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How the iPhone XS and XS Max stack up against the top Android phones

How the iPhone XS and XS Max stack up against the top Android phones

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Apple unveiled the newest generation of its flagship iPhones today, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. The models share a lot of the features that their discontinued predecessor first introduced to the iPhone line, like Face ID and Portrait Mode, but now they’ve been fine-tuned and improved. One of the biggest upgrades is the switch to Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor, which is said to be 15 percent faster than the A11. It’s also notable that these features are now available in the form of a 6.5-inch XS Max, which is the largest iPhone ever.

One of the highlighted demonstrations onstage today was the ability to manually adjust the depth of field after taking photos in Portrait Mode. Despite Apple’s claims that “this has not been possible with any kind of camera,” it’s actually a feature that’s been available on Android phones like Huawei and Nokia for a few years. Not to mention, the refocusing technology was first pioneered by the now-defunct light-field camera company Lytro in 2012.

So we can take all of Apple’s big keynote claims with a grain of salt, but if we’re looking at technical specifications, how do the new iPhones stack up against the top Android phones? We compared their specs to the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9 Plus, Galaxy Note 9, Google Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL.

iPhone XS and XS Max Spec Comparison

SpecificationiPhone XSiPhone XS MaxGalaxy S9Galaxy S9 PlusGalaxy Note 9Google Pixel 2Google Pixel 2 XL
Display5.8 inches6.5 inches5.8 inches6.2 inches6.4 inches5.0 inches6.0 inches
Resolution2436 x 11252688 x 12422960 x 14402960 x 14402960 x 14401920 x 10802880 x 1440
ProcessorA12 BionicA12 BionicSnapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core)Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core)Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core)Snapdragon 835 (2.35GHz and 1.9GHz, octa-core)Snapdragon 835 (2.35GHz and 1.9GHz, octa-core)
RAM4GB4GB4GB6GB6GB, 8GB4GB4GB
Storage64GB, 256GB, 512GB64GB, 256GB, 512GB64GB64GB128GB, 512GB64GB, 128GB64GB, 128GB
Rear camera12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide)12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide)12 megapixels12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide)12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide)12.2 megapixels12.2 megapixels
Front camera7 megapixels7 megapixels8 megapixels8 megapixels8 megapixels8 megapixels8 megapixels
Battery2,659mAh3,179mAh3,000mAh3,500mAh4,000mAh2,700mAh3,520mAh
Water protectionIP68IP68IP68IP68IP68IP67IP67
Wireless charging?YesYesYesYesYesNoNo
PortsLightning portLightning portUSB-C, headphone jackUSB-C, headphone jackUSB-C, headphone jackUSB-CUSB-C
Weight0.39 pounds0.46 pounds0.36 pounds0.42 pounds0.44 pounds0.32 pounds0.39 pounds
Dimensions (in.)5.65 x 2.79 x 0.306.20 x 3.05 x 0.305.81 x 2.70 x 0.336.22 x 2.91 x 0.336.37 x 3.01 x 0.355.70 x 2.70 x 0.306.20 x 3.00 x 0.30
Starting price$999$1,099$719.99$839.99$999.99$649.00$849.00
Misc.Face ID, Dual SIM, software-adjustable apertureFace ID, Dual SIM, software-adjustable apertureIris scanner, mechanically adjustable aperture, Dual SIMIris scanner, mechanically adjustable aperture, Dual SIMDual SIM, Bluetooth S Pen, iris scanner, mechanically adjustable apertureSqueezable sidesSqueezable sides