Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 performance versus the iPhone X
Samsung just released its latest flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 9, in a bid to one-up Apple's iPhone X before the Cupertino tech giant unleashes a new smartphone lineup this fall. We put the Note 9 to the test.
Samsung's Note 9 is very similar to past models in the line, and except for new cameras and a repositioned fingerprint sensor, it feels no different than the Galaxy S9 or Note 8.
Our evaluation unit packs in 128GB of onboard storage and 6GB of RAM for $999, double the storage and system memory Apple offers with identically-priced iPhone X. A higher tier Note 9 with 512GB of storage can be had for a hefty $1,249, or $100 more than a 256GB iPhone X.
On the inside, the Note 9 is packing the same Qualcomm 845 processor that's included in the Galaxy S9. It's an eight-core CPU that consists of four efficiency cores and four performance cores, running at up to 2.8GHz. By comparison, the iPhone X's Apple-designed A11 Bionic processor boasts six cores -- four efficiency cores and two high-performance cores -- running at a slightly lower clock speed of 2.39GHz.
Both Note 9 models get the same Adreno 630 graphics chip as the S9 and S9+, which Qualcomm says is 30 percent faster, 30 percent more efficient and has 2.5 times the display throughput than the graphics chip in the Note 8.
In addition to typical smartphone innards, Samsung incorporates a new water-carbon cooling system it claims prevents overheating.
Moving on to benchmark numbers, the iPhone X completely destroys the Note 9 in Geekbench 4, especially in single core performance. The iPhone came in with single- and multi-core scores of 4,224 and 10,667, respectively, while the Note 9 managed scores of 2,442 and 8,765. Interestingly, the Note 9's performance is an improvement over the S9+, which scored 2,007 and 8,307.
For Geekbench 4's graphics test, the Note 9 scored 14,365, only 57 points higher than the S9+, and very close to iPhone X's 15,301.
Moving on to the Antutu benchmark, the Note 9 actually beats out the iPhone by a good margin, with respective scores of 279,773 an 200,937. For Samsung, the boosted results are thanks to the massive improvements Qualcomm put into its graphics chip. It even scored a bit better than the S9+, which managed 263,661 points.
In Antutu's HTML 5 test, the Note 9's browser froze at the same point multiple times, but we suspect it would have scored similarly to the S9+ unit's 33,924 points. The iPhone X, on the other hand, scored 39,150 points. Octane 2.0, another browser benchmark, saw the iPhone X floor the Note 9 with scores of 36,714 to 20,194.
For our final test, we ran GFXBench OpenGL's 1080p Manhattan Offscreen test. The iPhone X is slightly ahead with a score of 5,551, compared to 5,152 on the Note 9. The new Note eked out a slightly better performance compared to the S9+, which scored 5,106.
Though it achieved higher marks better than the iPhone X in Antutu's 3D benchmark, the Note 9 is slower overall when compared to Apple's nearly year-old smartphone. In fact, the Note 9 is only a bit faster than the S9+.
We will be conducting more testing with the new Note 9 in the coming days, including photo and video comparisons.
For those that want to purchase the Note9 outright, B&H Photo is offering customers a free Samsung DeX Pad Dock and Qi Wireless Charger Duo valued at up to $218.99. The phone itself qualifies for free expedited shipping -- and B&H will not collect sales tax on orders shipped outside New York and New Jersey.
Wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon are also offering buy one, get one free promotions on the 128GB Note9.
For iPhone X buyers, T-Mobile and AT&T are offering $700 off a second iPhone X with qualifying plans and conditions. The devices are also available on eBay, often at a discount.
Samsung's Note 9 is very similar to past models in the line, and except for new cameras and a repositioned fingerprint sensor, it feels no different than the Galaxy S9 or Note 8.
Our evaluation unit packs in 128GB of onboard storage and 6GB of RAM for $999, double the storage and system memory Apple offers with identically-priced iPhone X. A higher tier Note 9 with 512GB of storage can be had for a hefty $1,249, or $100 more than a 256GB iPhone X.
On the inside, the Note 9 is packing the same Qualcomm 845 processor that's included in the Galaxy S9. It's an eight-core CPU that consists of four efficiency cores and four performance cores, running at up to 2.8GHz. By comparison, the iPhone X's Apple-designed A11 Bionic processor boasts six cores -- four efficiency cores and two high-performance cores -- running at a slightly lower clock speed of 2.39GHz.
Both Note 9 models get the same Adreno 630 graphics chip as the S9 and S9+, which Qualcomm says is 30 percent faster, 30 percent more efficient and has 2.5 times the display throughput than the graphics chip in the Note 8.
In addition to typical smartphone innards, Samsung incorporates a new water-carbon cooling system it claims prevents overheating.
Moving on to benchmark numbers, the iPhone X completely destroys the Note 9 in Geekbench 4, especially in single core performance. The iPhone came in with single- and multi-core scores of 4,224 and 10,667, respectively, while the Note 9 managed scores of 2,442 and 8,765. Interestingly, the Note 9's performance is an improvement over the S9+, which scored 2,007 and 8,307.
For Geekbench 4's graphics test, the Note 9 scored 14,365, only 57 points higher than the S9+, and very close to iPhone X's 15,301.
Moving on to the Antutu benchmark, the Note 9 actually beats out the iPhone by a good margin, with respective scores of 279,773 an 200,937. For Samsung, the boosted results are thanks to the massive improvements Qualcomm put into its graphics chip. It even scored a bit better than the S9+, which managed 263,661 points.
In Antutu's HTML 5 test, the Note 9's browser froze at the same point multiple times, but we suspect it would have scored similarly to the S9+ unit's 33,924 points. The iPhone X, on the other hand, scored 39,150 points. Octane 2.0, another browser benchmark, saw the iPhone X floor the Note 9 with scores of 36,714 to 20,194.
For our final test, we ran GFXBench OpenGL's 1080p Manhattan Offscreen test. The iPhone X is slightly ahead with a score of 5,551, compared to 5,152 on the Note 9. The new Note eked out a slightly better performance compared to the S9+, which scored 5,106.
Though it achieved higher marks better than the iPhone X in Antutu's 3D benchmark, the Note 9 is slower overall when compared to Apple's nearly year-old smartphone. In fact, the Note 9 is only a bit faster than the S9+.
We will be conducting more testing with the new Note 9 in the coming days, including photo and video comparisons.
Where to buy
Shoppers looking to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 or iPhone X can take advantage of special offers at wireless carriers and electronics retailers.For those that want to purchase the Note9 outright, B&H Photo is offering customers a free Samsung DeX Pad Dock and Qi Wireless Charger Duo valued at up to $218.99. The phone itself qualifies for free expedited shipping -- and B&H will not collect sales tax on orders shipped outside New York and New Jersey.
Wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon are also offering buy one, get one free promotions on the 128GB Note9.
For iPhone X buyers, T-Mobile and AT&T are offering $700 off a second iPhone X with qualifying plans and conditions. The devices are also available on eBay, often at a discount.
Comments
Because it's not fair to compare Apples latest to Samsungs latest.
When Windows PCs are ahead of the Mac on benchmarks, and when the Galaxy series was ahead, it's all about the benchmarks. When its the other way around, it's all about the intangibles? Your contention makes little sense, considering that the Note 9 uses the same processor as the Galaxy S9, and it was slower then in every regard, including intangibles, than the iPhone X.
More tests are coming.
Troll harder, bro.
2) Is this Samsung device still limited to only 5 minutes of 2160p@60 video?
I want the gaming websites to test graphics cards using my new method. It goes like this:
Launch a game. When it finally gets to the main screen, exit the game without playing. Then launch another game, and exit when it gets to the main screen. Do this numerous times for multiple games. Make sure to do this two times and record the overall time as well as the time for each "lap". Whichever PC does this faster has the superior graphics card.
Now think for a second how stupid this sounds. When gamers test video cards they actually PLAY the games. They play them at multiple resolutions (1080P, 1440P or 2160P). They play the games with varying detail settings. They play the games at different anti-aliasing (AA) settings. They will measure the FPS at each of these combinations with multiple games. Then they will crunch the numbers and come up with a rating for a video card.
The only reason Android fanboys like these stupid "App race" tests on YouTube is because it's the only way they can come up with the occasional win against an iPhone.
Sorry, but anyone who thinks those are legitimate tests is an idiot.
Well, no. It’s not appropriate. The problem is that web sites rush these comparisons out. Do they need to? No, they don’t. They could wait a month to get it right. Besides, the iPhone X is not intended to compete with a Note. A better comparison is the S9 non Note series. This year, with the large iPhone, the comparison will be more apt, particularly if it does have Pencil support, though I’d like to see a shorter Pencil too.
2) I don't know when they got their hands on the Note 9 but it launches tomorrow so I assume they've been testing it for at least a week and today is the day they're allowed to post their review.
The knockoffs get smoked by the iPhone 8 in real world tests so nice try.
Aren't specs and benchmarks what the iKnockoff fans usually praise?
Hmmm....
Because it's unfair to test 2018 iPhones to 2018 knockoffs. It's kinda like a 5th grader being inducted into WWE before he gets more training and grows into an adult.
I saw someone comparing an iPhone 6 to a S8 and the iPhone 6 barely beat it in real world tests.
I also saw Samsung comparing an iPhone 6(2014) to an S9(2018)
Even Samsung agrees.
i see other sites do it, but the comparison isn’t comparing like to like.