Galaxy S10+ • Unlocked vs iPhone 11 Pro • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, released in March 2019, and the iPhone 11 Pro, launched in September 2019, represent flagship smartphones from their respective manufacturers. While both devices offer premium experiences, they diverge significantly in their operating systems, camera philosophies, and display characteristics. This comparison aims to highlight the practical differences to help users make an informed decision.

When considering the longevity of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and physical resilience.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The iPhone 11 Pro, being released several months after the Galaxy S10 Plus, generally benefits from a slightly longer period of software updates from its manufacturer. iPhones typically receive iOS updates for approximately 5-6 years from their release, with one user noting their iPhone 11 Pro was still receiving updates in early 2025. The Galaxy S10 Plus, launched with Android 9.0 (Pie), received major Android updates up to Android 12.
• Build Materials and Durability: The Galaxy S10 Plus features Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the back, encased in an aluminum frame. The iPhone 11 Pro incorporates what Apple described as the "toughest glass ever in a smartphone" and a stainless steel frame. Both devices carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against submersion.
• Real-world Resilience: Independent durability tests indicated that the iPhone 11 Pro showed improvements in resilience, with one test noting it was the first iPhone to survive a tumble test with minimal damage, though significant drops could still cause damage. The robust glass protection on the Galaxy S10 Plus also contributes to its physical durability.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, app usage, and multitasking, and both devices offer capable internal components.

• Processing Power and Responsiveness: The iPhone 11 Pro is equipped with a hexa-core processor, which users often describe as providing a very fast and smooth experience for demanding applications and multitasking. The Galaxy S10 Plus features an octa-core processor, delivering strong performance for everyday use and handling various applications efficiently.
• Memory and Storage Options: The Galaxy S10 Plus offers more flexible memory configurations, with options for 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and internal storage choices of 128GB, 512GB, or 1TB. It also supports expandable storage via a microSD card. The iPhone 11 Pro comes with 4GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB, without expandable storage.
• Battery Endurance: The Galaxy S10 Plus houses a 4100 mAh battery, which generally provides extended usage, with some tests reporting over 12 hours of web browsing. The iPhone 11 Pro, with its 3046 mAh battery, also demonstrated significant improvements in battery life compared to its predecessors, often lasting over 10 hours in various usage scenarios.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both models feature high-quality screens with distinct characteristics.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S10 Plus boasts a larger 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, offering a resolution of 3040 x 1440 pixels and a pixel density of 522 ppi. This display features curved edges. The iPhone 11 Pro has a more compact 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels and a pixel density of 458 ppi.
• Visual Clarity and Brightness: Both displays offer vibrant colors and deep blacks due to their AMOLED/OLED technology, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The Galaxy S10 Plus supports HDR10+ and can reach up to 1200 nits of peak brightness. The iPhone 11 Pro's display supports HDR (Dolby Vision and HDR10) and achieves up to 800 nits typical brightness, with a peak of 1200 nits for HDR content.
• Unique Display Features: The Galaxy S10 Plus integrates an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint reader and features a punch-hole cutout for its front cameras. The iPhone 11 Pro includes True Tone technology, which adjusts the display's color temperature to match ambient lighting, and Haptic Touch for responsive feedback.

Both smartphones offer advanced camera systems designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, though with different strengths and features.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy S10 Plus features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 12MP wide-angle lens with variable aperture, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 16MP ultrawide lens. This configuration allows for a broad range of photographic styles. The iPhone 11 Pro also sports a triple-camera system, with three 12MP lenses: wide, ultrawide, and telephoto.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S10 Plus is noted for its excellent color reproduction and exposure in bright lighting conditions, with its ultrawide lens being a significant advantage for capturing expansive scenes. However, its low-light performance can sometimes appear less vibrant. The iPhone 11 Pro is praised for its overall camera experience, including substantial improvements in low-light photography and consistent image quality across its lenses, supported by a dedicated Night Mode.
• Video Recording and Front Cameras: Both devices are capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. The Galaxy S10 Plus includes a dual front-facing camera system (10MP wide and 8MP depth sensor) that can also record 4K selfie videos. The iPhone 11 Pro features a single 12MP front camera, which is also highly regarded for its video recording capabilities.