November 2022. What to buy: iPhone X, XS or XR. What is the difference

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.

iPhone XR and iPhone XS in comparison

display , depending on the version, can have a diagonal of 5.8 or 6.5 inches. The XR is only 6.1 inches, which is slightly larger than the 2022 iPhone X.

The resolution in the XR for a budget device (by Apple standards) is actually quite decent: 1792 × 828. But the more expensive model has twice as much: 2436 × 1125 or 2688 × 1242.

Another important difference: the XS has an OLED display, while the XR has an LCD. Nevertheless, this should not bother anyone at all - the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 also have LCD displays, but this does not prevent them from producing a pleasant picture with good viewing angles.

The design of the models is almost identical. Apple even went to the trouble of making a small cutout in the XR LCD display, which turned out to be quite difficult. But there are still some differences.

First of all, this concerns the frames: in the XR they are made of aluminum, and not from steel, as in the XS. In addition, due to the LCD display, the bezels on the budget model are slightly thicker. However, this is only noticeable if you put two smartphones next to each other.

The back of the XR and XS is made of glass, allowing both phones to support wireless charging. Apple says it has improved it in its flagship models, but in the XR it has kept it the same as in the iPhone 8 - 7.5 W.

And, of course, colors. The XS case can only be gray, dark gray or gold. In XR everything is much brighter: pink, blue, white, black, yellow and red (PRODUCT)RED.

The battery in the new iPhones is a meme. Apple made a whole puzzle out of this: the iPhone XS lasts 30 minutes longer than the iPhone X, and the iPhone XR lasts an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 8 Plus. I still don’t understand how to compare this. However, on the Apple website you can find battery tests for both smartphones:

As you can see, the XR lasts a little longer than the XS. Most likely, the screen is to blame. The XS has a high-resolution OLED display that consumes a lot of power. The XR has an LCD display with a resolution almost like the iPhone 8 Plus - this configuration turned out to be not so power-hungry.

All new iPhones have 12-megapixel wide-angle lenses, but the XS and XS Max have dual lenses, while the XR has a single camera. But thanks to the capabilities of the A12 processor, this is not such a serious drawback.

Yeah, thanks for explaining

When it comes to zoom, the XR lags far behind the XS. Nevertheless, thanks to technology, a budget camera can shoot a “portrait” and detail shadows and light. But one of the significant limitations of XR is the lack of lighting effects: natural, studio and contour. Additionally, the XS features Stage and Stage Mono effects.

Public reaction to iPhone XS

Early buyers wrote a lot of positive reviews about the iPhone XS. They praised the cool, bright screen, convenient size, and almost instant focus. Apple once again pleased its fans, this was expected.

Harris Insights & Analytics compiled and conducted a survey among thousands of Americans, age category 21 years and older. The purpose of the survey was to determine the reaction of consumers and potential buyers to the new generation of smartphones. According to statistics, only 26% of respondents said that the iPhone XS made a proper impression on them, 22% noted that the new iPhone is innovative. But 28% of respondents turned out to be expected and obvious.

1/4 of respondents reacted negatively to the launch of the new iPhone XS. 9% of respondents were disappointed with the new generation, another 9% noted that smartphones turned out to be boring, and 7% generally believe that the iPhone XS confuses Apple fans.

XS Max or XS

In fact, these are the same smartphones. If you buy the XS, you won't feel disadvantaged like you did in the days of the Plus versions: the same filters, the same processor, the same camera. The only difference is the screen. It is he who will give XS Max users some kind of status, or something.

To be honest, I don't see any reason to overpay for a larger screen size. Previously, large smartphones had their advantages, but now they have removed this and made just two identical devices: one larger and the other smaller. Most likely, the 6.5-inch version was made specifically for the Chinese market, where everyone is flocking to phablets with large screens.

Compare iPhone XS with Model X

The model has received many updates, which will be especially interesting for those who use iPhone 7 Plus and lower.

It’s immediately worth noting that the iPhone XS adopted all the functions of the iPhone X, but with some updates.

New A12 Bionic processor

Apple has developed and installed the A12 Bionic - the smartest, most powerful and fastest processor. Thanks to the Neural Engine system, the smartphone provides excellent performance. The processor uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, which offers great capabilities in photography, gaming and much more.

For complex computing tasks, the A12 Bionic uses four efficiency cores for complex computing tasks and for everyday tasks. The work between these cores is distributed by a new performance controller, and all 6 are used to solve resource-intensive tasks. Compared to the A11 Bionic, the performance of two cores has increased by as much as 15%, and with four cores running, power consumption has decreased by 50%.

• The model is protected according to the IP 68 protocol. This means that the smartphone can be lowered for half an hour to a depth of two meters, and this will not affect its performance.
• Possibility to expand memory by 512 GB;
• Weight increased by 3 grams and is 177 g.

The changes in the quality of photography are enormous. Advanced algorithms and an improved processor made it possible to maximize the details of light and dark parts of the photo. The portrait has additional features: adjustable depth of field and improved bokeh effect. The photos received a spectacular background.

• It is now possible to shoot 4k video, record and play back surround sound;
• The 7MP TrueDepth front camera received an updated video stabilization function, 1080pHD video with a frame rate of up to 60 fps;
• Gigabit LTE;
• In operating mode, the battery holds a charge 30 minutes longer;
• The model supports 2 SIM cards nano-SIM and eSIM, and the version released for China works with two nano-SIM.

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.

Budget for purchase

To begin with, it’s worth at least roughly outlining a budget for the purchase. And to do this, let’s look at the cost of the iPhone today. We are considering the cheapest model, then we will abandon this idea, more on that later. We take a random store so that there is no advertising.

• iPhone X 64Gb — 26,133 UAH
• iPhone Xs 64Gb — 33,348 UAH
• iPhone Xr 64Gb — 25,852 UAH

Based on the minimum cost, the iPhone Xr is in the lead. Last year's iPhone X model is breathing down its neck, but there is still a small saving of 900 UAH. Let's move on. We would need to compare the technical specifications to understand what we will be overpaying for if we buy an iPhone X or iPhone Xs.

Camera

Do you like to take pictures with your phone? Then this section will help you better decide on the choice of model.

If you often take pictures of birds in nature, then you will need a zoom, then the iPhone XS is better suited for these purposes.

Difference between cameras

In terms of basic characteristics, there is no difference between the cameras of the iPhone X and iPhone XS. Both of these smartphones come with dual 12-megapixel cameras on the back of the device. One of these cameras is equipped with a wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, and the other with a telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture.

But, if you compare these cameras in more detail, there are some differences. Firstly, the wide-angle camera on the iPhone XS has a larger sensor, which means the size of each individual pixel has also increased. Thus, the pixel size on the matrix of the new model is 1.4µm (versus 1.0µm for the iPhone X). This difference in size allows the pixel to capture more light, resulting in the camera producing less digital noise and having greater dynamic range.

In addition, the iPhone XS camera also has software differences. Firstly, the new model features Smart HDR technology, which allows you to display finer details in the highlighted and dark areas of the photo. Secondly, the portrait mode in the new camera has been significantly improved. The camera conveys depth of field better, and the bokeh effect can be created after the photo itself has been taken.

As for the changes in video recording, there are also minor improvements. In particular, the iPhone XS can record stereo sound, which is not available on the iPhone X.

There is also no difference between the main characteristics of the front cameras of the iPhone X and iPhone XS. In both cases, a TrueDepth camera with a resolution of 7 megapixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture and Retina Flash is used. When it comes to additional features, the iPhone XS has a few differences. The front camera of the new product received Smart HDR, improved bokeh effect, the “Depth” function, extended dynamic range for video with a frequency of 30 frames/s, as well as the ability to record FullHD video with a frequency of 60 frames/s.

Size, thickness and weight

If you use your phone more often to browse social networks than to make calls, then it is better to choose a smartphone with a larger screen diagonal. Based on the table, the advantages of the iPhone XS are: the thickness of the phone and the weight.

Comparison of cellular capabilities

When comparing cellular capabilities, the new iPhone XS has a few notable differences. Thus, the new product supports Gigabit Class LTE, as well as MIMO 4×4 and LAA4 technologies.

Gigabit Class LTE is the next step towards 5G networks. Already, on devices with the Snapdragon 845 chip, a Gigabit LTE connection can provide information transfer speeds of up to 1.2 Gbit/s, and with the next generation of mobile devices, this speed can increase to 2 Gbit/s. But for now these are rather laboratory tests. In practice, if you have a suitable smartphone and a mobile network that supports Gigabit LTE, you can expect around 400 Mbit/s.

The distribution of networks supporting Gigabit LTE is still very limited. There are no such networks at all on the territory of the Russian Federation. They can be found in Germany, Great Britain and the USA.

Another important difference between the iPhone X and iPhone XS is dual SIM support. The version for the Chinese market will receive full functionality with two physical NanoSIMs. The rest will be able to use one physical NanoSIM card and another electronic eSIM. Thus, in countries where eSIM is supported, iPhone XS users will be able to use two SIM cards at once.

Design Differences

The design of the iPhone X and iPhone XS are no different; they look like the same device. The iPhone XS has the same dimensions and design as its predecessor iPhone X. The weight of the device has increased slightly, but even this is almost impossible to replace, since we are talking about several grams.

The so-called “unibrow” remains. There are also other distinctive features of this phone. In particular, the placement and shape of the rear camera, the placement of buttons, etc. The materials used, according to Apple, have changed. The glass panels of the iPhone XS should be much stronger than those of the iPhone X.

The only difference in design is the appearance of a new color. While the iPhone X was only available in silver and charcoal, the iPhone X is available in silver, charcoal and gold.

additional characteristics

Still undecided? Take a look at the advanced options. We won't rate them, but perhaps they will influence your choice.

CPU

Both smartphones are equipped with a powerful A12 Bionic processor, respectively, their operational capabilities are generally equivalent. The six-core processor, combined with the unique Neural Engine, provides incredible user experience, and even the most resource-intensive tasks are performed 15% faster than the A11 Bionic.

• iPhone XR: powerful six-core A12 Bionic processor, 7 nm chip, Neural Engine.
• iPhone XS: powerful six-core A12 Bionic processor, 7 nm chip, Neural Engine.

Difference between devices

The internal components of these devices are the same, but externally they are different. The iPhone XR is simpler to reduce cost.

The iPhone XR measures 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, weighs 194 g, and has IP67 water and dust resistance. iPhone XS measures 143.6 x 7.9 x 7.7 mm, weighs 177 g, and is IP68 protected. The difference in protection means the possibility of diving an extra meter for half an hour.

In terms of appearance, the iPhone XR is simpler. It's made from 7000 series aluminum versus the stainless steel in the iPhone XS.

The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD screen, which is longer and wider than the iPhone XS. The bezels around the screen are wider, so the appearance is not as modern. The larger screen makes the device 17 g heavier.

Where the iPhone XR has an advantage is in the number of color options. iPhone XS is available in gold, gray and silver colors. iPhone XR has six colors: blue, white, black, yellow, coral and red.

Difference in hardware

As for the hardware of these phones, there are some differences, quite significant ones. The new iPhone XS received a new generation A12 Bionic processor. Like the previous A11 Bionic, the new A12 Bionic is a 64-bit 6-core ARM chip. But, at the same time, the A12 Bionic is made using a more modern technological process of 7 nanometers (the A11 Bionic has 10 nm).

Reducing the technical process allowed to increase productivity and reduce energy consumption. According to Apple, the new processor is 15% faster and 50% more energy efficient than its predecessor. In addition, A12 Bionic is better optimized for working with artificial intelligence, neural networks and has more powerful graphics (50% faster).

The coprocessor has also improved; if in the previous generation it was 2-core, now it is equipped with 8 cores at once. This significantly affected his performance. While the A11 Bionic coprocessor could handle up to 600 billion operations per second, its A12 Bionic successor can handle 5 trillion operations per second. There is also a difference in the amount of RAM: the iPhone XS has 4 GB, versus 3 GB for the iPhone X.

The amount of built-in memory has also changed. If the iPhone X was available in only two versions, with 64 and 256 gigabytes of internal memory, then the iPhone XS is available with 64, 256 and 512 gigabytes of internal memory.

As you can see, the difference in performance between the iPhone X and iPhone XS is quite large. In different tasks, the increase can range from 15 to 50% and even more. Changes in available internal memory are also important. If 256 gigabytes was not enough for you, then switching to a more modern model is quite reasonable.

Screen

What conclusions can we draw? Judging by the table, the iPhone XS is better in terms of the specified characteristics.