Samsung recently launched its Galaxy Note 9 512GB smartphone in South Africa.
The device is priced at R25,999 locally and its local launch coincides with that of Apple’s iPhone Xs Max.
The iPhone Xs Max is also available in a 512GB version, and sells for R31,999 at local retailers.
Both devices are the top model in their respective line-ups, and the inclusion of 512GB of internal storage is truly impressive.
What makes the Note 9 even more impressive, however, is support for a 512GB microSD card – bringing the device’s total storage capacity to 1TB.
The iPhone Xs Max, like all iPhones, does not support a microSD card.
More RAM
The Galaxy Note 9 512GB version also sports more RAM than its lower-capacity Note 9 sibling – with 8GB of RAM installed.
The 128GB version of the Galaxy Note 9, which was first to launch in SA, packs 6GB of RAM.
Apple does not share its RAM specifications when unveiling its iPhones, but third-party tests have revealed that the iPhone Xs Max has 4GB of RAM.
While substantially less than the Note 9, Apple users will tell you that the efficiency of the iPhone’s hardware and its tight integration with iOS makes up for the numerical difference.
Specifications
In terms of IP ratings, screen quality, cameras, and processing power, the devices both compete at a high level – with the iPhone Xs Max taking the lead in the CPU and GPU power department.
Battery power is a more difficult one to measure, as Apple does not disclose it battery specs. Third-party tests show the iPhone Xs Max as having a 3,174mAh battery, however, while the Galaxy Note 9 features a 4,000mAh unit. The efficiency of these batteries will depend on the tasks executed, and Apple will again argue that its tight iPhone integration with iOS 12 makes its phone less power-hungry.
The table below details the specifications of the phones.
Specifications iPhone Xs Max Galaxy Note 9
Dimensions 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm
Weight 208g 201g
OS iOS 12 Android 8.1
Display 6.5-inch (1,242 x 2,688) OLED 6.4-inch (1,440 x 2,960) Super AMOLED
Rear camera Dual 12MP f/1.8 + f/2.4 12MP wide (f/1.5 and f/2.4) + 12MP telephoto (f/2.4)
Front camera 7MP f/2.2 8MP f/1.7
Storage, internal 512GB 512GB
Storage, expandable None microSD 512GB
RAM 4GB* 8GB
Processor A12 Bionic 2.7GHz + 1.7GHz octo-core Exynos 9810
Battery 3,174mAh* 4,000mAh
Cellular “Gigabit-class LTE” LTE Cat. 18
SIM Nano + eSIM Nano
Durability IP68 IP68
Biometrics Face ID Fingerprint, iris, face
Price R31,999 R25,999
Source: Mybroadband
