I originally thought so, but after looking around the market there's not that much difference when you look at *current* flagships. And don't mistake, the XR might not be the flagship of flagships, but it is going to be one of the best phones in the world.
Compared to other phones, LG has a phone that was almost identical in shape and function to the X that is $750 right now (G7 ThinQ). The Galaxy S9 is about $700, and that's after it just dropped by $150 since the Apple announcements. While on paper it's one of the best deals out there, if you've ever used Samsung you know their 'add on' UI is laggy and their phones typically full of bloatware.
And, you'll never get updates for it 3 or 4 years from now like you do with iPhones. How many people you know still using a Galaxy S6? Those are iPhone 6S era Samsungs, they are worthless garbage now while the iPhone 6S is still used by many and still has significant resale value. Those Samsungs are on Android 7, if their carrier was good enough to roll it out in the summer of 2017. Google is about to roll out Android 9. My 6S is on 11.4.1 and will get 12 when it rolls out, assuming I don't upgrade.
Then you have the ecosystem you're buying into. Apple sells hardware, Google sells its customers data. Apple protects your privacy and security, Google sells it.
i.e.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90236195/forget-the-new-iphones-apples-best-product-is-now-privacy
"Apple is now also enforcing its strict privacy protection policies on third-party developers. The company recently forced Facebook to remove its Onavo Protect VPN app from the App Store because Facebook was using it to create a log of every website an Onavo user went to (the app is still available for Android devices). "
The updates, security, privacy, long term value, fastest SoC on the planet, huge supporting market, these things go beyond just a spec sheet and have pretty much removed any question in my mind as to their value.
For me, my only question is, iPhone 7+, 8+, or Xr?