Google Pixel 3 vs Galaxy S9 vs iPhone XS: Specs comparison

The Google Pixel 3 shapes up to be the phone for those uninspired by the excessive notch of the Pixel 3 XL - it has a traditional notchless design, more compact and easier to use body, and all the same hardware that can be found inside the larger Pixel 3 XL.
But is this enough to make the Pixel 3 a more appealing than the Galaxy S9 or the iPhone XS? Most likely no, but this doesn't mean the Pixel 3 won't directly compete with the smallest Galaxy and iPhone on the shelves as Google eyes a more prominent mainstream presence.
This means that those three would certainly be all viable options for would-be adopters, thus a specs comparison between all three wouldn't be out of the ordinary at all. Let's see how all three fare against one another.
Design
Dimensions
147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm
145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9 mm
Weight
the average is 6.4 oz (183 g)
the average is 6.4 oz (183 g)
the average is 6.4 oz (183 g)
Materials
Back: Glass (Corning Gorilla Glass 5)
Frame: Aluminum
Frame: Aluminum
Back: Glass
Frame: Stainless steel
Frame: Stainless steel
Back: Glass (Corning Gorilla Glass 5)
Frame: Aluminum
Frame: Aluminum
Resistance
Water, Dust; IP68
Water, Dust; IP68
Water, Dust; IP68
Biometrics
Iris scanner, 2D Face unlock, Fingerprint (touch)
3D Face unlock
Fingerprint (touch)
Features
Notification light
Display
Size
Technology
Super AMOLED
OLED
P-OLED
Screen-to-body
84.36 %
82.64 %
77.36 %
Peak brightness
625 cd/m2 (nit)
Features
HDR support, Scratch-resistant glass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
HDR support, Pressure-sensitive, Oleophobic coating, Scratch-resistant glass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
HDR support, Scratch-resistant glass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
Hardware
System chip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SDM845 (10 nm)
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81 (7 nm)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SDM845 (10 nm)
Processor
2800 MHz
Kryo 385
64-bit
2490 MHz
Vortex and Tempest
64-bit
2500 MHz
Kryo 385
64-bit
GPU
Adreno 630
Apple 4-core GPU
Adreno 630
RAM
Internal storage
64GB
64GB
64GB
OS
Android (10, 9.0 Pie, 8.0 Oreo), Samsung One UI
iOS (15.x, 14.x, 13.x, 12.x)
Android (12, 11, 10, 9.0 Pie)
Battery
Capacity
3000 mAh
2659 mAh
2915 mAh
Charging
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging
USB Power Delivery
USB Power Delivery
Talk time
the average is 0 h (0 min)
the average is 0 h (0 min)
Stand-by time
the average is 0 days (0 h)
the average is 0 days (0 h)
Internet use
3G: 11 hours; LTE: 12 hours; Wi-Fi: 14 hours
Music playback
51.00 hours
60.00 hours
Video playback
17.00 hours
14.00 hours
Camera
Rear
Single camera
Dual camera
Single camera
Main camera
Aperture size: F1.5/F2.4
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Aperture size: F1.8
Focal length: 26 mm
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Focal length: 26 mm
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Aperture size: F1.8
Focal length: 28 mm
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Focal length: 28 mm
Sensor size: 1/2.55"
Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Second camera
12 MP (Telephoto, Sapphire crystal lens cover, OIS, PDAF, BSI sensor)
Optical zoom: 2.0x
Aperture size: F2.4
Focal Length: 52 mm
Sensor size: 1/3.4"
Pixel size: 1 μm
Aperture size: F2.4
Focal Length: 52 mm
Sensor size: 1/3.4"
Pixel size: 1 μm
Video recording
3840x2160 (4K UHD) (60 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (240 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (960 fps)
3840x2160 (4K UHD) (60 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (240 fps), 1280x720 (HD)
3840x2160 (4K UHD) (30 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (120 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (240 fps)
HDR, Time-lapse video, Hyperlapse, Continuous autofocus, Object tracking, Picture-taking during video recording, Video calling, Video sharing
OIS, Time-lapse video, Continuous autofocus, Picture-taking during video recording
OIS, EIS, Video calling, Video sharing
Front
8 MP
7 MP
8 MP
Video capture
2560x1440 (QHD) (30 fps)
1920x1080 (Full HD) (60 fps)
1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps)
Buyers information
MSRP
$ 720
$ 999
$ 799
See the full Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Apple iPhone XS vs Google Pixel 3 specs comparison or compare them to other phones using our Phone Comparison Tool.
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