Skip to content

Which flagship phone to buy in India, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Apple iPhone 10 vs Google Pixel 2 XL

2017 is coming to an end and all the companies have unveiled their flagships including Apple, Google, and Samsung. In this post, we will compare the three biggest flagships of the year, i.e. the iPhone X, the Google Pixel 2 XL, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

In our comparison, you will get to see set parameters upon which we have ranked these phones. We’ve talked here about the design, display, cameras, and much more that these phones have to offer. In this article, we will find out which flagship is the best among the year’s biggest releases.

Apple iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Specifications

Key Specifications Apple iPhone X Google Pixel 2 XL Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Display 5.8 inches Super Retina 6-inch pOLED QHD 6.3-inch Super AMOLED
Screen Resolution 1125 x 2436 QHD, 2880×1440 QHD, 2960×1440
Operating System iOS 11 Android 8.0 Oreo Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Processor Hexa-Core Octa-Core Octa-core
Chipset Apple A11 Bionic Snapdragon 835 Exynos 8895
GPU Apple GPU (three-core graphics) Adreno 540 Mali-G71 MP20
RAM 3GB 4GB 6GB
Internal Storage 64GB/256GB 64GB/128GB 64GB/128GB/256GB
Expandable Storage No No Yes, up to 256GB
Primary Camera Dual: 12 MP, (f/1.8, 28mm) + 12 MP (f/2.4, 52mm), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash 12.2 MP, f/1.8, OIS, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED flash Dual 12 MP (26mm, f/1.7, PDAF & 52mm, f/2.4, AF), OIS, autofocus, 2x optical zoom, LED flash
Secondary Camera 7 MP (f/2.2, 32mm) 8 MP, f/2.4 8 MP, f/1.7, autofocus
Video Recording 2160p@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps
Battery 2,716 mAh 3,520 mAh 3,300 mAh
4G VoLTE Yes Yes Yes
Sim Card Type Single Nano SIM Dual Nano SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Dimensions 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm
Weight 174 grams 175 grams 195 grams
Price 64GB- Rs. 89,000
256GB- Rs. 1,02,000
64GB- Rs. 73,000

128GB- Rs. 82,000

64GB- Rs. 67,900

Design

Apple iPhone X

Starting with the design, we can already say that the Google Pixel 2 XL is left behind by the iPhone X and the Galaxy Note 8. The iPhone X comes with an edge-to-edge display with a glass back. The notch on the front also adds to the overall styling of the phone.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 also gets an infinity display with no bezels on the sides. It also comes with a glass and metal frame. The Google Pixel, however, sticks to the traditional thick bezels but offers a sturdy and premium build.

Display

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The Apple iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 both feature a vibrant display. The Google Pixel 2 XL also comes with a Quad HD panel but the colors don’t look as vibrant on the Pixel 2. To start with, the iPhone X packs a 5.8-inch Super Retina display, which is an AMOLED panel with 2436 x 1125p resolution.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 sports a 6.3-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. Coming to the Pixel 2 XL, you get a 6-inch pOLED display with Quad HD resolution. Out of all three panels, Samsung features the most functional display. The iPhone X has a good display but the notch can sometimes distort content. Pixel 2 XL offers a good resolution but does not sport a fancy display.

Cameras

In terms of cameras, the Pixel 2 XL gets a slight lead with the iPhone X closely following behind. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 also packs a great camera setup but lacks in terms of certain points when it is compared to the other two flagships.

The Pixel 2 XL is the highest rated smartphone camera so far. Coming to the iPhone X, you get portrait lighting option in the front camera. The Galaxy Note 8, despite coming with a good camera setup, needs certain distance for an accurate bokeh effect. Hence, we uphold the Pixel 2 XL as the winner of this parameter.

Hardware

This is where the comparison on these phones becomes slightly harder. While the Apple iPhone X features an A11 Bionic chip, the Pixel features a Snapdragon 835 processor. Galaxy Note 8, features Samsung’s in-house Exynos 8895 processor. In terms of RAM too, the Galaxy Note 8 packs 6GB RAM and the Pixel 2 XL comes with 4GB RAM.

In terms of storage, you get the iPhone X only in 64GB and 256GB models. The Pixel 2 XL is also limited to 64GB and 128GB variants. Here, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offers the maximum options as it comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage variants.

Software and performance

The Google Pixel takes a huge lead when it comes to optimization and performance. iOS updates tend to slow down the iPhone after a certain time, the Galaxy Note 8 also has some UI disappointments.

Here, the Pixel 2 XL runs the latest Stock Android 8.0 Oreo and will also get the first beta version when Android P comes out. Hence, the Google Pixel 2 XL is leading when it comes to a clean OS experience in the long run. After the Pixel, the iPhone X also offers a premium experience via the iOS.

The ‘Jack’ of all trades

One of the major functionality points here is regarding the 3.5mm earphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the only phone among the three to feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. Both the Google Pixel 2 XL and the iPhone X miss out on it.

In terms of battery life, the Google Pixel 2 XL comes with the biggest battery among the three, i.e. 3,520 mAh. It is followed by the 3,300 mAh battery on the Note 8 and a 2,700 mAh unit on the iPhone X. The iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offer only up to a full day of usage while the Pixel 2 XL lasts longer.

Verdict

In our comparison, we have found that these flagships have their own unique offerings, pros, and cons. While the iPhone X comes with a fancy new look, the Galaxy Note 8 is functional in terms of memory and hardware. The Google Pixel 2 XL is the crowned ‘King of Android’, thanks to the Stock Android experience.

However, the iPhone X misses out on most things here. It already came without the headphone jack and now got rid of the fingerprint sensor too. The Pixel also did away with the headphone jack while there are still very few replacements available for the same.

nv-author-image

Abhishek Bhatnagar

Abhishek Bhatnagar, a known technology blogger & YouTuber from India. A Software Engineer by qualification, now he works as the editor-In-Chief, Webmaster, & Managing Director at Gadgets To Use. He runs a number of other technology websites as well.