Comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone XR: is the difference significant?

Since Apple introduced three new iPhone models, the burden of choice has been placed on the shoulders of the user: overpay for the maximum configuration of the iPhone XS Max or save money and take the XR without 3D Touch? Let's figure it out which of the new iPhones is better to buy.

First of all, you need to look at the dry characteristics:

If you like to look at numbers in tests, know that in XR the processor frequency is underestimated. In the single-core test, the budget device gave 4754 points, and in the multi-core test - 9367. The XS has slightly higher scores: 4813 and 10,266.

What's the difference between iPhone XS and iPhone XR: detailed comparison

We will compare the iPhone XR (detailed review) with the “regular” iPhone XS without the Max prefix (detailed review) - after all, this is the same iPhone XS, only with a larger screen and a more capacious battery.

ON TOPIC: Comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max: is there a difference other than size?

Comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone XR displays

iPhone XR is the most affordable Apple smartphone from the 2018 lineup. But it received a display with a larger diagonal than the XS model - 6.1 inches versus 5.8 inches. The iPhone XR screen resolution is 1792 × 828 pixels (326 ppi).

As a result, the iPhone XS became the “smallest” in the line. And don't let the 0.3-inch difference fool you—the XR is larger than the XS, and noticeably so.

But the iPhone XS received an OLED display, and the iPhone XR received an “advanced” IPS. As a result, the flagship will have deeper blacks, a richer and brighter picture, as well as a higher resolution – 2436 × 1125 pixels (458 pixels per inch) versus 1792 × 828 pixels (326 pixels per inch). How important is it? Here everyone decides for himself.

PS And yes - the iPhone XR does not and will not have 3D Touch, while the XS version still has it (in detail).

ON TOPIC: What is the difference between the iPhone XS camera and the iPhone X: is there a difference?

Leave your comments

It's finished! For the first time in Apple history, the most intriguing of the new iPhone lineup is also the cheapest. Launched alongside the premium iPhone XS and the astronomically expensive iPhone XS Max, the iPhone XR appears to have inherited the best features of its more expensive and advanced siblings at a much lower price. All that remains is to decide: is the iPhone XR the ideal choice for Apple fans, or does it still have shortcomings that force them to bypass it? Let's try to figure it out...

iPhone XR comes in a wide range of attractive colors

Display - bigger, but not better

Perhaps the most surprising difference between the iPhone XS and iPhone XR is that the latter has a larger display. Everything else related to the iPhone XR screen is inferior in its characteristics to its more expensive brother: iPhone XS - 5.8-inch OLED format, 19.5: 9, True Tone, 2436 x 1125 pixels (458 ppi), ratio 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 82.9% screen-to-body ratio; iPhone XR – 6.1-inch LCD, 19.5:9, True Tone, 1792 x 828 pixels (326 ppi), 1400:1 contrast ratio, 79.0% screen-to-body ratio

As you can see, the significant compromises of the iPhone XR are the simplification of its screen standard from OLED to LCD and its significantly lower resolution. In fact, the iPhone XR can't even display Full HD 1080p content - surprising for a 6.1-inch device. The iPhone XR is Dolby Vision/HDR10 compatible with the iPhone XS, but it lacks the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch technology that has been an integral part of Apple technology since the iPhone 6S. The whole question is, should you care about these simplifications? Actually, no.

LCD displays lag behind OLED in terms of contrast ratio and black level, but they are more than good enough for the vast majority of users. Lower 326 ppi (identical iPhone is still 3 times taller than a 40" 4K TV (110 ppi) and you'll still have the same 19.5:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone XS, same True color Tone accuracy and "120Hz sensitivity" for faster response to touch input.

As for the lack of 3D Touch, iOS 12's long-press feature has replaced most of its previous features, and the technology is also expected to be phased out altogether next year due to lack of consumer interest in it. So even if the display is one of the biggest technical differences between the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, when comparing the two phones closely, I don't think most users will care that much.

Design - similar, but simpler

At first glance, aside from their physical dimensions, the iPhone XS and iPhone XR look similar. But that's not true. iPhone XS - 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches) and 177 g (6.24 oz) iPhone XR - 150.9 x 75.7 x 8 .3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches) and 194 g (6.84 oz) While the iPhone XR has about a 5% larger display than the iPhone XS, it is 10% larger heavier and a little thicker. The main reason for this is the LCD display, which isn't as flexible as OLED, so it can't easily fit into the chassis (check out the wider bezels around the iPhone XR's display).

iPhone XR has slightly wider bezels around the perimeter compared to iPhone XS

The iPhone XS also has a stainless steel body, which is a slightly higher quality than the aluminum of the iPhone XR 7000 series (used in the iPhone 8 and older), and you get IP68 water resistance from the iPhone XS and IP67 water resistance on the iPhone XR. Do you care? Again, I don't think so. Some won't like the iPhone XR's thicker bezels, but they're still thinner than many OLED competitors. Likewise, aluminum feels great in the hand, and IP68 simply means the phone can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in two meters of water rather than one meter. For most people, however, this is not a deciding factor in their choice. However, the areas where the two iPhones overlap are more significant.

Both get 25% more powerful external speakers (which also adds stereo left and right channels). Interestingly, the iPhone XR also comes in a much wider and more interesting range of colors - white, black, blue, yellow, coral, PRODUCT RED - than the iPhone XS, which is limited to Silver, Space Gray and Gold and looks identical to last year's iPhone X.

iPhone XS color scheme - gold is new for the X model

From the point of view of recognition and attention on the street, the iPhone XR clearly looks more interesting.

Productivity is like a rocket

Notably, the iPhone XR runs on the same advanced chipset as the iPhone XS: iPhone XS, iPhone XR - Apple A12 "Bionic" chipset: six-core processor, quad-core GPU, M12 motion coprocessor The difference is what the iPhone XS comes with with 4 GB of RAM, while the iPhone XR has 3 GB. This will provide a slight improvement in multitasking as more apps can be kept in memory without the need for a reboot. But the iPhone XS's dual-camera setup is primarily where the extra RAM is needed (more in the next section), and no one thinks last year's iPhone X (3GB) is slow.

As for what the Apple A12 ("Bionic" is just a marketing name) actually gives the consumer is that you'll get about a 50% increase in graphics processing performance and idle power efficiency, as well as a 15% increase in processor performance. These increases are welcome, but Apple is already ahead of all competitors here (the 2022 iPhone X is faster than any Android phone in 2022), so they are hardly needed. Both new iPhones also add a nice touch: tiny power reserves so NFC transactions can be completed even if the phones run out of battery. This is a unique feature of this year's models. Also, the big news is that both iPhones have support for 600 MHz 4G bands. 600 MHz is used by carriers to cover wide areas that were previously without signal, and until now iPhones have not been compatible with this frequency. Thus, this innovation alone literally opens up a completely new audience of potential iPhone X buyers.

The iPhone XR misses out on the new 4G devices for the iPhone XS iPhone 4S LTE with one gigabit support, but it actually has more Cat 12 600Mbit performance than you need. So while Apple is lagging behind on 5G support, anyone getting such fast speeds on 4G isn't likely to worry.

Cameras - single vs dual

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max share the same optics, including dual rear cameras

Apart from their different display sizes, the second external difference between the iPhone XS and iPhone XR is the latter has only one rear camera: iPhone XS, iPhone XR - Primary rear camera - 12MP, f/1.8 aperture, 1.4µm pixel size, Optical image stabilization (OIS), True Tone Flash with Quad LEDs, iPhone XS - Secondary Telephoto Lens - 12MP Aperture, f/2.4, 1.0μm Pixel Size, OIS, 2x Optical Zoom iPhone XS, iPhone XR - TrueDepth Front Camera - 7MP, f/2.2 aperture

The good news is that all iPhone XR users are missing out on the 2x optical zoom. Yes, it's a handy feature, but many times you can just get closer to your subject. Meanwhile, previous iPhones required a second camera for Apple's popular portrait mode, but the iPhone XR can take such photos with both a single front and rear camera.

The iPhone XR only has one rear camera, but it's the same main camera as the iPhone XS

Both new iPhones also support Apple's new Smart HDR image processing. This combines multiple photos taken at different exposures into a single image to combat the iPhone's historical weakness in dynamic range. This system is similar to the HDR+ on the Google Pixel 2, which (still) has the best phone camera on the market.

Like the Pixel 2, the iPhone XS and iPhone XR's rear cameras are also larger at 1.4 microns, allowing them to capture more light. This is a key upgrade for better low-light shooting and a win for both phones. All this means that you should already be noticing a pattern: the iPhone XR has compromises compared to the iPhone XS, but that's probably something you can live with. Additionally, the XR has one big area where it easily outshines the XS...

Battery life and charging - cheaper ones last longer

For those of you who are neutral on the iPhone XR's LCD display, here's where it delivers significant advantages - the lower resolution is much less demanding, and the larger size means Apple has more room for a bigger battery. iPhone XS - 2,658 mAh iPhone XR - 2,942 mAh The implications of this are perhaps the biggest selling point for the iPhone XR. It can outlast the iPhone XS in most areas by as much as 25% and even the flagship iPhone XS Max:

iPhone XR battery life is longer than iPhone XS and even iPhone XS Max

However, one area where the iPhone XR misses the mark is “fast” wireless charging. As with the Face ID improvement, Apple didn't provide any specific numbers. That would be more than the 7.5W offered by the iPhone X and iPhone XR, but I doubt it comes close to the 15-volt capabilities of the Qi standard the phones use. Finally, a complaint. Both the iPhone XS and iPhone XR support fast wired charging, as does the iPhone X (50% charge for 30 minutes from the apartment), but Apple again refused to include a fast charger in the box. It's bad enough with the iPhone XR, but not turning it on with the iPhone XS (with a $75 charge for the required charging and compatible cable) is daylight robbery.

Data storage and price - XR takes the lead

Here's where the iPhone XR immediately takes the lead: iPhone XS - 64GB ($999), 256GB ($1,149), 512GB ($1,349) iPhone XR - 64GB ($749), 128GB ($799), 256GB ($899) While the $750 starting price is a bit steep, the big deal is the 128GB iPhone XR, which is just $50 more expensive and $200 cheaper than the 64GB iPhone XS . 128GB is also a great storage option, as the iPhone XS range seems to provide too little (64GB) and then too much (256GB) for the average user. Needless to say, some will be drawn to the monstrous 512GB iPhone XS, but with the opportunity to buy a 256GB iPhone XR with 4 times the storage capacity of the 64GB iPhone XS for $100 less, it's hard to resist.

Apple's iPhone XR (right) is the highlight of the new iPhone lineup

LET'S END THE DISCUSSION

At a time when iPhone sales are easily outpacing all other brands, it seems the biggest threat to the sales of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max (details here) is Apple's own iPhone XR. While Apple has trimmed almost every part of the iPhone XS's feature set to create the XR, the reality is that everything that's lost is expendable. For some, there will be an essential feature missing (OLED display, dual cameras, bezel size) that makes them pay more for the iPhone XS, but for most buyers, the iPhone XR is an affordable phone with all the fat removed. The iPhone XR is also a more practical phone, thanks to its significant battery life, and a more attractive phone, thanks to its wide range of colors. Those who are determined and capable of living on the cutting edge of technology should, of course, choose the iPhone XS, but for all other cases, the iPhone XR is the model to buy. This is the most interesting iPhone Apple has made in years...

Aluminum vs steel

The perimeter frame of the iPhone XR is made of aluminum, like the iPhone 8.

The frame of the iPhone XS is made of the same materials as the “ten” – stainless steel. The back cover of both devices is made of glass.

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Waterproof iPhone XS and iPhone XR

The XS (IP68 protection rating) has it better - the smartphone can withstand falling into water or any other liquid (for example, beer) to a depth of 2 meters. XR (IP67 degree of protection) – only one meter.

ON TOPIC: Waterproofness of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max: can you shoot underwater and swim?

conclusions

The price list for modern iPhones no longer surprises anyone. Prices for XR range from 65,000 rubles to 78,000, the difference between them is only in the storage volume: 64, 128 or 256 gigabytes. For the XS, the price range is more serious: from 88,000 to 120,000 rubles, and the memory variations here are slightly different: 64 and 256 gigabytes have been preserved, and the 128 GB version has been replaced by a 512 GB version. As for the XS Max, it is a record holder in today's smartphone market. The versions are the same as the simple XS, however, the cost of the minimum configuration is already 97,000 rubles, and the maximum – 128,000. According to users, the overpayment is clearly not worth it. The cost range from the minimum XR to the maximum XS Max is 63,000 rubles, which is almost equal to the cost of the new XR. The differences in performance between them are minimal, and the best standard case protection, steel and dual camera shouldn't cost as much as another iPhone.

Comparison of battery life between iPhone XS and iPhone XR

But here the iPhone XR is head and shoulders above its opponent - 25 hours of talk time versus 20 for the XS. The new “iPhone” with the “R” prefix outperforms the S-model both in terms of Internet work time – 15 hours versus 12, and in video playback – up to 16 hours versus 14, and in audio playback – 65 hours versus 60.

Why, the iPhone XR lasts longer than the iPhone XS Max! The indicators for both “shovels” are either the same, or slightly better in favor of the XR (the smaller diagonal and less “gluttonous” IPS matrix have an effect - the OLED in the iPhone XS consumes more). So if you need a “long-lasting” smartphone, there’s no question about the iPhone XR.

ON THE TOPIC: iOS 12 review: what's new, all the new features, which devices are supported.

So what should I buy?!

It's hard to say yet. In words, the iPhone XR is a good device with minor limitations. But how it will actually work is still unclear. Perhaps Apple simply deceived us and did not include all the digital features in its camera. But this is unlikely.

Bottom line, I would buy myself an XR. I’m not a model on Instagram, I’m not a fan of high resolution in smartphones, and I won’t die from the lack of 3D Touch. This phone will perform my tasks normally.

The iPhone XS is, of course, also good, especially the camera. For the money, judging by Apple's presentation, this phone really takes very cool pictures. But if the usual portrait mode is enough for your life, then you shouldn’t overpay a few hundred bucks. And I’d better not say anything about the 512 GB XS Max.

Comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone XR cameras

Here the difference is also noticeable - the XS has a dual camera (one wide-angle lens with f/1.8 and one telephoto lens with f/2.4).

XR – single... however, this is the same wide-angle as in the flagship. The XR will feature a portrait mode, which previously only appeared on Apple smartphones with dual cameras. Of course, there are some limitations - firstly, the XR module can only recognize people, and secondly, it comes with only three studio lighting effects (Daylight, Studio light, Contour light) versus five for the XS (Daylight, Studio light, Contour light, Stage light, Stage light - mono).

Portrait mode with improved bokeh effect and the “Depth” function (the ability to adjust the degree of background blur) is present in both smartphones.

The front cameras of the iPhone XR and iPhone XS are completely identical.

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Iron

Both smartphones are powered by the most powerful 6-core A12 Bionic processor, which shows real miracles of performance. With it, the XS became the most powerful smartphone in the world according to AnTuTu at the time of writing.

The amount of RAM varies: in the XS - 4 GB, in the XR - 3 GB. Built-in memory capacity for XR:

• 64 GB

• 128 GB

• 256 GB

For XS:

• 64 GB

• 256 GB

• 512 GB

Why such difference? Simply XS is the flagship of the line.

iPhone XS and iPhone XR colors

iPhone XS is available in gold, space gray and silver.

With the iPhone XR, Apple risked repeating the (not the best) experience of the iPhone 5c with a large number of multi-colored shades, so the new product will be sold in six colors at once - white, black, blue, yellow, coral and red (PRODUCT)RED.

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