HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1)
Side by side comparison between HTC U11 Life vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
5.2"
SLCD5
SLCD5
1080x1920
16
MP
MP
16mp
3GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
2600
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? Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1)
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!
5 Advantages 
23 Advantages | 25 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus / PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| BSI sensor |
| HDR photo on both cameras / HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +18 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 | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Model | U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) |
| Other model names | T-Mobile HTC U11 Life (North America), HTC Ocean Life | Galaxy Note20 SM-N981U (Snapdragon) - Unlocked |
| Country or region available |   Canada, USA | USA |
| Brand | HTC | Samsung |
| Release date | 11/2/2017 | 8/21/2020, Announced: 8/5/2020 |
| Depth | 8.1 millimeters (0.32 inches) | 8.3 millimeters (0.33 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 72.9 x 149.09 millimeters (2.87 x 5.87 in) | 75.2 x 161.6 millimeters (2.96 x 6.36 in) |
| Weight | 142 grams (4.97 ounces) | 192 grams (6.72 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Waterproof (IP?) | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Display type | TFT Super LCD 5 | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Screen size | 5.2" inches | 6.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~68.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~89.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x1920 pixels | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 424 PPI | 393 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | HDR10+ Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| System version | Android 7.1 Nougat | 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 | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SDM630 (14nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (SM8250-AB) (7nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.2GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) 4x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (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 | Qualcomm Adreno 508 | Qualcomm Adreno 650 (250-646MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| RAM memory | 3GB LPDDR4 | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (22GB available) | 128GB (103GB available) UFS 3.0 |
| External storage | Until 256GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 450/75 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat9 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,12,17,13,28,20,66) | 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 | Not supported | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 41, 66, 71) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA |
| 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 | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 16 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 | 4608x3456 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/2.0 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/1.76" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | 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 on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 16 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 4608x3456 pixels | 3872x2592 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.0 (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 | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| 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 | Not supported | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, 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, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | 17 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | 670 hours (27.9 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| 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: Black, Sapphire Blue, Ice White • USB OTG On-The-Go • Plastic body • Plastic case included • Amazon Alexa • HTC Sense UI • HTC BoomSound • Hi-Res audio • 24-bit/192kHz audio • Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter • Slow motion • VoLTE • Miracast • IP67 certified: dust and water resistant up to 1m and 30min | • 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 | ||
| HTC U11 Life (32GB NA) | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U1) | |
| 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 |