Side by side comparison and review of Samsung Galaxy S9 and Apple iPhone XS Max. Compare sizes, cameras, batteries, memory capacities and other key specifications and features to simplify the choice of your perfect phone. Our goal is to make it easier for you to decide on the phone that will best meet your expectations by revealing the main differences between the products.
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
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Manufacturer Model Number | SM-G960W | A2101 | |
Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
Height | 147.7 mm | 157.5 mm | Apple iPhone XS Max has greater height than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Width | 68.7 mm | 77.4 mm | Apple iPhone XS Max has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Depth | 8.5 mm | 7.7 mm | Apple iPhone XS Max is narrower than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Weight | 163 g | 208 g | Samsung Galaxy S9 is lighter than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Body Colour | Titanium grey | Lilac purple | Midnight black | Coral blue | Space grey | Silver | Gold | |
Body Material | Metal frame | Glass, surgical‑grade stainless steel | |
Protection | Dustproof, splashproof, waterproof | Dustproof, splashproof, waterproof | |
Waterproof (Water-resistant) | Yes | Yes | Both phones are waterproof. |
IP rating | IP68 | IEC 60529 IP68 | |
Repairability Index | - | 6.9 (out of 10) | |
SAR Value | 1.08 W/kg (body), 0.63 W/kg (head) | 0.99 W/kg (body), 0.99 W/kg (head) | |
Integrated Components | Heart rate sensor | - | |
Connector Type | USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C Headset jack - mini-phone 3.5mm |
Lightning | |
SIM Card Type (Size) | Nano SIM | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | |
SIM Card Qty | Single-SIM | Dual-SIM |
DISPLAY | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Display Type | OLED display | OLED display | |
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Display Technology | Quad HD+ Super AMOLED | Super Retina HD | |
Screen Size (Display Size) | 5.8" | 6.5" | Apple iPhone XS Max has larger screen size than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) | 2960 x 1440 pixels | 2688 x 1242 pixels | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better screen resolution than Apple iPhone XS Max. |
Display Format | QHD+ | - | |
Pixel Density | 570 ppi | 458 ppi | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better pixel density than Apple iPhone XS Max. |
Aspect Ratio | 18.5:9 | - | |
Max Brightness | - | 625 cd/m² | |
Colour Depth | 16.7 million colours | - | |
Contrast Ratio | - | 1000000:1 | |
HDR | Yes | Yes | Both phones have HDR. |
HDR Technology | - | HDR10 | |
Display Enhancement Technology | - | Dolby Vision | |
Display Refresh Rate | - | 120 Hz | |
Display Features | Always-on display, Edge Screen, Infinity Display | True Tone display, Wide colour display (P3) | |
Display Protection (Screen Protector) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (scratch resistant glass) | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
PROCESSOR | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Processor Type (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Apple A12 Bionic | |
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Processor Number | MSM8998 | - | |
Clock Speed | 2.8 GHz | - | |
Processor Core Qty | 8-core | 6-core | Samsung Galaxy S9 has higher processor core quantity than Apple iPhone XS Max. |
64-bit Architecture | Yes | Yes | Both phones have 64-bit architecture. |
Graphics System (GPU) | Qualcomm ADRENO 630 | - |
MEMORY | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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RAM | LPDDR4 SDRAM - 4 GB | - | |
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Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 64 GB | 64 GB | Both phones have the same internal memory capacity. |
User Memory | 48.8 GB | - | |
Supported Flash Memory Cards (Expandable Memory) | microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 400 GB | - |
CAMERA | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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MAIN CAMERA |
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Number of Main Cameras | 1 | 2 | |
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Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Both phones have the same camera resolution. |
Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | - | |
Sensor Type | - | BSI | |
Lens Type | - | Wide-angle lens | |
Lens Aperture | F/1.5 & f/2.4 | F/1.8 | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Lens Construction | - | 6-element | |
Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
Focus Adjustment | Automatic, manual | Automatic | |
Optical Zoom | - | 2x | |
Digital Zoom | 8x | 10x | Apple iPhone XS Max has better digital zoom than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Self-Timer Delay | Yes | - | |
Special Effects | Motion effect, HDR, Stamp, Bokeh effect, Grid Line, Stickers | Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono | |
HDR Mode | - | Smart HDR | |
Camera Modes | Panorama, Pro mode, Timer mode, HYPERLAPSE, Auto mode, low-light shots, Food mode, Super Slow-mo, AR Emoji | Burst mode, Panorama, Timer mode, low-light shots, tap to focus, Live Photos, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, wide colour capture for photos and Live Photos | |
Face Recognition (Face ID) | Face detection | Body and face detection | Both phones have face detection. |
White Balance | Custom, automatic | - | |
Light Source | LED flash | True Tone quad LED flash | |
Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 2560 x 1440 (QHD) at 30 fps | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 120 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 24 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps | |
Camera Features (Functions) | Selective Focus, Quick Launch, Playback zoom, Tracking Focus, Motion photo, Exposure, Shutter speed, geotagging, Continuous Auto Focus (CAF), RAW image capture, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), High CRI LED flash, Tracking AF, Stamps, location tags, Hyperlapse video support 1080p, Live focus with bokeh filters, Super Speed Dual Pixel | Sapphire crystal lens cover, Cinematic video stabilisation, Focus Pixels, Cinematic video stabilisation, Playback zoom, Hybrid IR filter, Exposure control, geotagging, LTM (Local Tone Mapping), Stereo Recording, Continuous autofocus video, 8MP still photos recording 4K video, Time‑lapse video with stabilisation, Slow Sync, Advanced red-eye correction, Optical image stabilization for video, Extended dynamic range for video |
SECOND CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) | - | 12 Megapixel | |
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Lens Type (2nd Camera) | - | Telephoto lens | |
Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | - | F/2.4 | |
Camera Functions (2nd Camera) | - | Capture depth information |
FRONT CAMERA |
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Number of Front Cameras | 1 | 2 | |
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Sensor Resolution (Front) | 8 Megapixel | 7 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better front camera resolution than Apple iPhone XS Max. |
Sensor Size (Front) | 1/3.6" | - | |
Sensor Type (Front) | CMOS | BSI | |
Lens Aperture (Front) | F/1.7 | F/2.2 | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better front lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
Focus Adjustment | Automatic | - | |
Special Effects (Front) | HDR, Grid Line | Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono | |
HDR Mode (Front) | - | Smart HDR | |
Camera Modes (Front) | Timer mode, wide selfie mode, selfie mode, AR Emoji, selfie focus | Burst mode, Timer mode, Live Photos, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting | |
Face Recognition (Face ID) | - | Body and face detection, face recognition | Apple iPhone XS Max has face detection. |
Light Source (Front) | - | Retina Flash | |
Video Resolutions (Front) | - | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps | |
Camera Features (Front) | Quick launch, Motion photo, Stamps, location tags, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization) | FaceTime HD camera, Exposure control, Auto image stabilisation, Animoji, Memoji, TrueDepth camera, Extended dynamic range for video, Cinematic video stabilisation |
SECOND FRONT CAMERA |
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Camera Functions (2nd Front) | - | Infrared camera for Face ID | |
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Camera Features (2nd Front) | - | Flood Illuminator, Dot Projector |
BATTERY AND CHARGING | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 3000 mAh | - | |
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Fast Charging Technology | - | Apple fast charging technology | Apple iPhone XS Max has fast charging technology. |
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | Both phones can be charged wirelessly. |
Wireless Charging Standards | WPC, PMA | Qi | |
Standby Time | 326 hours | - | |
Talk Time | 1860 minutes | 1500 minutes | Samsung Galaxy S9 has longer battery life when making calls than Apple iPhone XS Max. |
Run Time Details | Talk (3G): up to 1860 min Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 14 hrs Active online usage (3G): up to 12 hrs Active online usage (LTE): up to 14 hrs Playback (audio (Always On Display Off)): up to 90 hrs Playback (audio (Always On Display On)): up to 51 hrs Playback (video): up to 17 hrs Standby (AOD off): up to 326 hrs Standby (AOD on): up to 82 hrs |
Talk: up to 1500 min Active online usage: up to 13 hrs Playback (wireless video): up to 15 hrs Playback (wireless audio): up to 65 hrs |
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Battery Technology | - | Lithium Ion |
CELLULAR | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Technology | TD-SCDMA / WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | |
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Mobile Broadband Generation | 4G | 4G | Both phones have the same mobile network generation. |
Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo | iOS 12 | |
Intelligent Assistant | Bixby | Siri | |
Payment Technology | Samsung Pay | Apple Pay | |
Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS |
COMMUNICATIONS | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, VoLTE, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, VoWiFi | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, DC-HSDPA, LTE Advanced, VoLTE, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, VoWiFi, Gigabit LTE | |
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2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM | |
3G UMTS Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | - | |
3G UMTS Frequency | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | - | |
4G LTE Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 29, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 66 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 14, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 29, Band 30, Band 32, Band 34, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 66 | |
4G LTE Frequency | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 700d, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700 PS, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 700d, FDD 2300 WCS, FDD 1500 L, TDD 2000, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | |
Wireless Interface | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, ANT+/ANT | IEEE 802.11ac | |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
Bluetooth Profiles | HFP, HSP, OPP, PAN, A2DP, AVRCP, HID, SAP, PBAP, MAP, HOGP | - | |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Both phones have an NFC reader for mobile payments. |
Messaging Services | SMS, MMS | SMS, MMS |
MEDIA | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Supported Digital Audio Standards | WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, AAC-LC, XMF, AAC +, OGG, eAAC+, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, apt-X, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, OPUS, DFF, MID, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, Vorbis, DSD64, DSD128 | Audible, MP3, FLAC, Apple Lossless, AC-3, AAC-LC, LPCM, HE-AAC, Audible AAX, Audible AAX+, protected AAC, EAC3, HE-AAC v2 | |
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Supported Digital Video Standards | MKV, VC-1, FLV, AVC, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, 3GP, H.264, H.263, M4V, WebM, HEVC, MP43, 3G2, WMV8, VP8, VP9, H.265, WMV7 | M-JPEG, H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4 Part 2, HEIF | |
Sound Enhancements | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Digital sound |
FEATURES | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Phone Functions | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | |
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Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, RGB sensor, heart rate, pressure sensor, geomagnetic sensor | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, 3-axis gyro sensor, digital compass, barometer | |
Security Devices | Face recognition, fingerprint reader, eye scan | Face recognition | |
Security Technology | - | Face ID | |
Additional Phone Features | Multitasking, Face Unlock, Wi-Fi Miracast, Multi Window, MU-MIMO technology, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, High AOP Mic, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, Intelligent Scan | TTY compatible, FaceTime, MIMO technology, Wi-Fi Calling, iBeacon microlocation, QuickType keyboard, Apple TV support (2nd or later), Neural Engine, AirPlay Mirroring |
OTHERS | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
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Included Accessories | Power adapter, SIM card removal tool, USB Connector (USB-C), micro-USB connector, USB-C cable, headset (tuned by AKG) | Power adapter, Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector, Lightning to USB cable | |
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Compliant Standards | IP68 | IEC 60529 IP68, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible) | |
Max Depth of Water Resistance | 1.5 m | 2 m | |
Max Operating Temperature | - | 35 °C | |
Min Operating Temperature | - | 0 °C | |
Humidity Range Operating | - | 5 - 95% (non-condensing) |