Galaxy S10 vs iPhone X

The Samsung Galaxy S10, released in March 2019, and the Apple iPhone X, launched in November 2017, represent distinct approaches to flagship smartphone design and functionality from their respective manufacturers. While both devices feature advanced display technologies and capable camera systems, they differ significantly in their operating systems and user interaction methods. The Galaxy S10 operates on Android, offering a customizable experience, whereas the iPhone X runs on iOS, known for its integrated ecosystem.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, several factors come into play, including software support and physical resilience.

• Software Longevity: The iPhone X, running iOS, typically received major software updates for approximately five to six years from its release, with security updates extending even further, reaching iOS 16.7.15 as of March 2026. The Galaxy S10, an Android device, generally received three major Android version updates and an additional year or two of security patches, meaning its official software support concluded earlier than the iPhone X.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S10 features Gorilla Glass 6 on its display and Gorilla Glass 5 on its back (for the S10e variant), along with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The iPhone X utilizes a glass and stainless steel construction with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
• Repairability: Independent assessments indicate that the iPhone X has a repairability score of 6 out of 10, with components like the display and battery being relatively accessible for replacement. In contrast, the Galaxy S10 received a lower repairability score of 3 out of 10, largely due to the extensive use of adhesive, a soldered charging port, and a display-integrated fingerprint sensor that complicates repairs.

The performance of a smartphone is influenced by its internal components, affecting everything from app responsiveness to battery endurance.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S10 is equipped with an octa-core processor, which, depending on the region, is either the Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855. This hardware enables smooth handling of demanding applications and efficient multitasking. The iPhone X features Apple's A11 Bionic chip, a hexa-core processor designed to optimize performance across the iOS ecosystem, providing responsive operation for its generation.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S10 typically comes with 8GB of RAM and offers internal storage options of 128GB or 512GB, with the added flexibility of expandable storage up to 512GB via a microSD card (excluding the S10 5G model). The iPhone X includes 3GB of RAM and is available with 64GB or 256GB of internal storage, without expandable options.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S10 houses a 3400mAh battery, which generally provides sufficient power for a full day of moderate use. The iPhone X has a 2716mAh battery, and users often report it lasting through a typical day, though heavy usage may require more frequent charging.

The visual experience on both devices is a key differentiator, with each offering a high-quality display tailored to its design philosophy.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy S10 features a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution of 3040x1440 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 550 ppi. This display supports HDR10+ and dynamic tone mapping, contributing to vibrant colors and deep blacks. The iPhone X sports a 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED display with a resolution of 2436x1125 pixels, yielding 458 ppi. It supports HDR (Dolby Vision and HDR10) and True Tone technology, which adjusts the white balance to ambient light.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy S10 can reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits, enhancing visibility in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone X offers a typical maximum brightness of 625 nits. Both devices feature a standard 60Hz refresh rate for their displays, though the iPhone X doubles the touch sampling rate to 120Hz for improved responsiveness.
• Design and Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S10 utilizes an Infinity-O display with a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, maximizing screen real estate. The iPhone X introduced a notch design at the top of its screen to house the TrueDepth camera system, which was a significant design shift for Apple.

Both smartphones offer advanced camera systems designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, though with different configurations and features.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S10 is equipped with a versatile triple-lens rear camera setup, including a 12MP wide-angle lens with dual aperture, a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens. This combination provides flexibility for various shooting scenarios, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups. The iPhone X features a dual 12MP rear camera system, comprising a wide-angle lens (f/1.8) and a telephoto lens (f/2.4) with 2x optical zoom. Both lenses on the iPhone X benefit from dual optical image stabilization.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S10 is noted for producing images with good detail, vibrant colors, and capable low-light performance, particularly benefiting from its ultra-wide lens. The iPhone X delivers strong image quality and excellent video recording, though its low-light performance can sometimes be less impressive compared to some contemporaries.
• Video and Front Camera: Both devices are capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. The Galaxy S10 has a 10MP front-facing camera, while the iPhone X features a 7MP TrueDepth front camera, which enables Portrait mode selfies and is integral to its Face ID system.