One month with the Apple iPhone XR: long battery life, solid camera and fun colors

My Apple iPhone XR arrived on October 26 through the S-Mobile Jump On Demand program. See my full review. After a few days, I thought to keep it for the required 30 days and move on to the iPhone XS because I love the iPhone. Form Factor X. It turns out that the iPhone XR is perhaps the ideal iOS device for me and I do not have the intention to go on T-Mobile for the off.

The iPhone XS Max did not impress me and was returned after a week of use. This device was too big and offered nothing compared to the smaller iPhone X / XS. The iPhone XR turns out to be a compromise in many areas while excelling in a couple. I liked it so much last month that it climbed a few notches in the ranking of my top 10 smartphones last week.

Also: Apple iPhone XR: Three features that I love and one that I hate

The compromises

Since the iPhone XR costs $ 250 and $ 350 respectively less than the iPhone XS and the XS Max, there are bound to be areas where it is behind on both devices. These areas include:

• Display technology and resolution: The iPhone XS and XS Max have high resolution 458dpi OLED displays. The iPhone XR uses the Super LCD with 326 dpi and a slightly wider frame around the screen.
• Cellular reception: The iPhone XS and XS Max feature LTE Gigabit technology with MIMO 4×4, while the iPhone XR is equipped with LTE Advanced technology with 2×2 MIMO. Tests show that the iPhone XR has a less reliable signal in areas with low cell coverage.
• 3D Touch: The iPhone XR does not support 3D Touch, but offers limited support for haptic touch features. This haptic support however extends to more applications in the future.
• Resistance to dust and water: The iPhone XS and XS Max have an IP68 protection rating, while the iPhone XR has an IP67 protection rating. This probably does not mean anything to the masses and since Apple does not cover the damage caused by water in its warranty, it is somehow a questionable point.
• Second rear camera: The main rear and front cameras are identical on the three new iPhones, but the iPhone XR does not have a rear telephoto lens. You can still buy the new 58mm Moment Tele lens and enjoy an enhanced telephoto experience at a lower price than the increased cost of the iPhone XS or XS Max.

improvements

We did not expect to see that the iPhone XR actually beats the iPhone XS and the XS Max in some areas, but if these items are important to you, you might also want to choose the XR.

• Price: The basic iPhone XR model costs $ 250 less than the iPhone XS base model and $ 350 less than the iPhone XS Max. On a 24-month payment plan, this represents $ 10.42 to $ 14.58 less per month for the iPhone XR.
• Battery life: You might have expected to think that the biggest iPhone XS Max will be the champion of battery life, but a smaller display, with a lower resolution, seems to give the iPhone XR a longer length. 39, advance on the battery life of these three new iPhones. For example, for Internet use, Apple evaluates the iPhone XS Max at 13 o'clock, the XS at 12 o'clock and the iPhone XR at 15 o'clock.
• Intermediate storage option: The three new iPhones start with 64 GB of internal storage, but it seems a bit too weak. While the XS and XS Max go to 256GB for $ 150 more, the iPhone XR is available with 128GB of storage for just $ 50 more. The 128 GB is the best value and gives you a storage capacity that can meet the needs of the masses.
• Colors: The iPhone XS and XS Max are available in silver, gray space and gold. The iPhone XR is available in white, black, blue, yellow, coral and RED product. It's great to see such a large selection of colors and it is still possible that the XS and XS Max appear later in the RED product, which is typical for Apple.

Also: Revision Apple iPhone XR: cost savings with the camera, compromise on the reception

For me personally, the improvements outweigh the compromises and the iPhone XR is my favorite among the three new iPhones launched at the end of 2018. I've bought the one in Coral since I'm a fan of the color orange and that I am delighted with my selection. I've considered switching from T-Mobile to the yellow model because I also love this color, but I have not made that choice yet.

The best reason I prefer the iPhone XR is the longer battery life, the lower price and the 128GB storage option.