is the smallest at 6.2 inches, while the S20+ comes in at 6.7 inches and the S20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
Of course, the smaller display, the higher the pixel density, but unless you're looking at your phone through a magnifying glass, you're not going to notice the difference.
It's worth noting the Galaxy displays can run at 120Hz in 1080p mode, which makes for smoother scrolling and gaming.
Apple iPhone 11 The iPhone 11 is the only phone here with an LCD.
It measures 6.1 inches and has a resolution of 1,792 by 828 pixels.
It's sharp, but the colors aren't nearly as vivid as you get on its OLED counterparts. The iPhone 11 Pro features a 5.8-inch, 2,436-by-1,125 Super Retina XDR OLED, while the 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with 2,688 by 1,242 pixels.
We're reluctantly giving this round to Samsung.
There's really not a significant different between any of these displays (save for the iPhone 11), but the higher resolution on the S20 line should be better for playing back 8K video.
Cameras
For the most part, the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20+ have the same rear camera stack.
The primary lens comes in at 12MP with an f/1.9 aperture.
There's also a 64MP telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture, and a 12MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture.
The S20+ adds a time of flight sensor (TOF) for improved depth mapping.
The front-facing camera comes in at 10MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Both the Galaxy S20 and S20+ have 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom as well as 30x super-resolution zoom.
The 64MP sensor leverages tech called pixel binning to downsize for more reasonable 16MP output.
It also comes in handy when using the camera's Space Zoom feature, which employs optics and software to net an effective 30x zoom.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is a completely different beast.
Its primary lens comes in at 108MP with an f/1.8 aperture.
The telephoto lens clocks in at 48MP with an f/3.5 aperture, while the 12MP ultrawide sensor has an f/2.2 aperture.
There's also a TOF sensor for depth mapping.
The front-facing camera is 40MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
Like the S20 and S20+, the S20 Ultra provides pixel binning on its 108MP rear lens as well as its 40MP front-facing lens.
And thanks to the 108MP lens, the S20 Ultra supports 10x Hybrid Optic Zoom and 100x Space Zoom.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max The iPhone 11 has two 12MP lenses.
The primary lens has an f/1.8 aperture while the secondary ultrawide lens has an f/2.4 aperture with a 120-degree field of view.
The front-facing camera comes in at 12MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
The phone features 2x optical zoom out and digital zoom up to 5x.
There's also optical image stabilization on the wide-angle lens.
The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max feature a rear camera stack with three 12MP lenses.
The primary lens comes with an f/18 aperture, while the secondary lens has an f/2.4 aperture with a 120-degree field of view.
There's also a telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture. Both phones feature 2x optical zoom in and out and digital zoom up to 10x.
There's also optical image stabilization for the wide and telephoto lenses.
We haven't yet had the opportunity to put the S20 line through our usual series of lab tests, so we don't know how well its cameras will fare in the real world.
Apple, meanwhile, already has a proven track record with the iPhone 11 line, which are among the best camera phones we've tested.
We'll have to get our hands on the Galaxy S20 before naming a winner.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Battery
The Galaxy S20 has a 4,000mAh battery, a significant bump up from the S10's 3,400mAh.
The S20+ has a 4,500mAh cell, while the S20 Ultra comes in at 5,000mAh.
The iPhone 11 features a 3,100mAh battery, the iPhone 11 Pro comes in at 3,046mAh, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 3,969mAh.
We've tested the batteries on these phones extensively since they were released last year, and have always been able to make it through the day without recharging.
On paper it looks like the Galaxy S20 trio leads the pack, but this is another category where we're withholding judgement until we have an opportunity to test the phones ourselves.
Between the 5G modem and faster screen refresh rate, we don't know if the S20's extra battery capacity will translate to longer battery life between charges.
Apple iPhone 11 Lineup Processor
All three Galaxy S20 models ship with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor.
The S20 and 20+ feature 12GB of RAM, and you can get the S20 Ultra with either 12GB or 16GB.
All three iPhone 11 models feature an Apple A13 Bionic processor with 4GB of RAM.
Apple's chipsets have traditionally been faster than Qualcomm's, though early benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 865 may beat out the A13 Bionic.
And while the Galaxy S20 family has significantly more memory, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be faster, since Android requires more memory than iOS to ensure smooth operation.
5G Connectivity
All three Samsung Galaxy S20 models feature 5G connectivity, but they don't all offer the same type of 5G connectivity.
Right now, the Galaxy S20 offers sub-6GHz 5G, which means you'll see better coverage and building penetration than 4G, but not the increased speed and lower latency provided by millimeter-wave 5G.
And since some carriers don't have any live sub-6GHz at this time, you won't be able to connect to 5G until they do.
Verizon will release a special edition of the Galaxy S20 with multi-band support in the spring.
The Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra will support sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G. This means you'll get all the benefits of sub-6GHz, as well as super-fast 5G speeds when you're close to a millimeter-wave antenna.
Apple has yet to release an iPhone with 5G coverage, so the Galaxy line easily wins here.
That said, if you want 5G, we recommend skipping the Galaxy S20 in favor of the S20+ or S20 Ultra.
The Verdict
On paper, the Galaxy S20 lineup looks to provide formidable competition to Apple's iPhone 11 family, but we can't recommend you go out and spend $1,000+ on a phone we haven't tested.
Based on our previous experience with Galaxy devices and what we've seen so far, however, we feel pretty confident the Galaxy S20 and its ilk will be among the very best Android phones you can buy when they come out March 6.
We should have full reviews of each phone before then, so make sure to check back soon before spending your hard-earned cash.
