First iPhone XR Review Videos Now Available on YouTube

[EugW]

How many existing LCD phones are going for $749 for 64GB?

Similar ballpark to 8 Plus pricing which is $699 for 64 GB. Last year the 8 Plus was $799 for the 64 GB. More importantly though, to get more than 64 GB, last year the 8 Plus was $949, and this year it is $849.

The XR is $749 for the 64 GB model, and $799 for the 128 GB model, so actually less than the iPhone-8-Plus-with-more-than-64-GB.

 

[Mackinjosh]

Only an equal fool would pay $749 for an LCD phone with 64GB storage and a $49 additional fee to quick charge

The hell are you smoking?

 

[-M4-]

PPI is indeed the same for the Xr and 8. However, the 7+ and 8+ have 401 ppi while the Xr has 326 ppi. Higher ppi is more important for a large screen than for a small one. The 7+ 8+ are the more apples to apples comparison and the Xr falls short in my book.

That makes no sense, seeing as it’s usually the opposite: the bigger the screen, the lower the ppi it can get away it. That why iPads and laptops have worse ppi that phones typically do.

 

[MoreRumors?]

I'll be skipping these YT videos and go to the store and check it out for myself.

 

[EugW]

PPI is indeed the same for the Xr and 8. However, the 7+ and 8+ have 401 ppi while the Xr has 326 ppi. Higher ppi is more important for a large screen than for a small one. The 7+ 8+ are the more apples to apples comparison and the Xr falls short in my book.

Actually, that's not really correct.

If anything, the larger the display, the less ppi matters, since with large displays, one tends to view it from further away (eg. iPads or iMacs or TVs). However, for phones, one could say it doesn't really matter what size the display is since regardless if it's an 8 or an 8 Plus sized phone or something in between, you tend to look at it at about the same viewing distance.

It's viewing distance, not size, that is the primary determinant of need for higher or lower ppi.

EDIT:

I see -M4- beat me to it.

PPI is the new megapixel. What’s the point of 400 ppi when your eyes can’t even resolve more than 300ppi at the normal distances this phones will be used at?
PPI seems to be the only justification for those who regretted spending more on the XS/XS Max.

For some of us, it's pretty easy to tell the difference between a 401 ppi iPhone and a 326 ppi iPhone. That's why I'm keeping my 7 Plus for now.

For others, they have a hard time telling the difference, or else just don't know any better. That's why I'm upgrading my wife's 6s to an XR.

 

[lewchenko]

You do realize the Xr has the same pixel density of the iPhone 7/8, right? And virtually no one complains about it, myself include (I use an 8). As for the no home button and notch, you're just fighting the future, it's the way all phone are going. I'd rather have a notch, than a big chin/forehead, or both. If you switch to a mid range Android, to get a home button, you might be disappointed if you're coming from an iPhone, from a performance perspective. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

You are correct about one thing ... once you get used to a low res screen you don’t really notice it.

It’s only when you use a higher res screen that it becomes an issue to go back to something lower. Then you notice immediately. And hold it side by side with the XS or XS max and then you will tell.

For 7/8 owners , they will see no improvement really in terms of screen text quality etc, but atleast it’s bigger.

The main issue with the XR is the size! Wife won’t even consider it due to that. And she cares little about screen res, making it ideal for her... but no. Too big she says.

I have an XS now (perfect size for one handed use for me) but when I pick up her 7 ,the screen res is the first thing I notice.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Not going to lie... if I had to choose between the 3 models, I would go with this one. It’s cheaper, camera looks to have great quality, different colors and better battery life than both devices. Yeah... no OLED but it has tap to wake and still smaller bezels than the 8. I definitely would miss 3D Touch though. My current A1865 X exceeds all my needs... battery life included. But I do wish they had a rose gold option.

Apple did a good job of not making it look like crap like the 5c did. Much improved with the iPhone SE as well as the XR.

5c was decent, well made and more importantly felt really good in hand. Not sure why you think it looked like crap?

 

[Jimmyjamh]

Its well above 720p, and in day to day life wont have an impact.

After 2 weeks, your phone goes back to being a tool or utility, and the newness wears off. Making your life revolve around specs is a waste of time.

This everyday of the week. Does anyone really care about full hd on such a small display? In all my years of owning iPhones I have never watched a film on them. They are too small.

 

[EugW]

This everyday of the week. Does anyone really care about full hd on such a small display? In all my years of owning iPhones I have never watched a film on them. They are too small.

It sounds like you don’t understand the issue. The main issue here is not watching movies. It is about small text quality.

 

[3rdiguy]

These aren’t “reviews” Apple started doing this with the iPhone X. Invite YouTubers out to a staged location and have them do hands on vids before preorders begin and then a few days before release the embargo is lifted for actual reviews. Like something to whet the appetite before the real deal. More of a tease to me. Let me see reviews!!!

 

[GoodWheaties]

As an expert in my field I can tell you that a lot of so called "experts" are full of sht. They are winging it just like anyone else. So I always trust myself over any expert. And from what I've seen, OLED sucks. Maybe if you got a perfect unit and are looking at it dead on it looks OK, but shift it in your hand one millimeter and game over. Plus burn in, panel variability, pentile - no thanks. I think people are buying the hype and fooling themselves if they think OLED is good tech.

I think you’re being a little over the top saying OLED sucks but I do have to wonder why everyone universally agrees that TN panels are terrible due to poor viewing angles, but OLED is given a pass thanks to its deep blacks that are often hidden by the screen reflectance anyway!!

 

[LeahJoFoxtrot]

Nobody should feel bad for having disposable income (or for using it), but judging other people based on how much they earn is incredibly dumb and shallow. Also, it's incredibly dumb to think that who spend more money on a phone is necessarily richer. I know some very wealthy people who don't care at all about phones and buy some random android "cheap" phone.

With all due respect how is one way of disrespecting a person worse than another? I mean, I don't have anything against anyone for how much they do or do not earn, but the fact is much of the sentiment out there amongst people hammering to buy this phone is that people like me (who aren't rich btw) are somehow stupid for wanting the better phone.

 

[Khedron]

Similar ballpark to 8 Plus pricing which is $699 for 64 GB. Last year the 8 Plus was $799 for the 64 GB. More importantly though, to get more than 64 GB, last year the 8 Plus was $949, and this year it is $849.

The XR is $749 for the 64 GB model, and $799 for the 128 GB model, so actually less than the iPhone-8-Plus-with-more-than-64-GB.

The 8 Plus had a higher PPI, higher 1080p resolution, 3D touch, and a dual camera (telephoto) system.

(It also had TouchID if you care about that rather than rounded corners on your screen.)

Good news on the marginally reduced rate of price gouging for usable levels of storage though.

 

[1050792]

That blue does look pretty, until you look at the screen and then ugh...

 

[212rikanmofo]

Those bezels are very noticeable and look horrid. Putting a case on will only make the bezels even thicker looking. The Xr is an expensive 5c. It looks extremely cheap from those videos.

 

[kre62]

For some of us, it's pretty easy to tell the difference between a 401 ppi iPhone and a 326 ppi iPhone. That's why I'm keeping my 7 Plus for now.

For others, they have a hard time telling the difference, or else just don't know any better. That's why I'm upgrading my wife's 6s to an XR.

Being able to tell the difference is different then a real, measurable impact on quality of life. After 2 weeks, and the newness wears off, can you honestly say that slightly sharper text will make a big impact on your day to day? I think thats the point I'm trying to make. people are overestimating the actual impact this has to their lives. As long as you can read the screen, you'll get the same core benefit or value from the screen, regardless of PPI. Unless your sole joy is the beta waves generated in your brain from the delight of having a slightly higher PPI count than others, PPI really isn't all that meaningful.

 

[44267547]

The XR will do really well long-term, I’m curious to see what colors will sell out first for preordering, but being that this phone is launching towards the holidays, I would expect even more growth in popularity, assuming Apple has their supply under control.

 

[chinito77]

I don't see the appeal of the XR unless you have a really tight budget or just like smaller phones. I hope all the SC owners can finally shut up about not having an alternative. What's the point of a small screen on a smart phone? Why is a newer and faster iPhone needed If you use your phones just to make calls and send texts? There are plenty of new and low cost flip phones still around.

If the size of the new iPhones is an issue then ask PALM to make a companion phone that works with iOS. That way you can use the iPhone at home and use the PALM phone when outside.

 

[Reapro]

Being able to tell the difference is different then a real, measurable impact on quality of life. After 2 weeks, and the newness wears off, can you honestly say that slightly sharper text will make a big impact on your day to day? I think thats the point I'm trying to make. people are overestimating the actual impact this has to their lives. As long as you can read the screen, you'll get the same core benefit or value from the screen, regardless of PPI. Unless your sole joy is the beta waves generated in your brain from the delight of having a slightly higher PPI count than others, PPI really isn't all that meaningful.

It does, phones don't get less or more sharp after 2 weeks. I always hated the resolution of my old iPhones and since the iPhone X and XS that has finally been fixed. Who are to say that I'm overestimating the impact. You can also watch movies in 360p, as long as you can see what's going on right. How about you stop attacking people for things they consider important. Saying that PPI isn't that meaningful is just your opinion and not a fact.

 

[Minarets]

Looking forward to this one.

 

[Glockworkorange]

I dislike the Stalman character.

 

[EugW]

Being able to tell the difference is different then a real, measurable impact on quality of life. After 2 weeks, and the newness wears off, can you honestly say that slightly sharper text will make a big impact on your day to day?

Yes, it makes a pretty big difference in small text readability.

The problem is once you see it, you can never unsee it.

 

[lordofthegins]

That CNET "review" felt more like a marketing video. As someone interested in this phone, I was excited to see some early reviews, but that's not what these are unfortunately.

They all had the same theme..
love the colours. Love software based portrait mode etc. Guessing they were guided by Apple on what to say

 

[212rikanmofo]

They all had the same theme..
love the colours. Love software based portrait mode etc. Guessing they were guided by Apple on what to say

It's like what we see in the fake mainstream media. Mostly scripted ******** that so called news "actors" use as a guide.

 

[Sugadaddy]

XR 128GB, best iPhone for the $ this year.