Apple’s newest phones, the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, are once again being met with mixed opinions. Let’s discuss the features and prices of the three new models, so you can decide for yourself whether or not it’s worth purchasing one.
iPhone XS
Design
The iPhone XS has a remarkably similar design to the iPhone X. The major difference has to do with the color choices. The silver and space gray options to which the iPhone X was limited are still available, with one new option: gold.
Battery
Apple claims that the iPhone XS will have a new, more efficient A12 Bionic chipset battery—which will only last a disappointing 30 minutes longer than the iPhone X’s battery.
Screen
More of the same. The iPhone XS boasts a 5.8-inch OLED screen. It’s an excellent screen, but it’s not much of a step up from the iPhone X.
Price
The 64GB iPhone XS costs $999, the 256GB costs $1,149 and the 512GB model costs $1,349. It is one of the most costly smartphones on the market.
iPhone XS Max
Design
The iPhone XS Max is 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7mm, which is nearly the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. In other words, most people will need two hands to use it.
It’s also a little heavier, coming in at 208 grams as opposed to the Galaxy Note 9’s 202 grams. Don’t worry, it’s not as heavy as it actually looks.
Just like the iPhone XS, it’s available in silver, space gray and gold.
Battery
A larger phone means more room to fit a larger battery, and the iPhone XS Max doesn’t disappoint. Apple promises an extra 90 minutes of battery life over the iPhone X.
Screen
The 6.5-inch OLED screen looks incredible. It has an amazing 2,688 x 1,242 pixel resolution, and, according to Apple, 60 percent better dynamic range. In other words, your photos and videos should appear much more vivid.
Price
The iPhone XS is currently one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, at the following prices:
- 64GB: $1,099
- 256GB: $1,249
- 512GB: $1,449
iPhone XR
Design
Though not as attractive as the iPhone XS, the iPhone XR still has a sleek design, with thicker bezels around the screen. Other than that, it’s hard to distinguish the design of the XR from the X at a quick glance.
What does differentiate the XR is the color options. White, black, blue, yellow, coral and red are available.
Battery
Apple says the iPhone XR’s battery life will be up to 90 minutes longer than the iPhone 8 Plus, making it one of the best iPhone batteries ever. Not bad for the “bargain” option from the latest iPhone trio.
Screen
The iPhone XR’s screen is a 6.1-inch LCD with an aspect ratio of 18:9, which makes it slightly narrower than most iPhones in comparison to their size. This only becomes an issue when using the phone in landscape view, where the notch at the top of the screen gets in the way a little bit.
Price
Pricing for the iPhone XR is as follows:
- 64GB: $749
- 128GB: $799
- 256GB: $899
Overall, the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR don’t offer huge upgrades from the last models released by Apple. If you’re curious as to whether or not it’s worth buying one, try Mashable’s 3D iPhone visualizer, where you can “test” each model from your computer.
