Why iPhone X Still Outshines Galaxy S9 and S9+

Explore the key reasons why the iPhone X continues to set the benchmark in smartphones despite the Galaxy S9's advanced features and camera innovations.

While the Galaxy S9 boasts cutting-edge hardware and a remarkable camera, it still falls short compared to Apple's iPhone X in several critical areas.

1. The A11 Bionic Chip Remains a Powerhouse

Each new flagship generation typically features more powerful processors. The Samsung Galaxy S9, in one variant, is equipped with the octa-core Snapdragon 845, an upgrade from the Snapdragon 835. Though Qualcomm's latest chip leads among Android processors, Apple's A11 Bionic chip still outperforms it in certain benchmarks.

iPhone X Processor — Geekbench 4 Benchmark Results / tomsguide.com

For example, in Geekbench 4's multi-core test, the Galaxy S9+ with Snapdragon 845 scored 8,295 points—the highest among Android devices. However, the iPhone X with the A11 Bionic achieved a superior 10,357 points.

This advantage becomes especially noticeable during demanding tasks like video processing. For instance, transcoding a 2-minute 4K video to 1080p in Adobe Premiere Clip takes the Galaxy S9+ 2 minutes and 32 seconds, while the iPhone X completes it in just 42 seconds.

2. Apple's Animoji Offer a More Lifelike Experience

Apple's Animoji, which mimic your facial expressions, deliver a more engaging and realistic experience than Samsung's selfie emojis. The Galaxy S9's digital avatars often lack resemblance and fail to capture nuanced expressions, offering limited customization and unnatural movements.

3. Face ID Remains Unmatched in Security and Convenience

iPhone X's facial recognition technology is still the most reliable on the market. Utilizing the TrueDepth sensor system, it projects over 30,000 invisible points to create a detailed facial map. Apple trusts this technology enough to enable secure payments, a feature not available on the Galaxy S9.

Samsung flagships also offer facial recognition but rely solely on the front camera and software algorithms. This system cannot adapt to changes like new facial hair or scarves and must be supplemented with iris scanning. Even combined, these methods don't surpass the accuracy and security of Face ID, as demonstrated by independent tests.

4. Siri Outperforms Bixby in Voice Assistance

While not flawless, Apple's Siri excels in many tasks such as setting alarms, voice recognition, text input, and reminders—all hands-free on the iPhone X.

Samsung's Bixby assistant is still evolving and currently lags behind Siri, with a narrower range of functions and lack of support for languages like Russian. Though improvements are expected, Bixby is unlikely to rival top assistants from Apple and Microsoft anytime soon.

5. Superior Front Camera Capabilities on iPhone X

The TrueDepth sensor system on the iPhone X powers more than just facial recognition—it enables advanced selfie features like portrait mode with natural background blur, studio lighting effects, and enhanced facial contouring. Software algorithms allow users to add directional lighting or completely darken the background for professional-quality selfies.

In contrast, the Galaxy S9 uses the same front camera as the Galaxy S8, which attempts background blur but with less precision. A significant upgrade to Samsung’s selfie camera is anticipated only in their next flagship.

6. Faster and More Consistent iOS Updates

Galaxy S9 users initially receive Android Oreo, but in some regions, updates to this version have been delayed. Samsung’s update rollout tends to be slow, and this pattern is unlikely to change with newer models.

Conversely, iPhone users can expect timely delivery of critical patches and major iOS updates shortly after release. Even when issues arise, Apple moves quickly to resolve them, ensuring a smooth and secure user experience.

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