Galaxy S8 Vs Iphone X Battery Did Apple Really Drop The Ball

When Samsung released the Galaxy S8 in 2017, it was a comeback story after the Note 7 disaster. Months later, Apple responded with the iPhone X, its first major redesign in a decade. Both phones were flagship devices, packed with innovation—but one area sparked heated debate: battery life. While Samsung delivered solid endurance, early reviews of the iPhone X suggested Apple had compromised on power. But was this just perception, or did Apple actually misstep?

The answer isn’t simple. Battery performance depends on hardware, software optimization, usage patterns, and even user expectations. To understand whether Apple \"dropped the ball,\" we need to compare real-world data, charging behavior, efficiency, and long-term reliability between the Galaxy S8 and iPhone X.

Battery Capacity and Hardware Specs

On paper, the Galaxy S8 has a clear advantage. It features a 3000mAh battery, while the iPhone X packs a smaller 2716mAh unit. That’s nearly a 10% difference in raw capacity. However, comparing mAh alone can be misleading—efficiency matters more than size.

The iPhone X uses Apple’s custom A11 Bionic chip, renowned for its energy efficiency due to advanced architecture and tight integration between hardware and iOS. The Galaxy S8 runs on either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 9810 (depending on region), both capable processors but not as tightly optimized as Apple’s silicon.

“Battery life is less about milliampere-hours and more about how efficiently the system manages power across components.” — Dr. Lin Chen, Mobile Power Systems Researcher, IEEE

Differences at a Glance

Feature	Galaxy S8	iPhone X
Battery Capacity	3000 mAh	2716 mAh
Processor	Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 9810	A11 Bionic
Display Type	5.8\" Quad HD+ AMOLED	5.8\" Super Retina OLED
Charging	Fast charging, Wireless (Qi)	Wireless (Qi), No fast charging out of box
Standby Efficiency	Good	Excellent

Tip: Screen brightness and background app refresh are the two biggest battery drains. Reducing both can extend life by up to 30%.

Real-World Usage and Endurance

In daily use, the Galaxy S8 often lasted a full day with moderate to heavy usage—around 5–6 hours of screen-on time. Streaming video, GPS navigation, and social media apps consumed power steadily, but the phone rarely died before bedtime.

The iPhone X, despite its smaller battery, wasn’t far behind. Thanks to iOS 11’s aggressive background app management and display dimming algorithms, many users reported similar screen-on times—between 4.5 and 5.5 hours. In low-light conditions, the OLED panel turned off black pixels entirely, saving power during dark mode usage.

However, under high-load scenarios—such as continuous gaming or augmented reality apps—the iPhone X drained faster. The A11 chip, while efficient, generated more heat during sustained tasks, triggering thermal throttling and increasing power draw. The Galaxy S8 handled extended loads more consistently, especially in cooler environments.

Mini Case Study: Commuter Comparison

Take Sarah, a digital marketer in Chicago who commutes an hour each way. She uses her phone for email, messaging, music streaming, and occasional video calls. With the Galaxy S8, she averaged 6 hours of screen time and still had 15% left at 9 PM. When she switched to the iPhone X, her screen-on time dropped to 5.2 hours, requiring a mid-afternoon charge if she skipped breakfast.

Was the difference dramatic? Not quite. But over weeks, the lack of fast charging became a pain point. While Samsung’s fast charger replenished 50% in 30 minutes, Apple’s standard 5W adapter took nearly 90 minutes for the same boost—unless she bought a $59 USB-C charger and $29 adapter separately.

Charging Experience: Where Apple Lagged

This is where Apple arguably did “drop the ball.” In 2017, most Android flagships included fast charging in the box. The Galaxy S8 came with a 15W rapid charger. Meanwhile, Apple shipped the iPhone X with a slow 5W brick, forcing users to pay extra for faster speeds.

Even with third-party accessories, the iPhone X supported only basic Qi wireless charging—no fast wireless like the S8. It wasn’t until the iPhone 11 series that Apple included faster wired charging by default.

“Apple prioritized design and safety over convenience. But in doing so, they underestimated consumer demand for quick top-ups.” — Mark Tran, Tech Analyst at GadgetInsight

Step-by-Step Guide: Maximizing iPhone X Battery Life

If you're still using an iPhone X, these steps can help squeeze more life from its aging battery:

1. Enable Low Power Mode when below 30%. This reduces background activity and visual effects.
2. Turn off Background App Refresh for non-essential apps like Instagram or TikTok.
3. Use Auto-Brightness to let the phone adjust based on lighting conditions.
4. Disable Location Services for apps that don’t need constant access.
5. Update to the latest iOS version—Apple often includes battery optimizations in updates.
6. Replace the battery if capacity is below 80%. Apple offered discounted replacements after the 2017 slowdown controversy.

Longevity and Degradation Over Time

Lithium-ion batteries degrade with every charge cycle. After 500 full cycles, most retain about 80% of original capacity. Both phones used quality cells, but their degradation paths differed.

Apple implemented battery health management starting with iOS 11.3, which could throttle performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns. While controversial, this helped extend usable life. Samsung didn’t offer built-in battery health metrics until much later—one reason some S8 owners replaced batteries earlier.

By 2020, many iPhone X units still performed well with optimized settings, while some Galaxy S8s showed faster drain, particularly those exposed to heat or charged overnight frequently.

Battery Longevity Checklist

• ✅ Avoid charging to 100% daily—aim for 20%-80%
• ✅ Keep the phone away from direct sunlight and hot cars
• ✅ Use official or MFi-certified chargers
• ✅ Enable battery health monitoring (iOS) or third-party tools (Android)
• ✅ Replace the battery proactively after 2 years of heavy use

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the iPhone X have worse battery life than the Galaxy S8?

Not significantly in everyday use. The S8 had a larger battery and faster charging, but the iPhone X matched it in efficiency thanks to iOS and the A11 chip. Under heavy load, the S8 generally lasted longer.

Can I improve my iPhone X battery life now?

Yes. Replace the battery if degraded, disable unnecessary background processes, lower brightness, and avoid extreme temperatures. Even small changes can add an extra hour of use.

Why didn’t Apple include fast charging with the iPhone X?

Apple likely delayed adoption to maintain profit margins on accessories and ensure compatibility with existing ecosystems. They may have also been cautious about heat management in the compact design.

Final Verdict: Did Apple Drop the Ball?

Partly, yes—but not where most people think. Apple didn’t fail in battery optimization; the iPhone X was remarkably efficient given its size. The real misstep was in user experience: shipping a premium $999 phone without fast charging or meaningful battery diagnostics out of the box.

In contrast, Samsung delivered a balanced package—strong endurance, rapid charging, and consistent performance. Apple caught up eventually, but in 2017, the omission felt like a step backward.

That said, both phones aged differently. The iPhone X benefited from longer software support—receiving updates until 2022—while the Galaxy S8 stopped at Android 9. For users valuing long-term usability, iOS provided better value despite the initial charging limitations.

💬 Still using an iPhone X or Galaxy S8? Share your experience with battery life and charging. Did Apple let you down, or was it overblown? Join the conversation below.