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The iPhone XS (details) and iPhone XS Max (details) ship with many problems – one of which
Apple
"Great Secret Features" and "Nasty Surprises" are my usual chronicles about the best features / biggest issues behind the headlines.
This week, the two acclaimed critics sites Anandtech and researchers in Taiwan Tsing-Hua National University Surprisingly, Apple has downplayed the importance of two major improvements in the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. So, let's break them down.
The most subtle of the two discoveries comes from Tsing-Hua University. While testing an iPhone XS Max, he learned that Apple's latest OLED displays are scientifically healthier for your eyes than previous models with Apple's LCDs.
Tests have revealed that the iPhone XS Max provides an MPE (maximum allowed exposure) 20% higher than the iPhone 7. The MPE is the time it takes before a retina does not ignite due to on-screen exposure. The duration is only 346 seconds (sobering reminder, we should not look too much at our screens too long), but it easily beats the 288 seconds of the iPhone 7.
The iPhone XS Max also has a score lower than the MSS (sensitivity to melatonin suppression) of 20.1% against 24.6% for the iPhone 7. The MSS is essentially a measure of blue light, an exposure which disrupts the circadian rhythm and can actively damage the cells in your eyes.
In short: if you're a big phone user, the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max OLED-based displays are obviously better for you. It's interesting because the iPhone XR (details) reduces costs by using an LCD screen.
The second discovery is even more surprising.
According to Anandtech, Apple claims that the A12 Bionic chipset (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR) has cores of performance 15% faster than the A11 Bionic (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X). In fact, it is up to 40% faster and can compete with some of the most powerful desktop processors.
Anandtech discovered that A12 was causing major structural changes in the core processor and memory compression in the GPU, while the system cache was exhibiting the "biggest change since its introduction in the A7" .
"Apple's marketing department really underestimated the improvements," says Anandtech. The consequences for Android systems-on-a-chip are severe:
"Apple's SoCs are more energy efficient than all the recent Android SoCs, while offering almost 2x performance advantage. I would not be surprised if we normalized the energy used, Apple would have an efficiency return of 3x. "
It's a pretty amazing feat.
That said, it's also a source of frustration, as extensive testing of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max has revealed pretty disappointing battery life. And we now know how long these phones could last if only Apple had not cut corners … literally.
___
Follow Gordon on Twitter, Facebook and Google+
More about Forbes
Apple confirms the problem of charging its iPhone
The Apple iPhone XS dramatically increases the speed of 4G
Apple iPhone XS vs iPhone XR: what's the difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone XS Max: What's the difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone X: what's the difference?
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The iPhone XS (details) and iPhone XS Max (details) ship with many problems – one of which
Apple
"Great Secret Features" and "Nasty Surprises" are my usual chronicles about the best features / biggest issues behind the headlines.
The Apple iPhone XS (center) and the iPhone XS Max (left) have great secret featuresApple
This week, the two acclaimed critics sites Anandtech and researchers in Taiwan Tsing-Hua National University Surprisingly, Apple has downplayed the importance of two major improvements in the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. So, let's break them down.
The most subtle of the two discoveries comes from Tsing-Hua University. While testing an iPhone XS Max, he learned that Apple's latest OLED displays are scientifically healthier for your eyes than previous models with Apple's LCDs.
Tests have revealed that the iPhone XS Max provides an MPE (maximum allowed exposure) 20% higher than the iPhone 7. The MPE is the time it takes before a retina does not ignite due to on-screen exposure. The duration is only 346 seconds (sobering reminder, we should not look too much at our screens too long), but it easily beats the 288 seconds of the iPhone 7.
The iPhone XS Max also has a score lower than the MSS (sensitivity to melatonin suppression) of 20.1% against 24.6% for the iPhone 7. The MSS is essentially a measure of blue light, an exposure which disrupts the circadian rhythm and can actively damage the cells in your eyes.
In short: if you're a big phone user, the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max OLED-based displays are obviously better for you. It's interesting because the iPhone XR (details) reduces costs by using an LCD screen.
The second discovery is even more surprising.
Apple's Bionic Chipset A12Apple
According to Anandtech, Apple claims that the A12 Bionic chipset (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR) has cores of performance 15% faster than the A11 Bionic (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X). In fact, it is up to 40% faster and can compete with some of the most powerful desktop processors.
Anandtech discovered that A12 was causing major structural changes in the core processor and memory compression in the GPU, while the system cache was exhibiting the "biggest change since its introduction in the A7" .
"Apple's marketing department really underestimated the improvements," says Anandtech. The consequences for Android systems-on-a-chip are severe:
"Apple's SoCs are more energy efficient than all the recent Android SoCs, while offering almost 2x performance advantage. I would not be surprised if we normalized the energy used, Apple would have an efficiency return of 3x. "
It's a pretty amazing feat.
That said, it's also a source of frustration, as extensive testing of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max has revealed pretty disappointing battery life. And we now know how long these phones could last if only Apple had not cut corners … literally.
___
Follow Gordon on Twitter, Facebook and Google+
More about Forbes
Apple confirms the problem of charging its iPhone
The Apple iPhone XS dramatically increases the speed of 4G
Apple iPhone XS vs iPhone XR: what's the difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone XS Max: What's the difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone X: what's the difference?
