📱🍏iPhone XR and XS: so what are the differences?
New iPhone: which is the better buy? Among the XS, XS Max and XR models, here are the main differences.
Is the cheapest iPhone the better buy? Or does the extra price pay off in better features? Here is everything you need to know if you still have not decided which new iPhone to buy.
The screens: the biggest compromise
If the iPhone XR has a weakness, it is the screen. That, however, is the main strength of the iPhone XS Max. Let's see:
- iPhone XS Max - 6.5-inch LED screen, 1242x2688 pixel resolution (458 ppi) in 5:9
- iPhone XR - 6.1-inch LCD screen, 1792x828 pixel resolution (326 ppi) in 5:9.
Yes, both models have large screens of more than six inches. But while Apple went all in on the XS Max with a high-resolution LED panel, it cut costs on the more affordable model with a lower-resolution LCD that cannot natively play Full HD (1080p) content.
On top of that, 3D touch sensitivity was also removed from this version of the iPhone. Still, of course, many customers will not mind.
The iPhone XR has 326 ppi, or pixels per inch, which is exactly the same as the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus, which also use LCD. This model is, however, equal to the premium version in other functions: Dolby Vision/HDR10, a 120Hz touch sensor for faster recognition, and True Tone, which keeps colours accurate.
And as for the loss of 3D Touch, there are rumours that Apple will stop putting this feature on future models, supposedly because few people use it.
The design
This may have been the biggest surprise of the launch: the XR (which weighs 194 grams) has the same design as the XS and XS Max (which weighs 208 grams), with rounded corners, and it also has Face ID, but it costs less.
As for the dimensions:
- iPhone XS Max - 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 millimetres
- iPhone XR - 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 millimetres
The difference in width is related to the screen. LCD takes up more space than LED and is not flexible, so the edges could not be shaped in a way that hides the connectors.
So the XR is thicker than the others and heavier than you might think. You will only notice this, though, if you look up close.
Another point against the cheaper version is the inside of the phone. Unlike the more expensive models, the iPhone XR is not made internally with stainless steel, but with aluminium, like every previous smartphone model.
As for going underwater: the premium versions can be under water down to two metres for an hour, while the more affordable version can only go one metre under water, and only for 30 minutes.
Sound and SIM cards
On these points, the three models Apple has just launched are the same: speakers 25% louder (with stereo in left and right channels) and the ability to have two SIM cards. They work at the same time, for users who want two phone numbers on the same device.
That is a new feature in the tech giant's range.
The colours
While the XS and XS Max models are only available in three colours (gold, space grey and silver), the XR has a wide variety of shades to choose from: white, black, blue, yellow, coral and red. On Apple's official site, however, there are already cases in several colours for the more expensive phones.
Performance
Internally, Apple decided to put the same cutting-edge technology in all three new devices: an A12 Bionic processor, a six-core CPU and a four-core GPU. The big difference is in the RAM. The iPhone XS Max has 4GB of RAM, while the XR has only 3GB.
But do not worry: running tasks at the same time may get even faster in a year or two, and the main reason for this difference is the number of cameras (the XS models have two and the XR has only one). The previous model, the iPhone X, also had only 3GB but came with two cameras.
So what can you expect from the A12 Bionic processor?
The big news is an improvement in graphics performance and efficiency. At peak activity, Apple says there is 15% less demand on the CPU.
The camera(s)
Looking only at appearance, this is perhaps the biggest difference between the new iPhones (apart, of course, from the size). See the image:
In short: the most noticeable difference on the iPhone XR compared with the others is optical zoom. Even though it has only one main camera, this cheaper version also has Portrait mode (as on the front camera) and the new "Smart HDR". That means it can combine multiple photos taken at different exposures into a single image.
The larger pixel size also lets it capture more light, for better photographs even in low light.
The battery
If the big concern for iPhone XR buyers is the screen, here is another advantage of the lower resolution: battery life. Yes, it is true that the XS Max has a slightly larger battery than the XR, but the reality is that the cheaper model can last up to 25% longer on a single charge.
So if you want a phone that lasts all day, the better buy is the iPhone XR.
Storage and price
The price changes are tied to capacity.
- iPhone XS - 64GB, €1,179.00; 256GB, €1,349.00; 512GB, €1,579.00.
- iPhone XS Max - 64GB, €1,279.00; 256GB, €1,449.00; 512GB, €1,679.00.
- iPhone XR - 64GB, €879.00; 128GB, €939.00; 256GB, €1,049.00.
The fact is that you can buy a 256GB iPhone XR for €200 less than a 64GB iPhone XS Max. Or you can buy almost two 64GB XRs for the price of one 512GB XS Max.
On top of that, the mid-range 128GB capacity is a point in favour for anyone who wants to buy the cheaper iPhone, something the more expensive versions lack: 64GB is little, but 256GB or 512GB is a lot.
The conclusion
The biggest threat to iPhone XS and XS Max sales is the iPhone XR itself. And Apple may yet regret creating such a good phone with such a large difference in price.
It is beyond dispute that the XR is technically inferior to the other devices in this latest launch, but only in details that most people do not care about. And on the essentials, the battery lasts longer and there are more colours to choose from.
Of course, for anyone who can buy the XS or XS Max, these are clearly excellent iPhones. But the XR model is as fast as the others, has the same photo quality on the main camera, lasts longer and even comes in more colour finishes.
The best buy, unless you have the money to buy the others, is without doubt the iPhone XR.
