The one thing that has become apparently clear in the recent few years is that – Apple and Samsung are highly competitive when it comes to staying a step ahead of each other. Apple is famous for its sophisticated and expensive smartphones. On the other hand, Samsung offers a selection of high-end and affordable mobile phones. According to Statista, Samsung has maintained its leading position in the global smartphone market since 2017, with Apple following closely behind.
A Graph showing the global market smartphone share from 4th quarter 2009 to 3rd quarter 2018
To change things around, Apple introduced its most affordable smartphone this year called the ‘iPhone XR’. At the same time, Samsung made headlines as well by introducing the world’s first quadruple camera smartphone called the ‘Galaxy A9 (2018)’. Both these ‘affordable flagship smartphones’ launched at the same time and are currently competing against each other in the market. Will Apple’s most affordable iPhone stand out compared to Samsung’s latest offering? In our Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9 comparison, find out which one offers a better value for money.
Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9: Comparison Chart
An image showing the comparison between Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9
Looking at the image above, let’s take a look at how both the smartphones are fairing overall in terms of features, specifications and price.
Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9: Comparison
Which Phone offers a Better Display?
The iPhone XR sports a 6.1-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels. On the other hand, Galaxy A9 features a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels.
| Advantages of a Large Display Smartphone | Disadvantages of a Large Display Smartphone |
| Larger screen real estate for videos and images | Usage is more challenging due to the size |
| Using the split-screen feature is more convenient | These phones need a large space to fit into the back pocket, bags or a purse |
| Pictures and videos are better composed | These phones tend to be heavier and difficult to carry around |
| Not just videos, even reading e-books is more convenient | |
| Usually, smartphones with bigger displays have more processing power, which means bigger batteries |
When it comes to large-screen smartphones or mobiles phones with a 6-inch display or more, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. And while there is not a lot of difference in the screen size of both iPhone XR and Galaxy A9, Samsung wins in terms of the display by a slight margin. However, both the smartphones are an ideal pick if you are looking for big screen mobile phones.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A9
Which Phone Offers a More Powerful Processor?
In terms of the processor, iPhone XR is powered by the A12 Bionic chipset. It is the latest processor designed by Apple. Currently, the A12 Bionic is the most powerful processor there is. On the other hand, Galaxy A9 is running on a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. Comparatively, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is no match to the powerful A12 Bionic chipset. So, if you are looking for a smartphone with powerful hardware, then the Apple iPhone XR is a better pick.
Winner: Apple iPhone XR
Looking for a Large Battery?
Moving on to the battery, iPhone XR comes with a 2942mAh battery. Similarly, Galaxy A9 is powered by a 3800mAh battery. It goes without saying that, Galaxy A9 is a much better pick in terms of a good battery life. Here is how the battery on both the smartphones works:
| Battery Capacity on iPhone XR | Battery Capacity on Galaxy A9 |
| It is designed to last for 11 hours and 26 minutes on a single full charge | It is designed to last for 12 – 14 hours. |
| On normal usage, the phone can survive an entire day on a single charge | If you are a moderate user, the smartphone can survive for 1.5 – 2 days on a single charge |
| It is the most powerful battery seen on an iPhone until now | The phone is built with Quick Charge, which means you can power up the battery in minutes |
In all honesty, if you an Apple fan, then you will be happy to know that iPhone XR has the best battery life seen on any iPhone before. However, it is safe to say that Galaxy A9 offers much more in terms of battery life. So, if you are looking for a phone that can provide for your extensive usage, you know where to look.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A9
High-Quality Pictures Offered on Which Smartphone Camera?
Unlike all the previous Apple iPhones, the iPhone XR comes with a decent camera. On the other hand, unlike all the triple camera mobile phones that we see these days, Samsung stole the show by introducing the world’s first quadruple camera smartphone. Take a look at the camera specifications:
Apple iPhone XR
- Rear Camera: It has ditched a dual camera setup and comes with a single 12-megapixel rear camera.
- Front Camera: On the front, the smartphone has a single 7-megapixel camera.
Samsung Galaxy A9
- Primary Camera: A 24-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.7 aperture and LED flash. This sensor is designed for low light photography.
- Secondary Camera: A 5-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture. This sensor is designed for creating background blur in pictures.
- Third Camera: A 10-megapixel wide angle lens with 2x optical zoom and f/2.4 aperture. This sensor is designed for capturing perfect zoomed in shots.
- Fourth Camera: An 8-megapixel 120-degree ultra wide sensor with f/2.4 aperture. This sensor allows a larger frame while capturing pictures.
- Front Camera: Moreover, the smartphone includes a single 24-megapixel camera on the front for selfies and video calling.
On the whole, it is easy to guess that Samsung offers a better camera experience. With a depth sensor and ultra-wide sensor, you cannot go wrong with capturing the perfect pictures. Additionally, Samsung has also incorporated AI features in the Galaxy A9 smartphone. But, we have to wonder do we need multiple cameras on smartphones for amazing pictures? While iPhone XR does a pretty decent job, it fails to beat Samsung’s impressive camera functionalities. A single rear camera is a little less impressive compared to a quadruple camera setup.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A9
Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9: Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XR
| Pros | Cons |
| A wide range of colour options – Black, White, Blue, Coral and Yellow | The rear camera does not allow 2x optical zoom |
| Best battery life seen on an iPhone model | LCD display instead of OLED display fails to impress |
| Cheapest iPhone till date | Not too different from iPhone X |
| Great audio functionality | Missing physical home button |
| Powered by A12 Bionic Chipset | No headphone jack |
| Advanced Face ID system | iPhone XR still remains expensive compared to the other high-end phones in the market |
Samsung Galaxy A9
| Pros | Cons |
| Impressive quadruple rear camera setup | Powered by a mid-range processor |
| Brilliant Super AMOLED Infinity display | No support for wireless charging |
| Premium smartphone in a mid price range | Is a little heavy at 183g |
| Supports uninterrupted multitasking | The display does not have gorilla glass protection |
| Features like Active noise cancellation | Does not support wireless charging |
| Available in Caviar Black, Lemonade Blue, Bubblegum Pink colour variants | Not water and dust resistant |
Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9: Which Phone Offers Value for the Money?
After considering all the features, pros and cons of both iPhone XR and Galaxy A9, it is time to consider which one offers the best value for the money spent.
Pricing Details of iPhone XR: (on the basis of storage)
- 64GB Variant: Priced at Rs 74,982
- 128GB Variant: Priced at Rs 81,900
- 256GB Variant: Priced at Rs 91,900
Pricing Details of Galaxy A9: (on the basis of RAM + storage)
- 6GB + 128GB Variant: Rs 36,990
- 8GB + 128GB Variant: Rs 39,990
Final Takeaway on Apple iPhone XR Vs Samsung Galaxy A9
Both the smartphones offer impressive features and specifications, but on the whole, Samsung stands ahead of iPhone XR on a lot of fronts. iPhone XR is termed as the ‘cheapest iPhone’, but it fails to compete against all the mid-range smartphones in the market because of its sky-high price. Similarly, at a competitive price tag, Samsung offers so much more on the Galaxy A9 (2018) smartphone.
In fact, the smartphone offers betters specifications than the ones seen on Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones. So, between iPhone XR and Galaxy A9, Samsung takes away the trophy. We conclude by saying that, if you are looking for a premium smartphone that won’t cost you too much, Samsung’s Galaxy A9 is sure to impress you.