First Impressions From New iPhone XR Owners

[840quadra]

Now show us a picture like that with the keyboard up.

To what end?

Clearly it takes up space, I was demonstrating the ability to run these apps at the same time which we can't do on phones within iOS. All I have to do is minimize the keyboard to see what is on the bottom portion of the screen. You adjust your workflow to meet what works best for the tools you have. The fact that I don't have to swipe over to a different application, swipe back, then recall the keyboard is a time saving feature. Especially since I can continue to watch / listen to whatever media I happen to be enjoying at the time.

 

[djcgeez2189]

Because of greed.

What $400 phone has an oled?

 

[burgman]

What $400 phone has an oled?

Or software updates

 

[lec0rsaire]

-iTunes is a mess

Let me stop you right there. iTunes is not a mess. Perhaps it is a mess for people that can’t deal with any change but for any tech enthusiast it is still the same software. If you hate the modern view, you can also select Songs and you will get the classic “list view” just like it was back 10-12 years ago. The only things removed were cover flow and apps. I don’t use Apple Music. I pay for iTunes Match and I have my entire library with correct metadata and artwork but I have always organized my library.

It requires some effort of course. My OCD gets set off like crazy whenever I see most people’s music library. Artwork missing, lots of stuff like 01-Metallica-Enter Sandman and nothing else. Many people leave their stuff the same way they found it and this is nothing but laziness or incompetence.
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Okay we were talking about the XR. You said the processor blew Android away and when I mention the screen you just switch models. WTF? FWIW I hope it does well just found your statement somewhat absurd.

You said the display was a problem so I just said the if they want the performance AND the display, there are two options available. It’s not like the Android flagships don’t cost around $1000 themselves.
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Definitely not unless they absolutely want an iPhone, they can get better spec’d android phones for cheaper.

There is nothing better than an A12 period. They can buy phones with more RAM but so what. RAM is just one part of the equation. Apple does more with 3-4GB than others do with 8! Just compare a 16GB Mac to a 16GB Windows machine. The Mac will be able to do much more with the same amount.

Compare the PS4/Xbox One S with their 8GB DDR5 RAM. In many cases console performance has beaten dedicated gaming PCs with specs that make this look like something from a decade ago. Optimization is a huge part of the equation.

 

[I7guy]

There are many other cloud based services you don't need icloud and most iPhone users don't even own a Mac, just look at the MacOS market share.

What other cloud based services other than google rivals apple? I don't/won't use google cloud services, except for a narrow offering. Microsoft? Dropbox?

-iTunes is a mess

You're opinion it is, mine it isn't.

-I can use my android device like a flash storage

It depends on what and where. Having the option is better than not. But for there where, USB ports are disabled by policy on corporate computers, so there goes that.

-handoff? most modern browsers sync up your browser history/tabs via cloud

True, chrome does and I use that feature on my windows pcs. Don't have chrome loaded on my iphone or ipad.

You don't really need a iphone anymore, but i keep reading comments like "but the A12 Bionic is a monster and will leave all android devices behind" it's just ******** all modern phones have enought processing power for any task you don't need more processing power, what for? whatsapp? apple imessages? poo emoji? mail? safari? phone calls?

You never "needed" an iphone. You don't need an android flagship either. I keep reading how the qualcomm modems provide superior download speeds. How does that provide any benefit? All modern phones have cellular modems capable of providing enough bandwidth for any task? Whatsapp? Hangouts? Samsung AR emoji? Mail? Chrome? phone calls?

 

[Aston441]

iPhone Xr compromises over the 6,7,8? Sounds like most of the "compromises" like more bezel are because they are comparing to an iPhone XS or XS Max.

The bezels on the Xr are FAR smaller than an old 8 or 8 Plus. The processor is far better, the cameras are far better, it has FaceID.

The only "compromise" is the 326ppi in the Xr vs the Plus version of the old models and maybe the second camera on the Plus. The Xr is better in every other way.

There used to be only 2 phones. iPhone and iPhone Plus. The Plus people are actually probably more XS and XS Max customers...

For anyone on the standard iPhone 6, 7, or 8...this is a HUGE upgrade in every way...even the screen.

Fact is they completely blew it with 326PPI.

I switched from Android years ago because OLED is cheap garbage and Apple hit it out of the park with their LCD screens.

The plus line of phones was a Golden Era of viewing.

I guess we'll never have that again.

Sigh.

 

[js81]

Got my red XR yesterday; like others have said, the camera is phenomenal (I came from a 6S, so... I may not be the best resource lol) and the battery life is KILLER (mine was 60-ish% out of box at 10:30AM - by 10:00PM I was 25% with only one minor top off for about 20 minutes on a regular iPhone "slow" charger). The display is world's better than my 6S, of course, but is slightly lower quality that my wife's Galaxy S9, but that is only on VERY close inspection, not normal usage.

As to size and color, the red is definitely darker than expected - and I actually like it better that way. Very pleased with the color, as I was on the fence about it. Size, though, is still up in the air for me - it feels HUGE to me. Honestly, I would've preferred the XS, but my little hometown carrier still does 2-year contracts and it was a $250 premium on the contract to get the XS over the XR, so no thank you. I'll get used to it, and the smaller one-handed keyboard helps tremendously.

As for cases and hiding that pretty color, I have mine in a Poetic Guardian case - fairly protective "bumper" with a clear acrylic back and a front screen protector (a la Otterbox Defender, but less bulky). I think it's a good compromise for a slippery phone while still getting to show off the color. I have a student who, like most teens insist to these days, carriers her brand new gold XS Max naked... and has already broken the back glass. Mine will always be in a case, thank you very much.

 

[ApolloBoy]

I tried one out at Best Buy today, it feels really nice in my hand and I actually like the increased heft and thickness compared to my 6S. In terms of screen size it's roughly the same as my V30 so I was able to manage that no problem. I've been considering picking one up next year when I switch carriers and I think today sealed the deal as far as I'm concerned! I just wish they had the blue one out (they only had the silver and red models on the floor) because it looks gorgeous from what I've seen in pictures.

 

[pmore]

I don't understand why phones keep getting bigger, with no small options. I mean if you want a huge phone, go for it, there's probably a use for that, but why is there nothing for those who want a "normal" sized device?

Why didn't they make the phone *smaller* than the XS? Currently the XS is larger than the 6/6s/7/8, and there is simply no iPhone for those who found the non-"plus" sized iPhones big enough. That size no longer exists. The XR could have been the "cheap" iPhone and therefore the smallest one. Personally I find that even the iPhone 6/7/8 was way too huge, and while I may get used to it, there's no way I'd want anything even bigger than that. I think the SE is the perfect size.

I still think the SE is their best iPhone model. No compromises at all.

 

[surfsofa]

I'm still going through the bonding phase with my Product Red XR. Came from an 8.

Pros:
LCD. Yes, I'm one of those few oddballs who actually prefers the LCD screen over OLED. I've spent some time with the XS and dislike the motion blur and odd chromatic effect on the edge of black text on a white background. I read quite a lot on my phone, so this is a dealbreaker for me. I for one hope Apple keeps offering us an LCD option.
I've quickly fallen in love with face ID and the swipe up for home thing. Very slick.
Camera takes beautiful photos
Battery: I can tell it's going to be amazing
Speed: Yes, it's snappy

Cons:
It's a bit too big for comfortable handling
It's a bit too heavy. Noticeable extra weight in my jeans pocket
The finish doesn't feel quite as premium as the 8. Running my fingers across the glass back to the edge I can feel the lip, which I can't on my 8. Yes, that's a small thing, but this is Apple we're talking about here, and these phones are not cheap.
Slight fuzziness around the edges of the screen: unsurprising given the LCD manufacturing challenge. Since LCD is preferable to me I'll let this one slide.

Will I return it? I certainly don't want to. It's a gorgeous phone. For me this will come down to whether I can get used to the size and weight.

 

[Breaking Good]

I don't understand why phones keep getting bigger, with no small options. I mean if you want a huge phone, go for it, there's probably a use for that, but why is there nothing for those who want a "normal" sized device?

Why didn't they make the phone *smaller* than the XS? Currently the XS is larger than the 6/6s/7/8, and there is simply no iPhone for those who found the non-"plus" sized iPhones big enough. That size no longer exists. The XR could have been the "cheap" iPhone and therefore the smallest one. Personally I find that even the iPhone 6/7/8 was way too huge, and while I may get used to it, there's no way I'd want anything even bigger than that. I think the SE is the perfect size.

I agree with what you say above. It doesn't make any sense that they didn't make an X series phone the same size as the iPhone 6/6s/7/8.

I hope that sometime in March they release an iPhone XR that is the same size as the iPhone 8. It would be even better if it were the same size as the iPhone SE. But one the same size as the iPhone 8 would suffice.

It would also be nice if they would adopt some type of cadence for updating these other devices. They could update the smaller devices on a two year cycle in the spring. They could catch the early adopters in the spring and then be ready to hit the back-to-school crowd in the second half of the summer.

 

[archvile]

To what end?

Clearly it takes up space, I was demonstrating the ability to run these apps at the same time which we can't do on phones within iOS. All I have to do is minimize the keyboard to see what is on the bottom portion of the screen. You adjust your workflow to meet what works best for the tools you have. The fact that I don't have to swipe over to a different application, swipe back, then recall the keyboard is a time saving feature. Especially since I can continue to watch / listen to whatever media I happen to be enjoying at the time.

No, I get it. I have a Pixel 2 XL for my work phone. So I am aware of the capabilities. But the landscape keyboard cuts off so much screen it makes multitasking while actually working (I.e. typing stuff) kind of worthless. Same on iOS.

My point was it may look cool in screenshots, but when you are actually doing work (keyboard up) and not posing for the camera, it defeats a lot of the purpose, be it portrait or landscape.
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It doesn't make any sense that they didn't make an X series phone the same size as the iPhone 6/6s/7/8.

Wat. The X/XS is almost exactly the same size as the 6/7/8.

 

[Baymowe335]

Fact is they completely blew it with 326PPI.

I switched from Android years ago because OLED is cheap garbage and Apple hit it out of the park with their LCD screens.

The plus line of phones was a Golden Era of viewing.

I guess we'll never have that again.

Sigh.

No they didn’t...get an XS or XS Max if you want a better screen.

 

[DougTheImpaler]

I really like my XR. I got the blue version on Verizon with 128GB of storage. Shipped by Apple straight to my door from China.

Compared to my iPhone 6s Plus, the screen isn't quite as sharp, but it isn't as obvious as I feared it would be. It's definitely smaller than the 6s Plus in both height and width. Might be just a touch thicker. I really appreciate the wider-aspect display, though. I tend to use my phone in portrait mode and scrolling through stuff lets me see more at a time this way. Side-by-side looking at the same content, every app I tested (Twitter, Safari, Instagram, Facebook) showed more content. The screen is a touch narrower, and I could find instances where word wrap wasn't the same (the XR wrapped a long word where the 6s Plus didn't) but overall I could always see more on my screen at a time. Being slightly smaller is a bonus, too.

I will miss my headphone jack. I'm disappointed Apple didn't see fit to include a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter in the box. But I guess I'll live, it's the price of having a nice new phone these days. *sigh*

 

[Fortimir]

I still think the SE is their best iPhone model. No compromises at all.

Except for all its compromises.

 

[pmore]

Except for all its compromises.

What compromises? A small screen?

 

[DougTheImpaler]

What compromises? A small screen?

Some would consider the lack of 3D Touch to be a compromise. I consider it a feature.

Still, there's no way I'd consider an iPhone 6s-based device today. The camera is just too far behind. I know; I just came from a 6s Plus. 4" iPhones don't have good battery life these days, either. It's "fine" in that it'll get you through the day, but when I first got my 6s Plus I could get away with recharging it every 2-3 days.

 

[Applefan4]

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)?

It's actually a really a cool feature. Work phone is Note 9 so being able to watch YouTube and browse forums at the same time is very convenient

 

[bigpoppamac31]

XR vs X

Nice side by side comparison. The X does look a bit crisper than the XR although without that side by side I likely wouldn't notice. I have a 6S now and I'm considering which phone to get between the 8, X or XR.

 

[shadowfax001]

Pretty much what I expected. I like the colors a lot, but I don’t think it would be the choice for me due to the screen and extra bezel, coming from the X/XS Max. I think it hits on so much of why the XS is great though that it won’t matter. It’s a great value for anyone coming from a 6/7/8 model.

I would never, ever get an XS — with those colors you can't help but look like an F***ing PIMP.

 

[inapsohard]

It's too big for me, make it X/XS sized 5.8" and it'd be great. I have two toddlers, so frequently one arm/hand is holding them. This phone is too big for one-handed use, I'm a dude that wears glove size medium.

Wish I had come across this comment before switching to the XR from the XS as I have a newborn and I only want to use the phone one-handed.

 

[BvizioN]

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

Exactly what I was thinking! Coming to from iPhone users who until last year where purchasing smartphones with the largest bezels on the market, this is just strange! Very strange!! People are fascinating creatures!!
I had a play with the iPhone XR at the Apple store yesterday. Not upgrading this year as my X is still fine but If I upgrade next year it will definitely be the R version. I certainly can come with 1mm thicker bezel, gee!!
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Nobody complained about huge iPhone bezels (especially the top and bottom ones) either but time have changed. Samsung introduced people to really small bezels and they liked it. The standards changed and by modern standards XR bezels are considered not up to par.

By who exactly they are considered not up to par? Mind telling us?
Samsung does still make their flagship Galaxy phones with "elephant ass" top and chin. Not to mention the Pixel 3! (not sure why these tech giants find the chin so challenging) But no no no, 1mm thicker bezel is considered "not up to par" all the sudden now.
By the way, who is it to say that the top and bottom bezels are fine and acceptable to be thick but the side ones are considered "thick" if they are 1mm thicker than what we already have on other models?

 

[inapsohard]

Nice side by side comparison. The X does look a bit crisper than the XR although without that side by side I likely wouldn't notice. I have a 6S now and I'm considering which phone to get between the 8, X or XR.

I'm upgrading from a 6s myself. I'm trialling the XR, but I also had the XS for a few days and my husband has the X (who upgraded from the 8 last year). We honestly can't tell the difference between the screens. You may want to think about whether you're a one-handed phone user or not. I didn't think the XR is much bigger than the XS and X when i was in the store, but when you actually put it through its paces, you start to notice the limitations when you're trying to use it with one hand, such as reaching for the opposite top corner of the screen or trying to focus a shot before taking a picture.

 

[BvizioN]

What glowing reviews.
"Feels like a toy"
"Kind of a brighter blood red"
"Too heavy"
"Screen noticeably worse watching videos"
"Colors wrong when viewed from an angle"
.

May I remind you, you are in MacRumors.
Have you ever heard about any product release from Apple that has not been received with lots of complaints around here? It is what it is around here after all, first complain, next love it.
And these are not reviews. Just opinions. Based on the history, they tend to change swiftly and next it is the best thing Apple has created.

 

[dilbert99]

Really don't like these huge phones so I'll probably stick to my iPhone 6 for another year.
The picture of Tim Cook from 2 days ago said it all. Huge phone in a pocket shows precisely where the trend is and unfortunately it is not what I wish for so until there is a smaller alternative I will not upgrade. Shame.

I didn't upgrade from the 6 because of the lack of headphone port and the need to charge and listen at the same time in car.

I have always upgraded every 2 years and have thus skipped upgrading twice, this could be a third year, although I really do fancy a camera upgrade.

Has anyone purchased the XR to go in to a front jeans pocket and how does it fit?

Maybe I should go in to an Apple store and see if they fancy doing a potential bend test of an XR in my front jeans pocket.

Where do guys keep their phone if not in front jeans pocket?
The rear pocket will surely bend the phone if sitting on it and it would be annoying to take it out of pocket to sit down?

I think Apple is the example of a self fulfilling prophecy.
People want larger phones, make only larger phones*, see people are only buying larger phones.
* And before anyone comments, no buying an older phone to get a smaller one doesn't count...