The iPhone 12 is expected this fall, but if rumors of an October release are correct, Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 could hit the market a few months ahead of the iPhone 12. The question is which flagship model will excite shoppers enough to upgrade.

There have already been a large number of leaks about both the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy Note 20, and both models appear to have a lot to offer. iPhone 12 and Note 20 both offer 5G speeds, and the Note 20 and iPhone 12 Pro series offer 120Hz refresh rate displays can be expected.

The Galaxy Note 20 Plus could also feature a 108MP camera, which would double the rumored 64MP iPhone 12 resolution. And of course, the Note 20 and Note 20 Plus should see a new upgrade with Samsung's S Pen. But even so, the iPhone 12 should still outperform the Galaxy Note 20. Here's why.

The A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11 remains the fastest chip, even after the Snapdragon 865 processor debuted in Samsung's Galaxy S20. And now comes a new 5nm chip, the A14 Bionic, which is slated for the iPhone this fall and is rumored to offer performance that rivals even the MacBook Pro.

Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 865 or a slightly newer Snapdragon 865+ with a modestly improved clock speed. The Note 20 could have as much as 16 GB of RAM as standard. Overall, however, the A14 Bionic should blow the Note 20, and all Android phones, out of the water again.

The Galaxy Note 20 is rumored to feature a similar but more angular design to the Galaxy S20 series. The latest renderings of the Note 20 Plus are unflattering, with an oversized camera bump. The Galaxy Note 10 offered some nice finishes, including an aura glow model, but was prone to fingerprints.

With the iPhone 12, we expect Apple to turn more heads. iPhone 12's design is said to be reminiscent of the iPhone 5, offering flatter edges and square corners. The overall design is also said to be thinner. Additionally, Apple will finally shrink the notch. With the addition of a new navy blue color, this retro-meets-future aesthetic may score big points with shoppers and actually feel like a new iPhone.

Like the iPad Pro 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are both expected to feature a new LiDAR sensor. Think of this as an enhanced time-of-flight sensor. It can map an entire room almost instantly, giving augmented reality (AR) apps a big boost. Apple plans to launch its own new iPhone AR app in iOS 14 that will take full advantage of this sensor. But LiDAR should also give the iPhone 12 Pro series an edge when it comes to advanced portrait and video effects.

As good as the Galaxy S20 Ultra's camera is, it fell flat as it struggled to focus. The good news is that the Galaxy Note 20 is rumored to have a dedicated autofocus sensor. However, Apple is not standing still on the camera front.

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max may boast new sensor-shift image stabilization technology as well as a 3x optical zoom that rivals the Note 20 and Note 20 Plus. This could allow for stabilization of ultra-wide angle lenses. In addition, the iPhone 12 should offer improved smart HDR performance, taking advantage of Apple's A-series chips and computational photography smarts.

The iPhone 11 beat the Galaxy S20 in the last photo showdown thanks to its superior Night Mode, Smart HDR, and Deep Fusion features. And we expect Apple to extend its camera lead with the iPhone 12 Pro.

This is always an advantage for Apple. Samsung devices usually have to wait until they get the latest OS from Google. The difference this time around is that iOS 14 should have some new features that make iPhone 12 feel truly new, even though the software update is available for older iPhones.

Expected iOS 14 features include a new multitasking interface, a new list of apps on the home screen, and the ability to set your own default apps (finally). We can also expect a new fitness app that should integrate with the Apple Watch 6 and other Apple Watches, and a new AR app called Gobi that works with QR codes to make shopping easier.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20, like other Note phones, will be a productivity-oriented phone for power users. Buyers want a large-screen device that will help them get work done with the S Pen, play games and watch movies on an immersive display, and the Note 20 and Note 20 Plus should fill those needs.

The Note 20 also delivers 120Hz with LTPO technology, which may make Samsung's display more efficient than Apple's. But when it comes to generating buzz and excitement and delivering on the hype, the iPhone 12 looks to be able to pull away from Samsung's flagship models in terms of hardware and software.