First Impressions From New iPhone XR Owners

[profmjh]

I bought the iPhone 8+ in September. My friend just took delivery of his iPhone XR today. We both chose Product Red.

They’re very similar looking indeed. On balance I probably prefer the dimensions of the XR, but the screen ratio of the 8+.

If there’s a difference in screen quality or processor speed, I didn’t notice it.

I was very impressed with second generation Face ID. Much faster and more fluid experience than with the original X I briefly had last year. Maybe I would be willing to give up Touch ID and the home button.

The 8+ has dual cameras.

Honestly, unless you’re some kind of obsessional lunatic, both are terrific phones. I’d probably be thrilled to have either.

 

[Simmias]

Get the XS. It is about the same size as your iPhone 6.

Kind of. My experience with the XS is that it's very noticeably thicker, heavier and taller than the 6/7/8. And the ergonomics are totally different since you need to reach the very top and bottom of the edge-to-edge screen. It takes some getting used to, and honestly it's substantially harder to use one-handed.

 

[reallynotnick]

Give me an XR mini and I will gladly update, my iPhone 8 is too big as it is. I'm not a big guy nor do I have large hands, but I like to use my phone with one hand.

 

[Zaft]

Honestly if your spending upwards of $750 anyway why not get the best for $250 more?

I would understand if Apple priced the XR at $600, but at $750 it’s not even a good deal.

I’m all IOS but I would rather get a new GS9 Plus then this phone...

 

[macfacts]

I haven't heard this tired argument in years. Seriously, it's a phone. What exactly are you expecting to do, have 15 applications open, not full screen, and just touch on them to switch to them (basically how my workflow is on my PC)?

I am genuinely curious how this even a thing these days.

I expect to be able to have 2 split windows (one video and one web browser for example).

 

[Tijdelijk]

I have read:

’ve got my iPhone xr setting up right now. First thing I liked, even though it’s heavier it doesn’t feel as heavy as the 7 plus. First thing I don’t like, the bevel around the screen is pretty thick.

Thick bezel....coming from a 7 plus ?
You gotta be kidding

 

[jdawgnoonan]

"I felt like it's a toy version of the Xs for some reason, it feels like an Apple Watch Sport compared to the Apple Watch Edition (Xs)"

That Apple Watch comparison makes absolutely no sense at all. Other than the material the body of the watch is made from and the glass vs sapphire, the two watches are 100% identical. An XR and an XS or XS max are definitely more dissimilar than the Edition watch vs the Sport watch.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

I expect to be able to have 2 split windows (one video and one web browser for example).

That sounds logical, however, how are you able to actually view and comprehend what either app is doing on such a small screen (even for the XS Max)?

 

[rwh63]

Please give us a second generation SE!! Maybe a surprise next week?

 

[kukheart]

Here's my XR 256GB with Otterbox, i like the black and red. Huge screen compared to the 6S i was on.

 

[cliffster82]

In other words, this is what it feels like when you take $250 off of the XS. Yes it's heavier, bezels, thicker, yes yes we know. I'm staring at my black XR. I seriously like it. Heck I feel like I got a "deal" even though I just spent like 800 bucks. The 128GB tier is perfect! Also due to the large screen size I plan on keeping my iPad Pro 9.7 around a lot longer since this phone will naturally get more use and the Pro is just fine. Overall thumbs up.

 

[Moonlight]

Whole heap of compromises listed rather than positives it seems.....

The screen...the camera...what else is in your "heap"?

 

[neoelectronaut]

Man oh man I want a 4" version of this thing.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I suspect many Android people will be switching over now if not next year. The A12 is wiping the floor with every single Android phone even the international Exynos equipped Samsungs and its not even close.
4795 single
10980 multi

No Android phone is even close. Spec whores will not be able to overlook this for long. iOS optimization already made weaker specced iPhones competitive with Android but now the gap is just ridiculous.

I gotta stop by an Apple store to check these out. I may be tempted to buy a Max right now. I was planning on keeping the 7 Plus for another year but I like shiny new things.

Can spec whores overlook the screen specs by that logic?

 

[Rogifan]

So Nilay Patel, Rene Ritchie and John Gruber all brought up the fact that the lightning port isn’t center aligned with the screws. Honestly I had to stare at this photo a good while before I noticed it. Nobody except a complete nerd who inspects every inch of a new device would ever notice this.

 

[FasterQuieter]

All of sudden a complain about a bit too big for 1mm. But nobody complaints about iPhone 8 or any previous model.

I think it is fair enough to be disappointed that a bezel-less phone has a rather large bezel. If I had gone for the Xr, that would bug me.

 

[Smearbrick]

“Wooop”
“Brrringgggg”
“Blooooppp”
“Bing”
“Bong”

I’m not really great at impressions. My iPhone XR sounds just like my iPhone 8. It’s the subtle nuances that sell an impression.

 

[xgman]

Oled has been in use on Android phone for years including low cost phones in the $400-$700 range. Why is Apple forced to use LCD to make a $700 phone? It seems a little ridiculous. By the way, for anyone coming from a smaller phone and complaining about the size, give it a few days or so. It will start to feel much smaller pretty quickly, unless you giant case it.

 

[Princejb134]

Get the XS. It is about the same size as your iPhone 6.

Is the same size but because of the larger screen is hard to reach the top corners. They should have kept the screen same size and make the body smaller to fit the screen instead.
[doublepost=1540585400][/doublepost]

Oled has been in use on Android phone for years including low cost phones in the $400-$700 range. Why is Apple forced to use LCD to make a $700 phone? It seems a little ridiculous. By the way, for anyone coming from a smaller phone and complaining about the size, give it a few days or so. It will start to feel much smaller pretty quickly, unless you giant case it.

Is not about the specs. It’s about the stability and ecosystem

 

[Glideslope]

LMAO at all the 1st World complaints in here. It’s a great device at an acceptable (for 2018) price. Go spend your $1,000+ for your .009876 thinner bezels. Spend all day looking at your displays at absurd angles. I wonder how many children in Apalacacola could eat for a week for $1,400.

 

[majkom]

Here's my XR 256GB with Otterbox, i like the black and red. Huge screen compared to the 6S i was on.

God that is Fugly!

 

[cardfan]

Here's my XR 256GB with Otterbox, i like the black and red. Huge screen compared to the 6S i was on.

Lol. That’s a joke right?

 

[LessO2]

Here's my XR 256GB with Otterbox, i like the black and red. Huge screen compared to the 6S i was on.

Front: Nice
Back: WTF?!

 

[tkermit]

So Nilay Patel, Rene Ritchie and John Gruber all brought up the fact that the lightning port isn’t center aligned with the screws. Honestly I had to stare at this photo a good while before I noticed it. Nobody except a complete nerd who inspects every inch of a new device would ever notice this.

Guilty as charged. Seems pretty noticeable to me. Not that I would necessarily let it bother me. It's certainly true that most people don't seem to show much appreciation for these kinds of details whenever Apple gets them right. Although you could maybe argue that, subconsciously, it is noticed by many more.

 

[Pamela5]

I would never buy this phone due to the low screen quality, but it’s a great alternative for consumers who want an iPhone, aren’t interested in all the extra specs of the xs phones, and want to save money.