The iPhone’s biggest rival is the Samsung Galaxy, and with Apple’s latest flagship phone reportedly set to cut production amid falling sales, there is an opportunity for Samsung to step into a bigger portion of the market.
The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are releasing in mid-March, and pre-orders are available now.
The Appearance
The Galaxy S8’s design was loved when it was released last year, and it is still considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing phones available, so Samsung just stuck with the design and decided to improve in other ways. In fact, Apple usually does that for several models in a row (iPhone 6s, 7, 8 for example) before changing it up, so Samsung can get a pass on this one.
That being said, a lot of people really love how the iPhone X looks, so this can be considered a scratch. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say.
The Specs
I don’t want to bog down this post with technical jargon, so if you’re into the nitty-gritty details, Tech Advisor has a great rundown of the specs here. I’ll try to break down the differences that are important to the majority of users.
Screen – The Samsung Galaxy S9 has the same sized screen as the iPhone X, while the S9 Plus’s screen is larger. The resolution is also better on the Galaxies. However, users may like the colors on the iPhone X’s screen better because they will adjust to the ambient light around you.
Camera – According to cnet, the S9 Plus has the best camera on the market now, beating Google’s Pixel 2 and the iPhone X. It’s by a very slim margin though, and this is all before the phone is actually out of the demo rooms, so that opinion could change.
Headphone Jack – I’m really only adding this because the iPhone X, much like its predecessors since the iPhone 7, does not have a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. It only has its lightning port, so if you have traditional headphones you either need a converter, or to get a new pair of headphones (which should come with the phone actually).
ID Sensors – The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus have fingerprint sensors on the back of the phone, in a pretty convenient spot. The iPhone X doesn’t actually use fingerprint sensors any more, as they got rid of it for a bigger screen, but they do have their facial recognition!
The S9 also has facial recognition, but it’s done using a different method, called Intelligent Scan. It’s reported to be less secure than Apple’s facial recognition, which has already run into a few problems of its own.
If you prefer to use your fingerprint to open your phone, the Galaxies are THE option, and if you really want to use your face to unlock your phone, the iPhone X might be the right choice.
Ending Thoughts
Something I didn’t include, but that is very important, is the price. The iPhone X is the most expensive phone of these three options, but you probably knew that.
On paper, these are very similar phones that should feel pretty similarly, and if you enjoy the iPhone’s interface, you’ll spend the additional few hundred for the iPhone X or buy a cheaper-but-still-expensive iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.
If you’re an Android user (who plans to stay as an Android user) and want to get the best phone on the market, the S9 or S9 Plus is a great place to start.