Samsung S20, Galaxy Z Flip and iPhone 11: How they compare

We put Samsung's new flagship devices up against Apple's smartphone

Samsung's S20 line, unveiled on Tuesday
Samsung's S20 line, unveiled on Tuesday Credit: Reuters

Samsung's new smartphones are out at last. The South Korean mobile phone giant revealed its three new Galaxy smartphones - and a new foldable phone that attempts to set its range apart from rivals like Apple.

Samsung launched its trio of S20 phones, which include the S20 Plus and extra large S20 Ultra, alongside its Galaxy Z Flip, a folding phone that features a screen that can be flipped out like a classic 2000's mobile.

But how do the new devices stack up against their main rival, the iPhone 11 Pro? And which one is going to suit you if you are in the market for a new phone?

These are how the features of the new Galaxy phones compare:

Galaxy S20 vs iPhone 11 Pro

Features

The S20 does not come with a heap of new design features, so its selling points against the iPhone 11 Pro are more limited this year. The key difference of the Galaxy S20 to the iPhone is the edge-to-edge screen on the front, which dips at the sides and features a cut-out "O" at the top, instead of Apple's "notch" design. However, this is no different to last year.

There are some internal developments that will give users pause to consider buying the new S20 over an iPhone. One is 5G. The S20 range all come with the option to upgrade to this new faster wireless network technology, which is not available on Apple's current generation of iPhone.

Finally, there are some changes to the camera in the S20 Ultra version that will provide an edge over the iPhone, in particular with its 8K recording feature, which offers more pixels than Apple's 4K recording, and its enhanced 100x zoom - compared to Apple's 10x zoom. However, this is digital zoom - meaning for the most part Samsung is enhancing the image using software - so we will have to wait until we see that perform in action.

tmg.video.placeholder.alt JeuT3FrpGTw

Galaxy Z Flip vs iPhone 11 Pro

Features

The new Galaxy Z Flip offers a fairly stark choice between the regular, slate-like iPhone 11 Pro and the folding clamshell design of the Galaxy.

Here are the key differences. The iPhone 11 Pro is much like any other smartphone you have used for the past decade. It has a starting 5.8-inch screen, a rear camera and more or less all screen front (aside from the notch).

The Galaxy Z Flip on the other hand brings in an entirely new type of build. It has a foldable, 6.7-inch screen. This flips out vertically, similar to the older clamshell phones of the early 2000s. It also has a small secondary screen on the front of the phone which displays notifications and calls.

In terms of other features the Z Flip has to cut some corners compared to the iPhone to squeeze its technology into a frame that folds in half. This means the battery is somewhat smaller and it might compromise on overall performance.

Specs compared

Here is how the different internal specs of the three devices line up.

Price

Unusually, Apple comes out looking like the budget option here. Yes, the iPhone 11 Pro maxes out at £1,499 for the most expensive Max size with 512GB of memory, but the cheaper 11 - without the triple camera system but with many of the same features - starts at £729.

By contrast, the S20 costs £799 for the cheapest 4G variant, with the S20 Plus £999. Both cost an extra £100 for 5G versions, which you'll probably want if you're buying a phone for the next few years. The S20 Ultra, meanwhile, tops out at £1,399 for the most expensive model - so at the top end, Samsung is cheaper than Apple.

The Z Flip doesn't come cheap either. At £1,299.99, it's really for those who are happy to pay a premium for the novelty of a flip phone.

View the latest Apple deals

License this content