While the Galaxy S9 may be the biggest seller of the new releases from Samsung, the release of the range will also lead to a Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X war. It is more natural to compare the S9 Plus with the iPhone X, as these can both be considered premium devices. So how do these two major mobiles stack up against one another?
Size
The Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X battle begins here. Design is obviously critical to any smartphone compressor in the contemporary climate, and it is therefore notable that the iPhone X is significantly more compact than its rival.
The Galaxy S9 Plus measures 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm (6.22 x 2.91 x 0.33 in), while the dimensions of the iPhone X are 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in). However, the larger screen of the Galaxy S9 helps to explain this size disparity.
Weight
Similarly, the Galaxy S9 Plus is also heftier in weight than the iPhone X, weighing in at 189 grammes. The iPhone X weighs just 174 grammes, making it nearly 10 percent lighter than the Samsung release. However, in practical terms the two mobiles certainly feel rather similar in weight when actually held physically.
Display
Central to the Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X debate is the display size of the two devices, and the recent Samsung release undoubtedly wins out here. The Galaxy S9 Plus display is a large 6.2-inches, which is somewhat bigger than the 5.8-inch wraparound screen of the iPhone X.
Resolution
Resolution is also important in the Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X comparison, with the Samsung release winning out slightly here as well. The Galaxy S9 Plus is capable of displaying 1,440 x 2,960 pixels (~529 ppi density), after Samsung decided to retain the Quad HD+ resolution from previous releases.
The iPhone X has a much improved OLED screen in comparison to previous releases from Apple, but can only display 1,125 x 2,436 pixels (~458 ppi density). The early consensus of opinion on the Galaxy S9 Plus is that it features the best display in any mobile device available.
Camera
Camera provisions are also critical in the Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X comparison, and it is first informative to look at the raw specifications of the two devices.
Galaxy S9 Plus – Dual: 12 MP (f/1.5-2.4, 26mm, 1/2.55″, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel PDAF) + 12MP (f/2.4, 52mm, 1/3.6″, 1 µm, AF), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, LED flash
iPhone X – Dual: 12 MP (f/1.8, 28mm) + 12 MP (f/2.4, 52mm), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED dual-tone flash
While the strengths of the iPhone X camera are well-documented, it must be said that the Galaxy S9 Plus has the edge here, thanks to its market-leading aperture. Although extensive testing of the Galaxy S9 camera has yet to be undertaken by the critical community, we can reasonably expect its photographic capabilities to be the best yet from a smartphone.
Processor
The Galaxy S9 Plus is driven by an octa-core processor (4×2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4×1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver), while the iPhone X relies on a hexa-core 2.39 GHz (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral) unit. This does mean that the Galaxy S9 Plus has the more impressive specifications, while it should be noted that Apple devices always perform well due to the combination of proprietary hardware and software.
Memory
The Galaxy S9 Plus has double the memory of the iPhone X, with the two devices having been fitted with 6GB and 3GB respectively. Again, it is important to take the proprietary aspect of the Apple range into consideration, but it is surely time for the memory quantity included in the flagship to be increased.
Storage
Samsung has offered three storage options with the Galaxy S9 Plus, meaning that there is more choice for Android consumers than Apple fans. 64, 128 and 256GB models are available with the Galaxy S9 Plus, while the iPhone X excludes the 128GB version.
Battery
A non-removable 3,500 mAh battery has been included in the Galaxy S9 Plus; a significantly larger cell than the 2,716 mAh battery of the iPhone X. This should ensure that the battery lifecycle of the Samsung release is superior to the iPhone X, with Apple products often been criticized and derided in this area.
Price
Pricing will obviously be critical in the Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X battle, and the more affordable price tag of the Samsung release will be particularly welcome. The Galaxy S9 Plus will retail at $839.99, while the iPhone X launch price was $999.
Conclusion
Having made the Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X comparison, it is clear that the Samsung mobile has the edge in numerous spec categories. However, the design of the iPhone X is superior in the opinion of many observers, and this will continue to contribute to strong sales for Apple in the remainder of 2018.
Nonetheless, despite worries about the benchmarking performance of the Galaxy S9 series, it seems that the S9 Plus will be a worthy phablet contender.
