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I just recently ended up going with the Note 9. I was about to pull the plug and buy the XS Max unlocked outright, but last minute after extensive research I decided on the Note 9, because of a few important factors.

1. Intel chipset over Qualcomm, and reported LTE and Wifi issues
2. No fast charger. IMO not acceptable for a device that costs $1,100
3. Value. The Note 9 is 100 bucks cheaper, comes with fast charger and 128 gigs, instead of 64, plus the ability to add more.


Based on those alone I went with Note 9, even though I wanted iPhone due to it's better OS and ecosystem.
 
I just recently ended up going with the Note 9. I was about to pull the plug and buy the XS Max unlocked outright, but last minute after extensive research I decided on the Note 9, because of a few important factors.

1. Intel chipset over Qualcomm, and reported LTE and Wifi issues
2. No fast charger. IMO not acceptable for a device that costs $1,100
3. Value. The Note 9 is 100 bucks cheaper, comes with fast charger and 128 gigs, instead of 64, plus the ability to add more.


Based on those alone I went with Note 9, even though I wanted iPhone due to it's better OS and ecosystem.

And how are you liking it so far? Can you integrate with the Apple eco-system at all?
 
And how are you liking it so far? Can you integrate with the Apple eco-system at all?


It's really nice. Just got it a few days ago. I have a week and a half to return it if I change my mind and go with MAX. Honestly if MAX had a fast charger I might have gone with it. The S pen is kewl. Can take family photos by pressing S-pen button. The AKG tuned buds are not so good, but still ok. The OLED screen is breathtaking.
 
If price is the only issue, XR wouldn't be having any problems. XR 64GB and 6S 64GB (2015) were the same price at launch (there were cheaper options for 6S with less storage, but 6S Plus would've also been the same price if not higher).
 
Given that Apple's competitors flagships are within $100 of the XS, I don't think Apple is likely to drop their prices. I would anticipate that they'll keep their flagship prices the same (which, accounting for inflation, means their prices will effectively drop), but possibly introduce an SE successor at a lower price point than the XR, or possibly introduce another variant of the XR (smaller screen and lower price).
 
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I guess the silver lining is *maybe* Apple will release future new iPhones at an actual budget price.

To me it really wasn't about paying a grand. What botheres me is if I'm willing to pay that price, then it should be expected that all the goodies should be included, such as a fast charger. Apple is not willing to inlude a 70/80 dollar charger that probbably costs them 5 bucks to make? Instead they throw in a crappy 5 watt one. Also 64gb in 2018/19 for a $1,100 phone? Really Apple?:rolleyes:
 
Given that Apple's competitors flagships are within $100 of the XS, I don't think Apple is likely to drop their prices. I would anticipate that they'll keep their flagship prices the same (which, accounting for inflation, means their prices will effectively drop), but possibly introduce an SE successor at a lower price point than the XR, or possibly introduce another variant of the XR (smaller screen and lower price).
Which competitors flagships is 100 less than the XS? I thought they were about 200 or more less.
 
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MSRP of the Galaxy Note 9 is the same as the XS, and $100 cheaper than the XS Max.
I personally don't think the Note 9 competes with the XS Max. I know media and tech sites make it seem that way. But I put the Note 9 in it's own niche because of the s pen. Imo the S9 and S9 plus is really the competitors for the XS and XS Max. Those are both at least 200 cheaper.
 
I personally don't think the Note 9 competes with the XS Max. I know media and tech sites make it seem that way. But I put the Note 9 in it's own niche because of the s pen. Imo the S9 and S9 plus is really the competitors for the XS and XS Max. Those are both at least 200 cheaper.
I was trying to avoid opinions in my original post. If there is agreement that the Note 9 is Samsung's flagship phone, and the XS Max is Apple's flagship phone, then they are within $100 of each other.
 
I just recently ended up going with the Note 9. I was about to pull the plug and buy the XS Max unlocked outright, but last minute after extensive research I decided on the Note 9, because of a few important factors.

1. Intel chipset over Qualcomm, and reported LTE and Wifi issues
2. No fast charger. IMO not acceptable for a device that costs $1,100
3. Value. The Note 9 is 100 bucks cheaper, comes with fast charger and 128 gigs, instead of 64, plus the ability to add more.


Based on those alone I went with Note 9, even though I wanted iPhone due to it's better OS and ecosystem.
The note 9 is the better phone and better value for money. It just doesn’t run iOS and work with the Apple ecosystem. So I have the max.
 
Honestly if MAX had a fast charger I might have gone with it. The S pen is kewl. Can take family photos by pressing S-pen button. The AKG tuned buds are not so good, but still ok. The OLED screen is breathtaking.

While I’m with you that the iphones are too expensive your argument about the fast charger is strange.
You can always buy the ipad charger what adds only 1% to the $1500
 
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I personally don't think the Note 9 competes with the XS Max. I know media and tech sites make it seem that way. But I put the Note 9 in it's own niche because of the s pen. Imo the S9 and S9 plus is really the competitors for the XS and XS Max. Those are both at least 200 cheaper.


The Note 9 actually has 2 great aditions over the S9 Plus that most probably don't know about.

1. Liquid cooling. Has a newly developed thin copper pipe, with thin strands of copper mesh+liquid inside over snapdragon SOC that keeps it much cooler over previous designs. This means less throttling and cooler temps.

2. 4000 MaH battery, 500 more than the S9 plus.
 
While I’m with you that the iphones are too expensive your argument about the fast charger is strange.
You can always buy the ipad charger what adds only 1% to the $1500

3%. You'd need the charger for $30 and also a USB-C to lightning cable, which is another $20 for the cheapest 1m one... so $50 at the least.
 
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Given that Apple's competitors flagships are within $100 of the XS, I don't think Apple is likely to drop their prices. I would anticipate that they'll keep their flagship prices the same (which, accounting for inflation, means their prices will effectively drop), but possibly introduce an SE successor at a lower price point than the XR, or possibly introduce another variant of the XR (smaller screen and lower price).
I was trying to avoid opinions in my original post. If there is agreement that the Note 9 is Samsung's flagship phone, and the XS Max is Apple's flagship phone, then they are within $100 of each other.
well in the UK the note 9 starts at £899 (rrp) and the max starts at £1099. That’s £200 less for the note 9 and it comes with 128GB of storage and a micro SD card slot. You can get the full frotal 512GB note 9 with 8GB of ram for the price of the base model of the max here. This doesn’t even include discounts and price drops which have already happened to the note 9.
 
3%. You'd need the charger for $30 and also a USB-C to lightning cable, which is another $20 for the cheapest 1m one... so $50 at the least.
Well the old 12W is just fine or 3rd party. My point was that I wouldn’t switch to Samsung just because of the fast charger if there are relatively cheap ones to buy.

It’s like choosing a phone just because one comes with a free case
 
If price is the only issue, XR wouldn't be having any problems. XR 64GB and 6S 64GB (2015) were the same price at launch (there were cheaper options for 6S with less storage, but 6S Plus would've also been the same price if not higher).
I think it’s different because the 6s was, at the time, the best iPhone you could buy. I think people feel differently about paying $750 for the best iPhone available than they do about the same price for a mid-range iPhone (even if that doesn’t necessarily make logical sense). Plus, as you note, the entry level 6s was $650.

The price of entry to the “best iPhone available” is very different.
 
well in the UK the note 9 starts at £899 (rrp) and the max starts at £1099. That’s £200 less for the note 9 and it comes with 128GB of storage and a micro SD card slot. You can get the full frotal 512GB note 9 with 8GB of ram for the price of the base model of the max here. This doesn’t even include discounts and price drops which have already happened to the note 9.


:eek::eek::eek: 300 dollars in VAT tax?, Holy jesus!:mad: I don't want to know what the poor chap in Brazil has to pay. Might as well fly to the US once every couple of years to buy your electronics in bulk, with included vacation.
 
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