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iPhone 12 Pro vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra camera comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro has some new camera tricks up its sleeve, including night portraits, Dolby Vision HDR video and a new lidar scanner. Let’s see how the iPhone 12 Pro compares to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to see which is better for landscapes, portraits, selfies, night mode and more. iPhone 12 Pro Apple:…

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The iPhone 12 Pro has some new camera tricks up its sleeve, including night portraits, Dolby Vision HDR video and a new lidar scanner. Let’s see how the iPhone 12 Pro compares to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to see which is better for landscapes, portraits, selfies, night mode and more.

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126 Comments

126 Comments

  1. Sheikh abubakar magaji

    October 30, 2020 at 8:46 pm

    Nice one my sister

  2. Sean Lewis

    October 30, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    No one really is supposed to shoot everything in 60 frames a second that’s mainly if you want to slow things down what you can do on the note is shoot at 24 frames a second what you left out which is the cinematic mode which most people try to use or to get that cinematic look so I think the video comparison is kind of off when you think about it in that way both phones are good and I think it’s a matter of preference I have the note and it’s very good phone and I’m pleased but again I think now it’s based on preference as far as your photos and what you like

  3. miyaa liya

    October 30, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    this is hard !!! 😩😩😩 I’m gonna take both. I mean Iphone 12 pro max and Samsung Note 21 ultra. 😆😆😆

    P/s : Bye Kidney and left eye. 👀

  4. Bogdan Pavlyuk

    October 30, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    5:33 (look to the left)

  5. Ciprian Georgiu

    October 30, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Unfortunately for me, the Ultra is better in most situations.

  6. Carry Beat

    October 30, 2020 at 9:28 pm

    I think she’s smiling but not sure

  7. Farzad Babazadeh

    October 30, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    Note20 ultra

  8. PaNkz XOX

    October 30, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    Samsung Note 20 ultra📷

  9. Martinius

    October 30, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    iphone for taking pictures of people, samsung for anything else than people

  10. Clifton

    October 30, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    Samsung: “I have 108mp, periscope zoom, and 8k, and pro mode in photos and videos.”

    Media: “I don’t care, iPhone is better.”

  11. Hamli Here

    October 30, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    It’d be interesting to tell why Samsung phones struggle with skin tones

  12. Gary boves maldonado

    October 30, 2020 at 10:21 pm

    the.iphone 12 pro max has nothing new

  13. Michael Syms

    October 30, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    My 12 pro is coming tomorrow. Its my very first iphone. Im upgrading from galaxy s9. I want to switch from android because I’m grtting bored of the ssmsungs

    • Audy Bryan

      October 30, 2020 at 11:41 pm

      U will be really bored with iPhone

  14. georgio Armania2

    October 30, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    Both great phones but the winner is Lexy. Great presentation. Must have been a lot of hard work making this fantastic video. Clearly the best presenter on CNET

  15. Emko

    October 30, 2020 at 11:11 pm

    One is a Royce Royce and the other one is a Bentley, both are great

  16. DCtraveler

    October 30, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    “Samsung offers a lot on the videos mode”, but can’t do any one of them well……. when can they learn it is not about how many thing they have, it is about how many thing they can do well……

    • John carter

      October 30, 2020 at 11:36 pm

      And what do you base your opinion on? Do you have a Note?

  17. DCtraveler

    October 30, 2020 at 11:29 pm

    iPhone’s photo is a lot better than Samsung, notice the sun got blown out in the Samsung photo, even her hair photo, iPhone retains a lot more useable images information like sun light on the top of her head than Samsung, that part just completely blown out on Samsung photos.

    Video iPhone is definitely better ! The key is to check the logs on the ground of the park of the video, Samsung one just a dark spot you can see any more detail, but iPhone’s video shows the same spot with a lot more information and detail, Which shows higher in dynamic range.

  18. Bill Kilpatrick

    October 30, 2020 at 11:40 pm

    I go back and forth between the iPhone and the Note, depending on what features are offered at the time. I currently own a Note 20 Ultra and love it, but I think a lot of it has to do with who’s doing the shooting. Each phone’s default settings provide certain pros and cons, but someone with an eye for photography can make the right adjustments to get a better shot.

  19. Azlan Lan

    October 30, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    I’m using iphone 11 pro max but honestly i choose Note 20 Ultra the best clear winner…this month i want to get it Note 20 Ultra I’m very excited

  20. TAB. TK

    October 30, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    Its it just me or iphone video have inconsistent brightness issue when human subject moving their limbs in the video

    You can see at 00:26 & 07:50

  21. Benjamin Owuye Jagun

    October 30, 2020 at 11:51 pm

    I don’t care what anyone says, iPhone is clearly the winner.

  22. Henry Nguyen

    October 30, 2020 at 11:58 pm

    Thank you for the video. It is good if you can commend on what phone has pictures that are more realistic, more accurate, and same color as real scene that you see with your eyes. Some camera has pictures that cool color or warm color, but which one is more accurate to depict the color of that moment.

  23. Okta Rahman TV

    October 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm

    SAMSUNG! ❤❤

  24. Dan Dumitrache

    October 31, 2020 at 12:25 am

    I know this is a camera comparison, but for me DEX wireless has changed my work lifestyle. Don’t need to carry a laptop anymore, transfer files all the time. Great all-rounder Note 20 Ultra, having a awesome camera is just the icing.

  25. Jack liu

    October 31, 2020 at 12:45 am

    Iphone 12 pro max will have the best camera in the iPhone line up

  26. izabela kowalska

    October 31, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    If iPhone 12 pro does better already then 12 pro max will have no competition whatsoever. In general, you cannot go wrong with any of the top range phones these days

  27. Jessie Birax

    October 31, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    What’s her accent?

  28. street Remember

    October 31, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    Note 20 ultra. Is better

  29. Andy Pan

    October 31, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    obvious, samsung galaxy note 20 ultra photo wise is way better…

  30. McBastard_Tv

    October 31, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    How about next time talk about the iPhone and note plus Galaxy s20 plus how much RAM and how much storage they have compare that to Apple.🏵

  31. Akpeke Explosive

    October 31, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    0:48 I have no more stress with the help of, *g r e a t e a s y p a y .c o m*

  32. Jordi Gutierrez

    October 31, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    These comparisons have at this point become so unnecessary. They’re both great in the stock app but iphones always have better social media photos. And the iphone seems a little overblown either that or the note is more contrast-y. But honestly they could have mislabeled the shots and no one would have noticed.

  33. Michel van Essen

    October 31, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    This makes me wonder – how does live focus/portrait mode works out in video? How does it compare?

  34. Neolish

    October 31, 2020 at 5:59 pm

    do this again when the max comes out please!

  35. TommyJLion

    October 31, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    Note 20 Slightly better

  36. Pacific Valley

    October 31, 2020 at 6:31 pm

    Wow. The 4K videos are marvelous and clear. I have Note 4 and am really thinking of ditching it for the new 4k phones. I like the iPhone 12 Pro’s slightly brighter and warmer photos than the Note 20 but I never liked Apple’s restrictions, inflexibility, pay for every little downloads, etc so I will look into both.

  37. A42yearoldARAB

    October 31, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Hard to choose now. The notion that android has a bad camera is definitely gone. They trade blows scene by scene

  38. craziecs

    October 31, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Zoom, love focus video 2 things amazing on Note 20 Ultra.

    Live streaming on front facing camera, the Note 20 Ultra does a better job at color, focus and quality when compared to my wife’s iPhone pro

  39. Bran Ja

    October 31, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    Thanks for always trying to be middle ground with your reviews … Still studying if to buy that note 20 for the features outside of the camera

  40. Quantumm Galaxy

    October 31, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    👍

  41. JUST A RANDOM PERSON

    October 31, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    Cnet loves apple

  42. PetterGrifith

    October 31, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    I don’t know about you but between these two, the girl is the prettiest…

  43. Aina Joe

    October 31, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    I think samsung picture more pleasure

  44. Lahcene SEDDIKI

    October 31, 2020 at 11:38 pm

    Huawei is digging the last nails in his tomb, Why a Flagship processor kirin 9000 comes with A76 chipset, whereas Snapdragon 865 and Apple A14 come with A77 or NEXT January A78
    As I said befor, Qualcomm 865 = 1*A77 2.84Hz 3*A77 2.42Hz 4*A55 1.8HZ, instad Huawei Kirin 990 5G= 2*A76 2.86Hz 2*A76 2.36Hz 4*A55 1.95Hz
    Huawei will enter 2021 with a processor from 2020!!!

  45. Grilled Trout

    October 31, 2020 at 11:42 pm

    Both phones are great and the preferences are usually down to personal preferences with very subtle differences. I think it all comes down to features that are exclusive to one phone and how important or useful they are to the user. Take for example: night mode portrait mode on the iPhone vs 5x optical zoom on the Note.

  46. Stuti Pandey

    October 31, 2020 at 11:42 pm

    What about Apple ProRaw….?

  47. Lahcene SEDDIKI

    October 31, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    I like the colours in the iPhone looks more natural

  48. workoutlui

    October 31, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    Love your comparison and nice photos Lexi. 👍🏽

  49. Mzwandile Harmans

    November 1, 2020 at 12:25 am

    iPhone 12 pro is clear winner bcos has better video and takes better photos of people in day and night except for zoom, still crispier in zoom less than 5x.

  50. Esmond Msimango

    November 1, 2020 at 1:20 am

    note 20 ultra. The best overall smartphone by far

  51. John carter

    November 1, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    Demand innovation!
    60hz refresh rate is 😥
    2x/2.5x zoom is 😕
    No charger is 😒 arrogant
    Send a message
    Boycott iPhone 12 series

  52. Ciro Montenegro

    November 1, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    Bellissima Lexy

  53. Mohamed Sankoumba Fadiga

    November 1, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Note user here. Iphone wins the camera battle but Note still has a super great camera and Note is def more than just a super camera. So great job apple, but still sticking to Note for long again. Kufos to both

  54. mdrezaul hoq

    November 1, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Samsung is the best

  55. Dave Jackson

    November 1, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    After been scammed by so many hacker’s *ennyproch* on insta help me to unlock my iPhone from iCloud

  56. BaddieUniverse

    November 1, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    The Note 20’s photos looked more aesthetically pleasing on almost every photo.

    • Benjamin Owuye Jagun

      November 1, 2020 at 9:14 pm

      In your opinion, is it so hard that add that? The iPhone looks better to me.

    • BaddieUniverse

      November 1, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      @Benjamin Owuye Jagun You are probably an iSheep. I can admit when the iphone looks better. When the XS Max came out, I thought it was the best camera and android sucked but there isn’t a gap anymore and Android is increasingly improving while Apple is lagging behind.

  57. deejing lert

    November 1, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    photo picture I think huawei is the best . Battery life time is very good picture is DLSR like.

  58. 2 TONEDRIP Gaming

    November 1, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    I really like the note 20 ultra camera I am happy with this phone( how does your skin gets over exposed on Your note mines looks the same as the iPhone)

  59. Nabil Belmokadem

    November 1, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Stil the note 20 ultra 💪

  60. dark side

    November 1, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    I love Samsung ecosystem and everything Samsung 💟

  61. Miki Angelo

    November 1, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    CNET is so biased I think it’s run by Apple

    • Miki Angelo

      November 1, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      how did she say that the ultra wide on the iPhone control distortion when the Note is the best clearly.

    • Miki Angelo

      November 1, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      And look at the details when zoomed

  62. Benno B

    November 1, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    You guys want unbiased camera comparisons? Watch Super Saf

  63. Juan Álvarez

    November 1, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    Note: Zoom
    iPhone: Video and portátil mode
    Photos: Really depends on the scene

  64. Michael Upchurch

    November 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    I personally prefer the iPhone 12 pro

  65. Sandi Hermana

    November 1, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    Please S20 ultra vs iphone 12 pro camera test too🙏😁

  66. J K

    November 1, 2020 at 6:54 pm

    Lexy!

  67. George Romagnoli

    November 1, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    N20U is better 😍😍😍. Wonderfull photos and videos 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  68. Angelus Comfort

    November 1, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    Both the phones are a king if it’s brand and I’m an iPhone user but after watching several camera comparison of this two phones, I prefer the note 20 ultra picture better in the daylight and in low light I prefer the iPhone.

  69. Грыша Кузькин

    November 1, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    🐬👍

  70. Lot Dominguez Castellón

    November 1, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    Wow, you are so beautiful, thank you for the great video. Both phones are great.

  71. Jeffery Baxter

    November 1, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Both cameras on the Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro are good. Both have image advantages over the other depending on the scenario. My camera of choice would be the one on the Note 20 Ultra. Better zooming capabilities because in most cases we hit the zoom button before taking a picture and more customizable functions. When the iPhone 12 Pro Max gets released I’ll still pick the Note 20 Ultra over it.

  72. Vic

    November 1, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    Can’t wait to upgrade my Note 10+ to 12 Pro Max

  73. Erik Zuniga

    November 1, 2020 at 11:23 pm

    I have a Note 20 Ultra and I have night mode.

  74. Naeem Shaikh

    November 1, 2020 at 11:33 pm

    The Note 20 Ultra looks like a clear winner here.

  75. google kullanıcısı

    November 2, 2020 at 12:24 am

    Like note more

  76. Anand S

    November 2, 2020 at 5:17 am

    Samsung ❤

  77. Mr.StealYourGirl

    November 2, 2020 at 5:42 am

    The iphone is objectively better on most points.

  78. Mar Y

    November 2, 2020 at 5:59 am

    N20U is a completely trash! 🤮

  79. Agent Venta

    November 2, 2020 at 6:51 am

    I can t deal with android with making your pictures look like you got a smoother skin to where it’s fakw

  80. Corey Sturgeon

    November 2, 2020 at 6:54 am

    Honestly they should redo when 12 Pro Max releases

  81. Agent Venta

    November 2, 2020 at 6:55 am

    Samsung got all them features and it’s still wack

  82. Zook T

    November 2, 2020 at 6:59 am

    Note won easily

  83. jio T

    November 2, 2020 at 8:02 am

    iPhone does a better job retaining natural lighting and skin tone. Note will just make me look pale and ive seen other reviews got the same problem with Note. Also forgot to mention that Note ultra cost 1,299.

    • John carter

      November 2, 2020 at 11:54 am

      Selfie skin tone setting in camera settings and don’t you have a trade in? If you were to trade in a 11 pro max you would get $650 towards the note 20 ultra and only $500 towards the 12 pro.

  84. Dilli Prasad

    November 2, 2020 at 11:42 am

    😀😉😍👌

  85. Dir ty

    November 2, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    Okay, if iPhone 12 Pro and Note 20 Ultra camera results are comparable, can we safely assume that iPhone 12 Pro Max will blow Note 20 UItra out of the water? I want to buy the phone with the best camera, should I wait for iPhone 12 Pro Max? Please help …..

  86. Taylor Swiftie

    November 2, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    Despite Samsung having 2x bigger cameras and lenses and bigger MP, iPhone somehow competes.

  87. Taylor Swiftie

    November 2, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    They’re both equally same so lets see the prices…..

    IPhone: Starting $1000 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
    Samsung: Starting 1,300 128GB, 512GB

  88. Macoi Tocky

    November 2, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    Lexy is my new favorite reviewer.

  89. Jack Dominiak

    November 2, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    To be honest the Note 20 Ultra, apart from the optical zoom, has nothing to beat the baby Pro in photo/video department at $300 extra, I’m surprised it hasn’t got more to offer….

  90. R. jt

    November 2, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    camera department iPhone is 50 50 , as in past iPhone always stays ahead

  91. Nike Calunsag

    November 2, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    It all boils down to your preference and how/what you use your mobile phone for.

  92. HARLEM PORTER

    November 2, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    Yeah I’ll take note 20 ultra

  93. Guille V

    November 2, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Both take great photos and videos and each has their plus’s and minuses. Since both are a bit high for me I’m going with the S20 FE lol. Plus Samsung will give me a nice trade in credit for my iPhone XR. Great video thanks.

  94. Johnny Pinkleton

    November 2, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    I have average sized man hands. Will i feel comfortable using the iphone pro max? Is 128gb enough?

  95. SYH

    November 2, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    N20U looks better in design and also camera quality.

  96. A S

    November 2, 2020 at 5:47 pm

    Note 20 ultra

  97. Gerald Notah

    November 2, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    Find I think the iPhone has too much contrasts

  98. Pedro Coronado

    November 2, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Samsung: 5x optical
    Huawei: 10x optical

    Apple: 2.5x optical and u have to wait till late November

  99. Tech R

    November 2, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    12 pro is simply a better overall camera. Better skin tones, better portraits, more natural lighting, better video. Note is better with zoom and could argue better night mode as well. For pets and moving objects Samsung phones are still bad

    • John carter

      November 3, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      You too probably also have a cousin who owns a Note 20 ultra who has done such an in depth analysis of it’s cameras.

  100. snowdoggieii

    November 3, 2020 at 12:21 am

    So iphone makes your teeth look more yellow

  101. Grexx

    November 3, 2020 at 1:29 am

    Easy choice for me..Note 20 Ultra is close to $700 more than the iphone 12pro max here in Canada. Iphone for me

    • John carter

      November 3, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      How much does an iPhone 12 pro max cost in Canada?

    • Grexx

      November 3, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      @John carter Iphone 12 ProMax $1549 while Note Ultra $2250

    • John carter

      November 3, 2020 at 9:09 pm

      @Grexx that’s crazy

    • Grexx

      November 3, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      @John carter yup not worth the extra $700 for sure

  102. BJ Jones

    November 3, 2020 at 1:32 am

    Both of these phones are great and all..but my goodness, Lexy is gorgeous

  103. Antonio Teoli

    November 3, 2020 at 2:59 am

    Difficult to choose which one is better since the reporter is so pretty and look beautiful on both 😉

  104. Ronald Weidner

    November 3, 2020 at 4:04 am

    Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It shoots 8K videos. iPhone 12 Pro doesn’t.

  105. Stefanos

    November 3, 2020 at 8:46 am

    Iphone iphone👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

  106. Simon John Hinton

    November 3, 2020 at 8:53 am

    I’ve seen a few comparisons between the exynos vs snapdragon note 20 ultra and the 865+ produces much better photos and video. I live in the u.k and bought the Qualcomm version for £879. if you can’t afford to buy one outright then your stuck with the exynos 990. on contract thats all you’ll get! mine came with 256gb rom and a pair of akg headphones so that’s a good price.

  107. Vodakanal

    November 3, 2020 at 11:53 am

    Super👍👍👍

  108. Dimitris Jk

    November 3, 2020 at 12:34 pm

    Thumbs up for your smile 😘

  109. Dimitris Jk

    November 3, 2020 at 12:40 pm

    One thing is so sure: there is no perfect phone’s camera

  110. Kim Buk Tot

    November 3, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    Another iphone biased

  111. Yashwant Samdariya

    November 3, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    iPhone 12 pro awesome

  112. god

    November 3, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    🤣 look at what technology phones as become. being compared against each other over camera quality, pathetic

  113. John carter

    November 3, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    I have noticed a couple of trends:
    1. Pro iPhone comments are overly generalized exertions with few facts
    2. Pro Note comments are mostly from actual note owners relying helpful facts and/or experiences.

  114. Jared Mars

    November 3, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    Phones have gotten to a point where they are both amazing.

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