Smartphone battle: Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8 & iPhone X

Spring is traditionally the time of year when well-known and lesser-known tech companies present their latest smartphones to the general public. South Korea’s Samsung also made a move, coming up with the Samsung Galaxy S9. As the successor to the S8, the new device must compete with Apple’s iPhone X in the coming year, which is why we put the latest Samsung next to its predecessor and the iPhone X.

Samsung Galaxy S8 score: 9

We begin with the S9’s predecessor. The Samsung Galaxy S8 came out in spring 2017 and got nothing but favourable reviews. The device was revolutionary in almost every area. A borderless screen with unprecedented colors, a camera that Canon and Nikon can envy, rock-solid battery life and much more. Moreover, with a release price of €637, the device was a competitor to basically every player in the smartphone market.

Looking at the price/quality ratio, we rate the Samsung Galaxy S8 with a 9. Why? The perfect smartphone (unfortunately) does not yet exist.

Samsung Galaxy S9 score: 7.5

By making such an excellent device, Samsung faced a tough task. After all, how do you top such a success story? Even after the release of the Galaxy S9, they at Samsung are still lying awake over that question, because they haven’t exactly succeeded in designing a worthy successor.

That does offer some nuance because the device has not gotten worse, but the device has remained almost exactly the same. The screen, battery, appearance and cameras have not changed. The only real improvement is a new processor that improved the device’s performance. Another change is the available colors, which are now 3 instead of 5. The dimensions have also been adjusted slightly. The new model is slightly shorter while the screen has remained the same size. He also grew a little thicker, wider and heavier.

The most striking thing about the Galaxy S9 is still the price. In fact, the device is on sale starting at €829. That’s almost €200 more than its predecessor at release.

Thanks to the lack of innovation, the high price and the expectations you build up for the latest flagship device, we give the Samsung Galaxy S9 a 7.5.

Apple iPhone X score: 8.5

We have
already written a lot
about Apple’s flagship model, the iPhone X, but since it remains Samsung’s biggest competitor we’ll still draw a comparison.

The device was launched in the fall of 2017 and was immediately labeled revolutionary. As the first iPhone, this device has a borderless screen except for the notch at the top.

The fingerprint scanner has given way to facial recognition, and this technology makes it possible to transform your face into 3D emojis through augmented reality.

Thanks to the disappearance of the home button, Apple introduced a whole new way of operating the smartphone that immediately feels very intuitive.

Both the front camera and the rear camera have been greatly improved and both feature the portrait function that allows you to take professional-looking portrait photos. It is also possible to charge the device wirelessly for the first time.

All in all, not very innovative when you look at the competition, but very innovative when you compare it to its predecessors. A more than excellent device with one gigantic downside: to become an owner of the iPhone X, you have to dig deep into your pocket, as the device is only on sale from €1160. As a result, we rate the iPhone X with a score of 8.5.

Conclusion

If you want to buy the best phone, go for the iPhone X. If you want an excellent device for less money, go for the Samsung Galaxy S8. Want to pay €200 more for the same device? Then opt for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

Do you accidentally drop one of these devices and need a repair? Then stop by in one of
our offices
for a repair … and a good case;-).