Which is better, Apple iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy Note 8?
Many, like us, like both of these flagships, but they are very different. The iPhone X lacks a fingerprint sensor, but it can be unlocked using a 3D face recognition scanner. In Galaxy Note 8 there is a fingerprint scanner, but it is on the back panel, and its front camera cannot be compared with depth-of-depth stunts in the best phone from Apple. And vice versa, Note 8 has a multifunctional pen S Pen, iPhone does not yet have anything like that.
In this comparison of the characteristics, we will check all the strengths and weaknesses of the two monsters to determine the best smartphone. For a better understanding of both devices.
Features of the iPhone X and Galaxy Note 8
iPhone X | Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | |
The size | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in.) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.95 x 0.34 in.) |
The weight | 174 g (6.14 ounces) | 195 g (6.88 ounces) |
Screen | 5.8-Inch OLED Super Retina HD | 6.3-inch Super AMOLED |
Resolution | 2436 × 1125 pixels (458 ppi) | 2960 × 1440 (522 ppi) |
OS | iOS 11 | Android 7.1.1 Nougate |
Storage capacity | 64 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128, 256 GB |
MicroSD card slot | no | Yes |
NFC support | Yes (only Apple Pay) | Yes |
CPU | A11 Bionic with 64-bit architecture, M10 coprocessor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Samsung Exynos 8895 |
RAM | 3 GB | 6 GB |
Connectivity | 4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA +, 802.11a / b / g / n / ac Wi-Fi | LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, 802.11a / b / g / n / ac Wi-Fi |
Camera | Dual 12-MP (both with OIS), 7-megapixel front | Dual 12-MP (both with OIS), 8-megapixel front |
Video recording | Up to 4K at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 frames per second | Up to 4K at 30 frames per second, 720p at 240 frames per second |
Bluetooth | Yes, version 5.0 | Yes, version 5.0 |
Fingerprint sensor | No, the face scanner | Yes |
Other sensors | Barometer, 3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor | Accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, heart rate, proximity, diaphragm, pressure |
Waterproof | Yes, IP67 | Yes, IP68 |
Battery | Not yet known
21 hours of talk time, 12 hours on the Internet, 13 hours of video playback and up to 60 hours of audio playback Fast charging allows charging up to 50% in 30 minutes, wireless charging (Qi standard) |
3,300 mAh
22 hours of talk time, 13 hours on the Internet, 16 hours of video playback and up to 74 hours of audio playback Fast charging, wireless charging (Qi standard) |
Charging port | Wireless | USB-C |
The Marketplace | Apple App Store | Google Play Store |
Colors | Silver, Space gray | Midnight Black, Gray Orchid |
Price | 1000 $ | $ 930 |
Apple calls the A11 Bionic chipset inside the iPhone X “the most powerful and smart processor” ever installed on smartphones. While we can not fully evaluate this statement, there is no doubt that the processor is very powerful. A11 Bionic contains six cores: two for high performance and four for high performance, as well as a graphics processing unit, 30 percent faster than the one used in the A10 Fusion chip inside the iPhone 7.
All this internal power, undoubtedly helps iPhone X provide the functionality of Augmented Reality technology, and also manage Apple’s Face ID technology and the TrueDepth camera system. As for RAM, Apple traditionally does not disclose these numbers and has a habit of offering more performance with less memory than similar gadgets based on Android OS.
Galaxy Note 8 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with an impressive 6 GB of RAM. It’s a chipset that provides smooth and consistent performance on many flagship Android phones, from HTC U11 to OnePlus 5, and it’s very powerful. Having 6 GB of memory at the disposal of the system certainly helps with smooth operation and makes Galaxy Note 8 one of the most powerful devices running on the OS from Google.
Both the iPhone X and Note 8 come with 64GB of memory for storage as standard, but only Note has a microSD slot to expand it. Both devices also offer 256 GB versions for a great price. Regardless of which device you choose, you get Bluetooth 5.0 – the latest version of the wireless protocol, with an improved range, as well as NFC for payments. Galaxy Note 8 is also compatible with legacy terminals through Samsung’s exclusive MST technology.
Display, design and durability
These phones look and feel the best, which is immediately evident when you first encounter them. The screen of the iPhone X is dimensionless, although there is a rather pronounced black frame on the front panel, as well as an add-on that houses the camera and microphone, although there’s no doubt that this is one of the most futuristic designs we’ve ever seen.
The back side of the new iPhone is clad in glass to provide wireless charging, and has dual cameras. The sides are protected by a stainless steel frame and look remarkably shiny compared to matt aluminum from devices of past generations. In addition, unlike the old iPhone, there is no Home or Touch ID button, probably this is the biggest change. Despite the fact that the phone looks much better overall, many functions of the finger scanner will be missed.
Again, Samsung’s solution is hardly ideal. Due to lack of space for the sensor on the front panel of the phone, it was moved to the back panel, to the right of the dual cameras, like the Galaxy S8. Not all are suitable for fingerprint sensors on the rear panel, and a more central location would undoubtedly be the best solution.
In terms of overall design, fortunately, the history of Note 8 is slightly more positive. The smartphone was called the super-sized Galaxy S8 in terms of appearance, and this is not quite a fair statement. After all, Galaxy S8 offers an excellent set with a headphone jack. Note 8 received a 6.3-inch panel AMOLED 2960 x 1440, which can not be compared with the more powerful configuration of 5.8-inch 2.436 × 1.125 pixel screen OLED Super Retina HD in the iPhone.
In terms of strength, both phones are mainly made of glass and waterproof. The IPhone X supports the IP67 standard and is able to withstand submersion to a depth of up to 30 meters, while Note 8 received a slightly better IP68 protection, which only gives an additional half hour for immersion.
Winner: iPhone X
Battery life and charging
While we do not have reliable battery tests for the iPhone X, Apple says that you can safely wait until 21-hour talk time. This is two hours more than offered by the iPhone 7 Plus. Moreover, you can charge it over the wireless network, since the iPhone X supports the open Qi standard used by many other phone manufacturers. Apple claims that the iPhone X will charge faster than the past, and the high-speed adapter that comes with the device will provide up to 50 percent of the charge in 30 minutes.
Galaxy Note 8 also offers wireless and fast charging, and since we tested it, we know exactly what to expect. In the Note 8 review, we managed to use about 60 percent of the charge, from morning to about 7 pm, with moderate use. This is an excellent result for a battery of 3,300 mAh.
We will not know exactly how the iPhone X copes with our tests, until we get it for review; for this reason there is a draw.
Winner: Draw
The best cameras
The cameras on the compared phones are surprisingly similar. Both the iPhone X and Galaxy Note 8 are equipped with dual 12-megapixel sensors that combine wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The IPhone X lenses with aperture f / 1.8 and f / 2.4, while Note 8 has aperture f / 1.7 and f / 2.4. Each lens on these smartphones supports optical image stabilization to reduce blur in images.
Both smartphones allow you to shoot portrait photos with the bokeh function, although the iPhone allows you to manipulate the light source in such pictures, with the new “Portrait Lighting” function. The iPhone X can also achieve better performance thanks to its front cameras, and Apple’s new True Depth system. Meanwhile, Note 8 has an 8-megapixel self-shot shooter in front.
When you shoot a photo, you will probably get fantastic results from any of the cameras. But, the iPhone X can do a little more as soon as you get to shooting the video. While Note 8 only supports 4K recording at 30 frames per second and 240 frames per second at 720p, Apple’s flagship can handle 4K at 60 frames and 240 frames per second at 1080p.
In the iPhone X there is one more camera-related feature that we have not mentioned yet, and it says a lot: Face ID. You can unlock the Phone X just by looking at it. And although Samsung uses the retina check to confirm in Note 8, this system is easier to deceive, and it is less secure. We are not sure that in the future we will use our eyes to access gadgets, but scans of individuals reflecting depth will become a major breakthrough. You can even use the iPhone X to convert your words and expressions into animated emo icons in real time using the Apple Animoji function.
Winner: iPhone X
Software
Out of the box, the iPhone X will ship with iOS 11. This is the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, which has a completely new application store, a revised notification center and control center, and many small improvements. Galaxy Note 8 comes with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, although this is not the latest version of OS 8.0 Oreo, the update should arrive in early 2018.
There’s no point in comparing iOS and Android – both platforms are excellent in their own right, and the choice is really a matter of preference. However, there are several tools and functions that you will find only in one or the other. The most obvious is Samsung’s S Pen.
Stylus Galaxy Note 8, this is a powerful tool for recording ideas and quick notes. This is a more advanced tool than you expected, which can register up to 4,096 levels of pressure. A constantly active screen of the phablet means that you can make notes without waking up the phone – a very useful software setting. Keep the pen above the text that you are reading, and it flips the screen on the fly or increases any area you want.
Another novelty in Note 8, called App Pair, allows you to connect certain applications together so you can run them simultaneously. Open both applications at once, and they will be displayed in split-window mode. If you often work in multitasking, this can be a useful addition. Also, Samsung has a DeX station, which turns the phone into a desktop computer.
If you move away from innovations in the iPhone, to its software, then you understand that there is not much new here. Note 8 provides a completely unique method of interaction, inaccessible to most other phones, and therefore here it wins.
Winner: Galaxy Note 8
Price and availability
The iPhone X will be available from November 3 with pre-orders started on October 27th. Galaxy Note 8 is available for pre-order now and the supplies have already started on September 15.
In any case, you will spend a lot of money. With a starting price of $ 1000, the iPhone X has overcome the threshold that most high-end smartphones have managed to bypass until now. Prices for Galaxy Note 8 start at $ 930, which is only $ 70 less, although Samsung is a much more generous company with additions and promotions. If you buy Note 8 right now, you can get a Gear 360 video camera or a 128 GB memory card and a wireless charging rack.
Samsung will also give you a discount of up to $ 300 if you replace your not-so-old Galaxy S series device, iPhone, Google Pixel or LG. Many dealers also already offer promotions for users to upgrade from the old iPhone to X.
But, Galaxy Note 8 offers more options and add-ons when buying, it also costs a little less.
Winner: Galaxy Note 8
Overall winner: Draw
To summarize, I would like to add that Galaxy Note 8 is an excellent and modern smartphone, and the iPhone X in all respects looks like a gadget of the future. But, each has its own advantages, which ultimately compensate for each other’s shortcomings.
You, you will not be mistaken in any case by buying one of the mentioned phones.
Samsung is perfect for those who are looking for the best versatility, you need multitasking and the ability to record notes. If you want to be at the peak of design, visualization and augmented reality, the latest Apple phone will be your choice. Just remember, whatever you are looking at, in any case, you will not be mistaken.