Early this month, Samsung Electronics unveiled a new line of premium smartphones: Galaxy S10. With four unique devices, the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ , Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 5G. While late last year, Apple Inc. released three upgrades to the existing iPhone X—the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
All three phones vary in screen sizes with the iPhone XR being the least specced model with an LCD screen and single rear camera instead of the OLED panel and dual rear cameras on the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. The trio, however, feature the same Apple A12 chipset based on a 7nm process.
The Galaxy S10 Plus has a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with two front-facing cameras housed in a double hole-punch cut-out that Samsung calls the Galaxy O display. Just like the Galaxy S10, it has a fingerprint reader built under the display, but unlike the smaller Galaxy, the S10 Plus has dual cameras on the front for selfies.
Neither the S10 Plus nor the XS Max are intended for the average smartphone buyer. They’re too large and, crucially, too expensive to be genuine choices for most people.
These phones are aimed squarely at power users, people who are willing to pay more to get the most capable phones on the market, ahead of other concerns.
- The S10 Plus has a sharper display
- The XS Max has a faster processor
- The XS Max has a better selection of gaming apps
- The S10 Plus has better front facing cameras
- The S10 Plus has expandable storage
- The S10 Plus has better battery life and a headphone jack
The S10 Plus is a collection of enormous numbers and features. The XS Max, on the other hand, focuses on providing as streamlined experience as possible. This difference is best expressed through Samsung’s inclusion of the micro-SD card slot and the headphone jack, while still offering wireless earbuds and different internal storage options.
On paper the Galaxy S10 Plus is the most powerful Android phone, but it has to contend with Apple’s iPhone XS Max with its super-fast A12 processor. It’s also up against the Google Pixel 3 XL, which has one of the best cameras on any phone in 2019, and is $100 cheaper.
Have a look at our spec chart below to see how these top dollar phones compare.
GALAXY S10 PLUS VS. IPHONE XS MAX
| Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus | iPhone XS Max | ||
| Display size, resolution | 6.4-inch AMOLED; 3,040×1,440-pixels | 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED; 2,688×1,242 pixels | |
| Pixel density | 522ppi | 458ppi | |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in | 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 in | |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm | |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 6.17 oz.; 175 g | 7.3 oz; 208 g | |
| Mobile software | Android 9.0 with Samsung One UI | iOS 12 | |
| Camera | 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (ultra wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto) | Dual 12-megapixel | |
| Front-facing camera | 10-megapixel, 8-megapixel | 7-megapixel with Face ID | |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | |
| Processor | Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Apple A12 Bionic | |
| Storage | 128GB, 512GB, 1TB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB | 4GB | |
| Expandable storage | Up to 512GB | None | |
| Battery | 4,100mAh | 3,174mAh | |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-screen | None (Face ID) | |
| Connector | USB-C | Lightning | |
| Headphone jack | Yes | No | |
| Special features | Wireless PowerShare; hole punch screen notch; water resistant (IP68); Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 | Water-resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging; Face ID; Memoji | |
| Price (USD) | $1,000 | $1,099 (64GB), $1,249 (256GB), $1,449 (512GB) |