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The best new iPhone is
Apple
Here's everything you need to know …
Displays – The Big Compromise
If the iPhone XR has a weakness, it's the display. Furthermore, this is arguably the greatest strength of the iPhone XS Max:
- iPhone XS Max – 6.5-inch OLED, 19.5: 9 aspect ratio, True Tone, 2688 x 1242 pixels (458 ppi), 1,000,000: 1 contrast ratio, 84.4% screen-to-body ratio,
- iPhone XR – 6.1-inch LCD, 19.5: 9 aspect ratio, True Tone, 1792 x 828 pixels (326 ppi), 1,400: 1 contrast ratio, 79.0% screen-to-body ratio
Yes, both phones have huge screens over 6-inches. But while Apple goes to town on the iPhone XS with a high-resolution OLED panel, the company cuts the iPhone XR with a relatively low res LCD that can not quite display Full HD (1080p) content. Apple also removes its pressure sensitive 3D Touch technology from the XR.
And yet, I do not think most customers will mind.
The iPhone XR has a 326 ppi, which is just as dense as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (which also use LCD) and no-one complained about their panels. The iPhone XR Dolby Vision / HDR10 Netflix, "120Hz touch sensing" for faster touch recognition and true tone for keeping colors accurate.
iPhone XS Max's OLED, high resolution and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 makes it the best for watching video contentApple
As for the loss of 3D Touch, Apple is rumored to be scrapping this feature in it next-gen iPhones anyway because so long press hack in iOS 12 instead.
So yes, the iPhone XR lags behind the iPhone XS Max but it's far from a deal breaker for Most people. In fact, you'll see this theme in the next sections …
Read more – Apple iPhone XS iPhone XR Vs: What's The Difference?
Design – Thicker, More Fun
Perhaps the biggest surprise when Apple launched the iPhone XR, was it had delivered the same premium 'bezel-less' design with Face ID as the XS iPhone and iPhone XS Max for a lower price. But look closely and the iPhone XR design betrays cost saving, though it is also a lot more fun:
- iPhone XS Max – 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 in) and 208 g (7.34 oz)
- iPhone XR – 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) and 194 g (6.84 oz)
The giveaway to the XR's iPhone is budget roots is its thickness. The LCD display is more flexible than OLED, and it is not flexible. All of which means the iPhone XR has thicker bezels on you and is heavier than you might expect. But it remains something close to you.
Another downgrade you're unlikely to notice, is the iPhone XR swaps out the premium stainless steel chassis iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max for aluminum. But every iPhone prior to the iPhone X used aluminum without complaint.
Another tweak: the iPhone XR has IP67 water and dust resistance while the premium XS models have IP68. The difference? The iPhone XR can only be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one meter, not two meters. Yep, no biggie.
Meanwhile, the iPhone XR does not match two great upgrades on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max: 25% off external speakers (with added stereo left and right channels), and dual sim support via a nano sim eSIM. These work together can have two numbers on a single device – great for work / home or home / travel options. This is entirely new to the iPhone range.
Finally, the iPhone XR comes in a much better range of colors, and it's more than just a make-up for its thicker bezels.
While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS are restricted to Silver, Space Gray and Gold, the iPhone XR comes in White, Blue, Yellow, Coral and (PRODUCT) RED. Yes, you can get (PRODUCT) RED from one day and it looks brilliant. These colors will turn heads in a way no iPhone XS model can.
And from here it only gets better for the iPhone XR …
Performance – Rocket Ships
A real surprise is Apple's choice of the same cutting-edge internals as iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in the iPhone XR:
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Apple A12 'Bionic' chipset: Six-Core CPU, Four-Core GPU, M12 Motion Coprocessor
Where there is a difference is RAM. The XS Max iPhone has 4GB RAM while the iPhone XR has 3GB. But do not worry, while multitasking may be a little bit faster than that, the primary reason Apple gives the XS models 4GB is to drive their dual cameras while iPhone XR has one (more in the next section). And more to the point, no-one thinks last year's 3GB, dual camera sporting iPhone X is slow.
So what do you get with the Apple A12? (ignore 'Bionic', it's rubbish marketing)
The big news is 50% leaps in graphics performance and power efficiency when idle. At peak performance, Apple claims a smaller 15% CPU boost goal detailed third-party testing suggests the company massively undersold itself here. The new internals also bring support for the 600MHz 4G band, an increasingly popular black cover. So this could be a crucial upgrade for some buyers.
Where the iPhone XR has gotten to be XS and iPhone XS has 4G Cat 16 LTE which is capable of one-gigabit downloads. The iPhone XR, by contrast, is restricted to 600Mbit which is far beyond what real-world carrier speeds can deliver anyway.
Read more – iPhone XS iPhone X Vs: What's The Difference?
Cameras – Single Vs Double
From the outside perhaps the most noticeable difference between the iPhone XR and the iPhone XS Max, from their size, their their cameras:
- iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Primary Rear Camera – 12MP, f / 1.8 Aperture, 1.4μm Pixel Size, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Quad-LED True Tone Flash, Portrait Lighting
- iPhone XS Max – Secondary Telephoto Lens – 12MP, f / 2.4 Aperture, 1.0μm Pixel Size, OIS, 2x optical zoom
- iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Front 'TrueDepth' camera – 7MP, f / 2.2 aperture
In short: what you're missing on an iPhone XR is the 2x optical zoom. At times this feature may be useful, but the telephoto lens is usually better than normal. In most scenarios, you can also walk closer to what you're shooting.
iPhone XR only has a single rear camera, but it's the same primary camera as iPhone XS and iPhone XS MaxApple
Despite its single rear camera, the iPhone XR still has a portrait of Apple's new 'Smart HDR' image processing. Like Google's HDR + on the Pixel range, this handsome multiple shots at different exposures historically poor dynamic range.
Apple's new Smart HDR image processing combined multiple photos, taking the best parts from eachApple
Meanwhile, the new iPhones' larger 1.4μm pixel size allows you to get much better (if not quite Pixel-catching) this year on all models.
Read more – iPhone XS iPhone Vs XS Max: What's The Difference?
Battery Life And Charging – Cheaper Lasts Longer
If your biggest concern about the iPhone is its screen, here's the upside of that lower resolution: killer battery life.
- iPhone XS Max – 3.174 mAh
- iPhone XR – 2.942 mAh
Yes, the iPhone XS Max has a larger size than the iPhone XR but the reality is Apple's new budget model is 25% longer on a single charge.
The downside is the iPhone XR does not get the faster than you can get from the XS models, but they're out at 7.5W you're not missing much.
Moreover, despite your much bigger outlay for the iPhone XS Max, neither iPhone will get a fast wired load in the box. So unless you want to pay $ 75 for the necessary charger and compatible cable, you really need a phone that lasts all day – and the iPhone XR will do this better than any new iPhone model.
Storage And Price – Maxed Out
Here is where the iPhone XR seals the deal:
- iPhone XS Max – 64GB ($ 1,099), 256GB ($ 1,249), 512GB ($ 1,449)
- iPhone XR – 64GB ($ 749), 128GB ($ 799), 256GB ($ 899)
The fact you can buy a 256GB iPhone XR for $ 200 less than a 64GB iPhone XS Max is astonishing. The fact you can buy two 64GB iPhone XR phones for less than the price of one iPhone 512GB XS Max is so so. Furthermore, the midrange 128GB is arguably the sweet spot for many users and it is missing from the XS range of meaning (64GB) or too much (256GB, 512GB).
Bottom Line
The biggest threat to the iPhone XS iPhone XS Max is the iPhone XR. And Apple might just live making this phone too good for the price gap.
Yes, the XR iPhone is technically inferior to the iPhone. Especially compared to its superior battery life and more interesting colors.
Do not get me wrong, those who can afford the XS iPhone and XS Max iPhone will enjoy them, they are excellent devices.
But the long and short of it is the iPhone XR is just as fast as the XS models, takes the same quality of photos with its primary cameras, lasts longer on a charge and has a head-turning White, Black, Blue, Yellow, Coral and (PRODUCT) RED finishes. None of these will come to the XS models except for (PRODUCT) RED, and you'll have to wait for that to happen.
The iPhone XR is Apple's most interesting phone in years, unless you have money to burn, it's the model you should buy …
___
Follow Gordon on Twitter, Facebook and Google+
More On Forbes
Apple iPhone XS iPhone V8 XR: What's The Difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone X: What's The Difference?
iPhone XS iPhone XS Max: What's The Difference?
Apple's iPhone XS Has Two Great Secret Features
Apple iOS 12 Has 25 Great Secret Features
">
The best new iPhone is
Apple
Here's everything you need to know …
iPhone XS Max (left) and iPhone XR (right)Apple
Displays – The Big Compromise
If the iPhone XR has a weakness, it's the display. Furthermore, this is arguably the greatest strength of the iPhone XS Max:
- iPhone XS Max – 6.5-inch OLED, 19.5: 9 aspect ratio, True Tone, 2688 x 1242 pixels (458 ppi), 1,000,000: 1 contrast ratio, 84.4% screen-to-body ratio,
- iPhone XR – 6.1-inch LCD, 19.5: 9 aspect ratio, True Tone, 1792 x 828 pixels (326 ppi), 1,400: 1 contrast ratio, 79.0% screen-to-body ratio
Yes, both phones have huge screens over 6-inches. But while Apple goes to town on the iPhone XS with a high-resolution OLED panel, the company cuts the iPhone XR with a relatively low res LCD that can not quite display Full HD (1080p) content. Apple also removes its pressure sensitive 3D Touch technology from the XR.
And yet, I do not think most customers will mind.
The iPhone XR has a 326 ppi, which is just as dense as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (which also use LCD) and no-one complained about their panels. The iPhone XR Dolby Vision / HDR10 Netflix, "120Hz touch sensing" for faster touch recognition and true tone for keeping colors accurate.
iPhone XS Max's OLED, high resolution and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 makes it the best for watching video contentApple
As for the loss of 3D Touch, Apple is rumored to be scrapping this feature in it next-gen iPhones anyway because so long press hack in iOS 12 instead.
So yes, the iPhone XR lags behind the iPhone XS Max but it's far from a deal breaker for Most people. In fact, you'll see this theme in the next sections …
Read more – Apple iPhone XS iPhone XR Vs: What's The Difference?
Design – Thicker, More Fun
Perhaps the biggest surprise when Apple launched the iPhone XR, was it had delivered the same premium 'bezel-less' design with Face ID as the XS iPhone and iPhone XS Max for a lower price. But look closely and the iPhone XR design betrays cost saving, though it is also a lot more fun:
- iPhone XS Max – 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 in) and 208 g (7.34 oz)
- iPhone XR – 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) and 194 g (6.84 oz)
The giveaway to the XR's iPhone is budget roots is its thickness. The LCD display is more flexible than OLED, and it is not flexible. All of which means the iPhone XR has thicker bezels on you and is heavier than you might expect. But it remains something close to you.
iPhone XR Xs Max, but few will careApple
Another downgrade you're unlikely to notice, is the iPhone XR swaps out the premium stainless steel chassis iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max for aluminum. But every iPhone prior to the iPhone X used aluminum without complaint.
Another tweak: the iPhone XR has IP67 water and dust resistance while the premium XS models have IP68. The difference? The iPhone XR can only be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one meter, not two meters. Yep, no biggie.
Meanwhile, the iPhone XR does not match two great upgrades on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max: 25% off external speakers (with added stereo left and right channels), and dual sim support via a nano sim eSIM. These work together can have two numbers on a single device – great for work / home or home / travel options. This is entirely new to the iPhone range.
Finally, the iPhone XR comes in a much better range of colors, and it's more than just a make-up for its thicker bezels.
iPhone XR comes in a wide range of eye-catching finishesApple
While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS are restricted to Silver, Space Gray and Gold, the iPhone XR comes in White, Blue, Yellow, Coral and (PRODUCT) RED. Yes, you can get (PRODUCT) RED from one day and it looks brilliant. These colors will turn heads in a way no iPhone XS model can.
And from here it only gets better for the iPhone XR …
Performance – Rocket Ships
A real surprise is Apple's choice of the same cutting-edge internals as iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in the iPhone XR:
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Apple A12 'Bionic' chipset: Six-Core CPU, Four-Core GPU, M12 Motion Coprocessor
Where there is a difference is RAM. The XS Max iPhone has 4GB RAM while the iPhone XR has 3GB. But do not worry, while multitasking may be a little bit faster than that, the primary reason Apple gives the XS models 4GB is to drive their dual cameras while iPhone XR has one (more in the next section). And more to the point, no-one thinks last year's 3GB, dual camera sporting iPhone X is slow.
So what do you get with the Apple A12? (ignore 'Bionic', it's rubbish marketing)
Apple's A12 Bionic chipsetApple
The big news is 50% leaps in graphics performance and power efficiency when idle. At peak performance, Apple claims a smaller 15% CPU boost goal detailed third-party testing suggests the company massively undersold itself here. The new internals also bring support for the 600MHz 4G band, an increasingly popular black cover. So this could be a crucial upgrade for some buyers.
Where the iPhone XR has gotten to be XS and iPhone XS has 4G Cat 16 LTE which is capable of one-gigabit downloads. The iPhone XR, by contrast, is restricted to 600Mbit which is far beyond what real-world carrier speeds can deliver anyway.
Read more – iPhone XS iPhone X Vs: What's The Difference?
Cameras – Single Vs Double
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max share the same optics, including the dual rear camerasApple
From the outside perhaps the most noticeable difference between the iPhone XR and the iPhone XS Max, from their size, their their cameras:
- iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Primary Rear Camera – 12MP, f / 1.8 Aperture, 1.4μm Pixel Size, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Quad-LED True Tone Flash, Portrait Lighting
- iPhone XS Max – Secondary Telephoto Lens – 12MP, f / 2.4 Aperture, 1.0μm Pixel Size, OIS, 2x optical zoom
- iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR – Front 'TrueDepth' camera – 7MP, f / 2.2 aperture
In short: what you're missing on an iPhone XR is the 2x optical zoom. At times this feature may be useful, but the telephoto lens is usually better than normal. In most scenarios, you can also walk closer to what you're shooting.
iPhone XR only has a single rear camera, but it's the same primary camera as iPhone XS and iPhone XS MaxApple
Despite its single rear camera, the iPhone XR still has a portrait of Apple's new 'Smart HDR' image processing. Like Google's HDR + on the Pixel range, this handsome multiple shots at different exposures historically poor dynamic range.
Apple's new Smart HDR image processing combined multiple photos, taking the best parts from eachApple
Meanwhile, the new iPhones' larger 1.4μm pixel size allows you to get much better (if not quite Pixel-catching) this year on all models.
Read more – iPhone XS iPhone Vs XS Max: What's The Difference?
Battery Life And Charging – Cheaper Lasts Longer
If your biggest concern about the iPhone is its screen, here's the upside of that lower resolution: killer battery life.
- iPhone XS Max – 3.174 mAh
- iPhone XR – 2.942 mAh
Yes, the iPhone XS Max has a larger size than the iPhone XR but the reality is Apple's new budget model is 25% longer on a single charge.
iPhone XR battery life is better than the iPhone XS, and iPhone XS MaxApple
The downside is the iPhone XR does not get the faster than you can get from the XS models, but they're out at 7.5W you're not missing much.
Moreover, despite your much bigger outlay for the iPhone XS Max, neither iPhone will get a fast wired load in the box. So unless you want to pay $ 75 for the necessary charger and compatible cable, you really need a phone that lasts all day – and the iPhone XR will do this better than any new iPhone model.
Storage And Price – Maxed Out
Here is where the iPhone XR seals the deal:
- iPhone XS Max – 64GB ($ 1,099), 256GB ($ 1,249), 512GB ($ 1,449)
- iPhone XR – 64GB ($ 749), 128GB ($ 799), 256GB ($ 899)
The fact you can buy a 256GB iPhone XR for $ 200 less than a 64GB iPhone XS Max is astonishing. The fact you can buy two 64GB iPhone XR phones for less than the price of one iPhone 512GB XS Max is so so. Furthermore, the midrange 128GB is arguably the sweet spot for many users and it is missing from the XS range of meaning (64GB) or too much (256GB, 512GB).
iPhone XR (right) is more interesting than the iPhone XS Max (middle) and iPhone XS (left)Apple
Bottom Line
The biggest threat to the iPhone XS iPhone XS Max is the iPhone XR. And Apple might just live making this phone too good for the price gap.
Yes, the XR iPhone is technically inferior to the iPhone. Especially compared to its superior battery life and more interesting colors.
Do not get me wrong, those who can afford the XS iPhone and XS Max iPhone will enjoy them, they are excellent devices.
But the long and short of it is the iPhone XR is just as fast as the XS models, takes the same quality of photos with its primary cameras, lasts longer on a charge and has a head-turning White, Black, Blue, Yellow, Coral and (PRODUCT) RED finishes. None of these will come to the XS models except for (PRODUCT) RED, and you'll have to wait for that to happen.
The iPhone XR is Apple's most interesting phone in years, unless you have money to burn, it's the model you should buy …
___
Follow Gordon on Twitter, Facebook and Google+
More On Forbes
Apple iPhone XS iPhone V8 XR: What's The Difference?
iPhone XS vs iPhone X: What's The Difference?
iPhone XS iPhone XS Max: What's The Difference?
Apple's iPhone XS Has Two Great Secret Features
Apple iOS 12 Has 25 Great Secret Features
