iPhone X vs Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Google Pixel 2 XL vs OnePlus 5T Comparison Review

It has been a while since Samsung released their latest flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S9. Now that we have got enough time to compare this phone with the latest Apple iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL and OnePlus 5T, it’s time to find out which one is leading in which department. We will be comparing the cameras, software, design, hardware, unique features and price of these phones and choose a winner in the end. The OnePlus 5T is not really on a similar level compared to the other phones here but it’s packing quite a lot under the hood. It’s a tough crowd so keep reading to find out who is the winner here.

Design

While the Samsung Galaxy series was completely redesigned with the Samsung Galaxy S8, it took a while for Apple to catch up with the attractive bezel-less display. That being said, the Apple iPhone X will definitely grab your attention with it’s combination of surgical-grade stainless steel and glass on both front and back side. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is another phone on the list that looks and feels premium with Gorilla Glass 5, 3D Touch home button and a slightly better screen-to-body ratio. Both of these phones are leading in this category compared to the other two phones: OnePlus 5T and Google Pixel 2 XL. All the phones here except the OnePlus 5T offers a certain level of water-resistance and comes with either IP67 or IP68 certified protection. It might be a draw between the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9 for some people but if you check how thin the iPhone X is and how Apple implemented the near bezel-less design, the iPhone X is slightly ahead of the rest of the phones here.

Winner: iPhone X

Display

All the phones present here comes with a big display, not smaller than 5.8-inch. In the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9, users get a Super AMOLED 5.8-inch screen. The Google Pixel 2 XL here comes with P-OLED display while the OnePlus 5T comes with Optic AMOLED display. Samsung is always popular for their vivid, colorful display with great contrast and this time it’s no different. Users get higher resolution, 18.5:9 aspect ratio and more screen-to-body ratio in the Samsung Galaxy S9. The iPhone X comes close to the Samsung Galaxy S9 with 2436 x 1125 pixels resolution but it’s still not as vivid just like the rest of the phones on the list: Google Pixel 2 XL and OnePlus 5T.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9

Camera

This is one of the sections where all the phones have something different to offer. The Google Pixel 2 XL and the Samsung Galaxy S9 are not packing dual cameras but there is a Portrait mode in the Google phone that can artificially create DSLR like blurry picture with focus on the subject. Among the other two phones, the Apple iPhone X comes with a pair of 12-megapixel cameras on the back and both the cameras are packing Optical Image Stabilizer unlike it’s predecessors. On the OnePlus 5T, users get one 16-megapixel camera with f/1.7 aperture and one 20-megapixel camera with the same f/1.7 aperture which is designed to offer better performance in low light. The secondary lens here won’t be working as a telephoto lens which means the 2x zoom function will be done digitally now.

One of the phones here that offers the world’s first dual aperture camera is the Samsung Galaxy S9. The camera can choose the right aperture mode depending on the surrounding and lighting but users can also get access to tons of advance manual options by choosing the Pro mode inside the camera app. It might sound gimmicky on paper but it does offer better performance when taking pictures in low light. The iPhone X and Google Pixel 2 XL offers better and more natural looking pictures if you prefer to see realistic colors in your captured images. However, Samsung goes for a color processing system that offers instant Instagram worthy images right after the picture is taken. For this one, it mostly depends on how the user wants their picture to come out. However, when it comes to capturing videos, Samsung supports capturing super slow-mo videos: 720p videos at 960fps which is not a feature you will find in any of the other phones here. The iPhone X is packing OIS in both of the rear cameras but that’s not something unique that you won’t find in other phones. As for the front cameras, the OnePlus 5T is leading with more megapixels: a 16-megapixel camera with gyro EIS and f/2.0 aperture. Considering all these features, it’s safe to say that the Samsung Galaxy S9 is offering a complete package while the iPhone X is a close second.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9

Software

For this category, there won’t be a clear winner here as it mostly depends on the user. The iPhone X comes with the latest iOS 11.1.1 with some new gesture support as there is no home button on the phone. However, the Face ID implemented on the iPhone works surprisingly well and might make some user forget about the absence of Touch ID for unlocking the phone. The other three phones on the list are either packing the Android 8.0 Oreo or can be upgraded to this latest operating system from Android 7.0 Nougat. Users get the best version of this OS in the Google Pixel 2 XL while the rest of the phones comes with a little customization instead of the raw Android OS. If you are familiar with the iOS ecosystem then choosing the iPhone X will be the right choice for you. However, if you are mostly using Android phones, sticking with the latest Android phones will be a good idea.

Winner: It’s a draw.

Unique Features

Here, we will be discussing the features that keeps one phone ahead of the other phones in the list. The iPhone X comes with the new and improved Face ID feature and there are some new AI based features as well including the Animoji. However, one should also keep in mind that there is no home button or Touch ID this time and the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy S9 on the other hand comes with dual aperture and super slow-mo support and there is a 3.5mm headphone jack as well. The Iris scanner has been improved and users can enjoy a desktop experience thanks to the Samsung DeX feature. If you are an Android purist, the Google Pixel 2 XL offers here a great Android 8.0 Oreo experience. The weakest amongst the four here is the OnePlus 5T but it’s price tag makes up for the absence of a unique feature. Fast charging is present in all of the phones here but the iPhone X is not packing a fast charger with the phone and requires purchasing one separately. The Google Pixel 2 XL is packing the biggest battery here but this is also something that depends on the specs inside and how users decide to use their phone.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 and iPhone X.

Price

For some people, price is definitely something to keep in mind and can be a big deciding factor. The OnePlus 5T didn’t really get a chance to shine in the other sections but it’s leading with a big gap in this one. This one is packing the same processor as the Google Pixel 2 XL with more RAM, decent camera and similar storage options but you can get this one for only about USD 500 while the starting price of the rest of the phones are not even close. The Samsung Galaxy S9 costs about USD 719 but is packing a better processor. The other two phones are even more expensive: the Google Pixel 2 XL starts at USD 849 while the iPhone X’s price starts at USD 999.

Winner: OnePlus 5T.

Now that you know which phone is leading in which category, it will be easy for you to decide which one will be the right pick for you.