Five phones that are better than the iPhone XS

Apple had just launched its newest iPhone models -- the cleverly named iPhone XS (that's "ten S") and iPhone XS Max -- around the world yesterday Friday September 21, 2018. This officially knocks off the iPhone X out of Apple's lineup. The Apple Watch Series 4 also makes its in-store debut today.

Sydney, Australia was one of the cities to get a bite, with stores in cities around the world opening their doors as the morning creeps in. The iPhone XS 64GB variant is priced at US$999 which is roughly P53,991 and the 512GB variant is priced at US$1349 which is a staggering P72,907 in Philippine Peso.

If you’re looking skeptically at your bank balance and wondering whether you can stretch to the (likely) US$1449 (P78,319) needed for the iPhone XS Max, then don’t worry. We have a whole bunch of alternatives that beat the revealed specifications of Apple’s new pride and joy – and due to already being out, you should be able to save a bob or two as well.

So without further ado, here are five phones that should give the iPhone XS a run for its (excessive) money.

5 phones that are better than the iPhone XS

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: The best iPhone XS alternative if money is not an issue

Price: Php55,990 (US$855.00)

Yay: Where to start? The screen is the best in the business, the camera is top notch and it’s as fast as they come. Unlike the iPhone XS, it’s also packing a built-in S Pen for note-taking, and the ability to expand via microSD – not that you’ll necessarily need it with a whopping 128GB or 512GB storage built in.

In fact, there’s only one real drawback...

Nay: The price, my God, the price! Php55,990 for the 128GB model or Php75,990 for the 512GB version is far too much considering the similar performance of its rivals. Yes, it’s better than all of them, but not that much better. Still, with the new iPhone Xs Max tipping the pricing scale at Php72,907, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 finds itself in the unlikely position of being the value option.

Huawei P20 Pro: The best iPhone XS alternative for photography enthusiasts
Price: Php35,500 (US$740.74)

Yay: The iPhone XS may have a phenomenal camera, but past form suggests that three manufacturers have Apple’s camera hardware beat: Google, Samsung and Huawei. It’s the Huawei P20 Pro that gets the nod here due to an impressive three cameras on the back, which combine to deliver the best pictures this side of a dedicated DSLR. A 40-megapixel camera provides super shots, while a dedicated 20-megapixel monochrome snapper adds excellent dynamic range. The final 8-megapixel lens provides a 3x telephoto lens.

The rest of the phone is solid too, but it’s the camera that steals the show.

Nay: If raw speed is what you’re after, the Huawei P20 Pro – while no slouch – is not the phone for you. In our benchmarks, we found the HiSilicon 970 chip that powers the device is more of a match for last year’s Snapdragon 835 processor than 2018’s 845.

In practical terms, you likely won’t notice, but for bragging rights, you’re best off looking elsewhere.

OnePlus 6 – The iPhone XS on a budget
Price: Php24,793 (US$547.44)

Yay: Look at the price above, then remind yourself how much the iPhone XS Max costs: Php72,907. You could buy two OnePlus 6 handsets for that price and still have change left for a fancy case and several backup fast chargers.

The phone is no slouch either, powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB of RAM.

Nay: For the price, there aren’t really any – other than that it’s marginally weaker than the very best smartphones in some areas. It’s only a 1080p screen, for a start, and there’s no microSD slot. It’s described as being ‘water resistant’ rather than having an IP rating, too. All these things are certainly cuts worth considering for the saving, mind.

Asus Zenfone 5Z: The Android iPhone clone
Price: Php29,995 (US$499.00)

Yay: While many Android phones have been tripping over themselves to, uh, “pay homage” to the iPhone X design, the Asus Zenfone 5Z does it while not scrimping on the specs or breaking the bank. The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and 8GB of RAM mean you get great performance to back up the iPhone-y looks.

Nay: The Asus Zenfone 5Z is a tricky handset to get hold of in the Philippines. And it’s not as cheap as the OnePlus 6 either...

iPhone X: The best iOS alternative
Price: Php51,900 (US$800)

Yay: Okay, it’s a slight cheat: by definition, last year’s best iPhone is not better than this year’s. That said, it was powerful then and it’s still powerful now, even if it’s not the top dog anymore. And hopefully, the upcoming release of the iPhone XS will see the price of the X tumble...

Nay: Even with the price cuts, it will still be considerably more expensive than its rivals. And worse, you’ll no longer be using the latest iPhone! While the original iPhone X is powerful enough that you can be reasonably confident of it lasting for some years to come, it will still be a little less future resistant than the latest and greatest.