Apple iPhone XS Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Note9

Camera comparison

GSMArena team, 13 October 2018.

Introduction

At a time when LG is pushing the boundaries and installing all sorts of cameras in the V40 ThinQ (the ultra-wide/normal/tele trifecta we've all been waiting for), Apple and Samsung are taking a conservative approach and perfecting their dual camera game.

As it stands with this generation, the two companies' configurations have never been more alike. They were already pretty similar last year, but with the iPhone XS's adoption of a larger 1/2.55" sensor with dual pixel autofocus for the main camera, the differences in hardware are indeed minimal.

We wondered for a bit whether a table showing the specs side by side is at all warranted between these two, but we figured we'd provide one anyway.

Apple iPhone XS Max Samsung Galaxy Note9
Main (wide-angle) camera 12MP, 4032 x 3024px 12MP, 4032 x 3024px
Sensor 4:3 aspect, 1/2.55" sensor size, 1.4µm pixel size 4:3 aspect, 1/2.55" sensor size, 1.4µm pixel size
Lens f/1.8, 26mm, OIS f/1.5-2.4, 26mm, OIS
Focus Dual Pixel PDAF Dual Pixel PDAF
Telephoto camera 12MP, 4032 x 3024px 12MP, 4032 x 3024px
Sensor 4:3 aspect, 1/3.4" sensor size, 1.0µm pixel size 4:3 aspect, 1/3.4" sensor size, 1.0µm pixel size
Lens f/2.4, 52mm, OIS f/2.4, 52mm, OIS
Focus PDAF PDAF
Flash Dual-tone, 4-LED flash Single LED Flash
Video recording 2160p@60/30/24fps, 1080p@60/30fps 2160p@60/30fps, 1440p@30fps, 1080p@60/30fps
Slow motion 1080p@240/120fps 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps
Video IS OIS+EIS OIS+EIS (EIS n/a in 2160p/60fps)
Video features Stereo audio Stereo audio
Front camera 7MP, 1.0µm, f/2.2, 32mm, 1080p@60fps 8 MP, 1/3.6", 1.22µm, f/1.7, 25mm, 1440p@30fps

As you can see, on the back it's practically the primary cam's aperture that's the only thing setting them apart - the Note9 is rocking its dual aperture main module, while the iPhone XS Max has more conventional single-aperture optics.

Apple iPhone XS Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Note9 camera comparison

Over on the front the Galaxy clearly has the upper hand with the hardware - the lens of its selfie cam has a brighter aperture, the focal length is wider, the sensor is larger and the pixels are bigger, plus there's a million or so more of them.

We'll go over the specifics of the hardware in more detail on the following page, where we'll also have a quick look at the camera apps of the two phones. And we'll then go out shooting.

Reader comments

  • Mrniceguy
  • 01 Jun 2024
  • Nvx

Note 9 is the especially cause of the camera and battery life

  • Anonymous
  • 17 Feb 2024
  • XIa

Note 9 all the way

  • Anonymous
  • 26 Dec 2023
  • f37

Note 9 is best