iPhone XS & XS Max Review: Incredibly brilliant "EFTM

Apple has a problem. The innovation has gone from a very visual aspect based on the amazing designs of Jony Ive – to something very corny, at the level of the "chipset" driven by a team that will probably remain without a face the longest.

This is still evident in the 2018 range of iPhones. We will arrive at the colorful XR in about a month. For now, let's look at the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max that will go on sale this week.

I have been testing them for about 5 days – so what I can tell you is based on this limited experience.

Long and short?

The life of the battery is excellent on the Max. The camera is sensational. Everything feels faster.

Just what Apple would hope to hear.

The Nitty Gritty

These phones are difficult to repair. For my test, I chose to use the iPhone XS Max as a daily driver. Firstly because it's really new, on the other hand because I do not like bigger phones.

In the hand, it's really the size of the older phones 'more', but with a huge screen edge to edge. For those who liked the plus size phones, you will be blown away by this screen.

Under the hood, the XS and XS Max are identical devices, just a bigger battery and a bigger screen differentiates them. There is no difference between the camera and the processing power – so all my comments about the camera and the performance correspond to both XS models.

To be honest, yesterday was my most "normal" day, with no flying time or sport for kids, it was a normal-style day – and battery – of indeterminate size but "the biggest ever on a iPhone "- was specified.

I did not have the slightest hint of battery anxiety. A real victory for average users, I think.

Applications load faster, performance improves, but I'm not sure if an iPhone X user notices it. Coming from an iPhone 7 or from the back, you will feel the speed.

The real victory for this camera is the camera. Make no mistake, it's the battleground for smartphones today.

Let's look at some pictures – comparing the iPhone XS to the iPhone X.

Here, the XS finds much more detail in the darker parts of the tree – and even if you're not there with me, believe me, it's a lot more than the iPhone X.

In almost perfect conditions – a great light, nothing direct on the camera – the image enhancement is minimal.

Here – on a larger scale – may not be easily visible in a smaller version, there are many more details in the shadows, and although the iPhone X from last year did a good job , camera jumps.

These two images (above) were taken on the iPhone XS. In fact, it is only an image. However, with the XS and XS Max, you can now adjust the F stop of an image after it has been taken – by adjusting the blur of the background as you like, and you will feel so much sensational.

Not revolutionary though – something that Huawei has had for years and Samsung too. But – an important leap forward for the camera software.

Portrait mode is enhanced with this post-photo fit, but it's also perfect for its general use – some of the shots you can get with this dual-lens setup are excellent – even if there's no question we still have a lot to do with better edge detection around leading objects being critical.

All in all, without making a complete head-to-head – I'm convinced it's the best smartphone camera today – for the average user.

It's hard to ignore this treatment along the way for more detailed explanations, but from what I've seen, there are some serious things coming from applications using the power present in the iPhone XS that we probably can not not yet imagine.

Even augmented reality – even if it is excellent today – is going to leap forward. I play with an application called iScape that allows you to design your landscaping. Of course, I did it on government land around Sydney Harbor, but who would not want a kiosk and a bar there?

FaceID

Although FaceID and unlocking your phone with your face is not new – it was still new to many – and there is no main button on a 2018 phone, there will be a lot of "new" this. It takes time to get used to it, but gestures for slipping between apps and home are a kid's game.

Is FaceID improved? A little. In a bit of side by side, unlocking and unlocking tests again and again, I found it faster 60% of the time, and almost 90% more reliable. On the iPhone X many times, it's not enough to unlock it or touch it more slowly. It's a good thing, because it's the only thing that could frustrate people in change.

The wrong side?

Boy oh boy, these things are expensive. $ 1229 for the XR that is not yet on sale and we have not tested yet, the starting price of $ 1,629 for the XS of up to $ 2,369. We may be starting to discover that the work of engineers who design chipsets, neural motors and all that jazz is more expensive than those who have created for years the beautiful designs to which we have been attached?

Global

These are sensational devices. In terms of overall value, it will be much clearer once we have reviewed the XR – but, the iPhone XS and XS Max alone – high-quality smartphones, advanced and powerful devices that will shame to all others.

I described them as incredibly brilliant because I think most would not see leaps forward. The change from 2017 to 2018 is progressive, but important given the complete change in the range.

I would not suggest that an iPhone X user rushes to swap, but if you rock an iPhone 7 or earlier, it's time to make the jump.