Hello, iPhone XS: 9 things to do with your new phone

Go ahead, call your new iPhone XS ($ 999 at Sprint) the iPhone "excess" – no one judges. But get a brand new iPhone and miss some of its best features? Now we look aside.

If you have an iPhone XS or XS Max ($ 1,100 at Sprint), chances are it's your first iPhone without a button at home. It's also the first time you embark on features such as portrait mode and this demented front camera and face tracking.

Here are the first things to do with your new iPhone XS or XS Max.

1. Make your Memoji

This front camera does some things: it allows you unlock your phone with your face, take selfies and use Memoji.

Memos are like Animoji, except that you are no longer confined to a poop pile or a monkey. Now you can design your own Animoji that looks like you and – with the help of the camera oriented forward – it moves like you.

To start: How to configure and use Memoji

2. Download the application shortcuts

One of the most exciting new Apple applications is not included with your phone. You will have to download it.

Shortcuts are a new application that allows you to use a single Siri command to perform a series of tasks on your phone. For example, a single command "Good Morning, Siri" can trigger a series of events, from controlling your smart home to getting information about your day.

To start: How to use Siri shortcuts

3. Control your screen time

New on iOS 12 and easily available on your iPhone XS, Screen Time allows you to better control the time spent with your phone. The new tool lets you see where you spend the most time and even provides you with ways to help you reduce your addiction.

It's a sobering way to your new iPhone, without being overdone.

To start: How to use Screen Time on the iPhone XS

4. Configure an "alternative appearance"

Instead of using your finger to unlock your iPhone XS, you will use your face. What we found with the iPhone X ($ 820 on Amazon Marketplace)However, the success rate was not always high, especially when wearing glasses or a hat.

Apple corrected this with the "Alternative Appearance" setting. Just go to Settings> Face ID and Access Code> Alternate Appearance.

You can also use this setting to add a second face so that a spouse (or a relative or other person close to you) can unlock your phone.

5. Learn to live without a home button

This is probably the most difficult part of switching from an iPhone to a home button. Without one on the iPhone XS and XS Max, you will trust gestures – different types of sliding – to get around your phone. This is how you will change applications, close applications and do everything you have done with the button.

To start: How to survive without a home button

6. Configure Apple Pay

If you have not done so, it's time to start using Apple Pay. This feature, which is infinitely safer than using a plastic credit or debit card, allows you to quickly pay for items in-store. check in Safari and even send money to friends (like Venmo).

To start: How to configure Apple Pay Cash

7. Master portrait mode, like a pro

Once you start using Portrait mode, you will wonder how you could live without him. The shooting mode allows you to create those beautiful blurry background photos that are normally obtained on DSLR cameras. To access Portrait mode on the iPhone XS, launch the camera, then swipe the screen until "Portrait" is highlighted in yellow. Then follow this guide:

To start: Basics of portrait mode

8. Learn to force a reboot

You may sometimes want to restart your iPhone. Without home button, this process is a little different.

To start: How to force the restart of your iPhone X, XS or XS Max

9. Sign up for the beta program (maybe)

If you're ready to suffer from some bugs, joining Apple's beta program will allow you to be the first to try the new features of the iPhone. For example, FaceTime group calls are available in iOS 12.1 Beta. To sign up, visit beta.apple.com on your iPhone XS and sign in with your iCloud account. Select the iOS tab, and then follow the instructions.

For more tips on iPhone, check out all you need to know about iOS 12.

We also think you might like these 10 hidden iPhone features.