iPhone XR makes good compromises for a cheaper price

NEW YORK – Apple offers a simple compromise with its new iPhone XR, the middle class cousin of the high-end iPhone XS.

On one side, the XR lacks the XS 'high-resolution screen and dual lens camera. On the other hand, you will save at least $ 250 and still benefit from the other advanced features available on the more expensive model.

After several days of testing, it seems that Apple has made the right compromise by reducing costs with the XR, which begins to sell Friday at $ 750. The standard XS starts at $ 1,000; his supersized cousin, the XS Max, is going for $ 100 more.

The XR is between the XS and the Max in size. Its screen is about 7% larger than the XS and 12% smaller than the Max.

But the XR is closer in width to larger phones such as Max and older models. Therefore, any upgrade from an iPhone 7 or 8 will have to get used to a new take.

As with the XS, the XR's screen extends close to the edges of the phone, which represents 45% more screen space than on the iPhone 8 and 6% on the 8 Plus.

The XR and XS both use facial recognition to unlock the phone. They both have a notch at the top for the sensors, similar to the windshields of the windshield of the car. The notch will take the habit.

The quality of the XR and XS speakers was comparable, and the mics of all the new models offer stereo recording for the first time.

However, the phone screens are different and these differences can make the difference. The screens on both XS models have better contrast and brighter colors than the standard XR LCD.

The XR screen also does not achieve full high definition, unlike XS screens, although it can display 720p-quality video. According to Apple, with LCDs, a higher resolution drains the battery faster, a minimal compromise with the XS because its screen does not need backlighting.

That said, the differences are often difficult to detect, even with side-by-side phones. Where quality really matters, you'll probably want a bigger screen, like a tablet or TV.

Although the Max has the largest battery in an iPhone, the XR generally performs at or better than the battery when viewing video, at least with low or medium brightness. In any case, either phone should give you enough battery life for everyday use.

The cameras are improving at each generation and the new iPhones are not different. For many shots, the new iPhones mix four exposures instead of two, allowing for better light balance and more detail.

On some photos taken in sub-optimal conditions – against direct sunlight – the XR still showed trees in dark places, while last year's iPhone X produced a return effect. The new cameras also have better focus and low light.

What's missing in the XR is a second rear lens that doubles the magnification. Instead, the XR uses a software zoom, which reduces the quality. Of course, the standard iPhone 7 and 8 also had no second objective, unlike their Plus models, like the iPhone X. Both XS models also have two objectives.

Despite the lack of a second lens, the XR lets you blur the backgrounds of some shots, a feature that many phones now have. The XR does this with software, although it only works with people in the foreground, while the XS can make statues and monuments.

Two other points of comparison. The water resistance of the XS is slightly higher: good depth up to 2 meters, against only 1 meter on the XR. But the XR offers a storage upgrade option with budget: 50 USD for 128GB (up to 64GB in the base model). Both XS phones also start at 64 gigabytes, but their cheapest upgrade costs $ 150 for 256 gigabytes.

The only shot is the size of the XR. While this is suitable for people with pockets or bags, not everyone wants a phone as wide as the Max or the Plus. Maybe Apple will someday design a smaller XR and revive a trend of offering standard and larger versions for each major model.