GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

888k

156k
74k
1.1m

RSS

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • DealsNew
  • Tools
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Apple iPhone X camera comparison

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (64)

Yordan 27 February 2018

Samsung Apple Android iOS Shootout

Samsung announced the highly anticipated Galaxy S9+ on Sunday with dual cameras - the first having a variable aperture for different scenes, the other being the well-known telephoto shooter from the Galaxy Note8. While in Barcelona, we decided to put the Samsung flagship against the most powerful Apple phone - the iPhone X.

From a technical standpoint, the primary cam can go either f/1.5 or f/2.4 and nowhere in between. It is 12 MP with a 1/2.55” sensor size and with the already familiar DualPixel technology for bright and vivid images. The second one has the same amount of megapixels but comes with a 1/3.6” sensor size and 1 µm pixel size. Samsung equipped the setup with OIS, PDAF, 2x optical zoom and an LED flash.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Apple iPhone X shootout

The iPhone X has a similar 12 MP + 12 MP setup with all the cool features mentioned above - OIS, PDAF, telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, quad-LED flash. In real life, you take many photos in low-light environment and that’s where our first comparison steps in.

As you can see, the Galaxy S9+ provides more vivid colors with a blueish tint, while the iPhone X gives more lifelike vibe. Yes, the photos are not as colorful as we would like them to be, but they are pretty close to what we saw in person.

And here’s another example - the letters on the label are a standing out more and the blue is more colorful, but in reality you have to squint to actually see what is written. In both samples, though, the Galaxy S9+ provides tremendous detail that the iPhone X missed on.

And here are the images in full size. Small font is more readable and there is almost no loss in shadows and highlights. Portrait mode proves the differences in the image processing between Apple and Samsung - lifelike feeling on the iPhone X vs. extremely fine details on the Galaxy S9+ for the sake of true colors.

Apple iPhone X samples f/1.8, ISO 32, 1/50s Apple iPhone X samples f/2.4, ISO 40, 1/50s Apple iPhone X samples f/2.4, ISO 100, 1/50s
Apple iPhone X

Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 64, 1/100s Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/33s Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 160, 1/33s
Samsung Galaxy S9+

The selfie camera on the Galaxy S9+ is the same as the one in the predecessor Galaxy S8 - 12 MP with f/1.7 lens. We already covered selfie cameras in a detailed review earlier - the shooters work great but they are nothing outstanding.

Portrait mode comes with some UI options to edit your face but beware, because it will smudge it and you might lose precious details like the beard texture on our handsome model.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/1.7, ISO 160, 1/34s Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 500, 1/33s
Samsung Galaxy S9+ Selfie & Portrait

The variable aperture in the new Galaxy S9 series is not a new feature on Samsung phones - we’ve already seen exactly the same setup on the clam-shell W2018 that is currently limited to the Chinese market. The aperture has two positions and does not slide from one focal point to another.

In theory, the lower number would give you more detail in dark images, but in practice, we saw true colors and slightly fewer details, although an untrained eye would hardly see the difference.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/1.5, ISO 400, 1/50s Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 320, 1/20s Samsung Galaxy S9+ samples f/2.4, ISO 400, 1/25s
Samsung Galaxy S9+ variable aperture shots

First impressions

Samsung built its marketing campaign around the new camera and now we see why. The company invested a lot to improve the image processing, to provide more options for taking pictures in challenging environments, all this while keeping the design of the Galaxy S9 that makes Samsung phones stand out in a crowd.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Apple iPhone X shootout

Yes, the Korean manufacturer keeps relying on oversaturation and excessive sharpening so they have even more room to improve. Hopefully, the next flagship will provide even better camera experience that can translate the real-life colors onto the smartphone.

Related articles
  • Samsung offers the Galaxy S9 with Hybrid Dual SIM in Germany Samsung offers the Galaxy S9 with Hybrid Dual SIM in Germany
  • Samsung's new ISOCELL sensor has on-board DRAM, shoots 960fps video Samsung's new ISOCELL sensor has on-board DRAM, shoots 960fps video
  • Check out the first Samsung Galaxy S9 (Exynos 9810) benchmarks Check out the first Samsung Galaxy S9 (Exynos 9810) benchmarks
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ go official with new hardware, old looks Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ go official with new hardware, old looks

Reader comments

r
  • radu
  • ajP
  • 07 Mar 2018

s9 is a better camera... and yes i have the 8 plus i am not a fan ... and i will buy s9 plus

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • 3DR
  • 06 Mar 2018

Wrong, you and everyone else are being blind to the truth. The truth is Apple isn't behind at all. The Truth is that they're actually ahead in some aspects such as security and facial recog. That DOESN'T mean they're the best phone, but that applies ...

  • Reply
S
  • Shootergod
  • PSc
  • 06 Mar 2018

How fake apple can you be,guys? just chill! iph X was like 3rd or 4th best camera of the year back in 2017 as it was 1. Pixel 2 XL 2. Note 8 3. Mate 10 Pro/iph X and so on! I can clearly see that iph X's images has lots of noise and colors are so was...

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 64

ADVERTISEMENTS

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Acer
  • Wiko
  • Panasonic
  • verykool
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Top 10 by daily interest

  Device Daily hits  
1.Xiaomi Poco F3108,415
2.Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+42,839
3.Samsung Galaxy A3232,811
4.Oppo F19 Pro+ 5G31,109
5.Xiaomi Redmi K4029,399
6.Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G27,856
7.Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro25,473
8.Samsung Galaxy A1225,470
9.Samsung Galaxy F6224,226
10.Xiaomi Mi 1122,327
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2021 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Contact us Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data