iPhone XS Review: First Look, Is It Worth Buying in 2022 [Pros and Cons]

One of the most popular topics of early autumn 2022 among mobile technology lovers is a review of the iPhone XS, a smartphone that Apple presented as one of its flagships.

The model received a new processor, more memory and an improved camera, allowing it to be considered a higher-quality version of the iPhone X.

On the other hand, even updating the line of high-performance gadgets did not eliminate some shortcomings, and some of the parameters that users expected to improve remained at the same level or changed slightly.

Technical parameters of the model

Table 1. Smartphone characteristics. Parameter Meaning

Rice. 1. The appearance of the new phone with different colors.

Performance and OS

The iPhone XS features Apple's latest A12 Bionic processor, as does all new iPhones. The chip has eight cores and is capable of processing up to 5 trillion. operations per second. The device can handle even very intensive calculations faster. I didn't notice any performance issues in games without navigating the OS. All games here launch and run smoothly, with detailed graphics, as they should be. But, I still need to do more testing to understand what the A2 Bionic chipset is capable of.

In XS you will have to use gestures to navigate the operating system. The gesture system has no performance issues, both within the OS and when opening and switching between applications. The iPhone XS, like its recently introduced brothers, runs on iOS 12 and will be released on September 17.

Unpacking and packaging

When purchasing a smartphone, as the experience of those testing it shows, inside the box you can find the following set:

• a smartphone, the body of which can have three colors - silver, gold and “space gray”;
• several Apple branded stickers;
• AirPods headphones designed to connect to the Lightning connector;
• Lightning/USB cable, which allows you to connect to charging and provide a connection to a computer;
• power adapter with USB connector.

Rice. 2. iPhone XS smartphone box.

The kit also includes documentation for the smartphone, including text in Russian.

While there is no adapter from Lightning to 3.5 mm jack for a wired headset in the box, and, if necessary, you will have to buy it separately.

iPhone XS price

How much does iPhone XS cost? When it first came out, the iPhone XS cost $999.99 for the base model. If you wanted options with more storage, you had to pay even more. The iPhone XS lineup was replenished with the iPhone XS with 512 GB of memory, which sold for $1,349.99.

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At the time, these were some of the most expensive iPhones Apple had ever made. In 2022, we are all accustomed to such iPhone prices. But back in 2022, $1,349.99 per phone was largely unheard of—it also paved the way for widespread price increases within the phone space.

In 2022, the price of the iPhone XS is now MUCH cheaper - you can get some killer deals right now. How much does it cost to buy an iPhone XS in 2022?

If you go the upgraded route you're looking at around $459 for the unlocked model with 256GB of storage. And this is a good saving - almost 40%!

You also have many options from carriers, including MVNOs such as Xfinity Mobile and Mint.

And as you'll see below, the iPhone XS is still a very viable option in 2022, especially if you want some very impressive value for money.

Design and assembly features

The appearance of the smartphone differs little from the previous version.

The front and back of its body is protected by durable tempered glass, between which there is a steel frame, the corners are traditionally rounded, and the dimensions are completely the same as the iPhone X.

The frames around the display are minimal, which makes the body a little elongated, but because of this, holding the phone is just as comfortable as the iPhone 7, which has a 1.1 cm smaller screen diagonal.

The location of the individual elements of the smartphone is as follows:

• most of the front panel is occupied by a screen, on top of which there is a so-called “unibrow” with a camera and sensors - Apple plans to abandon this element next year;

Rice. 3. The upper part of the front panel with a “monobrow” for the camera and sensors.

• On the back of the smartphone, the manufacturer placed a camera with a flash, a logo and the brand name;

Rice. 4. Main camera.

• the top edge remains empty - there are no connectors or microphones;

Rice. 5. The upper edge of the mobile phone, completely free from any elements.

• On the right you can see the power off and screen lock button;

Rice. 6. Right side of the gadget.

• on the left there is a rocker for adjusting the volume level and a button that switches volume modes;

Rice. 7. Left side.

• the bottom edge contains speakers and a Lightning connector, already standard for new Apple phones, which can also be replaced with a standard USB – but not earlier than 2022.

Rice. 8. View of the iPhone XS from below.

The build quality of the iPhone XS is high – but you shouldn’t have expected any other result from a smartphone of this brand.

The IP68 rated housing can be submerged in water at a depth of 2 meters for 30 minutes. This protection is better than previous versions, however, you still shouldn’t swim with the phone – the waterproof feature is intended, rather, for underwater photography.

⇡#Display and sound

The iPhone Xs Max has a 6.5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2688 x 1242. As always, Apple avoids flat numbers, achieving its own goals - in this case, a pixel density called Super Retina - 458 ppi. The displays in the iPhone X c Xs have exactly the same density.

The display is straight, not curved like the OLED in the Samsung Galaxy of recent years, Sony Xperia XZ3 or Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Of course, the manufacturer claims that this is the “best in the world” OLED display - you can neither agree nor argue with this. Traditionally, Apple has done well with screens, but with the use of current technology, everything has become very good. The Xs Max screen, as befits any OLED, has a conditionally infinite contrast, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 technologies. The picture looks great, especially if you activate the True Tone mode, which allows the smartphone to independently select color rendering depending on the external lighting - the mode also appeared in the iPhone in the last generation and has not disappeared in the Xs. It is activated by default, I recommend that you simply leave this setting alone. However, we tested the iPhone Xs Max screen both with and without True Tone.

It must be said that adaptive brightness for the iPhone Xs Max cannot be turned off - the smartphone will always adapt to external lighting, whether you want it or not. The brightness slider in the dark and in bright artificial light was at its maximum during our measurements, but in one case the colorimeter showed 258 cd/m2, and in the other – 521 cd/m2. There is a suspicion that in bright sunlight the smartphone will be able to “raise” the brightness even more. Be that as it may, using the iPhone Xs Max is comfortable in any lighting, without any adjustments or assumptions.

iPhone Xs Max, gamma. Yellow line – Xs Max indicators, dotted line – reference gamma

iPhone Xs Max, color temperature. Blue line – Xs Max indicators, dotted line – reference temperature

iPhone Xs Max, color gamut. Gray triangle – sRGB coverage, white triangle – Xs Max coverage

Apple has always been famous for its ability to customize the displays of its devices, from the iMac to the iPhone. Xs Max is no exception. The average gamma at default settings is 2.23, which is close to ideal. Notice how smooth the curves are, this is a rarity in the world of mobile device screens. The color temperature is slightly higher than normal - 6,700-6,800 K. The average deviation DeltaE for the extended Color Checker palette (shades of gray + a wide range of color shades) is 2.02, with a maximum permissible norm of 3 and a standard of 2.00. The color space matches the sRGB standard almost exactly. You'll see colors on iPhone the way content creators intended.

iPhone Xs Max, gamma with True Tone mode activated in the dark. Yellow line – Xs Max indicators, dotted line – reference gamma

iPhone Xs Max, color temperature with True Tone mode activated in the dark. Blue line – Xs Max indicators, dotted line – reference temperature

iPhone Xs Max, color gamut with True Tone mode activated in the dark. Gray triangle – sRGB coverage, white triangle – Xs Max coverage

In order to demonstrate the impact True Tone mode has on the picture, we present to your attention the measurement results with the automatic color adjustment mode activated, taking into account external conditions. In a dark room, the color temperature is greatly reduced, the brightness at the limit does not exceed 226 cd/m2, and the color space is shifted relative to the norm. The image on the screen is perceived very well. Bravo, Apple, with the transition to OLED space there is no longer even the slightest complaint - the iPhone has beautiful and perfectly tuned displays.

The sound in the Xs Max is also ok. There are stereo speakers here. They are not directed towards the user, as in the Sony Xperia XZ3 - a standard speaker located on the bottom (right when gripping horizontally) works in tandem with the earpiece. But in terms of volume reserve and frequency range, it’s excellent. Moreover, it feels like there is progress compared to the iPhone X, which also had decent sound.

But with headphone output it’s not so simple. On the one hand, there is full support for high-resolution wireless audio transmission standards, and no one bothers you to purchase an adapter; on the other hand, a direct assessment of the quality of the iPhone Xs Max audio path is perhaps impossible.

Hardware and performance

A full comparison between iPhone and Android smartphones has always been impossible. Assessing the power and prospects of a platform “from a distance”, talking about open and closed operating systems and omitting completely different opportunities for optimizing hardware for software, is, alas, obviously futile. Therefore, all graphs obtained after tests in common benchmarks should be considered purely illustrative: the most interesting thing about them is not the difference between the iPhone and flagship Android smartphones, but the difference between last year and the latest iPhone - with the Apple A12 Bionic and A11 Bionic platform, respectively.

Apple traditionally does not disclose details of its hardware, simply reporting the number of cores (six), their names (two Vortex and six Tempest), technical process (7 nm - a world first, along with HiSilicon Kirin 980) and various percentages of performance gains and energy efficiency etc. Based on the results of tests conducted by colleagues from Anandtech, we can roughly calculate the clock speed at which the A12 Bionic cores operate: 2.5 GHz for Vortex and 1.6 GHz for Tempest. There is no noticeable increase in frequencies relative to the A11, but, apparently, there is a serious increase in cache volume - this applies to both “large” and “small” cores. The main changes concerned energy efficiency thanks to the use of the 7-nm process technology.

Even less is known about the graphics subsystem, as well as about the coprocessor for neural network computing, than about the main cores, but it is they that provide the increase necessary to maintain the status of perhaps the most powerful modern smartphone - in synthetic tests this is most noticeable in tests that actively using 3D graphics: 3DMark and GFXBench. Please note that in purely “processor-based” Webxprt there is not only no increase, there is even a slight drop compared to the iPhone X - this is, of course, a measurement error (here the old and new platforms should be approximately equal), but it is a good indication of priorities during the development of A12 Bionic.

At first glance, the RAM in the iPhone Xs Max is not much – 4 GB. And this is in the year when monsters with ten gigabytes of RAM are already appearing on the market! Everything is simple here - this is exactly what a smartphone with a display with a resolution of “near-Full HD” needs today. Based on many years of experience in using Apple smartphones, you can safely transfer the usual conclusion to the Xs/Xs Max - for two or three years you don’t have to worry about their performance, it’s enough for any needs.

The permanent memory in the iPhone Xs/Xs Max is set to 64, 256 or 512 GB. Very worthy, especially the last two options; I don’t want to whine about the lack of a microSD slot. Another thing is that you will have to pay in full for such amounts of memory.

Screen metrics

The model is equipped with a 5.8-inch screen with an OLED matrix and an 18:9 ratio.

The display resolution is 2436 x 1125 pixels - not the best on the market, but completely identical to the iPhone X.

This prevents software developers from optimizing applications specifically for the XS model.

Rice. 9. iPhone XS screen.

Among the features of the new iPhone screen, one can note a good level of brightness, 625 cd/m², thanks to which you can use the phone even in bright sunshine.

Apple's True Tone feature automatically adjusts temperature based on light levels.

High contrast, support for HDR10 and DolbyVision technologies, as well as P3 color format make the image on the display richer and brighter.

Should I buy the iPhone XS now or wait for the fall release?

Now is the perfect time to buy the XS. Firstly, the device will remain prime for at least four more months. Secondly, it is doubtful that the 2022 iPhone will radically surpass the 2018 model in any way. Thirdly, expect a price from 90 thousand rubles for a minimal modification. Fourthly, it is far from certain that the new iPhones will go on sale a couple of weeks after the premiere. A scenario is possible in which you will have to wait until November, and then also stand in queues due to the typical shortage. Therefore, immediately purchasing an iPhone XS is definitely a wise and competent step. There is no need to wait for anything: if you want the coolest device on the market, go ahead, and if you believe in the release of something fantastic, then you can sit in the waiting position for a very long time. But why, if an excellent gadget is already on display?

Hardware and test results

The smartphone became the world's first mobile device to be equipped with an energy-efficient and powerful processor created using a 7-nanometer process.

This means that the speed of the gadget is much higher - both in applications and in games, and in the process of solving everyday problems.

Equipped with a 4-core graphics core and 4 GB of RAM, even gamers who need a “reserve” of performance for future games can count on this phone.

The iPhone XS performance in synthetic tests is as follows:

• In the popular AnTuTu benchmark - 363,000 points, more than all previously released flagships, except for the “older” version of the iPhone.
• In the Geekbench test, the gadget with 11,420 points also came second - but after another, more expensive iPhone XS Max. The iPhone X takes third place in this benchmark, with the flagships of Samsung, LG and OnePlus left behind.
• iPhones were slightly inferior to their main competitors only in 3DMark Slingshot Extreme, a test showing graphics performance. In this benchmark, the two latest iPhones only came in 4th and 5th place, behind the OnePlus 6, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S9+.

Rice. 10. Performance indicators in Geekbench and AnTuTu tests.

When using a smartphone to solve simple tasks, only 2 cores of its central processor work, which saves battery power - almost half as much as the X version.

When running resource-intensive applications (primarily games), there is no noticeable difference in operating time between the XS and Apple's flagship released last year - however, a performance increase of 30-60% is ensured.

Face ID instead of Touch ID

The displays of the new Xs models, like those of its predecessor, occupy almost the entire front part of the iPhone. However, other manufacturers have managed to reduce display bezels even further in the past year. The notch at the top of the screen houses the front camera and a number of sensors that are necessary for facial recognition using Face ID technology. Both models lack a fingerprint sensor, and Apple also did not return the Home button and headphone jack to its models.

Face ID-Unlock works noticeably faster on new iPhones

Face recognition on Xs models is noticeably faster, even in complete darkness. You no longer have to hold the device directly in front of your face; unlocking works even if you bring it from below or from the side. The iPhone still automatically turns on as soon as you pick it up from your desk or pocket and starts scanning immediately.

The new technology still has one drawback compared to Touch ID: you won't be able to unlock the iPhone Xs (Max) when it's just lying on the table. And in the car, you won’t be able to start working with an iPhone fixed in the holder with a simple finger press. While other manufacturers (such as Huawei and OnePlus) are relying on an in-display fingerprint scanner, Apple has announced that it wants to continue working with Face ID technology.

Model modifications

The flagship's RAM has increased from 3 to 4 GB, which allows it to work with several resource-intensive applications without closing them, and simultaneously open dozens of browser tabs.

Apple representatives claim that in the near future, games and programs that could not previously run on any iPhone will be released specifically for the new smartphone.

The amount of permanent memory of the XS depends on the modification, of which there are three on the market - with 64, 128 and 512 GB.

The most expensive of them became the first iPhone with a 512 GB storage.

The buyer of such a smartphone is unlikely to encounter a lack of memory, even taking into account the lack of a microSD slot.

3D Touch, don't go away. Please!

According to rumors, new smartphones from Apple will be deprived of the strong pressure recognition function - 3D Touch. This is sad because I use 3D Touch all the time. When you turn on the flashlight directly from the locked screen, for example. There is no need to touch and hold your finger for some time, even if not for a long time. Just press down firmly on the icon you are looking for and the flashlight will turn on immediately. Infinitely convenient. And fast.

Quickly moving the cursor through the text is an option that deserves a Nobel Prize. There is no need to aim your finger at a specific place between the symbols. Simply press down on the keyboard and, as if on a touchpad, move the cursor to the desired location for editing. Comfortable? Not that word!

I don't use 3D Touch in other places. The same call to the application context menu is clearly not my option.

Phone interface

Another update to the smartphone was the new operating system – iOS 12.

The platform was first presented in early summer 2022, but the first stable version appeared only in September.

Among the features of iOS 12 it is worth highlighting:

• video conferences, the number of participants of which can reach 32 people;
• animated Memoji pictures that can be inserted into messages;
• a function that controls the time the user spends in front of the screen;
• quick commands of the personal assistant Siri.

Rice. 11. Interface of the new iOS 12 platform using the example of the iPhone XS and XS Max.

Equipped with a powerful A12 Bionic processor, the smartphone can recognize faces faster when using the Face ID function.

And the installation of the updated Secure Enclave security module has increased the speed of not only recognition, but also purchase confirmation.

iPhone XS release date

On September 14, Apple released the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. The iPhone X has come to a halt with improved internal specs and upgraded cameras.

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max release date was September 21, 2018 - prices started at $999 and went up to $1,300+ for the fully loaded model. In 2022, the price of the iPhone XS has dropped significantly. But more on that later.

The iPhone XR arrived a little later in the year, bringing with it a lower price and less than stellar specs and hardware. Still, the XR has become the most popular iPhone since the iPhone 6. The iPhone XS—and the more expensive iPhone XS Max—were two of the most expensive iPhones Apple has ever released when they first arrived in 2022.

With a host of new specs and updated cameras, the iPhone XS lineup picked up where the iPhone X left off, adding more performance, better specs, and faster performance.

Shooting quality

The main camera takes better photos than a similar device for shooting any previously released iPhone, even the X model.

Its resolution is 12+12 MP, aperture f/1.8 for a wide-angle lens and f/2.4 for a telephoto lens.

The device provides 2x optical and 10x digital zoom, and supports optical image stabilization technology, thanks to which the photo quality is quite good in good light conditions, in the evening, and indoors.

Rice. 12. Photo in the evening with the main camera of the iPhone XS.

The iPhone XS camera helps improve the quality of shooting thanks to the presence of a special Smart HDR mode, improved compared to the standard HDR option.

Updated software together with a powerful processor processes the signal faster and with better quality.

The picture turns out to be more detailed and clear – even in the dark or, conversely, too light part of the picture.

Performance and video recording have been improved. Moreover, now the user can record high-quality stereo sound, listening to it later directly on the iPhone.

The maximum camera resolution when shooting video reaches 4K at 60 frames per second, and in FullHD mode the smartphone allows you to record slow-motion videos at a frequency of 120 or 240 frames per second.

The parameters of the front camera, which takes 7-megapixel photos and also records videos, have not changed much - but only in the 1920x1080 format (30 and 60 fps).

However, the presence of a video stabilization function allows you to take good selfies, and the “Portrait” mode makes the picture deeper.

Rice. 13. Photo taken using the front camera of a new smartphone.

iPhone XS Max after a month of use: pros and cons of the most expensive smartphone of the year

iPhone XS Max is the most expensive and most talked about smartphone of 2018. Is it so different from last year’s iPhone X, what is it capable of, and is it worth the money you have to pay for it. Our expert Dmitry Bevza will try to answer these questions after a month of intensive use.

Photo: Apple

The iPhone XS Max fully justified Apple's headliner status. According to the famous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, sales of the iPhone XS Max were several times higher than the sales of the iPhone XS. However, we are not very interested in the company's business performance. For the user, the consumer characteristics of the device, brand, price, availability and service are important.

Specifications

Case: steel alloy and impact-resistant glass;

Colors: gold, space gray, silver;

Dimensions: 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 millimeters;

Weight: 208 grams;

Display: Super Retina HD OLED, diagonal – 6.5 inches, resolution – 1242×2688, aspect ratio – 19.5:9, True Tone technology, expanded color gamut, Brightness – up to 625 cd/m² (standard), oleophobic coating.

Main camera: Module with wide-focus lens – 12 MP, ƒ/1.8, 28 mm, matrix – 1/2.55″, pixel size – 1.4 NM, optical stabilization, autofocus; Module with long-focus lens – 12 MP, ƒ/2.4, 52 mm, pixel size 1.0 nm, optical stabilization, 2x optical zoom, autofocus; Record 4K video at 24, 30, or 60 fps, 1080p HD video at 30 or 60 fps, 720p HD video at 30 fps. Extended dynamic range when recording video at up to 30 fps.

Front camera: TrueDepth camera – 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture “Portrait” mode with bokeh effect and “Depth” function. Portrait lighting (five options). 1080p HD video recording at 30fps or 60fps, Smart HDR for stills, high dynamic range for 30fps video recording. Processor: Six-core A12 Bionic processor, 4-core video processor, eight-core Neural Engine hardware module.

Memory: 64/256/512 GB, 4 GB RAM.

IP68 splash, water and dust resistant. Diving to a depth of up to two meters for up to 30 minutes is allowed.

Battery: talk time – up to 25 hours. When working on the Internet – up to 13 hours. Video playback – up to 15 hours, audio – up to 65 hours. The ability to quickly recharge up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

Design, construction and ergonomics

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

Not much can be said about the design of the iPhone XS Max. Essentially, this is an iPhone X enlarged in size, there are almost no other differences. “Golden” was added to the black and white body colors, but it did not arouse much enthusiasm among many. If the steel frame of the “golden” XS Max looks really expensive and rich, then the rear glass panel is not gold, but rather beige. But black and especially white colors are still good. Overall, if you liked the design of the iPhone X, you'll love the XS Max.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

The back panel and screen protector are made of a new composite material, Gorilla Glass, specifically designed for iPhone. We conducted a couple of drop tests (not specifically, of course) and dropped the XS Max several times onto parquet and laminate flooring from about a meter in height. The smartphone passed such a test successfully, which, in general, is not surprising: despite the glass body, the device is assembled on a rigid steel chassis. I liked something else more: apparently, the new Gorilla Glass has become not only more impact-resistant, but also more scratch-resistant. For a month, not a single scratch appeared on the iPhone XS Max.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

The chrome coating of the case frame also performed well. After a month of constantly carrying the smartphone in my pocket and backpack, it still looks like new.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

As for ergonomics, everything is predictably worse. It's not as good as the iPhone X and iPhone XS, which is not surprising for a smartphone with such a large screen. Yes, the XS Max has an "easy access" option that lets you shrink and move down the active area of ​​the screen for easier one-handed use, but frankly, constantly switching in and out of this mode can get old quickly.

Iron

One of the key elements of the iPhone XS Max is the six-core A12 Bionic processor, which outperforms the best processors found in Android smartphones in performance tests (AnTuTu and GeekBench 4.x). At first glance, it seems that such power is excessive (remember that last year’s A11 Bionic is still at the top of all benchmarks). However, the new processor is not just more productive in tests and standard tasks. Its special neural network module is used in the camera functions, facial recognition and smartphone unlocking, to work with augmented reality. Well, we should separately note that this is the first serial processor made using 7-nanometer technology, which, in addition to increasing performance, also saves energy consumption.

Equipping the XS Max with such a processor causes ambivalence. On the one hand, according to experts (which is also confirmed by tests), this is the fastest and most productive processor in the world. This is a pleasant thought for the owner of the iPhone XS Max. On the other hand, you understand that the A12 Bionic processor, as they say, “added its two cents” to the high cost of the smartphone.

Two other technical aspects that may be of interest to the user are the new camera and the 512 GB memory module (in the most expensive version). As for the camera, its optimization is quite understandable. I’ll say something blasphemous for Apple fans, but the iPhone X no longer has the best camera. It was good a year ago, but now the iPhone X is already in 10th place in the DXOMARK rating (a company specializing in tests). Competitors (Samsung, Huawei, Google, Xiaomi) are not asleep. So a new sensor, new shooting and image processing algorithms, Smart HDR mode, improved image stabilization, stereo microphones for video recording - all these improvements are fully justified.

And if we talk about shooting video, then in terms of all the characteristics, from stabilization to Slow-motion, the iPhone XS Max holds a high bar.

In portrait photography and the implementation of the bokeh effect (background blur), few can compete with this iPhone.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

As for landscapes and product photography, there is approximate parity with the best Android flagships. But we must understand that this is parity at the highest level.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

The only area where the iPhone XS Max is slightly inferior to its competitors is night and evening photography. At the same time, it is impossible to say that it shoots poorly in low light conditions. He shoots better than all his predecessors. And it shoots well. Here are a couple of examples.

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

Photo: portal Moscow 24/Dmitry Bezva

In this case, we are talking about the fact that some competitors shoot even better at night.

By the way, the small Beautygate scandal surrounding the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max was related specifically to the camera, or more precisely, to the operation of the selfie camera. It seemed to many users that Apple had attached non-disabled beauty to the front camera. But, in fact, this is not so: the smoothness of the face in some selfies is explained by the peculiarity of Smart HDR. When taking selfies in low-light conditions, the new iPhone tries to combat the inevitable color noise that occurs. And some loss of clarity and smoothness of the face is just a side effect.

A few words about the 512 GB memory module. I don't see any urgent need for such a large volume. This is rather a nod to supporters of ultra-premium. Let the buyer of a smartphone for 128 thousand rubles think that he has everything big... even a memory module. Sales statistics also confirm this: most buyers believe that 256 GB is enough for them.

In general, the iPhone XS Max is a really timely device. Finally, all fans of smartphones with large screens who previously used iPhones with the Plus prefix received, as marketers like to say in such cases, an “uncompromising” device. By the way, the number of fans of such smartphones is growing every year. Which is not surprising. For a modern person, a phone often replaces both a tablet and a computer, but many tasks are still easier to solve on a device with a large screen.

It can take a long time to analyze all the nuances of the iPhone XS Max under a microscope, but it’s still worth focusing on the main thing – the impressions that arise when using the smartphone every day.

pros

The screen, so to speak, is the “heart” of the iPhone XS Max. It is quite convenient for work, for games, for watching movies, for routine, everyday tasks. Plus, after spending a month with the iPhone XS Max, you realize that you don’t really need the iPad anymore.

Long battery life. Due to its considerable size, the iPhone XS Max was packed with a fairly capacious battery. Combined with optimized software and the A12 processor, the result is a day of work in hardcore mode or a day and a half in light mode - this is an hour and a half longer than the iPhone X.

Photo: depositphotos/ifeelstock

Regarding support for fast and wireless charging: in turbo charging mode, in 30 minutes the smartphone becomes infected by 50-52 percent. Such things are a must have for a flagship, but let’s note them anyway. It is important.

The camera performs brilliantly in most tasks. And, by the way, there is a difference with the iPhone XS camera. Not too big, but there.

iOS 12 is an important, if not revolutionary, update. Many people underestimate updates to the operating system on which the iPhone runs. But in vain. It is iOS that creates in many ways the user experience for which millions love this smartphone. iOS 12 is more like “working on bugs,” which iOS 11 had a little more than necessary. Some things were corrected, some things were improved.

Minuses

F – greed. How could a device costing over 100 thousand rubles not include an adapter for regular headphones and standard, low-power charging, despite the fact that the smartphone itself supports fast charging?

We still need to work on algorithms for shooting in low light conditions. With all due respect to Apple programmers, top-end devices from Google, Huawei and Samsung look preferable in such conditions.

Working with files and the camera app: Oddly enough, in 2018, working with files in iOS is still not very convenient, and the camera settings are hidden in the main menu.

For some reason, despite the fact that Apple has been installing OLED screens in its flagships for the second year now, the Always On Display function is still not available in the iPhone.

Price. No, I won’t be indignant and shout “why is it so expensive” (in fact, I will). It's still about something else. iPhone XS Max 64 GB costs 97 thousand rubles, iPhone XS Max 256 GB – 110 thousand, and iPhone XS Max 512 GB – 128 thousand. That is, in fact, Apple sells us a 192 GB memory module for 13 thousand rubles, and a 256 GB memory module for 18. Isn’t it too much?

As for the new, much-praised A12 Bionic processor. Yes, he's just a monster. It's probably the best, but... The average user simply won't see the difference between it and last year's A11 Bionic.

Who is iPhone XS Max for?

If we talk about markets with an operator sales model, when a subscriber purchases a smartphone from a mobile operator with a two-year contract and payments are divided into 24 months, then the iPhone XS Max is simply a replacement for the larger iPhone 6/7/8 Plus. But taking into account the realities of the Russian market, this smartphone is for two categories of consumers. The first are Apple enthusiasts who can afford to buy such a smartphone. It’s worth making a footnote here: Apple acted rather insidiously towards users by ceasing to produce iPhone X. The reasons are quite clear - fear of “cannibalization” (iPhone X would become a clear competitor to the iPhone XS). The downside of this decision is the increased price of the iPhone X. So the owners of these smartphones can now sell their “tens” quite profitably, add some, not so daunting amount, and purchase the iPhone XS Max.

Photo: depositphotos/ifeelstock

Another category of consumers who will look towards the most expensive versions of the XS Max are those who, due to their status or taste, love or are obliged to adhere to certain standards of what is called “conspicuous consumption.” Due to its price in Russia, the iPhone XS Max partially moved from the premium segment to luxury, and many years later the iPhone again became a “status” consumer item.

Bottom line

What can you say about the iPhone XS Max in a few sentences?

iPhone XS Max is a high-quality smartphone. iPhone XS Max is a very expensive smartphone. iPhone XS Max is a smartphone with a very large screen. The iPhone XS Max is not the most ergonomic smartphone.

And yes, this is important: keep in mind that the iPhone XS Max is just a smartphone. And even if you pay 100 or 128 thousand rubles for him, he will not make coffee for you, scratch your heels, go to the store or walk the dog. It will only do what other smartphones do. And some of them cost five times less.

You decide.

Dmitry Bevza

Bevza Dmitry

Communications and multimedia

The smartphone allows its owner to use any type of mobile communication - from GSM and CDMA to LTE.

Moreover, unlike the “single-carrying” old versions, the new gadget can work with two SIM cards.

True, one of them, the “electronic SIM” eSIM, is not yet supported in the Russian Federation, and for many users the iPhone X will still remain a phone with a single SIM card.

The sound quality and volume of the smartphone is impressive - both in headphones and speakers. Audio files, videos and movies are played 1.5 times louder compared to iPhone X.

Moreover, even the previous model could already be considered a mini-stereo system, capable of satisfying both music lovers and fans of loud music.

Camera

The quality of the pictures is very good, I also have no questions regarding video recording, the iPhone perfectly serves as a camera for all occasions. It’s a pity, of course, that Apple artificially limited iPhone XS users by depriving them of the new night mode, as in the iPhone 11 Pro.

But we need to sell new iPhones! In addition, no one prohibits the use of third-party applications for shooting in low light, improving the quality of pictures.

The new line of iPhones features a separate ultra-wide-angle module, but it’s not for everyone. I practically don’t use it, except that sometimes it’s very convenient to photograph the interiors of cars or apartments. But if you are not a realtor or a journalist, you are unlikely to suffer much due to its absence.

Level of autonomy

Equipped with a 2658 mAh lithium-ion battery, you can use the smartphone for a day without loading it completely and setting the screen brightness to average.

In other modes, the XS's operating time has increased compared to the iPhone X and is comparable to other 2022 flagships.

Table 2. Operating time in various modes. Mode Time, h

A dead battery is quickly charged due to the phone's support for fast charging. A proprietary and other fairly powerful power adapter allows you to restore 50% of the charge within half an hour. Supports smartphone and wireless charging.

Battery life

At the presentation, Apple did not name the total battery life of smartphones, but compared the new models with the iPhone X. Thus, the iPhone Xs battery with a capacity of 2,658 mAh should help the iPhone work 40 minutes longer than the iPhone X, and the iPhone Xs Max with a 3,174 mAh battery should work 90 minutes longer.

For comparison: iPhone 8 Plus lasts 11:36 hours, iPhone X - 9:35 hours. The difference is explained by the use of OLED technology, which consumes more power, especially with a white background screen. In addition, high pixel density negatively affects battery life.

Charging time for the iPhone X is about 3 hours and 20 minutes - that's a very long time. This is due to the included power supply (5V, 1A), which is too weak for fast charging technology. The same power supply comes with new models that have fast charging technology. Apple offers an optional power supply, but it costs €59.

New iPhones can be charged wirelessly. According to Apple, the iPhone's inductive charging coil has been redesigned to allow the device to charge faster using Qi. Already last year, Apple announced its wireless charging technology called AirPower. Unfortunately, it is not available yet.

Price category

The cost of the smartphone is around $1,500 – almost 1.5 times more expensive than the iPhone X.

According to Apple management, the high cost of the mobile gadget is offset by its functionality and power.

For example, the company's CEO, Tim Cook, believes that the iPhone XS will easily replace the user with several other gadgets at once.

Most likely, they meant a camera and a portable speaker, instead of which, indeed, you can use a new iPhone.

What is the correct name for models?

Before the demonstration, the names of the phones remained secret while the media alternately made references to a variety of options, including dubious iPhone 9, iPhone Pro and even iPhone 11.

The name iPhone Xs was not proposed, and no one even thought of the “Max” prefix. The fact is that before this Apple used the “Plus” insert and such a change to “Max” became completely unpredictable, but it makes sense. It lies in the fact that the screen diagonal of a device with a “Plus” insert was invariably 5.5 inches, and therefore a gadget with a display whose diagonal was 6.5 inches simply had to be called differently.

Just like with the iPhone X, the “X” in the names of models that have already gained popularity is not the “X” symbol, but the Latin number 10 (translated from English as “ten”). In simple terms, the 2018 phones are the successors of the tenth iPhone, as evidenced by the “s” symbol following the “X”, and the “Max” insert indicates a larger screen.

Important! Despite the fact that everywhere they often say: “iPhone X Es” and “iPhone X Es Max”, in reality the names of the models are “iPhone Ten X” and “iPhone Ten X Max”, respectively.

Advantages and disadvantages

Positives

• high-quality and bright screen with good resolution and wide viewing angles;
• an energy-efficient processor that allows you to increase the operating time of your smartphone;
• optical stabilization of a wide-angle lens;
• a powerful processor that ranks first in many tests;
• the presence of an HDR mode that allows you to get better photos.

Negatives

• design practically unchanged compared to the previous version and slightly reduced battery capacity.
• Not all testers were satisfied with the cameras - despite the high quality of the resulting images, many (more affordable) competitors allow you to get the same photos.
• The disadvantages include the scratched polished edges of the smartphone and the lack of a second physical SIM card (despite the fact that eSIM is not supported in all countries).

Reviews from testers and potential buyers

There are no smartphone owners yet who could talk about their impressions of using it.

Not much time has passed even since the presentation of the mobile device - not to mention the fact that it will go on sale only in a few days.

However, the iPhone XS has already received quite a lot of rather contradictory reviews from people who participated in its testing:

• The company promised to make a smartphone with a better camera than Samsung models. However, the test showed that photographs taken with the iPhone XS look best only on its screen. Although, probably, most gadget owners will be happy with this situation.
• The charge holds better than the iPhone X - but not by much . Due to the reduced battery capacity, even the new energy-saving technologies are not impressive, providing only 1.5 extra hours of operation. It may be enough for a day, but those who plan to use the phone actively will have to charge it twice a day.
• I wouldn't rush to buy a smartphone for that kind of money . Especially if I already had an iPhone X. The difference is not so fundamental as to change one phone for another. As for photography, Apple is still not yet ahead of Google with its more affordable Pixel 2 camera phone.

Users who have not yet been able to get their hands on a new gadget, but are already thinking about buying it, express different opinions. Many of those who already have the latest iPhone models are disappointed with minor improvements that will cost a lot of money. However, there are those who were still going to buy a good flagship, and paid attention to the good performance indicators of the XS.

Protection and Durability

I'll start with the banal things: how durable and durable the phone is. For additional protection, I only have glass on the screen, and that’s it. I don’t like cases, they deprive me of pleasant emotions when you pick up a small, tightly assembled, high-quality phone made of metal and glass.

Protective glass on the screen is a necessary measure. I was slightly shocked by how quickly the screen on the iPhone X became scratched. Therefore, I had to additionally protect the new iPhone XS immediately after purchase and glue the glass.

The back panel, of course, is covered with scratches and abrasions. At the same time, I want to praise the phone for its strength and durability: my daughter regularly plays with it, threw it on parquet or tiles, the iPhone is safe and sound, without cracks or chips.

Naturally, after a year of use, the back of the phone was covered with small scratches and abrasions, but due to the glare of the case, the flaws are not noticeable and are noticeable from certain angles. I remember we shot a video about how useful protective glass on the screen is. We argued and argued, I argued that glass takes a hit and cracks, and then I backed up my words with action: I threw it onto the studio wooden floor with all my might. I tested it on my iPhone - the glass was cracked, the screen was intact, only a few scratches on the steel frame remained as a souvenir.

There was also a funny incident when a shelf on the wall collapsed in our studio toilet. Clever craftsmen attached it in such a way that it crashed, as did the Sonos speaker, and the iPhone that I put there. Again, the protective glass broke as expected, but when it fell on the tile, the case did not crack or suffer much damage, only a few marks remained.

On the Internet you can see videos of iPhones being hit and thrown onto the asphalt, and I have no doubt that his glass body will have a bad time. But I have no complaints about the phone at all, excellent quality and solid construction.

Video review on YouTube

If you need to get more information about a new smartphone, you should pay attention to the videos on the popular YouTube resource.

Among them you can find theoretical reviews based on the presentation and other information about the gadget on the Internet.

There is also information here based on the personal experience of people who have already managed to hold in their hands one of the most expensive serial phone models in the world.

And even strength tests specifically designed for those who are worried about the safety of the iPhone XS in unforeseen situations.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of iPhone Xs

• Incredible OLED display;
• Excellent diagonal 5.8 inches;
• Excellent performance;
• Dust and moisture protection according to IP68 standard;
• Partial improvement of cameras.

Disadvantages of iPhone Xs

• The package does not include a cord for fast charging;
• Price.

Advantages of iPhone Xs Max

• Giant and rich display;
• Autonomy;
• Improved camera;
• Performance;
• Dust and moisture protection according to IP68 standards.

Disadvantages of iPhone Xs Max

• There is also no cable for fast charging;
• It costs even more.

Summarizing

To summarize, we can try to evaluate the characteristics of the new model on a ten-point scale, based on the opinions of those who have already tested it in action:

• The quality of shooting with both cameras is impressive, but it could be better - therefore only 9 points out of 10 ;
• the design of the smartphone has remained virtually unchanged, and in appearance it is practically indistinguishable from the iPhone X - for this, too, you can give no more than a “nine” ;
• The performance of a phone equipped with the most powerful processor at the moment deserves 10 points , even taking into account only 4 GB of RAM;
• The level of autonomy of the gadget cannot be called low - but you can give it no more than 9 points, since on the market you can find models that work several times longer.

Rice. 14. Estimation of smartphone parameters.

The results of the review of the iPhone XS, which has not yet even gone on sale, show that fans of the Apple brand will most likely be satisfied with the new smartphone.

However, people who have already bought an iPhone X and even the 8th model should not rush into the purchase - there are not so many advantages to spend such a decent amount.

Such a purchase will not always be justified for those who do not pay attention to the brand - almost all the same parameters can be found in other, more affordable models.

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AirPods Pro

I wanted to tell you what useful accessories I used in conjunction with the iPhone XS, but I didn’t have anything extraordinary. I already talked about charging above, I’ll write about Apple Watch 4 some other time. Headphones remain. My favorites are AirPods Pro, although, for my taste, they do not have the best sound in their class and do not have the highest battery life.

Nevertheless, I liked them because they take up little space, the compact case is beautiful without further ado. Noise reduction works well, the headphones isolate from unpleasant ambient sounds, charge quickly and fit perfectly into the Apple ecosystem. It’s convenient to switch, listening to audio on different devices without unnecessary movements. Well, they fit perfectly in the ears and do not fall out.

Experience using Apple AirPods Pro

Alexander Pobyvanets

15 May 2020