I'm interested to know more.
No you're not. You are being condescending and you know it.
I recently bought an iPhone XS and was shocked at how heavy the phone is
Heavy? Are you kidding? It feels premium and solid. Heavy? it isn't a barbell. I think you are just used to how cheap the other phones feel.
What does bad mean? Seriously, saying iOS is bad is laughable. It works extremely well and manages the phone on less memory than the phones you mentioned. I don't call that bad, I call that functional. Again, I think you are just used to the cheap mobile software in the phones you mentioned.
I spent some time setting it up to try and replicate the usability I was used to on Android but was thwarted every step of the way.
How were you thwarted? iOS setup is very simple. I am sensing a pattern here...you are used to cheap phones and don't seem to be very adept at the simplest of tasks. There is a problem here for you and it isn't the phone.
I soon realised I'd have to do everything Apple's way or no way.
This tells me all I need to know about your "interest."
I took the iPhone back for a refund.
Were you thwarted every step of the way of the return?
I accept that the A12 SoC is faster than the Snapdragon 845 in the Pixel 3
This is the first sensible thing that you have said.
but, as with cars, top speed is not always a useful measure of a good car.
You are right, that is why Apple blows Android away, because not only is the iPhone faster, but it works seamlessly with my AirPods, MacBook, iMac, AppleTV, HomePod, and Apple Watch.
'Blows Android away' intrigues me.
No it doesn't. Troll.
You mention integration. With what? I have a Mac and can run Messages and WhatsApp on my desktop. Chromecast works beautifully. I'm not sure what further integration I'm missing with Android?
AirPods, MacBook, iMac, AppleTV, HomePod, and Apple Watch. WhatsApp? LOL, okay. You know exactly what you are missing and your post shows it. You don't want to know anything, nor are you intrigued. You are butthurt by my comments, so you composed a lengthy condescending post. Okay, you matter. Do you feel validated now?