IPhone Xs Max, Galaxy S10+ and Xiaomi Mi 9: which smartphone is the best? Here's our comparison of technical features and price
If you're planning to buy a new smartphone, this beginning of 2019 is the perfect time. Many companies are launching new devices with interesting features and innovative design. This is the case of Samsung, which presented the new range of Galaxy S10, with phones that are characterized by the hole on the screen. Among the novelties it is necessary to mention also the Xiaomi Mi 9, new top of the range of the Chinese company that as usual presents an excellent quality-price ratio.
If you do not have budget problems to buy the new smartphone, we suggest you three of the best smartphones on the market: the Galaxy S10+, the iPhone XS Max and the Xiaomi Mi 9. These are three very similar phones that ensure high performance. They are much more than just top-of-the-line smartphones, they can be safely called premium smartphones. Choosing between Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9 and iPhone XS Max is not that easy and our comparison can help you buy the smartphone that best suits your features.
Performance
It's hard to make a comparison on three smartphones that got high scores on benchmarking platforms. Although the iPhone Xs Max came out a few months earlier than the Galaxy S10+ and Xiaomi Mi 9, it ensures top-notch performance.
The Galaxy S10+ mounts an Exynos 9820 chipset with supporting 8GB of RAM and 128GB/512GB of internal storage, with the ability to expand it using a microSD. There is also a special version available with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.
The Xiaomi Mi 9 mounts the brand new Snapdragon 855 processor, supported by 6/8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Again, there is a special version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
The Apple Xs Max integrates the A12 Bionic processor, 4GB of RAM and 64/256/512GB of internal storage, which is not expandable.
All three devices also integrate an artificial intelligence chip that improves the performance of the smartphone and the quality of the shots.
Screen and Design
Very different choices when it comes to design. Apple stayed true to the iPhone X form factor, with a very pronounced notch where the 3D face recognition sensors are embedded. Samsung decided to experiment by minimizing the bezels and inserting a hole in the screen. Xiaomi also wanted to innovate the design of its top of the range: on the Mi 9 we find a very small notch inserted at the top center.
As for the screen, we have three smartphones with rather generous dimensions. The iPhone Xs Max has a 6.5-inch display with 2688×1242 pixels resolution. The Galaxy S10+ mounts a 6.4-inch dynamic AMOLED screen with curved edges and a QuadHD+ resolution. The Mi 9 uses a 6.39-inch display made by Samsung with FullHD+ resolution.
Photography compartment
Xiaomi in recent years has made big strides on the photo compartment, as evidenced by the scores obtained by the Mi 9 on the benchmark site DxOMark. The Mi 9 is the best smartphone for recording videos and one of the best for taking pictures. The credit goes to the sensors mounted by Xiaomi. In the back we find a triple camera with a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens and a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens.
A similar solution is also found on the Samsung Galaxy S10+. The smartphone has a triple rear camera with a 12-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel telephoto lens and a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens. In the front we find a dual camera with 10 Megapixel main sensor and 8 Megapixel secondary dedicated to depth of field.
The iPhone Xs Max pays the price of being released at the end of last year. There's a dual-camera setup at the back with both sensors at 12 megapixels.
Security
Manufacturers value the security of users' personal data and integrate innovative technologies to protect smartphone access.
The iPhone Xs Max reintroduces FaceID, in an updated and improved version.
The Galaxy S10+ integrates a supersonic fingerprint sensor under the screen and facial unlocking via the front camera.
Same solution also used by the Mi 9: facial unlocking and biometric sensor under the screen.
Battery and Charging
The battery life is an increasingly important feature for users.
On the Galaxy S10+ we find a 4100mAh battery with support for fast wireless charging. Il telefonino integra anche una particolare tecnologia chiamata “reverse change" che permette di utilizzare lo smartphone per ricaricare altri dispositivi wireless, come ad esempio le cuffie.
Il Mi 9 monta una batteria da 3300mAh con ricarica rapida wireless.
L’iPhone Xs Max integra due batterie per un totale di 3174mAh.
Prezzo
Se si ha intenzione di acquistare uno di questi dispositivi si deve aver ben chiaro in mente che il prezzo sarà molto elevato. Ma con alcune eccezioni.
Per acquistare il Galaxy S10+ è necessario sborsare una cifra superiore ai 1000 euro. Sono disponibili tre diverse versioni che si differenziano per RAM e memoria interna.
Ecco i prezzi del Galaxy S10+:
- Galaxy S10+: 8GB/128GB a 1029 euro
- Galaxy S10+: 8GB/512GB a 1279 euro
- Galaxy S10+: 12GB/1TB a 1639 euro
Sulla stessa fascia di prezzo troviamo anche l’iPhone Xs Max:
- iPhone Xs Max 64GB: 1289 euro
- iPhone Xs Max 256GB: 1459 euro
- iPhone Xs Max 512GB: 1689 euro.
Lo Xiaomi Mi 9 arriverà in Italia nella versione 6/64GB e 8/128GB. Il prezzo è veramente molto il interessante: per la versione base bisogna spendere 449 euro, mentre per il modello più performante il prezzo aumenta di 50 euro.