The iPhone XS Max was announced on September 12, 2018, just over a month after the arrival of Samsung’s latest large format flagship, the Galaxy Note 9. The two devices play on the same footing with their over 6-inch OLED screen, powerful dual photo sensors, steel technical plate and great price. Let’s move on to our full comparison.
iPhone XS Max and Galaxy Note 9: performance
In this field, two flagships are equal, especially thanks to the two excellent SoCs: A12 Bionic and Exynos 9810. Thanks to the power of these two components, the iPhone XS Max promises to be at least as fast as its rival. Despite its 4GB of RAM, benchmarks still give Apple’s smartphone an edge. Faced with its 8GB of RAM, the Note 9 is powerful and responsive, but suffers from a less fluid interface and less advanced software optimization. Thanks to iOS 12, the iPhone XS Max looks slightly above its rival on this side. We will clearly confirm this initial analysis in a future in-depth test.
On the autonomy side, the Galaxy Note 9 benefits from a 4000mAh battery that lasts up to 48 hours without any charge. Without specifying its capacity, Apple explains that the iPhone XS Max is equipped with the largest battery ever added to an iPhone. The iPhone XS Max has 1:30 longer lifespan than the iPhone X, whose autonomy is a good day and a half with heavy use. Samsung is holding the hand on this side!
iPhone XS Max and Galaxy Note 9: design and display
First of all, a small visual feature sets the two smartphones apart: the notch. Like the iPhone X from 2017, the iPhone XS Max has a display covered by a large notch. Like the rest of the Samsung lineup, the Galaxy Note 9 is enhanced with an Infinity Display surrounded by thin borders. Both smartphones benefit from OLED technology, which provides deep and pleasant colors.
As we mentioned in our full Galaxy Note 9 review, the phone’s display is nothing short of excellent. Samsung designs the best displays on the market. It is therefore not surprising that the OLED panel integrated in the iPhone XS Max…is supplied by Samsung. With the iPhone XS Max, Apple aims to use OLED even better than the iPhone X, which already has a display with excellent color rendering. In this space, the two smartphones are clearly playing in the big leagues.
In theory, it promises a slightly superior experience with the Note 9. 2960 x 1440 pixel definition. Limited to iPhone Xs Max 2688 x 1242 pixels. In fact, the nuance promises to be imperceptible. At this point, it’s more of a matter of taste. Like the iPhone X, the Xs Max offers more realistic colors than the Note 9, which stands out with a very dynamic, contrasting and vibrant color presentation. Finally, we note that the two devices are quite heavy, weighing in excess of 200 grams.
iPhone XS Max and Galaxy Note 9: camera
In the field of photography, the two devices will engage in a relentless war. According to DxoMark, the Galaxy Note 9 is the 3rd best photo smartphone on the market. The iPhone Xs Max promises to be a great competitor, thanks to its dual 12 MP photo sensors that are very similar to the iPhone X. In the keynote, Apple did indeed discuss photography at length.
In the iPhone XS, as in the iPhone XS Max, we find: an AI-powered SoC can improve photo processing. This technology is somewhat reminiscent of the Huawei P20 Pro and Kirin 970. In terms of hardware, if Samsung and Apple offer the best components on the market, much of the battle is mainly focused on software optimization.
As DxoMark points out, thanks to various algorithms, the Galaxy Note 9 can take photos successfully in most conditions. Like the S9 Plus, it works wonders in low light thanks to its dual variable aperture module. thanks to him Smart HDR optionThe iPhone XS Max will save several shots to combine them and create the ideal photo. We look forward to being able to decide between the two smartphones during a more in-depth test.
iPhone XS Max and Galaxy Note 9: Price
Faced with the iPhone XS Max and its €1,259 starting price, the Galaxy Note 9 doesn’t seem too expensive anymore. Starting at €1009 for the 128GB internal storage version, the Note 9 seems like the cheapest solution to get a large format flagship anytime soon. If you’re pretty greedy about storage, the Note 9 512GB will cost you just 1259 euros versus 1659€ for the iPhone XS Max.
First of all, the Note 9 may seem more advantageous if you’re on a tight budget, especially since it’s already available at a discounted price. It will be remembered, however, that the resale price of an iPhone drops by far less than an Android flagship. For example, the iPhone X was still selling at 68% of its original price a week before its 2018 keynote. This is a real record. Can it be repeated with the iPhone XS Max?
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