Galaxy S6 vs iPhone XS: Which One Should You Buy?

iPhone XS edges ahead with a BeastScore of 64.2/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Samsung · 2015

Galaxy S6

Galaxy S6
64/ 100
Launch price$685
Apple · 2018

iPhone XS

iPhone XS
64/ 100
Launch price$999
Head-to-head

iPhone XS wins 3 of 7 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

Galaxy S6
Galaxy S6
1 win
iPhone XS
iPhone XS
3 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivityValue
Galaxy S6iPhone XS
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeediPhone XS
    60
    64
  • CameraiPhone XS
    72
    75
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieTie
    40
    40
  • BatteryTie
    58
    58
  • DisplayTie
    62
    62
  • ConnectivityiPhone XS
    45
    53
  • SecurityNot enough data
  • ValueGalaxy S6
    68
    55
Key differences
  • iPhone XS has the bigger battery2,658 mAh vs 2,550 mAh
  • iPhone XS charges faster18W vs 15W
  • Galaxy S6 has a sharper main camera16 MP vs 12 MP
  • iPhone XS has the bigger screen5.8" vs 5.1"
  • Galaxy S6 is lighter138 g vs 177 g
  • Galaxy S6 launched cheaper$685 vs $999
  • iPhone XS has a sharper selfie camera7 MP vs 5 MP
  • iPhone XS has newer Bluetooth5 vs 4.1
  • iPhone XS has more RAM4 GB vs 3 GB
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy Galaxy S6
  • ✓39 g lighter (138 g vs 177 g), easier to hold
  • ✓$314 cheaper at launch ($685 vs $999)
  • ✓16 MP main camera
Reasons to buy iPhone XS
  • ✓Bigger 2,658 mAh battery (+108 mAh)
  • ✓12 MP main camera
  • ✓5.8" display at 60 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationGalaxy S6iPhone XS
1. Display & Screen
Screen typeSuper AMOLEDSuper Retina OLED
Screen Size5.1"5.8"
Resolution & Density2560x1440 (577 ppi)2436x1125 (458 ppi)
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Brightness784 nits peak625 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone XS Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorNot listed Not listed
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsNot listedNot listed
Operating SystemAndroid 5.0iOS 12
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory3 GB LPDDR4 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage32GB / 64GB / 128GB64GB / 256GB / 512GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone XS Wins Camera
Primary Camera16 MP, f/1.9, OIS12 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)12 MP (2x optical zoom), f/2.4, OIS
Ultrawide CameraN/AN/A
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens5 MP, f/1.97 MP, f/2.2
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 Galaxy S6 Lightest Chassis
Dimensions143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm
Weight138 g177 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceNot listedIP68
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity2,550 mAh2,658 mAh
Wired Fast Charging15W wired fast charging18W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging9W wireless charging7W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth4.15.0
USB Port & SpeedMicro-USB 2.0Lightning
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch Price$685$999
Our verdict

iPhone XS wins — BeastScore 64.2/100

The iPhone XS is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (2,658 mAh vs 2,550 mAh) and faster charging (18W vs 15W). The Galaxy S6 is worth a look if you prefer its sharper main camera (16 MP vs 12 MP).

Buy Galaxy S6 if you want

Lighter: 138 g vs 177 g (39 g less) · Lower launch price: $685 vs $999

Buy iPhone XS if you want

Optical telephoto zoom (1 telephoto lens) · Larger display: 5.8" vs 5.1"

Common questions

Which is better: Galaxy S6 or iPhone XS?

The iPhone XS is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (2,658 mAh vs 2,550 mAh) and faster charging (18W vs 15W). The Galaxy S6 is worth a look if you prefer its sharper main camera (16 MP vs 12 MP). BeastScore: Galaxy S6 63.8/100, iPhone XS 64.2/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between Galaxy S6 and iPhone XS?

Galaxy S6 has a 5.1-inch display and 2550 mAh battery. iPhone XS has a 5.8-inch display and 2658 mAh battery.

How do Galaxy S6 and iPhone XS compare for speed?

Galaxy S6 scores 60/100 for performance; iPhone XS scores 64/100.

Similar Smartphones

Gear for the iPhone XS

All Amazon Finds →

Related articles

All articles →
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Honor Magic V3 vs. OnePlus Open: The Definitive Flagship Foldable Architecture, Hinge Engineering, Crease-Free Displays, and Camera Benchmark Showdown (2026)Flagship Showdown
14 min read

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Honor Magic V3 vs. OnePlus Open: The Definitive Flagship Foldable Architecture, Hinge Engineering, Crease-Free Displays, and Camera Benchmark Showdown (2026)

An exhaustive microarchitectural breakdown, hinge mechanism durability, crease analysis, dual-screen multitasking benchmarks, and periscope camera shootout across the 4 premier book-style foldables of 2026.

Read →
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)Flagship Monitor Shootout
16 min read

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)

A comprehensive architectural shootout of the world's most advanced curved super ultrawide monitors. We compare Samsung's 57-inch Dual 4K Quantum Mini-LED titan against 49-inch Gen 2 QD-OLEDs and LG's 45-inch 800R curved WOLED across DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth tunneling, 240Hz motion clarity, text rendering subpixel matrices, multi-window KVM workflows, and GPU horsepower requirements.

Read →
Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternativesGuide
6 min read

Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternatives

Explore top alternatives to the $2,000 Apple iPhone Duo, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Xiaomi 18 Fold 5G, Vivo X Fold5 Pro, and OnePlus Open 2.

Read →