iPhone XS vs. XS Max vs XR: How to choose between the three new Apple phones

For the second year in a row, Apple has announced three new iPhones at a time. And with confusing names like the iPhone XR, it becomes increasingly difficult to know which one is the best for you. And the jargon does not stop there. A12 Bionic? Display of the liquid retina? Neural engine? How is someone supposed to understand all this?

Installing on the right iPhone is not as intimidating as one might think. Ignore confusing names and focus on the things that matter most to you, be it a giant screen, a reliable camera, or colors that fit your own style.

I will not tell you if you should or should not upgrade the phone you currently own, and it's up to you to decide how much to spend on a phone. You can spend half of the money and still get a decent product. But between these three, I'll help you find the right choice. First, let's look at the (many) things that the three new iPhones have in common.

The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR share the same features

Remember the iPhone 5C? It was a cheaper iPhone that had very colorful designs, making it an easy comparison with the XR. But there were also specifications dating back a year compared to the 5S that was introduced with him. This time, Apple puts the same basic hardware in each of its 2018 iPhones. There are differences in screen size, battery capacity and camera, but the similarities cover a lot:

• The processor: The three new iPhones share Apple's latest A12 Bionic processor, a 7-nm chip that, according to the company, represents a major breakthrough in mobile computing power. Its two performance cores (which handle intensive tasks) are "up to 15% faster" than the iPhone X, while the four effective cores (responsible for the daily use of your applications ) are "up to 50% more effective". up to 50% faster. It's not like modern iPhones have a hard time running iOS games, but this silicon opens up new possibilities for future software.

Each new iPhone also contains Apple's updated eight-core neural engine to handle AI tasks, which can handle 5,000 billion operations per second.

• The main camera: the XR may not have a telephoto / zoom lens, but it has exactly the same 12 megapixel f / 1.8 main camera as the XS and the XS Max. Apple says that on all three models, the camera uses a brand new sensor (with larger pixels) and is able to use Smart HDR, which produces photos with a "much larger dynamic range" and less noise in low light. According to Apple, the new camera is also better for freezing motion pictures. Like last year, all new iPhones can record 4K videos at 60 fps and 1080p slo-mo at 240 fps.
• TrueDepth camera oriented towards the front: The camera system used for selfies, face ID, Animoji and Memoji is the same on the three new iPhones. This is a 7 megapixel f / 2.2 sensor
• True Tone, wide color screens: Although they use a different display technology, the iPhone XS and XR each include Apple's True Tone technology, which adjusts the screen temperature according to the ambient light. They are also able to show a wide range of P3 colors.
• A faster face identification system: Yes, the home button disappeared for Apple iPhones in 2018, but the company has accelerated Face ID by adding a faster secure registration system and smarter scanning algorithms.
• Faster wireless charge: Apple claims that all of its 2018 models support a faster Qi load than the iPhone X, but it does not provide accurate numbers on the difference.
• Support for dual SIM card: The new iPhones are all capable of supporting two phone lines by including both the eSIM and a physical nanoSIM card in the phone. This will greatly facilitate international travel or professional / personal juggling.
• Stereo audio recording: It took Apple somewhat until 2018 to give iPhones the opportunity to record stereo audio But hey, at least, it finally happened. The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR each have four built-in microphones to capture stereo sound when shooting video.
• Best stereo speakers: While we are on the subject, Apple says the new iPhones all have improved stereo speakers with a wider audio presentation.

Buy the iPhone XS Max if you want the biggest screen of your iPhone
$ 1,099 (64GB) | $ 1,249 (256 GB) | $ 1,449 (512 GB)

The iPhone XS Max is designed for people who love their plus size smartphones. You get more screen – a 6.5 inch screen – in a barely format (and I mean barely) smaller than the 8 Plus.

Image: Apple

Apple has often evoked the idea that the iPhone X would have a "bigger" display than that of the iPhone 8 Plus. Diagonally, it was technically true. But it's never been so vast, which makes all the difference when you scroll through Instagram, watch videos, or browse the web.

First and foremost, the XS Max is a throwback to this imposing big screen – now with a button without a screen and without a home. The other benefit of getting fat is battery life. Apple says the iPhone XS Max improves the life of iPhone X from last year by 90 minutes. But if you find that the Plus phones are too bulky, the XS Max will not be different.

Image: Apple

Get the iPhone XS if you want a super powerful phone, handy in one hand and if you need a double camera.
$ 999 (64GB) | $ 1,149 (256 GB) | $ 1,349 (512 GB)

If you have not upgraded last year, the iPhone XS offers a modest refinement of the sleek design introduced by Apple with the iPhone X. It is more powerful and faster thanks to gigabit LTE. The camera is better, and there are other improvements like better water resistance (now IP68). Oh, and this one comes in gold. Yes, it looks like a year S for me.

If the iPhone XS Max is just too much phone for you, the XS comes in a more user-friendly size with all the same features. At the top of this list is his dual lens camera for portraits. I do not use it very often, but I have friends who are constantly turning. So for those who want the best iPhone (with up to 512GB of storage) but concerned about the friendliness of one hand, it's your choice. This is not as compact as the iPhone SE. TEAR.

Choose the iPhone XR if you want color, the best battery life and a good balance of everything else
$ 749 (64GB) | $ 799 (128 GB) | $ 899 (256 GB)

Starting at $ 749, the iPhone XR avoids the $ 1,000 entry price of the iPhone XS. But it shares the same features and the latest technological advances from Apple. There are two main differences to keep in mind. One is the screen: with the XR, you get a 6.1-inch LCD screen instead of 5.8 or 6.5-inch OLED panels on the XS. It's not as sharp as the iPhone XS (326 ppp vs. 458), but Apple's LCDs are vibrant and bright. It's different, but a downgrade? I doubt that many see it this way. The phone is a little wider (2.98 inches) than the XS (2.79 inches), which is to take into account if you do not like big devices.

The other difference is the camera, because the XR has only one 12-megapixel sensor optically stabilized. But thanks to the software, it offers the same portraits and adjustable bokeh as the XS and the same Smart HDR capabilities. The performance between the two main cameras on both phones must be identical. But if you have often used or appreciated the zoom lens of an iPhone Plus, you may miss it.

Image: Apple

The IP67 water resistance is a bit inferior to the new IP68 classification of the XS and XS Max, but it is still enough to give you peace of mind in case of sudden rain or if you use your phone in your home. favorite drink. The aluminum strip is not as strong as stainless steel, but the phone is lighter in exchange.

The real seller of the iPhone XR is the color. With options such as coral, blue, yellow and red, this device is much more striking and catchy than the iPhone XS. (And for those who keep saying that its color will be hidden by a holster, let me remind you that clear cases exist, there are many.)

If you choose the XR, you get a lot of things on the iPhone XS in a cheaper package. And he has the best independence of all iPhones this year as a final kicker. Apple claims that the XR can survive the iPhone 8 Plus in most cases in 90 minutes. Plus phones have always had an impressive stamina, and that sounds a lot better. It's promising.

Image: Apple

You lose on 3D Touch, but what is the loss? No, you will not be able to move the cursor by pressing the virtual keyboard or accessing a specific section of an application by tapping its icon on the home screen. And you can not preview (or "look up" for Apple terminology) URL links or media.

But look: it's been three years since 3D Touch debuted on the iPhone 6S, and the best advice for discovering useful things it can do is "just try and see if something happens". iPad 3D Touch had a huge potential, but it certainly has a little slipped. And Apple has only himself to blame.

There is no bad option among these phones, and although it's unfortunate that the new iPhone fleet has a $ 750 entry cost, the iPhone 8 remains a decent choice for those looking to spend less. For me, the 128GB iPhone XR seems to be the right choice and a great choice for a wide range of people, but who can I judge if a 512GB iPhone XS Max is more than anything?