Despite our love and commitment to the iPhone and all things Apple, there’s another world out there for non-iOS smartphone users. We try not to generally ignore the world of Android, and it’s difficult to even try when devices like the Galaxy S20 Plus are released by Samsung.
With the announcement of Samsung’s line of 2020 flagship devices, it gives us the opportunity to step back. There are already rumors swirling around the next iPhone, but let’s take a look at the iPhone 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.
What’s new with Samsung and the Galaxy S20 Plus?
Samsung is several years removed from switching to the Infinity-O display. Instead of relying on a notch for a bezel-less display, Samsung opted for an “O” cutout at the top of the display, and that’s what we have here.
Specifically, with the S20 Plus, Samsung packed a 6.7-inch AMOLED display into this device with a 3200 x 1440 resolution. Samsung arguably makes the best smartphone displays on the market, as evidenced by being one of the providers for the iPhone 11 line.
This display has another trick up its sleeve though, as it features a refresh of 120Hz. Owners of the iPad Pro already know how great it is to have a higher refresh rate. The S20 Plus’ 120Hz is double that of the iPhone 11 Pro, something we’d like to see Apple improve upon later this year.
Storage is what you would expect, with several options, along with a microSD card slot. As for the silicon, Samsung included the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. However, you may be shocked to learn that the S20 Plus also sports TWELVE (12) GIGABYTES of RAM.
This has upgraded cameras, but there is a new Time-of-flight sensor on the back, bringing the camera total up to four. This ToF sensor provides better analysis with object scanning, 3D imaging, and gesture recognition. If implemented properly, the ToF sensor can also provide a better “bokeh” effect in Portrait images. There are rumors that the 2020 iPhone could sport a ToF sensor of its own, but the iPhone 11 Pro does not have this.
Finally, Samsung has included 5G network capabilities as a stock feature for the S20 Plus. This will only really matter once more cities have access to 5G, but the future is now and Samsung is definitely ready.
iPhone 11 Pro vs Galaxy S20 Plus Spec Showdown
There are quite a few differences, between Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. But without diving deeper into how we feel about these, here are the specs for both.
Where does Apple stand in all of this?
Concept renders of at least one upcoming iPhone 12 model expected this year. Image via PhoneArena.
Considering Apple’s release schedule, it’s tough to really say that the S20 Plus is better than the iPhone 11 Pro. It’s February and unless something drastic changes, we won’t get the new iPhone 2020 until September/October. That’s not counting the rumored iPhone 9 said to be coming along with Apple’s Spring Hardware Refresh. But here are a few things we’d like to see in the flagship 2020 iPhone.
It’s time to move to USB-C
In Apple’s world, it started with the Mac, then moved to the iPad, and then the….oh right. For whatever reason, the iPhone lineup STILL is equipped with the Lightning cable. We saw Apple drag its feet when moving from the 30-pin connector, but with USB-C on the iPad Pro, it makes no sense for Apple to stick to Lightning.
We really want to see an iPhone with USB-C for faster-charging speeds, and just overall uniformity. You know, the thing Apple is generally really good at. But alas, the USB-C iPad Pro came out in 2018, and the iPhone 11 Pro still has Lightning.
Give the users an option for 5G
It’s highly unlikely that Apple would offer an iPhone that was designed for those who want 5G and another model that doesn’t. It wouldn’t surprise us, but at some point, you need to future proof those smartphones that are priced at more than $1,000.
While this isn’t exactly the same argument as USB-C, Apple would surprise everyone by including 5G capabilities this Fall. 5G is touted to bring faster network speeds, improved connectivity and reliability, along with “enhanced capacity”. That last one essentially means that we won’t see networks slowing to a crawl as 5G continues to roll out.
Bring back TouchID, with a twist
Let me preface this by saying that I have no gripes about Face ID, as it allows me to actually unlock my phone if I happen to be wearing gloves. Plus, there’s still something, two years later, that is awesome about just looking at my iPhone and having it automatically unlock. No fiddling around, just lift the display, look at it, and boom.
But! An argument can be made to bring TouchID back to the iPhone, especially with the inclusion of ultrasonic fingerprint scanners on devices like the S20 Plus. The biggest hesitation that I could see is that even Samsung, with its massive budget and R&D department, seems to still not have 100% solved the problem. There are issues when using specific screen protectors, which render the scanner essentially useless. But if you have Face ID AND TouchID, it’s a win-win situation.
Do we need a bigger battery?
Apple finally increased the size of the battery with the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. This was something we have been wanting for years and it finally happened. Battery life has been amazing, but I still felt the need to pick up a Smart Battery Case for my 11 Pro. Those days where I just run around and don’t have time to quick charge for a few minutes leave me wanting more.
We’ll always be asking for more battery life, and it’s no different with the next iPhone. Just give me USB-C for faster charging and at least a 4,000mAh battery and I’ll be in heaven.
Conclusion
Over the next 6-8 months, folks everywhere will be debating the iPhone 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. It’s the yearly Apple vs Samsung argument and this year could be one of the biggest and most interesting years for both companies.
Let us know what you think about our thoughts, and if you are at least intrigued by the Galaxy S20 Plus. Also, sound off in the comments and share what you would like to see Apple include with the 2020 flagship iPhone.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
I’m keeping my iPhone 11 but trading in my iPhone 7 for the S20 Ultra. I really look forward to the new phone !