Comparison between the iPhone XS and the iPhone XR

The iPhone XR is an excellent iPhone. Its big screen is nice, the camera is great and these eye-catching colors offer you options going beyond black or white. In some scenarios, the iPhone XR works even better than its more expensive counterpart, the iPhone XS. And if you liked the latest iPhones, you'll surely love this one too – it's still an iPhone, after all. But it's also a boring iPhone, which does more to remind me of the four-year-old iPhone 6 than the all-new iPhone XS, despite the similarities in size and features. But that's probably the one you should have.

Apple iPhones have a very good track record, and the XR is no exception. The basic model at $ 749 has 64GB of storage, which removes the idea that the model goes from $ 128 to 128GB (there is also a $ 899 to 256GB version). It shares a lot of DNA with its more expensive counterpart for iPhone XS: the two basic models are equipped with the A12 Bionic processor, which makes them just as capable of managing your games home or Fortnite as well as your photo and video editing sessions.

You'll also benefit from the fingerprint-free Face ID security feature, which allows you to connect by watching the camera's deep-scan XR camera integrated into the polarizing notch located at the top of the screen. 6.1 inches. It adds fun features like Animoji and Memoji, more customizable, but expanding the videos to take advantage of the entire display means that there is a small cut that leaves me perplexed.

This screen is more than decent, though. Apple calls this a Liquid Retina LCD, a pleasure to watch. It shares the same pixel density as previous iPhones, which determines the sharpness of elements such as text and images. The XR is not as sharp as the XS, but you will not notice it unless you're a fussy-eyed eagle. It also shares the useful function of awakening iPhone XS, available on Android devices in recent years.

Unfortunately, the iPhone XR abandons the 3D Touch sensitive function underestimated pressure that we find on all models since the iPhone 7 in favor of Haptic Touch, which simulates 3D Touch in predetermined areas – such as the lock screen and control center of the XR – after a long press on an icon. Removing the equivalent of a right-click option on your phones and essentially removing the 3D Touch features used by many applications will not help anyone and will create an unnecessary distinction between the XR and other iPhones. This is a move that compromises the ease of use that should be standard on all devices.

From a design standpoint, the iPhone XR looks like a combination of old and new, leaving aside the upper and lower frame of the old iPhone with the Touch ID fingerprint reader, while retaining the same rounded design and the same aluminum edges. Available in white, black, blue, yellow, coral and red, there is probably a pretty attractive color for you. You do not want to pay the premium for the iPhone XS at $ 999 and up and its sophisticated stainless steel construction? XR aluminum looks perfect, and you will not notice the difference if you use a case. It also brings a wireless recharge to the mix thanks to the return of glbad. Now, if only Apple released a wireless charger, I would not need to rely on the adorable Google Pixel Stand, released alongside the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

The iPhone XR is larger than the high-end XS in all dimensions, although only a few millimeters. It also weighs a few grams more, which gives it a feeling of increased density. The size of the XR lets me take a break – each smartphone grows little by little, and unless you have a good tailor, I doubt that your pockets handle it well.

Apple's new iOS 12 software adds many essential features, as well as some fun tricks that merge the real world with digital. Additions such as Enhanced Augmented Reality allow for more accurate measurements of walls or squares, better furniture previews and easy-to-play RA games. Screen Time, which shows how much time you spend in applications and allows you to set specific timers, makes it easy to manage your attention. This is an excellent first step for Apple to help users better manage their time spent on devices. Further integration with pbadword managers and a simplified SMS verification process also help to keep headaches safe. The new Shortcuts app, which you can use to create automated actions, can, for example, send your ETA to everyone you care about or automatically read an entire album based on the song you're listening to. The learning curve is a little steep, but it pays off when it comes to more tedious tasks, and there are a multitude of predefined shortcuts that you can use.

The camera of the iPhone XR is of course great. It makes sense; It basically uses the same 12-megapixel wide-angle camera lens as on the iPhone XS, which means you can take advantage of features like Smart HDR (to capture more detail in bright or dark dots) and 4K video recording at 60 frames per second.

You will also find the desired Portrait mode on both sides of the XR, despite the lack of a rear telephoto lens. When iPhones equipped with two cameras use both lenses to simulate DSLR quality photos with shallow depth of field, the XR uses wide-angle lens and artificial intelligence to achieve a similar effect. It works pretty well, though the photos of the iPhone XR sometimes leave a very weak "glow" around the subject. Interestingly enough, the portrait mode of the XR can create brighter, brighter pictures than the iPhone XS in low light conditions. In some cases, the subject and I preferred the warmer tones of the XR and his wide angle portraits. The 7-megapixel TrueDepth Selfie Camera also supports Portrait mode.

The competition, however, changes the game of photography. Google's $ 799 Pixel 3 has its own Portrait mode, which also uses a single lens and AI, which produces even sharper images than the XR and adds features like Super Zoom (improved photo zoom with image stabilization) and soon Night Sight improve the quality of poorly lit images. The Apple iPhone XR certainly has a great camera, but its rivals too.

If you are determined to get an iPhone, then, like all things, everything is a matter of money. The difference of $ 250 to switch to the iPhone XS is it worth it? It depends in part on whether you care about the absolute premium phone in town. This is a question you will have to tackle at the checkout, but the iPhone XR is more than a smartphone enough for most people. The unique camera will treat you well, the screen is sharp enough for everything you watch, and unless you're a photography enthusiast or a high-definition videophile, Apple's iPhone XR will handle most of your projects . It's an iPhone, after all.