iPhone XS vs Galaxy S9

Which one is best for you?

Released within a few months of each other, iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S9 are both top-of-the-range phones featuring gorgeous OLED screens, advanced cameras, augmented reality apps and more.

If the camera spec is what interests you, both have a lot going for them. iPhone XS has dual 12-megapixel lenses – so you can zoom in without loss of quality or create beautiful blurred depth-of-field effects. Samsung Galaxy S9 has a single 12-megapixel camera that can adapt ‘like the human eye’ by switching between two apertures. This makes it exceptionally good in low light and allows for natural background blurring effects, too.

If sharing and social is more your thing, both let you have fun with personalised 3D characters. iPhone Xs lets you share your feelings by mapping your expression onto a range of Animoji characters, while Galaxy S9 lets you create your own 3D avatar that you can use to share stories with friends.

There’s plenty more you can do with either phone – whether for fun or to help you organise your day. If you still can’t decide, see our quick feature guide for inspiration.

Name iPhone XS Galaxy S9
Image note 9
Buy the iPhone XS
Choose a Device
Buy the Galaxy S9
Display 5.8 inches 5.8 inch Infinity Display
Size and weight Height: 158.2 mm
Width: 77.9 mm
Depth: 7.3 mm
Weight: 192 grams
Height: 147.7 mm
Width: 68.7 mm
Depth: 8.5 mm
Weight: 163 grams
Rear camera Dual 12 MP 12 MP + 12 MP
Front camera 7 MP 8 MP
Video recording 4K video recording at 24fps 4K video recording at 30 fps or 60fps
Processor A12 bionic chip Octa-core Exynos 9810
Battery 2658 mAh 3000 mAh
Storage 64 GB
256 GB
512 GB
64 GB
Splash, water and dust resistant Yes Yes
Buy now Buy the iPhone XS Buy the Galaxy S9