It\u2019s insane to think where we\u2019ve arrived in the smartphone world. In their aim to cover as many tastes and a wide variety of budgets, manufacturers have long abandoned the idea of having just The One flagship phone. Instead, they have a few sibling flagships \u2014 released at the same time and covering different needs and price ranges.Just last year, Apple made the ambiguous customer\u2019s life a living hell by releasing a total of 3 iPhones together. Then, Samsung followed suit by dropping three different Galaxy S10 phones (not counting the 5G model and don\u2019t even get me started on the Note 10 series). Now, Apple is bombarding us with three new models yet again and you may be sitting there, wondering \u201cDo I want one of these new iPhones or one of the Galaxy S10 phones?\u201d. Either that or you are here for the unavoidable controversy, which ensues when a high-class Android phone clashes with the iPhone in a piece that\u2019s supposed to be informative, but you know deep down inside that it\u2019s probably riddled with opinions.<\/p>\n
In any case \u2014 let\u2019s talk about the new iPhones vs the fairly new Galaxies!<\/p>\n
Hardware vs hardware, iOS vs One UI<\/h2>\n
Alright, so it\u2019s always been a bit weird to compare hardware between iPhones and competitors. Apple, obviously, uses its own chips \u2014 the Apple A13 Bionic in the case of the iPhone 11 \u2014 and they\u2019ve always been stellar in terms of performance. The Galaxy S10 series use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, which is also great\u2026 not \u201cas\u201d great, but a pretty powerful system-on-chip none the less. We don\u2019t have any benchmarks for Apple\u2019s new phones yet, but here\u2019s how the iPhone XS\u2019s chip compared to the Galaxy S10:<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t know how much RAM the new iPhone pack just yet, but here\u2019s some info from the past. The iPhone XR had 3 GB of RAM, while the iPhone XS and XS Max had 4 GB of RAM. Chances that they would get any big upgrade this year are slim. The Galaxy phones\u2026 well, they go big \u2014 8 GB RAM on the starting tiers for all of them.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the crux of the situation \u2014 iOS and Android treat RAM very, very differently. So, it\u2019s kind of hard to compare the raw specs as they are. But that segues perfectly into:<\/p>\n
Software<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n ![\"First](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\")
<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Apple\u2019s phones run on iOS. Of course \u2014 the exclusive software experience, which you only get if you have an Apple device. iOS is stable fast and fluid, yet not without its faults. It\u2019s not big on customizability and it\u2019s not really built for multi-tasking. Forget about picture-in-picture, split-screen, or rapidly switching between apps who happen to stay active in the background.<\/p>\n
Still, the fact that Apple makes the software and hardware here allows it to squeeze out great performance and give app developers a pretty good platform to make great apps and games for. So, there\u2019s pros and cons \u2014 some people love iOS, some hate it, and then there are those who are infinitely torn and always in flux \u2014 sometimes they drop it, sometimes they go back to it.<\/p>\n
Samsung\u2019s One UI is generously spread on top of Android 9 Pie on the Galaxy S10 series. That means Theme store, icon packs, split screen and PiP, insane customizability and a bucket-load of features. An Android phone is a poweruser\u2019s playground and the Samsung devices just offer you all they can. Again, it\u2019s a love-it-or-hate-it thing.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a closer look at the different phones:<\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S10e<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Obviously, these two will be compared fairly regularly. Not because they are incredibly similar but because they are the \u201ccheapest option\u201d in their respective group. However, they are very different beasts.<\/p>\n
For example, the iPhone 11 is not the smallest iPhone you can buy \u2014 it sits between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max in terms of size, with a nice 6.1-inch screen, which is both comfortable and not way-too-huge. The Galaxy S10e, on the other hand, is Samsung\u2019s compact flagship \u2014 it\u2019s so small it\u2019s cute and it\u2019s so light you will love how easily pocketable it is (I am not implying you try to steal one, by the way).<\/p>\n
In terms of screen quality \u2014 it\u2019s an easy thing to call. The Galaxy S10e uses Samsung\u2019s top-tier Super AMOLED panel, while the iPhone 11 has an LCD screen. And yes, Apple\u2019s LCD is outstanding in terms of detail, color-reproduction, and viewing angles\u2026 but Samsung\u2019s Super AMOLED is just amazing. The little S10e crams more pixels in its smaller display and it looks so, so sharp! The iPhone 11 will, presumably, have the very same screen like the iPhone XR. And previous experience tells us that it\u2019s very good\u2026 but not extraordinary.<\/p>\n
There is also the very different manner of how you unlock the devices \u2014 the Galaxy S10e has a fingerprint scanner embedded into its power button on the side while the iPhone 11 uses Apple\u2019s Face ID, same as its more expensive brethren. Which one is more comfortable? It has to be Face ID, really \u2014 while it may have its quirks on rare occasions, it is generally very reliable and there\u2019s nothing like having your phone unlock the instant you look at it. To top it off, Apple touted that it\u2019s now upgraded and can detect your face at wider angles, which we are impatient to test!<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Galaxy S10e\u2019s side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate, but not as comfortable to use. Consider this \u2014 if the device is on a mount or lying on a table, you\u2019d almost always need to fidget with it, pick it up, or at least move it to hit that scanning sweet spot. This is why in-display fingerprint scanners are so highly-coveted \u2014 you can simply touch the front of your device to unlock it.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In the camera department, we have direct competition. Both phones are outfitted with a regular wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle camera. They are fairly close in specs \u2014 the iPhone 11 has 12 MP sensors under both lenses, while the S10e has a 12 MP main sensor and a 16 MP one for the ultra-wide camera. The S10e also has slightly wider apertures on both sensors to provide a shallower depth of field and let more light in.<\/p>\n
Really, we can look at the specs on paper all we like, but we will have to wait to get our hands on an iPhone 11 for this one. Apple talked a lot about camera improvements, but we all know that Samsung\u2019s flagships are no slouches in the camera department as well. Needless to say, both phones will have great cameras\u2026 Which one is better? To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S10<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Moving on to \u201cactual flagship\u201d land. These devices represent their respective lines best \u2014 they pack the full technological punch, no corners were cut, no features were omitted (*ahem* not counting the Galaxy S10 5G\u2019s ToF camera). Interestingly enough, we see a slight role-reversal here \u2014 the Samsung phone is bigger than the Apple phone, as opposed to the previous category.<\/p>\n
But not uncomfortably big\u2026 the Galaxy S10 is incredibly thin and light and just a joy to hold and use. Its 6.1-inch screen sits at that threshold of being large enough to enjoy media on, while not crossing into gargantuan land. It\u2019s on the verge of being called a \u201cbig phone\u201d but somehow manages to escape that category with its ergonomic design. Its fingerprint scanner is on the front \u2014 an ultrasonic scanner hidden under the display in that comfortable position.<\/p>\n
The iPhone 11 Pro is almost the same size as the iPhone XS. It\u2019s very, very slightly bigger and thicker, but we are talking halves of millimeters here. So, judging by previous experience, the iPhone 11 Pro is that super-pocketable, comfy-to-hold, one-hand-use iPhone. It\u2019s not exactly a multimedia machine with that 5.8-inch screen, and it\u2019s not the best for two-thumb-texting if you have bigger hands. Also, don\u2019t worry, this one has an OLED panel now, which is gorgeous. It\u2019s essentially the most powerful iPhone, squished into a fairly compact shell.<\/p>\n
In the camera department, we have the same setup on both devices \u2014 ultra-wide-angle, wide-angle, and telephoto cameras all around. And, as stated earlier, we can\u2019t say which one is \u201cbetter\u201d before we get to compare both phones directly. Needless to say, both will be great performers. Now, we have some different modes \u2014 the Galaxy S10 does have that Super Slow-mo\u2026 bu-u-ut, it seems that Apple has opened up the iPhone 11 Pro\u2019s triple camera API for developers to accomplish amazing things. On stage, the makers of popular camera app Filmic showed how they can use the iPhone 11 Pro to record a video using all of the phone\u2019s cameras simultaneously. Let me repeat \u2014 recording video from the wide-angle, telephoto, ultra-wide-angle, and selfie camera all at the same time.<\/p>\nThis is powerful, to say the least, and is probably just the beginning of yet another age of crazy new camera apps coming out exclusively for the iPhone. iOS 13 is now also getting a native video editor, which is cool, although iOS had pretty good ones already provided by 3rd party developers on the App Store. Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S10 is just now gaining up in that particular field thangs to Adobe\u2019s Premiere Rush finally being available for Android. And it still doesn\u2019t offer vital features, such as keyframes \u2014 something that iOS apps have.<\/p>\n
In other words, image quality is one thing. But what you can do with said images on each platform is another\u2026 and iOS has been in the lead here for a while. Just saying.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S10+<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Well, this iPhone definitely wins the \u201clongest name ever\u201d award. That aside, how does it compare to the Big Galaxy?<\/p>\n
They are incredibly close, actually. In terms of dimensions, they are very comparable, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max being slightly wider. But do you know where the iPhone definitely, undoubtedly loses? It is so heavy!<\/p>\n
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is listed as weighing 228 grams. That\u2019s 18 grams more than last year\u2019s iPhone XS Max and a whopping 51 grams more than the Galaxy S10+. And 50 g may not sound like a lot on paper, but it actually is \u2014 especially when handling your 6.5-inch, glass phone.<\/p>\n
In other words, in terms of ergonomics, the Galaxy S10+ nails it here, as it\u2019s thin, light, and a pleasure to hold. Last year\u2019s iPhone XS Max was already a bit meaty, the iPhone 11 Pro Max will definitely be a challenge to use without a case.<\/p>\n
In terms of camera? See above\u2026 verdict is still out. No doubt the iPhone 11 Pro Max will take some awesome photos, but we don\u2019t know if they will be better than the Galaxy S10+ yet. What we do know is that external video-editing apps are better\u2026 and that\u2019s kind of sad.<\/p>\n
Expectations<\/h2>\n
We still need to get our hands on some iPhone 11 units, take them out to the streets and compare them to the Galaxies in daily routines. But iOS is iOS and the iPhone experience has been pretty solid and predictable year after year. Apple promised some insane battery life boosts, which we are eager to see \u2014 the iPhone 11 Pro Max was touted to be able to last 5 hours more than an iPhone XS Max. Pretty big commitment there! But if it turns out to be true, Samsung will be in trouble.<\/p>\n
Then, there\u2019s The Ecosystem argument. See, Apple doesn\u2019t just sell you the iPhone. It\u2019s selling you a part of a bigger puzzle \u2014 the Apple ecosystem puzzle. MacBooks, iMacs, the Apple Watch, the HomePod, the awesome AirPods, and \u2014 of course \u2014 services, such as Apple Music, TV+, and Apple Arcade. An established spiderweb of great products, which happen to play off of one another seamlessly. Samsung is still a bit behind on that aspect, but if you are dead-set on staying away from Apple\u2019s Walled Garden, fret not \u2014 there\u2019s hope for you! Samsung\u2019s own Galaxy Watch series is probably the best watch to get on the Android side (technically, they run Tizen), the Galaxy Buds are pretty good, and it\u2019s awesome that you can charge them wirelessly with your Galaxy phone. Sammy has been building towards a partnership with Microsoft and the end result is integration between One UI and Windows, which allows screen mirroring and the upcoming PlayGalaxy Link for game streaming. And Samsung does have its own plethora of household items that can connect through your Galaxy.<\/p>\n
So, in other words, while both series of phones are pretty great\u2026 this battle extends to more than just them. Each choice makes a bunch of other products available to you, which further complicates the choice. Which ecosystem would you invest in?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/i-cdn.phonearena.com\/images\/articles\/350315-thumb\/Samsung-Galaxy-S10e-vs-Apple-iPhone-XR-001.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Apple\u2019s phones run on iOS. Of course \u2014 the exclusive software experience, which you only get if you have an Apple device. iOS is stable fast and fluid, yet not without its faults. It\u2019s not big on customizability and it\u2019s not really built for multi-tasking. Forget about picture-in-picture, split-screen, or rapidly switching between apps who happen to stay active in the background.<\/p>\n
Still, the fact that Apple makes the software and hardware here allows it to squeeze out great performance and give app developers a pretty good platform to make great apps and games for. So, there\u2019s pros and cons \u2014 some people love iOS, some hate it, and then there are those who are infinitely torn and always in flux \u2014 sometimes they drop it, sometimes they go back to it.<\/p>\n
Samsung\u2019s One UI is generously spread on top of Android 9 Pie on the Galaxy S10 series. That means Theme store, icon packs, split screen and PiP, insane customizability and a bucket-load of features. An Android phone is a poweruser\u2019s playground and the Samsung devices just offer you all they can. Again, it\u2019s a love-it-or-hate-it thing.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a closer look at the different phones:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S10e<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Obviously, these two will be compared fairly regularly. Not because they are incredibly similar but because they are the \u201ccheapest option\u201d in their respective group. However, they are very different beasts.<\/p>\n
For example, the iPhone 11 is not the smallest iPhone you can buy \u2014 it sits between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max in terms of size, with a nice 6.1-inch screen, which is both comfortable and not way-too-huge. The Galaxy S10e, on the other hand, is Samsung\u2019s compact flagship \u2014 it\u2019s so small it\u2019s cute and it\u2019s so light you will love how easily pocketable it is (I am not implying you try to steal one, by the way).<\/p>\n
In terms of screen quality \u2014 it\u2019s an easy thing to call. The Galaxy S10e uses Samsung\u2019s top-tier Super AMOLED panel, while the iPhone 11 has an LCD screen. And yes, Apple\u2019s LCD is outstanding in terms of detail, color-reproduction, and viewing angles\u2026 but Samsung\u2019s Super AMOLED is just amazing. The little S10e crams more pixels in its smaller display and it looks so, so sharp! The iPhone 11 will, presumably, have the very same screen like the iPhone XR. And previous experience tells us that it\u2019s very good\u2026 but not extraordinary.<\/p>\n
There is also the very different manner of how you unlock the devices \u2014 the Galaxy S10e has a fingerprint scanner embedded into its power button on the side while the iPhone 11 uses Apple\u2019s Face ID, same as its more expensive brethren. Which one is more comfortable? It has to be Face ID, really \u2014 while it may have its quirks on rare occasions, it is generally very reliable and there\u2019s nothing like having your phone unlock the instant you look at it. To top it off, Apple touted that it\u2019s now upgraded and can detect your face at wider angles, which we are impatient to test!<\/p>\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/i-cdn.phonearena.com\/images\/articles\/350322-thumb\/FaceID.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Galaxy S10e\u2019s side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate, but not as comfortable to use. Consider this \u2014 if the device is on a mount or lying on a table, you\u2019d almost always need to fidget with it, pick it up, or at least move it to hit that scanning sweet spot. This is why in-display fingerprint scanners are so highly-coveted \u2014 you can simply touch the front of your device to unlock it.<\/p>\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/i-cdn.phonearena.com\/images\/articles\/350320-thumb\/Samsung-Galaxy-S10e-Review-030.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In the camera department, we have direct competition. Both phones are outfitted with a regular wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle camera. They are fairly close in specs \u2014 the iPhone 11 has 12 MP sensors under both lenses, while the S10e has a 12 MP main sensor and a 16 MP one for the ultra-wide camera. The S10e also has slightly wider apertures on both sensors to provide a shallower depth of field and let more light in.<\/p>\n
Really, we can look at the specs on paper all we like, but we will have to wait to get our hands on an iPhone 11 for this one. Apple talked a lot about camera improvements, but we all know that Samsung\u2019s flagships are no slouches in the camera department as well. Needless to say, both phones will have great cameras\u2026 Which one is better? To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S10<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Moving on to \u201cactual flagship\u201d land. These devices represent their respective lines best \u2014 they pack the full technological punch, no corners were cut, no features were omitted (*ahem* not counting the Galaxy S10 5G\u2019s ToF camera). Interestingly enough, we see a slight role-reversal here \u2014 the Samsung phone is bigger than the Apple phone, as opposed to the previous category.<\/p>\n
But not uncomfortably big\u2026 the Galaxy S10 is incredibly thin and light and just a joy to hold and use. Its 6.1-inch screen sits at that threshold of being large enough to enjoy media on, while not crossing into gargantuan land. It\u2019s on the verge of being called a \u201cbig phone\u201d but somehow manages to escape that category with its ergonomic design. Its fingerprint scanner is on the front \u2014 an ultrasonic scanner hidden under the display in that comfortable position.<\/p>\n
The iPhone 11 Pro is almost the same size as the iPhone XS. It\u2019s very, very slightly bigger and thicker, but we are talking halves of millimeters here. So, judging by previous experience, the iPhone 11 Pro is that super-pocketable, comfy-to-hold, one-hand-use iPhone. It\u2019s not exactly a multimedia machine with that 5.8-inch screen, and it\u2019s not the best for two-thumb-texting if you have bigger hands. Also, don\u2019t worry, this one has an OLED panel now, which is gorgeous. It\u2019s essentially the most powerful iPhone, squished into a fairly compact shell.<\/p>\n
This is powerful, to say the least, and is probably just the beginning of yet another age of crazy new camera apps coming out exclusively for the iPhone. iOS 13 is now also getting a native video editor, which is cool, although iOS had pretty good ones already provided by 3rd party developers on the App Store. Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S10 is just now gaining up in that particular field thangs to Adobe\u2019s Premiere Rush finally being available for Android. And it still doesn\u2019t offer vital features, such as keyframes \u2014 something that iOS apps have.<\/p>\n
In other words, image quality is one thing. But what you can do with said images on each platform is another\u2026 and iOS has been in the lead here for a while. Just saying.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S10+<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Well, this iPhone definitely wins the \u201clongest name ever\u201d award. That aside, how does it compare to the Big Galaxy?<\/p>\n
They are incredibly close, actually. In terms of dimensions, they are very comparable, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max being slightly wider. But do you know where the iPhone definitely, undoubtedly loses? It is so heavy!<\/p>\n
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is listed as weighing 228 grams. That\u2019s 18 grams more than last year\u2019s iPhone XS Max and a whopping 51 grams more than the Galaxy S10+. And 50 g may not sound like a lot on paper, but it actually is \u2014 especially when handling your 6.5-inch, glass phone.<\/p>\n
In other words, in terms of ergonomics, the Galaxy S10+ nails it here, as it\u2019s thin, light, and a pleasure to hold. Last year\u2019s iPhone XS Max was already a bit meaty, the iPhone 11 Pro Max will definitely be a challenge to use without a case.<\/p>\n
In terms of camera? See above\u2026 verdict is still out. No doubt the iPhone 11 Pro Max will take some awesome photos, but we don\u2019t know if they will be better than the Galaxy S10+ yet. What we do know is that external video-editing apps are better\u2026 and that\u2019s kind of sad.<\/p>\n
Expectations<\/h2>\n
We still need to get our hands on some iPhone 11 units, take them out to the streets and compare them to the Galaxies in daily routines. But iOS is iOS and the iPhone experience has been pretty solid and predictable year after year. Apple promised some insane battery life boosts, which we are eager to see \u2014 the iPhone 11 Pro Max was touted to be able to last 5 hours more than an iPhone XS Max. Pretty big commitment there! But if it turns out to be true, Samsung will be in trouble.<\/p>\n
Then, there\u2019s The Ecosystem argument. See, Apple doesn\u2019t just sell you the iPhone. It\u2019s selling you a part of a bigger puzzle \u2014 the Apple ecosystem puzzle. MacBooks, iMacs, the Apple Watch, the HomePod, the awesome AirPods, and \u2014 of course \u2014 services, such as Apple Music, TV+, and Apple Arcade. An established spiderweb of great products, which happen to play off of one another seamlessly. Samsung is still a bit behind on that aspect, but if you are dead-set on staying away from Apple\u2019s Walled Garden, fret not \u2014 there\u2019s hope for you! Samsung\u2019s own Galaxy Watch series is probably the best watch to get on the Android side (technically, they run Tizen), the Galaxy Buds are pretty good, and it\u2019s awesome that you can charge them wirelessly with your Galaxy phone. Sammy has been building towards a partnership with Microsoft and the end result is integration between One UI and Windows, which allows screen mirroring and the upcoming PlayGalaxy Link for game streaming. And Samsung does have its own plethora of household items that can connect through your Galaxy.<\/p>\n
So, in other words, while both series of phones are pretty great\u2026 this battle extends to more than just them. Each choice makes a bunch of other products available to you, which further complicates the choice. Which ecosystem would you invest in?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n