iPhone XS and XS Max Have 4GB of RAM, XR Has 3GB; XS Max and XR Have Larger 3,174 and 2,942 mAH Batteries

[MacRumors]

The battery capacities and RAM inside the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR have surfaced in regulatory filings Apple is required to submit to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, often shortened to TENAA, is sort of like the FCC of China. Apple has filed many products with the regulatory body over the years, as required, and there is a track record of them being factually accurate, so there's no reason to doubt these latest ones.

Chinese website MyDrivers was first to share the filings, but only provided screenshots. MacRumors uncovered direct links to the filings below.

The filings reveal that the iPhone XS has a 2,658 mAh battery, around 2.2 percent less capacity than the 2,716 mAh battery in the iPhone X that it replaces, despite both being 5.8-inch devices. Nevertheless, with continued performance and power optimizations, Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone XS gets up to 30 minutes longer battery life than the iPhone X per charge cycle.

As the largest iPhone ever, the iPhone XS Max naturally has the largest battery capacity of any iPhone ever at 3,174 mAh, according to the filings. That's roughly 16.8 percent larger than the battery in the iPhone X, and 19.4 percent larger than the battery in the iPhone XS. Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone XS Max lasts up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X per charge cycle.

iPhone XS Max regulatory filing in China​

Last, the iPhone XR is listed with a battery capacity of 2,942 mAh, roughly 8.3 percent larger than in the iPhone X, 10.6 percent larger than in the iPhone XS, and 7.3 percent smaller than in the iPhone XS Max.

Despite having a smaller battery than the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone XR has the longest battery life of any iPhone ever, according to Apple's tech specs. A big reason may be that the iPhone XR has a smaller 6.1-inch display with a lower resolution compared to the iPhone XS Max. Less pixels, less power consumption.

The filings also appear to confirm that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max each have 4GB of RAM, while the iPhone XR has 3GB. That's exactly in line with information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Taiwanese research firm TrendForce earlier this year, so the filings are very likely accurate. By comparison, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus have 3GB of RAM, and the iPhone 8 has 2GB.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch this Friday, so it won't take long before iFixit teardowns and Geekbench benchmarks confirm these battery capacities and RAM for good measure. iPhone XR launches October 26.

Article Link: iPhone XS and XS Max Have 4GB of RAM, XR Has 3GB; XS Max and XR Have Larger 3,174 and 2,942 mAH Batteries

 

[Baymowe335]

Solid update and it already seems iOS 12 RAM management is greatly improved.

 

[gsmornot]

I have a feeling the battery in the Max will be plenty for me but how does the Note 9 fit a 4000mAh battery? I know following this will be comments about being too big and past issues but surely they learned their lesson. Maybe the phone is bigger?

As for the RAM, I don't think 3 or 4 will be a big difference if you're wondering about the XR, it will be a fantastic phone and although I am going for the Max most of my recommendations to people have been for the XR.

 

[5105973]

We need a dark mode for those OLED displays.

 

[1050792]

And I was hoping for a 4.000 mAH battery like the Note 9 with a smaller screen. Perhaps in 2090

 

[iMi]

I am very happy with the X and don’t plan on upgrading but it’s a solid upgrade. It’s amazing how these products just keep getting better when you think they have finally peaked.

I am way more exited about the Watch and can’t wait for an upgraded iPad Pros with FaceID and baseless design.

 

[Juicy Box]

As for the RAM, I don't think 3 or 4 will be a big difference

I think it will be, probably even more so with every new iOS update.

The 4GB RAM is a 33% increase.

 

[Nozuka]

We need a dark mode for those OLED displays.

i'm really surprised they still didn't do this. and that MacOS got it first.

 

[code-m]

Solid update and it already seems iOS 12 RAM management is greatly improved.

So if the Xs retained the same capacity battery as the X, we could have longer per day usage.

 

[cmaier]

Wait, is the article implying OLED is “power hungrier” than LED or is it correctly pointing out the power implications of managing so many more pixels or is it unsure so it is hedging its bets?

 

[michial]

Coming from an 8 Plus I’ll take a minor battery hit but I’d rather have the size of the Xs. The plus isn’t too big for me as I’ve used them since the 6 Plus but I really like the fact the screen is almost the same on the Xs but the phone is smaller and lighter. I rarely if ever used landscape so don’t care about losing that. Was a big Pokémon Go player and that ate my battery, but I hardly play so I don’t need the biggest battery or screen anymore. The Xs is a sweet spot.

 

[code-m]

i'm really surprised they still didn't do this. and that MacOS got it first.

Also shocking news the display brightness has not improved in years.

 

[RickInHouston]

I am very happy with the X and don’t plan on upgrading but it’s a solid upgrade. It’s amazing how these products just keep getting better when you think they have finally peaked.

I am way more exited about the Watch and can’t wait for an upgraded iPad Pros with FaceID and baseless design.

They've actually peaked, you just haven't realized it yet.

Marketing.

 

[5105973]

So if the Xs retained the same capacity battery as the X, we could have longer per day usage.

I thought I read somewhere that the XS weighs a tiny bit more than the X did. So I was expecting a little bit larger battery. Interesting. I wonder what took up the slight bit of space and added the extra weight.

 

[cmaier]

I have a feeling the battery in the Max will be plenty for me but how does the Note 9 fit a 4000mAh battery? I know following this will be comments about being too big and past issues but surely they learned their lesson. Maybe the phone is bigger?

As for the RAM, I don't think 3 or 4 will be a big difference if you're wondering about the XR, it will be a fantastic phone and although I am going for the Max most of my recommendations to people have been for the XR.

The note needs a bigger battery because android is inherently less efficient, and the Qualcomm processors need to be revved to higher clock speeds to achieve (not even) equivalent performance. Samsung found space for the bigger battery by leaving out some things. Like attention to detail, good taste, and love.

 

[code-m]

Wait, is the article implying OLED is “power hungrier” than LED or is it correctly pointing out the power implications of managing so many more pixels or is it unsure so it is hedging its bets?

More pixels and less battery (capacity compared to the X). This may also attribute why the Xs wireless charges faster (speculating until tear down).

 

[realeric]

Not impressed. Android phone has 4,000mAh battery at the same or lower price.

 

[seinman]

A big reason is that the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD instead of a power-hungrier 6.5-inch OLED display like the iPhone XS Max, making it more efficient.

For the last decade or so, every article about OLED display technology has said that it saves power vs. LCD. And yet, now that OLEDs are actually a thing, it's the opposite? I don't understand.

 

[yanki01]

some good specs. my wife will definitely notice a speed upgrade from her iPhone 6 to Xs.

 

[Baymowe335]

So if the Xs retained the same capacity battery as the X, we could have longer per day usage.

It is 30min longer with a slightly smaller battery, likely due to the low power 7nm a12

 

[Drogba11]

Despite having a smaller battery than the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone XR has the longest battery life of any iPhone ever, according to Apple's tech specs. A big reason is that the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD instead of a power-hungrier 6.5-inch OLED display like the iPhone XS Max, making it more efficient.

I thought OLED screens were more power efficient than LCDs because they don't require a backlight? This sounds like a crock.

 

[gsmornot]

I think it will be, probably even more so with ever new iOS update.

The 4GB RAM is a 33% increase.

Unless I'm mistaken, my 8+ has 3GB and iOS 12 is perfectly fine. I have a feeling XR with the LCD will not want more RAM. But I could be mistaken. Its not like I plan to return 1GB to the store. Ha.

 

[code-m]

I thought I read somewhere that the XS weighs a tiny bit more than the X did. So I was expecting a little bit larger battery. Interesting. I wonder what took up the slight bit of space and added the extra weight.

Possibly better dust and water seals, thermal plate for AMOLED in cold weather usage.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Give me the iPad

 

[jona2125]

The note needs a bigger battery because android is inherently less efficient, and the Qualcomm processors need to be revved to higher clock speeds to achieve (not even) equivalent performance. Samsung found space for the bigger battery by leaving out some things. Like attention to detail, good taste, and love.

Honestly can't say Android is less efficient anymore, for sure 5 years ago it was but nowadays it seems fine. My Note9 is a daily media device through the day for background music and video, about 10 hours of my day (8 hours streaming audio on cellular and 2 hours video streaming on cellular). I get home with it at 60%+. My X's could never dream of such good efficiency