Apple iPhone Xs Vs. iPhone XS Max Vs. iPhone XR

There are three new iPhones to choose from in 2018, making any buying decision a little more difficult than in previous years, when there were only two. If you look at the iPhone XS and you may think that the iPhone XS Max is the one you need, or you wonder if waiting a bit for the iPhone XR is wise, we feel your pain.

Although confusing at first, the differences between the three are obvious once you have examined them carefully, so let's place Apple's three super-desirable phones against each other to see which one is the recommended purchase.

If you are the decisive type and are looking for our opinions, then go here for the iPhone XS, here for the iPhone XS Max, and for the iPhone XR, go here.

Specifications

Performance, autonomy and charge

If you plan to split the performance of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, this will not happen. The three 2018 models use the same A12 Bionic processor and the iPhone XS versions have the same 64GB, 256GB or 512GB internal storage options. The iPhone XR comes with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB. There is a slight difference in RAM: the XS and XS Max have 4 GB, while the XR is only 3 GB. This means that the most expensive iPhones should be more efficient to juggle multiple applications and games but you will have to be a heavy multitasking to take advantage of it and we do not expect a noticeable difference.

If you are upgrading from an older iPhone, you should know that the A12 Bionic is a real engine. It is the first mobile processor using a 7nm process to go on sale (sorry, Huawei). It contains six cores that distribute the workload according to energy needs and are 15% faster than the previous generation. energy. You will not be left wanting more power using one of the new iPhone models.

There is also no obvious winner in the battery business, as Apple's usage times vary. Let 's first look at the speaking time. The iPhone XS should last 20 hours, the iPhone XS Max for 25 hours, just like the iPhone XR. The Internet usage is 15 hours for the XR, 13 hours for the iPhone XS Max and 12 hours for the iPhone XS. Apple also indicates how long the battery lasts on the iPhone X, which may be due to the A12 Bionic chip and the capacity of iOS 12 greater than that of the extra capacity. You get 30 minutes more on the iPhone XS, and 90 minutes more on the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR.

All three have wireless charging using the Qi standard and fast charging, provided you buy the Apple Quick Charger. Only a standard slow charger is delivered in the box. With the fast charger, a flat battery can reach a capacity of 50% in 30 minutes. Although these phones do not last more than a day or a day and a half if you pay attention, the iPhone XR displays the best results.

There is not enough difference here to choose a winner, so we call this category a tie.

Winner: Tie

Design and sustainability

Here's where the differences between the three begin to show. The 5.8-inch iPhone X 2017, and therefore the iPhone XS, is considered to have about the right size for most hands – big or small. However, if you've been used to an iPhone Plus model, it may seem a bit small, and if you come from an even bigger Android phone, you'll inevitably feel cramped at first. The iPhone XS Max is much bigger, and we note that it's great for watching videos and playing games. However, if you have small hands, you may want to keep one before buying, just to make sure. It is also heavy at 208 grams, compared to the iPhone XS of 177 grams.

The two XS phones look alike, with a glass body, an IP68 water resistance, a metal chassis, a notch above the screen and a dual lens camera mounted vertically to the camera. 39; rear. It's only the size that separates them. The iPhone XR stands in the middle. It has 194 grams, has an IP67 water resistance rating, a colored glass bottom and slightly thicker edges around the screen. The notch remains however. None of the phones have a headphone jack or fingerprint. Apple's face ID is used on all three.

Who wins? The iPhone XS is the best mix here, although if you used the iPhone X and you felt that it was too small, the XS Max is the same. Although the iPhone XR is impressive and we love the new colors, it does not really correspond to the class of XS and XS Max.

Winner: iPhone XS

Display

The iPhone XS is the smallest of the three, with a Super Retina HD OLED panel of 5.8 inches with a resolution of 2,436 x 1,125 pixels. The iPhone XS Max has a stunning 6.5-inch version of the same panel, this time with a resolution of 2,688 x 1,242 pixels. The iPhone XR is in between with a 6.1-inch screen, but here is an LCD screen that Apple calls a Liquid Retina HD screen. The resolution is 1792 x 828 pixels, which is a bit low for a modern smartphone. The contrast level is also different on the iPhone XR because of the use of the LCD rather than the OLED. The iPhone XR also misses the 3D Touch feature. Although it uses a system of shortcuts using a haptic feedback, it will not be exactly the same as the full version of the XS models.

While Apple says that the LCD screen of the iPhone XR is one of the best, and we call it "excellent" in our review; LCDs rarely go beyond OLED panels when it comes to listening, whether to browse the operating system or watch videos. Contrast, black levels and bright colors will make the iPhone XS and XS Max the ones you need if the pleasure of watching is one of your priorities. We will choose an OLED display on LCD each time, especially with the highest resolution. The only decision then concerns size.

Winner: iPhone XS / XS Max

Camera

The dual lens camera on the iPhone XS and XS Max is exactly the same. Whichever you choose, you get a 12-megapixel f / 1.8 wide-angle dual-angle lens and a f / 2.4 aperture telephoto lens that offers 2x optical zoom and portrait shots. Apple has improved bokeh mode and HDR functionality on iPhone XS models compared to previous versions. The video can be shot in 4K up to 60 frames per second. On the front, a TrueDepth camera with f / 2.2 aperture of 7 megapixels for selfies, with portrait mode and support for the creation of Animoji and Memoji. It also includes the necessary equipment for face identification.

The iPhone XR has the same front camera, but a single 12 megapixel camera at the back, with an f / 1.8 aperture and no optical zoom. However, it has a software-driven portrait mode and an optical image stabilization, as well as the new Smart HDR feature. Think of the iPhone XR as the iPhone 8 because it compares to the old iPhone 8 Plus. Another good camera; but enthusiastic photographers will covet the dual lens models of the iPhone XS.

Winner: iPhone XS / XS Max

Software and updates

The three new iPhone models use iOS 12 and will be eligible for a free upgrade to future versions for several years. As all three use the same processor, we doubt that there is much difference in performance, even if the screen is larger, the more it will be suitable for games. We mentioned earlier that the iPhone XR does not have 3D Touch, and that it uses a simpler alternative, but otherwise things will be the same across the range.

Winner: Tie

Specials

There are no real surprises in this department. All three iPhones have the same TrueDepth camera for FaceID fun and Animoji. The only obvious difference that you might consider as a special feature is the lack of 3D Touch in the iPhone XR. The XS and XS Max will also be more effective at capturing photos with bokeh, thanks to the dual lens configuration of the camera.

Winner: iPhone XS / XS Max

Price

Here's where things really change. The new cheapest iPhone is the iPhone XR, which starts at $ 750, and the price you pay the most is $ 900 for the 256GB model. The iPhone XS is the next product from 1 $ 000, while the 512 GB version costs $ 1,350. The iPhone XS Max is the most expensive at $ 1,100, but you can spend $ 1,450 if you use the 512 GB version.

It's hard to justify the huge price of the iPhone XS Max, and you'll have to commit to owning a big-screen iPhone to buy one. The iPhone XR is probably more than enough for most people, is the cheapest, and comes in great new colors. However, we spend a little more on the iPhone XS, which, although being $ 100 more than the iPhone X last year, comes with the best dual-lens camera. We pay at least the 256GB model, because the 64GB version will fill soon if you take a lot of pictures.

Like any iPhone purchase, you know you'll have to pay a little more. It's worth noting that this year, as long as you're not worried about the camera, the inexpensive 256GB iPhone XR is a smart buy.

Winner General: Apple iPhone XS

Which one should you buy? We will install on the iPhone XS and recommend the 256GB version, which will cost you $ 1,150.

Yes, the iPhone XR is cheaper; but it lacks the dual lens camera, the OLED display and the complete 3D Touch experience of the XS. The 5.8-inch iPhone XS is also the right size for most people, unlike the very large iPhone XS Max.

If you can afford the price, the 512GB iPhone 5S will last the longest, but the 256GB will probably be enough for the most part. Do not buy the 64GB version of any 2018 iPhone, you will end up regretting it and will probably be forced to pay for Apple's iCloud online storage plan.

Enjoy your new iPhone.