Why I’m Buying An iPhone 12 Pro Even Though Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Is Better

Apple‘s new iPhone 12 Pro seems like a very powerful device, but it’s not as capable as Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, this won’t stop many consumers from buying the latest iPhone over the newest Galaxy phone, due to being stuck in Apple’s ecosystem of interconnected devices. As this ecosystem becomes larger and more convenient, the option to leave Apple for a competing phone will continue to become harder, even if other phones are a better buy.

Apple announced the iPhone 12 Pro on October 13, confirming the device’s specs. With 5G, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto cameras, a 6.1-inch HDR display, and the new A14 Bionic chip, Apple’s newest phone is the most powerful iPhone yet. While the device is impressive with its new sleek and durable form factor, it lacks in too many areas when compared to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

At 120Hz, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a higher refresh rate than the iPhone 12 Pro. The Galaxy phone also favors a small hole punch selfie camera which takes up less of the screen than the iPhone 12 Pro’s large notch. The Galaxy phone has a better telephoto lens with a 100x digital zoom, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro’s 10x digital zoom. Not to mention. the Galaxy phone features unique tools as well, like the S Pen. When considering these factors, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra seems like the better phone overall. Yet, in spite of being the more impressive purchase, most consumers will still get the iPhone 12 Pro so that they can remain connected to Apple’s ecosystem.

Trapped In An Ecosystem

Now more than ever, tech companies are trying to expand their ecosystems by adding more devices and features that all work seamlessly together. Apple does this extremely well with its lineup of tablets, Macs, watches, and phones. Features like AirDrop allow seamless transferring of files between devices, or the Notes app that allows users to write notes, share them, and continue writing them on other devices. Apple’s extremely successful AirPods line is also notable, due to its instantaneous connection with Apple products. This group of interconnected devices is a major reason why many consumers will stick with iPhone.

It has become so easy to use an iPhone with other devices that it’s difficult to leave that ecosystem behind, and as the company adds more Apple devices and features, it will become even more difficult to leave. Even if a user may not have many Apple devices, the ecosystem still often remains their connection to friends and family. Apps only available on Apple devices, like iMessage and FaceTime, offer an easy way to text and video call other iPhone users. Leaving iPhone not only means losing cross-device compatibility, but also leaving behind these social apps, and that can be a very difficult thing for some to do.

While the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is probably the better phone buy, it won’t matter to those who refuse to leave Apple’s ecosystem. The connection with other Apple devices and device owners now weighs more heavily than the specs of any phone. While a problem for Apple users, it is no longer just their issue. As Samsung continues to expand its ecosystem, with devices like Galaxy Buds, and a deal with Microsoft that makes it even easier to connect Android and Windows 10 devices, Galaxy device users are now heading down a similar path.

Source: Apple

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