Comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone X. How they differ and what they have in common

Detailed comparison of iPhone XS and iPhone X.

The new 5.8-inch iPhone XS didn't impress many Apple fans. Is there much new in the iPhone XS compared to the iPhone X? We studied the issue and compared the iPhone XS and iPhone X with each other as meticulously as possible. The results were surprising in many ways.

Design

And if briefly? You will have a hard time distinguishing between these smartphones. Only in the new gold color of the iPhone XS.

To say that the iPhone XS is similar to the iPhone X is an understatement. The appearance of the smartphones is completely identical. This is the same classic-shaped iPhone with rounded corners and glass panels, which are connected by a frame made of surgical stainless steel. The front panel still has the same “unibrow” and minimal frames on the bottom and sides. On the back there is the same protruding vertical double camera.

But there are still changes. First of all, this is the new gold color of the iPhone XS. Last year's iPhone X was only available in gray and silver. The iPhone Xs is also available in both of these colors, but also gold, which is quite unusual.

And it should also be noted that the glass panels on the front and back surfaces of the iPhone XS have become stronger. Apple says it's the "strongest glass ever used in a smartphone."

There are no other differences. Even the dimensions of the smartphones are completely the same - 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm.

Although no, one more detail. iPhone XS is three grams heavier than iPhone X - 177 g versus 174 g.

Battery autonomy

Battery life is another thing Apple doesn't reveal, but it does say the iPhone 11 Pro can last four hours longer than the XS. This is most likely due to the more efficient processor rather than any increase in battery size. Both the iPhone XS and X support fast charging up to 15W, but this device is not included in the box and must be purchased separately. Luckily, Apple saw fit to include an 18W charger in the box with the 11 Pro. All three devices have Qi wireless charging.

Winner: Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Characteristics

And if briefly? iPhone XS is 20% faster than iPhone X everywhere and 50% faster in games. iPhone XS learns and improves iOS 12 features 9 times faster than iPhone X. And in terms of RAM, iPhone XS is ahead - it has 4 GB, iPhone X has 3 GB. The internal memory of the iPhone XS can reach 512 GB (the iPhone X has a record of 256 GB).

Every year, Apple releases new iPhones with new processors. In the case of the iPhone XS, this is a six-core Apple A12 Bionic chip made using a 7-nanometer process technology. This innovative process technology is used in smartphone processors for the first time. Apple's competitors will release their alternatives later, and noticeably.

The A12 Bionic chip has significantly greater performance and energy efficiency compared to the A11 Bionic, which is equipped with the iPhone X. Just compare the technical characteristics of the processors:

• A12 Bionic (7 nm) - six cores with a frequency of 2.6 GHz, 256 KB of first-level cache, 8 MB of second-level cache. M12 motion coprocessor, second generation eight-core Neural Engine.
• A11 Bionic (10 nm) - six cores with a frequency of 2.1 GHz, 64 KB of first-level cache, 8 MB of second-level cache. M11 motion coprocessor, first generation Neural Engine machine learning module.

Improvements across the board make the A12 processor in the iPhone XS 20-50% faster than the A11 in the iPhone X. More specifically, the A12:

• 20% faster than A11 in pure performance power,
• consumes 40% less energy than A11,
• 50% faster than A11 in terms of graphics processing.

A new quad-core video chip, which was developed by Apple itself, is responsible for seriously accelerated graphics processing. Not only does it get things done faster, but it also supports Metal 2 technology, previously unavailable on iPhone.

An equally important improvement to the A12 Bionic chip is the new eight-core Neural Engine module. It is responsible for machine learning, which directly influences dozens of features and capabilities of the iPhone XS and iOS 12. The difference between the first and second generation Neural Engine modules is striking. The new version installed in A12 performs up to 5 trillion (!) operations per second. The analogue from the iPhone X can only perform 500 billion.

In terms of RAM, the iPhone XS is ahead of the iPhone X by a full gigabyte. The new iPhone XS has 4 GB of RAM, while last year’s “ten” had 3 GB.

The iPhone XS snatched another point from its predecessor in the battle of built-in memory. iPhone X is available with 64 and 256 GB of memory, and iPhone XS with 64, 256 and 512 (!) GB of storage. By the way, 512 GB is an absolute record among Apple smartphones.

How and when did the 10th iPhones come out?

The real revolution in the world of mobile devices was made by the release of the iPhone X. Thus, presented on September 12, 2022 at the annual Apple conference, it became not only more powerful than its predecessors, but also irrevocably removed the button under the screen, making it “frameless.” Yes, the iPhone 10 may not have been the first in frameless smartphone technology, but it was the one that became the most commercially successful. Along with the updated hardware and the absence of a button, the smartphone also acquired FaceID - a face scanner based on neural networks.

Exactly a year later, in September 2022, the expected update to the “frameless” line of phones from Apple was released, namely the iPhone Xs, Xs Max and iPhone Xr. If in the case of the first models everything is clear - an improved and even more improved last year's model, then with the iPhone Xr things are a little different. This smartphone has become a “budget” continuation of the dozen line.

Now that we've figured out when the iPhone 10 came out, it's time to finally compare them and find out: is it worth buying a new iPhone Xs or Xs Max when you already have an iPhone 8 Plus or 10?

Display

And if briefly? The iPhone XS screen displays richer, more vibrant colors. Also supports 120Hz content. In all other respects, the displays are identical.

The main characteristics of the iPhone XS display have not changed in any way compared to the iPhone X. Both smartphones have a Super Retina HD OLED screen with a resolution of 5.8 inches, a resolution of 2436 × 1125 pixels (458 ppi), a brightness of 625 cd/m² and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000 :1. Additional technologies are also unchanged: support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, True Tone technology for automatically adjusting screen temperature, 3D Touch and P3 color gamut. Everything is identical.

And here is the “difference” between the displays of the iPhone XS and iPhone X

However, there are still three differences. First, Apple has quietly trimmed the bezels around the perimeter of the iPhone XS display. The new smartphone has a screen-to-face ratio of 82.9%. And for iPhone X this figure is 81.4%. The dimensions, as we have already found out, have not changed, so somewhere the frames have actually been reduced. Which, however, will be difficult to notice, the difference is too small.

Secondly, Apple claims that the dynamic range of the iPhone XS display has increased by 60% compared to the iPhone X. This means that colors on the iPhone XS screen will look better: richer and brighter. And thirdly, the iPhone XS display supports a variety of content that needs to be displayed at a frame rate of 120Hz. Mostly games and some videos. It's important to note that we're not talking about ProMotion technology like the latest iPad Pros.

Characteristics of iPhone 11 Pro vs iPhone XS vs iPhone X

Main camera

And if briefly? The iPhone XS camera has larger pixels, a new image signal processor, support for Smart HDR, an improved Portrait mode, a Depth feature for changing the bokeh effect after shooting, and the option to shoot 4K video with stereo sound. The main characteristics of the cameras (resolution, aperture) of the iPhone XS and iPhone X are the same

The “bare” camera characteristics of the iPhone XS and iPhone X are difficult to distinguish:

• iPhone XS - 12-megapixel camera with wide-angle (f/1.8) and telephoto (f/2.4) lenses. The pixel size of the wide-angle module is 1.4µm, the telephoto lens is 1.0µm. Dual optical image stabilization and dual optical zoom.
• iPhone XS - 12-megapixel camera with wide-angle (f/1.8) and telephoto (f/2.4) lenses. The pixel size of the wide-angle module is 1.22µm, the telephoto lens is 1.0µm. Dual optical image stabilization and dual optical zoom.

As you can see, at first glance, the difference is solely in the size of the pixels, which are larger in the main camera module of the iPhone XS. It’s worth emphasizing here that the pixels have increased significantly - this will have a dramatic effect on the quality of the photo.

But major improvements in the main camera of the iPhone XS are just ahead. The Apple A12 Bionic integrates an improved image signal processor. What exactly he is better at is not reported. Apple only clarifies that the overall quality of the images will increase significantly due to this. The quality will also be directly affected by the Neural Engine machine learning system.

The iPhone XS camera also supports a new unique Smart HDR mode. When shooting in this mode, details in the light and dark areas of the frame appear as detailed as possible. This will allow you to shoot on the iPhone XS in low light conditions and get great pictures.

Portrait mode in the iPhone XS has been improved compared to the iPhone X. Apple has used new technology that creates the effect of depth of field more accurately and efficiently. In addition, the “Depth” function is available on the iPhone XS, which allows you to change the bokeh effect after (!) shooting.

And the last significant advantage of the iPhone XS camera over the iPhone X. The new Apple smartphone can shoot video in 4K resolution while recording stereo sound. Previously, no Apple smartphone had such an opportunity.

Front-camera

And if briefly? The front camera of the iPhone XS has improved capabilities for taking portrait photos, support for Depth and Smart HDR functions, and a new video stabilization system. The main characteristics of the front cameras of the iPhone XS and iPhone X are identical .

Now regarding the front camera. There were no changes to the key characteristics of the iPhone XS here either. Both the iPhone Xs and iPhone X have a TrueDepth front camera with a resolution of 7 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture. However, there is a difference between the cameras.

The front camera of the iPhone XS claims to support the above-mentioned improved Portrait mode and the Depth and Smart HDR functions. In addition, Apple has updated the video stabilization system when shooting on the front camera.

Filling

Even though the performance numbers do not show significant changes, they are still there. First of all, the iPhone XS has the fastest and fastest processor; it is created using 7 nanometer technology, and this is the first and so far only such chipset. According to experts, competitors may only develop similar technology in 2022. The six processor cores have different directions. Four cores provide high efficiency under loads, the remaining two are responsible for performance in everyday tasks. These two cores are, among other things, energy efficient. If the user does not perform heavy tasks, then only they work, which saves battery. According to the developers, the phone, thanks to this approach, allows for 50% more logical use of resources. In addition, the kernels compress data without loss of quality, which opens up new opportunities for the user and software developers.

Important! Another key difference of the new chip is the second generation of the neural learning module. It executes 5 trillion commands per second. This means that now the phone learns much faster, and all the operating system functions that work in conjunction with this module have become faster and smarter. Example: When searching for photos in the Photos app, the search begins even before the user enters a query.

To summarize the above, the new model is the fastest and most productive in the world. The device is 70% faster than its predecessor in speed. And this is felt literally in everything - from opening applications to gaming. Even in single-core tests, the device shows higher numbers than its predecessor and competitors. There is no point in mentioning that when all cores are running, the gap becomes even greater. Obviously, the point goes back to XS, and the score becomes 1:3.5.

Face ID

And if briefly? There are no fundamental changes. But the Face ID feature in the iPhone XS has become faster due to improvements in the Secure Enclave module.

Face ID has been improved on the iPhone XS. But not thanks to the TrueDepth camera system, which includes an infrared scanner, a dot projector and other innovative Apple sensors. The “stuffing” of the components responsible for the Face ID function has not changed in the iPhone XS compared to the iPhone X. Not at all.

But Face ID still got better in the iPhone XS. This happened thanks to the acceleration of the Secure Enclave protection module. On the iPhone XS, it quickly matches the owner's face with a previously saved map. And as a result, it quickly identifies the owner of the smartphone.

And, of course, don’t forget about the A12 Bionic processor. It is especially focused on machine learning, and therefore on improving the performance of Face ID.

Other features

This fall, iPhone XS owners will receive an update that includes support for a second SIM card. True, this is not a physical SIM card, but its electronic analogue - eSIM. In Russia this thing is illegal, so for us it is irrelevant. It's a pity. So we'll have to want the Chinese version of the iPhone XS Max.

Apple introduced the first iPhone with two SIM cards

Ilya Kichaev

13 September 2018

iPhone XS received an improved Face ID module. Secure Enclave technology is developing:

The standard of dust and moisture protection was also increased from IP67 to IP68. It was even tested on beer!

Water protection

And if briefly? iPhone XS has IP68 protection - completely waterproof. iPhone X only IP67 - water resistance.

Apple didn’t talk about it for very long at the iPhone Xs presentation, but water protection in the new smartphone has become more reliable. iPhone XS is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard. This means that dust, in principle, cannot get into the device, and the smartphone can stay in water for as long as 30 minutes at a depth of up to two meters.

The iPhone X has protection against water and dust according to the IP67 standard. The “ten” is also not afraid of dust, but the smartphone can only stay in water for 30 minutes at a depth of up to one meter.

Software and updates

The new device was released on iOS 12, while the iPhone X is still on iOS 11. However, it will also be updated very soon. Apple has never had any problems with this.

The interaction with the devices will be the same, but the new device still has a slight advantage. It will take a little longer to receive the next versions of the operating system. For comparison, the iPhone 5S will be updated to iOS 12, but the iPhone 5 will no longer be available. There will likely be a year difference in update times.

Winner: iPhone Xs

Battery and runtime

And if briefly? iPhone XS lasts 30 minutes longer than iPhone X. Faster wireless charging.

The iPhone XS has a 2658 mAh battery. The iPhone X has a 2716 mAh battery. The difference, as you can see, is not the highest and is not in favor of the new product. At the same time, the type of batteries for both smartphones is the same - lithium-ion. Moreover, their structure is identical. Both batteries have two cells and are shaped like the letter L.

Despite the reduction in battery capacity, the iPhone XS outlasts the iPhone X by 30 minutes. This happened mainly thanks to the new, more energy-efficient A12 Bionic chip.

Fast charging on the iPhone XS is no better than on the iPhone X. Both devices charge up to 50% in 30 minutes when using a powerful charging adapter. But in terms of wireless charging speed, the iPhone XS surpassed the iPhone X. The iPhone XS uses a thicker transmitting coil made of copper wire. Thanks to this, the smartphone replenishes its charge at charging docking stations significantly faster.

Special abilities

The front TrueDepth camera can scan your face even in the dark and unlock your smartphone. Apple uses this technology on both devices. It is also used to create animated emoticons. This is not the most serious or necessary feature, but it can be fun in text correspondence.

The new device now supports two SIM cards, which can be useful when traveling internationally.

Winner: iPhone Xs

Sound and communication

And if briefly? iPhone XS has 50% louder stereo speakers. Gigabit Class LTE support with MIMO 4x4 and LAA4 technologies. Integrated second SIM card eSIM, which is not yet supported in Russia.

The iPhone XS has improved stereo speakers, which were also present in the iPhone X. In the new Apple smartphone, they are 50% louder - significantly. This innovation can be called important, since, as we already know, the iPhone XS can record video with stereo sound.

An even more important change to the iPhone XS. The smartphone supports Gigabit Class LTE with MIMO 4×4 and LAA4 technologies. This means that the smartphone has the fastest Internet available on LTE networks, which, thanks to the multi-antenna structure MIMO 4x4 and LAA4, receives better and works the fastest. And this change is important because leading Russian operators support Gigabit Class LTE.

The last change in terms of communications should actually be key, but, alas, not yet for Russia. In addition to the regular nano-SIM SIM card, the iPhone XS has an eSIM electronic SIM card. In countries where operators support eSIM, this feature makes the iPhone XS dual-SIM. In Russia, no operator yet supports eSIM. It's also worth noting that those iPhone XS that are intended for sale in China have two regular nano-SIM slots. However, it is not at all a fact that they will work with Russian operators.

iPhone 11 Pro price and availability

The iPhone 11 Pro is a replacement for the iPhone XS, which succeeded the iPhone X. Apple no longer sells phones older than two years, although you can still find them elsewhere. Today there is also a thriving market for used iPhones. The price for 11 Pro starts at $999 (65 thousand rubles). Like its predecessors in the past, from September 20 the smartphone will be available in all major networks and small dealers.

Prices

And if briefly? In Russia, the iPhone XS became more expensive than the iPhone X by 9,000 rubles. In the USA and many other countries, the prices of the iPhone XS and iPhone X (at the start of sales) are identical.

There is an extremely interesting situation with the prices of the iPhone XS and iPhone X. In Russia, the iPhone XS became more expensive than the iPhone X by 9,000 rubles. This happened because Apple reacted to the fall in the ruble exchange rate and recalculated the cost of its devices for the Russian market. But in the USA and many other countries, the iPhone XS is sold at the price of the iPhone X. Let's consider both cases.

Prices for iPhone XS in Russia

• iPhone XS 64 GB - 87,990 rubles.
• iPhone XS 256 GB - 100,990 rubles.
• iPhone XS 512 GB - 118,990 rubles.

Prices for iPhone X in Russia

• iPhone X 64 GB - 79,990 rubles.
• iPhone X 256 GB - 91,990 rubles.

The difference is 9,000 rubles for similar models in terms of memory capacity.

Official prices for iPhone XS

• iPhone XS 64GB – $999
• iPhone XS 256 GB – $1149
• iPhone XS 512 GB – $1349

Official prices for iPhone X

• iPhone X 64 GB – $999
• iPhone X 256 GB – $1149

As you can see, there is no difference.

Conclusion

Pleasant appearance
Based on the material described above, we can say with confidence that the iPhone 10 and iPhone XS are almost identical smartphones, but with different processors. Whether to pay attention to more modern versions or not depends on the availability of free funds. For example, the iPhone XS starts from 73K rubles, while the usual ten from 62K rubles. In general, the two devices are quite high quality and are ahead of their competitors in many respects.

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Maxim Fomochkin

The website https://reytingelektroniki.ru is a technology portal dedicated to smartphones, household appliances, and mobile gadgets. The site began its existence in 2015, and new reviews are published on it daily. We constantly focus on analytical reviews, comparisons with analogues on the market, and helping visitors choose gadgets to buy. The resource materials are unique, written by experts in the chosen field and are subject to mandatory checking and editing.

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