iPhone 12 vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Brand preference aside, the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are close competitors, both pitched at flagship smartphone buyers. The scorecard favors the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which leads in 3 of 5 areas. Its strongest showing is in the display category. That $501 launch price gap between the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the iPhone 12 will shape the verdict as much as any spec.
At a glance
- Display Galaxy Note 20 Ultra wins
- Performance iPhone 12 wins
- Memory & Storage Galaxy Note 20 Ultra wins
- Camera Galaxy Note 20 Ultra wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone 12 wins
- Display2.1
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.9
- Display6.1
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera3.5
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
On refresh rate, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra posts 120 Hz against 60 Hz for the iPhone 12, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra feels more fluid in everyday use.
-
The iPhone 12 has a 1.55 oz lighter build
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 5.78 oz for the iPhone 12 versus 7.34 oz for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB
The iPhone 12 lists 64 GB; the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes in at 128 GB. That’s not a rounding error. If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
-
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a higher-resolution 108 MP main camera
At 108 MP versus 12 MP, this is a decisive lead for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
-
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has 25% higher peak brightness
If peak brightness is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads clearly with 1,500 nits to the iPhone 12’s 1,200 nits. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
Design & Size
- iPhone 12 5.78 in × 2.81 in × 0.29 in
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 6.49 in × 3.04 in × 0.32 in
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the larger phone of the two, while the iPhone 12 is the more compact choice. The iPhone 12 is 1.55 oz lighter, making the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra the heftier of the two. In profile, the iPhone 12 is the slimmer of the two by 0.03 in.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 6.49 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 3.04 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz (winner) | 7.34 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Stainless steel |
Display
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads
The iPhone 12 is outclassed on display; the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads by a clear margin. In its favor, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power. That makes the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra the natural choice for buyers focused on display.
Refresh rate
iPhone 12: 60 Hz Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
Peak brightness
iPhone 12: 1,200 nits Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 1,500 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
iPhone 12 leads
If you’re keeping score, the performance point goes narrowly to the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 comes with a newer 5 nm chip process. The iPhone 12’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much. For performance, the iPhone 12 is the one to beat.
Process node
iPhone 12: 5 nm Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 7 nm Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict.
CPU cores
iPhone 12: 6 Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 8 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Memory & Storage
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads
This section belongs to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. In memory & storage, it leads the iPhone 12 by a margin that’s hard to ignore. Here the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra offers 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value. In short, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the better-equipped phone for memory & storage.
Base storage
iPhone 12: 64 GB Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 128 GB The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
Max storage
iPhone 12: 256 GB Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 512 GB Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it.
Camera
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads
The camera comparison is one-sided. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads where it counts. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra gives you a higher-resolution 108 MP main camera. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer. The iPhone 12 has the edge with a sharper 12 MP selfie camera. If camera is your priority, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the phone to pick.
Main camera
iPhone 12: 12 MP Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 108 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Rear cameras
iPhone 12: 2 Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 3 More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s extra lens adds.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
The battery & charging section is even. Any gaps here are within the range you’d never notice. Net result on battery & charging: level.
Software & Updates
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra row by row in the table below.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.9 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 496 ppi (winner) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits | 1,500 nits (winner) |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 Bionic | Snapdragon 865+ (US) |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 5 nm (winner) | 7 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 12 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB | 128 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 512 GB (winner) |
| microSD slot | No | Yes (winner) |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 108 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 12 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 5× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP (winner) | 10 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 | 8K24 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 4,500 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 17 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 14 | Android 10 (One UI 2.5) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 3 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 6.49 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 3.04 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz (winner) | 7.34 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Stainless steel |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 12 | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 (winner) | $1,300 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
In launch price, the iPhone 12 is the clear budget pick, coming in $501 (63%) below the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra asks for $501 more and delivers a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB in return.
These are US launch prices, recorded October 2020; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 12 if…
- you want the lighter phone (5.78 oz vs 7.34 oz)
- you care about efficiency under the hood (5 nm vs 7 nm process node)
- you want the slimmer phone (0.29 in vs 0.32 in)
- you want the sharper selfie camera (12 MP vs 10 MP)
- you’d rather keep $501 in your pocket
Choose the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (128 GB vs 64 GB base storage)
- you like to crop into your photos (108 MP vs 12 MP main camera)
- you use your phone outdoors a lot (1,500 nits vs 1,200 nits peak brightness)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 12 or the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
We’d point most buyers to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The main exception is if having a 1.55 oz lighter build matters more to you than the rest.
Is the iPhone 12 bigger than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the larger of the two. It measures 6.49 × 3.04 × 0.32 in, compared with 5.78 × 2.81 × 0.29 in for the iPhone 12.
Which is faster, the iPhone 12 or the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
Going by the specs, the iPhone 12 comes out ahead: it offers a newer 5 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 12 or the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leads on camera specs thanks to a higher-resolution 108 MP main camera and an extra rear camera. Processing and personal taste also play a big part in photos.
Is the iPhone 12’s display better than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s?
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has the stronger display on paper, with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 25% higher peak brightness.
Is the iPhone 12 cheaper than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra launched at $501 more than the iPhone 12, based on prices as of October 2020.
Executive Summary
The iPhone 12 versus the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a matchup I find genuinely interesting, because Apple and Samsung made different bets. Honestly, a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra does a lot of the persuading for me. I also like that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra brings 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. The iPhone 12 has a trump card of its own in a 1.55 oz lighter build.
Put simply, the iPhone 12 suits people who care about performance, while the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra suits people who put display first.
My pick: the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, though I’d happily point you to the iPhone 12 if you specifically want a 1.55 oz lighter build, where the iPhone 12 has the edge.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.