Apple iPhone XS vs Samsung Galaxy S10+
The Verdict
Both flagship phones launched at identical $999 pricing but offer distinctly different experiences. Apple's iPhone XS features a compact 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display with 725 nits brightness, paired with the A12 Bionic chipset and dual 12MP cameras with 2x optical zoom. Samsung's Galaxy S10+ counters with a larger 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen delivering 1200 nits brightness and superior 3040x1440 resolution, alongside the more powerful Snapdragon 855, 8GB RAM (versus 4GB), and triple rear cameras including a 16MP ultrawide lens. Battery capacity heavily favors Samsung at 4100mAh with 15W wireless charging versus iPhone's 2658mAh with 7.5W wireless. Samsung also includes USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, and dual front cameras. However, iOS 12 integration and Apple's optimization remain compelling for ecosystem users. For raw specifications, expandable features, and camera versatility, Samsung Galaxy S10+ delivers superior value despite both being premium devices.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS if…
- →First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- →eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- →Excellent Super Retina OLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if…
- →Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED display with HDR10+
- →Headphone jack retained
- →microSD card slot with up to 1 TB option
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS
Pros
- First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- Excellent Super Retina OLED display
- Improved Face ID speed over iPhone X
- Premium stainless steel build
Cons
- Small battery at 2658 mAh
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Minimal upgrade over iPhone X
- No Night mode for camera
Samsung Galaxy S10+
Pros
- Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED display with HDR10+
- Headphone jack retained
- microSD card slot with up to 1 TB option
- Dual aperture main camera was innovative
- Reverse wireless charging (Wireless PowerShare)
Cons
- No 5G support (separate 5G model existed)
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Slow 15W wired charging
- Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner was slow
- Punch-hole selfie cutout was distracting
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XS | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 9, One UI 1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 177 g | 175 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, dual aperture, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP + 8 MP depth |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2658 mAh | 4100 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 640 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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