Apple released three new iPhones simultaneously for the second year in a row. With confusing and mouth-watering names like the iPhone XR, and XS Max, it becomes even more challenging to figure out which might be the best device for you. The hard-to-understand jargon doesn’t end there. A12 bionic? Liquid retina screen? Neural engine? How can ordinary people understand all this?
Figuring out which iPhone is best for you isn’t as daunting as you might think. Ignore confusing names and focus on the one or two pieces that matter most to you, whether it’s a giant screen, a reliable camera, or a color that matches your style.
It’s not about whether you should upgrade your existing phone but how much you’re wise to spend on your phone. You can pay half the price and still get a decent product. But between the three, we’ll help you find the right choice. First, let’s look at what the three new iPhones have in common (a lot).
The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR share many of the same features.
Remember the iPhone 5C? It was a more affordable iPhone with a colorful design, so it could easily be compared to the XR. But it’s also compared to the specs of the year-old 5S. This time, Apple equips every 2018 iPhone with the same core hardware. There are differences in screen size, battery capacity, and cameras, but the similarities are many:
Processor: All three new iPhones feature Apple’s latest A12 Bionic processor, a 7nm chip that, according to the company, represents a breakthrough in mobile computing power. Its two performance cores (processing-intensive tasks) are “15 percent faster” than the iPhone X, while the four efficiency cores (responsible for powering your everyday app usage) are “50 percent more efficient.” The GPU is 50 percent faster. Unlike modern iPhones, which struggle to run iOS games, the chip opens up new possibilities for software. Each new iPhone also includes Apple’s updated eight-core Neural Engine for AI tasks, which can handle 5 trillion operations per second. Best of all, all three phones should deliver equally blazing performance when using your apps daily.
Primary camera: The XR may not have a telephoto/zoom lens, but it has the same 12-megapixel f/1.8 primary camera as the XS and XS Max. In all three models, Apple says, the camera features a new sensor (with more pixels) and is capable of Smart HDR, which produces photos with “greater dynamic range” and less noise in low-light conditions. Apple’s new camera is also better at freezing action shots. Like last year, all new iPhones can shoot 4K video at 60 fps and 1080p slow-mo at 240 fps.
Front-facing TrueDepth camera: The camera system for selfies, Face ID, Animoji, and Memoji, which is the same in all three new iPhones. It’s a 7-megapixel f/2.2 sensor.
True Tone, wide-color display: While they use different technologies, the iPhone XS and XR include Apple’s True Tone technology, which adjusts the display’s temperature to match the ambient lighting around you. They are also capable of displaying a wide P3 color gamut.
A faster facial recognition system: Yes, the home button disappeared from Apple’s 2018 iPhones. However, the company has sped up Face ID by adding tighter safe zones and a more innovative face-scanning algorithm.
Faster wireless charging: Apple says all of its 2018 models support faster Qi charging than the iPhone X, but it didn’t provide any precise numbers for the difference.
Support dual SIM dual standby: The new iPhone can support dual SIM dual standby, including the eSIM in the phone and a physical nanoSIM card. This will make international travel or balancing work/personal life more accessible.
Stereo recording: Apple somehow brought it to the fore in 2018, allowing the iPhone to record stereo audio, and it’s been a while! At least it’s finally happening. The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR all have four built-in microphones to capture stereo sound when shooting video.
Better stereo speakers: While we’re on the subject, Apple claims that the new iPhones all feature improved stereo speakers and a more comprehensive audio presentation.
All models come with a slow 5W charger and no headphone adapter: Apple continues to bundle a slow charger with its most expensive phones. The company no longer ships its $9 headphone cable in a box.
If you want the most giant screen in Apple’s history, buy the iPhone XS Max.
Price: $1,099 (64GB) | $1,249 (256GB) | $1,449 (512GB)
The iPhone XS Max is designed for those who prefer a Plus-sized smartphone. You can have a bigger screen — a 6.5-inch display — in a form factor that’s barely different from the 8 Plus.
Apple has previously transmitted that the iPhone X has a larger display than the iPhone 8 Plus. Looking at the diagonal, it’s technically correct. But it’s never been this forgiving, which makes a difference when scrolling Instagram, watching a video, or browsing the web.
First and foremost, the XS Max returns to that big, bulky screen — now with a notch and no home button. Another benefit of being bigger is battery life. Apple says the iPhone XS Max lasts 90 minutes longer than last year’s iPhone X., But if you found the Plus phones of the past impractical, the XS Max won’t be any different.
If you want a super-powerful phone you can use with one hand but also want dual cameras, get the iPhone XS.
If you didn’t upgrade last year, the clever design of Apple’s previous iPhone X has been modestly improved in the iPhone XS. It’s now more powerful and faster, thanks to Gigabit LTE. The camera is better too, and other improvements like better water resistance (now IP68) exist. Oh, and this one also came out gold. Yep, that sounds like an S world to me.
If the iPhone XS Max’s screen is too big for you, the XS is a much better size device for one-handed use, not to mention the same features. At the top of the list is its dual-lens camera for portraiture. Maybe someone doesn’t use this very often, but plenty of people shoot with it constantly. So for those who want the best iPhone (up to 512GB of storage) but care about one-handed usability. But it’s still not as compact as the iPhone SE. Rest in peace.
If you want brilliant colors, maximum battery life, and a good balance of everything, go for the iPhone XR.
Price: $749 (64GB) | $799 (128GB) | $899 (256GB)
The iPhone XR starts at $749, avoiding the iPhone XS’s expensive $1,000 entry price. And it shares many of the same features with Apple’s latest technological advancements. There are two main differences to keep in mind. One is the screen: You can get a 6.1-inch LCD screen on the XR and a 5.8-inch or 6.5-inch OLED panel on the XS. It’s not as sharp as the iPhone XS (326 ppi versus 458), but Apple’s LCD screen is vibrant and bright. It’s different, but is it a downgrade? We doubt many people will see it that way. The XR is a bit wider (2.98 inches) than the XS (2.79 inches), so it’s worth considering if you don’t like significant devices.
Another difference is the camera, as the XR only has an optically stabilized 12-megapixel sensor. But thanks to software, it offers the same portrait lens and adjustable bokeh as the XS and the same Smart HDR capabilities. Performance between the two main cameras on both phones should be the same. But if you regularly rely on or enjoy using the zoom lens on the iPhone Plus, you probably won’t have it.
IP67 water resistance is a step down from the XS and XS Max’s new IP68 rating, but it’s still good enough for peace of mind in a sudden rainstorm or if someone accidentally drops your phone in a drink. Aluminum frames aren’t as strong as stainless steel, but the phone is lighter.
The real selling point of the iPhone XR is the vibrant colors. Available in coral red, blue, yellow, and red options, it’s more eye-catching than the safe-playing iPhone XS. (And for those who keep saying a case will hide its color, let us remind you there are plenty of them.) Not since the iPhone 5C has Apple offered such a broad portfolio of finished products.
If you go for the XR, you get much of the best information about the iPhone XS in a cheaper package. It has the best battery life of any iPhone this year. Apple claims the XR can usually last 90 minutes longer than the iPhone 8 Plus. Plus, phones have always had impressive battery life, which sounds much better. It’s guaranteed.
You lose 3D Touch, but how much is that lost? No, you won’t be able to access specific parts of an app by pressing or previewing (“peeking” in Apple’s terminology) URL links or media on its Home screen icon. But other handy features, such as moving the cursor by pressing and holding the virtual keyboard, have been extended to devices without 3D Touch.
Check it out: It’s been three years since 3D Touch launched on the iPhone 6S, and the best advice for finding out what useful things it can do is still “come try it out and see if something happens.” The technology hasn’t even made it to an iPad. 3D Touch has enormous potential but goes off the rails a bit. And Apple has only itself to blame.
Either of these phones isn’t bad, and while the new iPhone lineup, unfortunately, has an entry fee of $750, the iPhone 8 is still a solid option for those looking to spend less. The 128GB iPhone XR seems like the sweet spot and an excellent choice for all kinds of people, but there will still be rich people who don’t hesitate to buy the 512GB iPhone XS Max.
Are women’s pockets the only reason to buy an iPhone XS?
The iPhone X is dead. Instead, women now have three new options: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Apple likes to name phones things that look silly like everyone else wants to rant about it, so we found ourselves in perfect sync.
In 2018, Science™ (The Pudding) finally confirmed that women’s pockets are not friendly. They’re especially unkind to tech fans since only 40 percent of women’s front pant pockets fit the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display. That’s terrible news for anyone interested in getting an XS Max. It’s even more significant than the iPhone X or the similarly sized XS, with a 6.5-inch display. Even the newly launched iPhone XR has a massive 6.1-inch screen. Even though the XR gets most of the features available on the XS at a lower cost, the choice has already been made for those considering which new phone to bring home at the price of months of wages. Because, you know, you don’t have pockets for a Max or an XR.
The choice has been made for those looking to throw down $1,000 on a new phone.
In theory, it doesn’t matter. Suppose you’re shopping for a new flagship iPhone. In that case, the XS and XS Max both have dual rear 12-megapixel cameras with an improved True Tone flash, a front-facing 7-megapixel camera, improved water resistance, and better battery life than the iPhone X. No dongle because Apple doesn’t want to make you spend another $9.
In addition to the X, Apple also axed the iPhone SE, and consumers have been begging for the company’s newer mass-market phone. The XS is $100 cheaper than the Max, but Apple doesn’t have many options for buyers who prefer smaller phones. The most miniature iPhone you can buy is now the iPhone 7, which has a screen 0.7 inches larger than the SE’s 4-inch display.
Rather than outdoing itself by making bigger phones every year, Apple could try an interesting experiment of upgrading features and size. Now that the Apple Watch is smaller and fits comfortably in a more petite frame, why not offer the same size for the iPhone?
