14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has finally unveiled its new-generation iPhone, and this year the upgraded series also includes a so-called XS Max, which is technically a Plus-sized version of the iPhone X.
As the biggest iPhone ever released by Apple, this new product plays a double role for the Cupertino-based tech giant.
First, it provides iPhone buyers with increased screen estate, technically bringing the company closer to the phablet market. And second, which is strongly linked with the previous, it makes the iPhone a true competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Note series.
Until now, iPhones were considered rivals to Galaxy S models, but now that Apple has launched the Xs Max, it’s safe to say that this is an alternative to the Note 9. The only thing it lacks is pen input, otherwise, it’s pretty much a fight between giants. Literally.
Read on to see what each model is up to and should you be in the market for such a smartphone, which one to buy.
Design and display
First and foremost, it’s worth noting from the very beginning that these are the biggest smartphones that both Samsung and Apple offer to buyers. In other words, you won’t find a larger screen on one of their models.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with a Super AMOLED display whose performance has already been praised by pretty much everyone. Samsung makes stunning screens, and even Apple agrees with this, as the original iPhone X used a display manufactured by the South Korean firm as well.
The Note 9 display measures 6.4 inches and offers a resolution of 1440x2960 pixels with an 18.5:9 ratio, just like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
On the other hand, the iPhone XS Max comes with a 6.5-inch display that is very likely to be manufactured by LG. Apple does not offer such info, but it’s been rumored that the XS sticks with Samsung, while the larger model goes for display tech provided by LG.
As usual, the Cupertino-based tech giant keeps all the other specifics secret, but it’s possible that the new-generation iPhone uses Gorilla Glass 6, which is supposed to offer even more advanced protection. iPhone XS Max also launches with an OLED screen, though its performance remains to be determined during an in-depth review.
A notch at the top of the screen continues to be available on the new iPhone, whereas Samsung has pledged for a world without notches.
| Galaxy Note 9 | iPhone XS Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.4 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Other features | Gorilla Glass 5 Always-on S Pen compatible |
Gorilla Glass 6 (unconfirmed) Notch 3D Touch |
CPU, RAM, storage
Things are a little bit clearer in this department, though we should once again emphasize that these are the most powerful phones that Apple and Samsung offer right now.
The Note 9 is available in two different configurations, being powered by either Samsung’s Exynos 9810 or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845. The chip is paired with 6GB RAM, but a more special version that also features 512GB storage can be ordered with 8GB RAM. The other configurations feature 128GB storage by default.
Samsung continues to offer the Note 9 with a microSD card slot, so if you want to expand capacity, you can do with minimal costs and without relying on cloud power.
Apple’s iPhone XS Max is powered by the company’s in-house A12 chip, which for the first time uses 4GB RAM. This is quite an achievement in the Apple world, as the Cupertino-based tech giant has typically relied on small amounts of RAM and extreme software optimizations, but given the camera upgrades, the iPhone does need more memory.
Apple has also upgraded iPhone XS Max storage capacity to 512GB, but this time you’re not getting a microSD card. This isn’t surprising in any way, as the lack of a microSD card slot has been a thing for many years already on the iPhone. On the other hand, Apple bets big on cloud power, so if you want more storage, you have to pay for an iCloud storage plan.
| Galaxy Note 9 | Apple iPhone XS Max | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Exynos 9810 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
Apple A12 7nm |
| RAM | Up to 8GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB/512GB | 64/256/512 GB |
Cameras
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XS Max obviously have two of the most advanced cameras right now, together with Huawei P20 Pro and HTC 12.
Note 9 comes with a dual-camera configuration that uses a 12-megapixel sensor (f/1.5-2.4, 26mm, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) paired with another 12-megapixel unit (f/2.4, 52mm, 1/3.4", 1µm, AF, OIS) that also features 2x optical zoom.
Samsung equipped its model with an LED flash, auto HDR, and all kinds of other features like super slo-mo recording, which is quite an amazing feature for those who like to record videos.
Apple also launched the iPhone XS Max with a dual-camera system placed in a vertical position on the back, just like on the 5.8-inch model. This time, however, the configuration is different.
Apple uses a dual-camera configuration with two 12-megapixel sensors, one of which also offers 2x optical zoom. The sensors come in the following setups: 12MP (f/1.8, 28mm, 1.4µm, OIS, 6-element lens, Focus Pixels) and 12MP (f/2.4, 6-element lens OIS).
Other features
Galaxy Note 9 comes with two major features that iPhone owners can only drool after: a headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor. Despite the new trends that all manufacturers seem to embrace and give up on such tech, Samsung wants to stay with the classics and keeps both the old-school audio connector and the fingerprint reader on its phones.
The Note 9 also features facial recognition and iris scanners, but they aren’t as advanced as Apple’s.
iPhone XS Max bets entirely on Face ID. Apple’s system uses 3D sensing cameras for increased accuracy, and this second generation is said to be faster and more reliable. Of course, this is one of the things that’ll be interesting to test in an in-depth review.
The new iPhone, however, doesn’t have a fingerprint reader, as Touch ID has apparently become a thing of the past for Apple. The same thing for the headphone jack, as the Cupertino-based tech giant is betting all-in on the Lightning port – this thing could change soon, however, as it’s being rumored that a possible switch to USB-C is under evaluation.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 also features fast charging with Quick Charge 2.0, and while this has been a feature of the original iPhone X as well, performance was way below expectations. Apple promised to increase fast charging on the iPhone XS Max, but we’ll see how this works in real life.
Galaxy Note 9 comes with a battery pack of 4,000 mAh, enough to get you through the day easily, while Apple’s iPhone XS Max doesn’t yet jump over the 3,000 mAh milestone.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, choosing between iPhone XS Max and Galaxy Note 9 is just a matter of picking either Android or iOS.
These two devices are currently the leaders of their platforms, and come with pretty much the best their parent companies can offer right now.
The Galaxy Note 9 may not look as exquisite as the iPhone XS Max, but it’s a monster in terms of hardware. It comes with a stunning display, a pen with new capabilities, a large battery, and amazing speakers that sound incredible, all at a price that’s substantially below the one of the new iPhone.
On the other hand, iPhone XS Max is likely to appeal specifically to iPhone fans, particularly to those who previously owned a Plus model. The increased screen estate thanks to the edge-to-edge design, Face ID, and the improved camera are all catalysts that are expected to increase the adoption of Apple’s new iPhone lineup.
Truth be told, you can’t be wrong in choosing any of them, though I’d say that spending so much money on a smartphone is a decision that shouldn’t be made overnight. Whatever you choose, make sure you consider all of the above thoroughly.
