EDITOR'S NOTE: Since their release dates in 2018 and 2019, the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S10 have been replaced by newer Pixel and Galaxy S-series models. Both phones have been discontinued by Apple and Samsung; the iPhone XS no longer supports iOS updates, and Galaxy S10 is no longer supported with the latest Android software updates.
The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the devices' releases, and availability will differ from when we first reviewed them. You can upgrade to a newer iPhone or new Galaxy phone, or you may still be able to find refurbished models of this device through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.
Article Summary
Samsung has at last revealed details on its highly anticipated new line of phones. While we'll have to wait a bit longer for the Samsung Flip, the S10, S10+ and S10e are a few short weeks a way, and they're officially available for preorder.
Is the S10 enough of a leap forward to convince Apple users to jump ship? This article takes a look at how Samsung smartphone versions stack up against two of Apple's flagships, the iPhone XS and XS Max, in terms of their respective cameras, batteries, internal specs and prices.
Galaxy S10/S10+ vs. iPhone XS/XS Max: Specs
Samsung's new S10 and S10 Max improve upon their Galaxy predecessors in some key areas, and in the process leapfrog the iPhone XS and XS Max in these same ways.
Samsung Galaxy S10 & S10 Vs. iPhone XS & XS Max
Galaxy S10/S10+ vs. iPhone XS/XS Max: Cameras
One of the headlines of the S10's unveiling is its "hole punch" front camera design. This allows for an essentially bezel-less phone face, whereas the XS has a notch on top for the camera. Oh, and that camera is an impressive 10 megapixels (10 MP and 8 MP on the S10+), to the iPhone XS/MX Max's 7 MP.
The S10/S10 also sports the first-ever triple rear camera setup with a 16MP camera for wide-angle shots, a 12MP camera for telephoto shots, and another 12MP camera for standard shots. Compare that to the iPhone XS and XS Max's dual 12 MP rear cameras. Clearly Apple has some catching up to do when they debut their new iPhone this September.
Galaxy S10/S10+ vs. iPhone XS/XS Max: Internals
Another of the Galaxy S10's main selling points is a powerful processor that reportedly outperforms some laptops—powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 855. I'm personally not steeped in the tech of it all, but it features a lot of "cores," and CPU that's 45% faster than its predecessor. Apple made a pretty big deal about the processing speed of their own A12 chip when the XS when it came out. It sounds pretty likely that the S10's processing speed is superior to the XS's though.
The Galaxy S10/S10+ pairs this processing speed with more internal RAM than the iPhone XS/XS Max, specifically 8 or 12GB. The XS and XS Max "only" feature 4GB of RAM.
Galaxy S10/S10+ vs. iPhone XS/XS Max: Battery
Another key area in which the S10 / S10+ bests the XS is battery life. Indeed, the S10+'s 4,100 mAh battery is the flat out biggest ever in a smartphone, blowing both the iPhone XS (2,658mAh) and XS Max (3,174mAh) out of the water in this department. Even the regular S10's 3,400 mAh battery outdoes the bigger of Apple's flagships.
Galaxy S10/S10+ vs. iPhone XS/XS Max: Price
The biggest gripe leveled against the S10 and S10+ so far is their respective prices: $900 for the base S10 model, and $1,000 for the base S10+. With an increasing number of people hanging onto to their phones for longer periods of time, these prices can strike you as somewhat self-defeating for Samsung.
Of course, iPhones are not exactly known for their affordability, and there's no getting around the fact that the XS and XS Max are freaking expensive. You could spend nearly $1,500 for the most deluxe version of the Max, which is pretty insane. You could buy a pretty decent used motor bike for that kind of coin.
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer
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