The camera of Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is an enormous part of the phone – literally and figuratively. With a 5x optical zoom, 108-megapixel sensor and 8K recording, it’s no surprise that Samsung is looking to win over photographers and videographers everywhere. But how does it compare to the iPhone 11 Pro Max? Although it came out last year, the iPhone is still one of the best phones for photos en video recording.
To see which of the two had the best camera, I tested both phones when it came to zooming, low light photos, video and more. The phones work with similar hardware – both have three rear cameras with an ultra wide, regular wide and telephoto lens. And while some categories look like a clear winner (the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, for example, immediately has the zoom feature with its 5x optical zoom compared to the 2x zoom on the iPhone), other features include a mix of hardware and computer photography tricks that do not always result in a clear winner.
That being said, if you want to know the cameras strengths and weaknesses of any of the phone, read on to learn more. And take a look at the photo comparison and video on this page to decide which photos you like best. There are no right or wrong answers, and keep in mind that the screen where you see these images will affect the way they look.
Read more: Night mode on iPhone 11 Pro and Pixel 4 and Galaxy S20 Ultra vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max Camera Comparison
Lexy Savvides / CNET
Both phones are great with landscapes, HDR and ultra wide photos
I took the Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Pro Max around San Francisco and was impressed by how each one brilliantly conquered the city in its entire states, from foggy mornings to bright, sunny afternoons across the Bay. To best simulate the experience of the average person, I left the cameras of both phones over their default settings and the colors looked vibrant. For reference, this means the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s “scene optimizer” and the “Smart HDR” of iPhone 11 Pro Max on.
Lexy Savvides / CNET
The Note’s main rear camera has a 108-megapixel sensor, which is valuable if you want to take a photo that has extra width to crop after you take the picture. It also helps to take pictures with a shallow depth of field, thanks to the large sensor, making them look much like those of a DSLR. Sometimes, however, when I took pictures of flowers or other objects nearby, the depth of the field was sa shallow, I often had to check if my shots were in focus or not. Even when shooting in normal 12-megapixel mode, I sometimes found myself taking a step back and switching to the telephoto lens to take a shot with more depth of field.
The Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Pro Max both use computational photography techniques to get the most out of the camera hardware, albeit with different techniques. The Note uses pixel interiors to capture photos that retain tons of detail at 12 megapixels in all lighting, while the iPhone 11 Pro uses Apple’s deep fusion technology to bring out most details in medium to low light.
Overall, details of both phones were recorded well, especially when I inspected photos at full magnification. But the iPhone 11 Pro Max keeps the edge for details in medium to dim light.
The ultra-wide cameras on both are also fantastic, though the shots of the iPhone 11 Pro Max sat more saturated and comfortable. On the other hand, the Note 20 Ultra did a slightly better job while retaining highlight and shadow detail in its HDR on the ultra wide.
Lexy Savvides / CNET
Note 20 Ultra wins for its clear, sharp zoom photos
Taking a step back from the ridiculous 100x space zoom on the S20 Ultra, the Note 20 Ultra shifts it down to a more controlled 50x on the telephoto camera, with a 5x optical zoom.
Photos taken at 5x zoom look great as long as there is enough light. I was really surprised at how sharp and detailed shots were. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 2x camera that can go up to 10x digital, but if you place the shots side-by-side, there is not much of a comparison to be made. The Note 20 Ultra clearly has the advantage.
Lexy Savvides / CNET
For me, the sweet spot on the Note 20 Ultra’s phone camera is the 10x hybrid, allowing me to get closer to my subject without sacrificing quality. Check out the 10x shot I took from the Golden Gate Bridge to see how well the camera captured the scene.
Lexy Savvides / CNET
Night photos are super close
Take a look at the night mode previews below to see how each phone handles low light photos. I like the results of both, although overall the iPhone 11 Pro Max had a warmer white balance, which was more representative of the actual scene before my eyes.
Lexy Savvides / CNET
Lexy Savvides / CNET
The Note 20 Ultra offers more control for photos and videos
There are two Pro modes on the Note 20 Ultra: one for still images and another for video. The mode offers full exposure control to adjust aperture, shutter and ISO to get the most out of your images. For video, there is the addition of live histogram and tools for adjusting audio levels and mic controls. Although the tools themselves are useful, it was confusing to separate the two modes. I would rather consolidate the interface to avoid having to switch between and back.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max does not have any of these Pro modes built in, but there are plenty of third-party apps that offer you the same kind of controls.
Watch the video on this page for selfies and portrait mode analysis.
iPhone 11 Pro Max still has the edge for video
While I love the Note 20 Ultra’s Pro Video capabilities (plus 8K recording which is actually useful compared to the version on the S20 Ultra), the iPhone 11 Pro Max records a better video instantly out of the box. The default image on the iPhone is well balanced and has good contrast, plus detail is more beautifully resolved. Take a look at the video samples below to see what I mean.
The Note 20 Ultra has more video capabilities, however, including a live mode video mode (at 1080p) that removes the background behind your subject, plus the aforementioned 8K recording at 24 fps. I wish the Pro video mode had the option to change the image profile, which would really give the most flexibility for grading (an image profile is a way to customize the look of the image). There are also an almost overwhelming number of resolutions and frame rates to choose from, plus aspect ratios such as 16: 9 and 21: 9. I like that the Note 20 Ultra has these options and I have used them a lot, although they are for the casual photographer will probably go unused.
Ultimately for video (and for still images), the Note 20 Ultra’s Laser AF system addresses the laggy autofocus issues that were present on the S20 Ultra, although it’s still not as smooth in exposure and focus transitions as the iPhone in video. (you can see the test in the video above, and 8K samples in the video below).
Which phone has the best camera?
Clearly, the Note 20 Ultra offers more for photographers, thanks to its Pro photo and video modes, 5x optical zoom and 108-megapixel sensor. But deciding between the two phones also depends on what kind of photos you want to take and what kind of photographer you are. Do you want the most control over your shots, plus an excellent zoom? Select the Note 20 Ultra. Do you want to be able to take great photos and videos without too much manual control on the standard camera? Choose the iPhone 11 Pro.
