Apple iPhone Air (256GB) vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.5"
OLED
OLED
1260x2736
48
MP
MP
18mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
3149
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.7"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone Air (256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
23 Advantages 
12 Advantages | 27 Common items in both devices |
| LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED / Super AMOLED Plus |
| Dolby Vision/HDR10 / HDR10+ |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| BSI sensor |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| (front) 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| 5000 Mbps |
| +20 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Model | iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) |
| Other model names | iPhone 17 Air (A3260, A3517, A3518) | Galaxy Note20 SM-N981U (Snapdragon) - US Carriers |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  USA |
| Brand | Apple | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/19/2025, Announced: 9/9/2025 | 8/21/2020, Announced: 8/5/2020 |
| Depth | 5.6 millimeters (0.22 inches) | 8.3 millimeters (0.33 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.7 x 156.2 millimeters (2.94 x 6.15 in) | 75.2 x 161.6 millimeters (2.96 x 6.36 in) |
| Weight | 165 grams (5.78 ounces) | 194 grams (6.79 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Titanium frame, glass front and back Back: Ceramic Shield | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Display type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Screen size | 6.5" inches | 6.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~88.8% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~89.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1260x2736 pixels (19.5:9) | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 463 PPI | 393 PPI |
| Colors | 1 billion | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Ceramic Shield 2 | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 1000nits[typ], 3000nits[peak] Dolby Vision/HDR10 Always-On Display Oleophobic coating screen True-tone Wide color gamut | HDR10+ Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| System version | iOS 26 | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | Android 13 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI 2.5 / 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.0 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A19 Pro (3nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (SM8250-AB) (7nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 4.26GHz P-Core (Dual-core) 4x 2.2GHz E-Core (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 3.09GHz Kryo 585 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 585 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | A19 Pro GPU (5-core) | Qualcomm Adreno 650 (250-646MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 2000993 (v10) Geekbench: 9682 (v6.5) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| RAM memory | 12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal storage | 256GB (230GB available) NVMe (SSD) | 128GB (103GB available) UFS 3.0 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Not supported |
| SIM card | e-SIM (Eletronic) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1024 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat20 VoLTE A3517 (International): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 53, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3260 (USA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | A3517 (International): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3260 (USA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 41, 66, 71) mmWave (260, 261) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6, mmWave | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 48 megapixels | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.027mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.2120°13mm1/2.55"1.4µm |
| Main camera resolution | 8000x6000 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.6 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/1.56" inches | 1/1.76" inches |
| Pixel size | 1µm pixel | 1.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization on both cameras | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Digital and optical zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 4K@24/25/30/60fps 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps Dolby Vision (60fps) | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 18 megapixels 0.3MP SL 3D | 10 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 5184x3456 pixels | 3872x2592 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.9 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/3.2" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.22µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio 3D | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 3D Gyroscope Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3149 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 30W Wired fast charging 4.5W Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 2.0 | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 25W Qi2 wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue • Apple Intelligence • Apple Pay • Face ID • MagSafe | • Colors: Mystic Gray, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Blue • Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor • Bixby • Samsung Wireless DeX • Samsung Pay (MST, NFC) • Stylus pen (Bluetooth integration) |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.78W/kg (head), 0.92W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |