The high-end smartphone market is heating up with introduction of some very impressive and industry leading smartphones from Apple, Samsung and Huawei. Apple released the iPhone X back in Nov 2017 followed by the release of Samsung Galaxy S9+ in March 2018 and Huawei has joined the party with the P20 Pro in April 2018. These smartphones are as expensive as it gets with very high-end specs and impressive performance, so it was only a matter of time before these three giants were compared head to head.
Apple iPhone X
When Apple introduced the iPhone X in Nov 2017, it led the competition with an industry first smartphone. The key distinguishing feature was the screen and nothing but the screen in the front. As Apple likes to call it, “It’s all screen”. With the all screen design, Apple removed the home button/fingerprint scanner and offered Face ID for secure authentication. The rear camera setup is also improved with dual 12MP cameras (ƒ/1.8 and ƒ/2.4).
Samsung Galaxy S9+
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S9+ with a key feature around a “revolutionary” camera. This is mainly because the Galaxy S9+ looks and feels just like the Galaxy S8+ in terms of design and display. With the Galaxy S9+, Samsung added a dual camera setup on the back with ƒ1.5 and ƒ2.4 aperture mode. The ƒ1.5 aperture pulls in light for a bright and clear photo in dark environment and ƒ2.4 aperture allows a sharper image to be captured in the daylight. Obviously, the internals are also upgraded over the previous model, but that goes without saying now a days.
Huawei P20 Pro
Huawei introduced the P20 Pro to compete in the top-end smartphone segment and rightfully so. The Huawei P20 Pro features unique style and industry’s first triple camera that has got many people’s attention in the tech industry. According to DxOMark, “HUAWEI P20 Pro beats the competition in virtually every category”. The Huawei P20 Pro features a new gradient colour (in Twilight and Pink Gold variant). The curved glass design allows the phone to be physically smaller even with a 6.1” screen.
iPhone X vs Galaxy S9+ vs P20 Pro: Comparison of Technical Specifications
| Features | iPhone X | Samsung Galaxy S9+ | Huawei P20 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.8" OLED | 6.2" Super AMOLED | 6.1" AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2436x1125px (458ppi) | 1440 x 2960 px (529 ppi) | 1080 x 2240 px (408 ppi) |
| CPU | A11 (64-bit) | Octa-core 4x2.8 GHz & 4x1.7 GHz | Octa-core 4x2.4 GHz & 4x1.8 GHz |
| GPU | M11 motion | Adreno 630 Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEA | Mali-G72 MP12 |
| Memory | 64/256GB, 3GB RAM | 64/128/256 GB, 6 GB RAM | 128 GB, 6 GB RAM |
| Storage Option | No | microSD, up to 400 GB (dual SIM only) | No |
| Battery | Non-removable Li-Ion 2716mAh | Non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh | Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Rear Camera | 12MP (ƒ/1.8) 12MP ƒ/2.4 | 12 MP (f/1.5-2.4, PDAF) 12MP (f/2.4, AF), OIS | 40 MP (f/1.8, OIS) 20 MP B/W (f/1.6) 8 MP (f/2.4), PDAF |
| Video Recording | 4K @ 60fps Slo-mo 1080p @240fps | 2160p@60fps, 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps, | 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps |
| Front Camera | 7 MP (ƒ/2.2), 1080p | 8 MP (f/1.7) | 24 MP (f/2.0) 720p |
| Dimentions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm | 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm | 155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 174 grams | 189 g | 180 g |
| Security | Face ID | Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear) | Face detection |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (Qi) | Yes | No |
| Waterproof | Yes | IP68 certified dust/water proof | IP67 certified dust/water resistant |
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes | No |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No | Yes |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & CAN) | No |
| USB | Lightening, Type C | 3.1, Type-C 1.0 | 3.1, Type-C 1.0 |
| Cost | $999 (USD) | $865 (USD) | $1100 (USD) |
As you can see above, all of these devices are priced very high with Samsung Galaxy S9+ as the most affordable smartphone, which sounds odd at $865. Each phone provides something unique, so we are hoping that the comparison above helps you with your purchase decision.
If you are looking for more affordable options, check out our comparison of alternative smartphones:
iPhone X vs iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: which iPhone is the right choice?
Galaxy S9 vs Pixel 2 vs LG V30 vs OnePlus 5T: The Best Android Phone 2018
Huawei P20 Pro: World’s first Triple Camera Smartphone
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav