iPhone 6(S)/Plus Having a hard time deciding between the X and XR

[Khaf]

apologies if this thread has been made a dozen of times already.

I’ve been using the 6S plus since it came out, and it has started showing its age. I know others here use it and have no problems, but mine is definitely showing issues. Mainly the screen is unresponsive at times, speaker has dimmed a little etc. Just mostly hardware stuff. Software is mostly ok besides some random crashes here and there.

Anyway; with all the sales and trade in offers going on I was thinking about upgrading. A few cell phone stores here downtown have refurbished and/or new iPhone X models for sale. I have seen some in mint condition for around $700. Then there is the apple store itself that has the limited time upgrade program where they give you a higher credit for your current phone. I live in canada where the iPhone XR is $1000, and I believe I can knock that down to $700-$800 with the credit.

What would you do in my situation? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[cableguy84]

I had a 6S plus, replaced it with the 8 Plus a month ago.
No regrets at all i think you should definitely consider the 8 plus. Has same internals as the X but has touch id which is superior to faceid IMO

 

[Phone Junky]

Is 3D Touch and the zoom lens important to you? Is your vision so great that the sharpest image is the only acceptable one? If yes, then you want the X.

Is battery life of the utmost importance? Is having the latest processor and thereby increasing the longevity of your device important? Then you probably want the XR.

See, there is no clearcut answer.

 

[Freakonomics101]

Current X owner. I utilize 3D Touch a lot as well as the dual lens camera. I did a test drive of the Xr and wasn’t satisfied since it’s missing both. Battery life wasn’t too different for me so I decided to keep the X. The Xr is also noticeably heavier and I barely notice a screen size difference.

 

[Khaf]

I had a 6S plus, replaced it with the 8 Plus a month ago.
No regrets at all i think you should definitely consider the 8 plus. Has same internals as the X but has touch id which is superior to faceid IMO

I am definitely also looking at that model. Problem is people here are selling it for $700-$800 on Craigslist so for that price I would rather get the X or XR.

Is 3D Touch and the zoom lens important to you? Is your vision so great that the sharpest image is the only acceptable one? If yes, then you want the X.

Is battery life of the utmost importance? Is having the latest processor and thereby increasing the longevity of your device important? Then you probably want the XR.

See, there is no clearcut answer.

Hmmm. I do all my media consumption on my iPad Pro. Which is watching shows, movies and reading. My phone i just use for communication, social media, photos and playing casual games etc.

Maybe I should go to the apple store and just see if I can notice the screen quality difference .

 

[cableguy84]

I am definitely also looking at that model. Problem is people here are selling it for $700-$800 on Craigslist so for that price I would rather get the X or XR.



Hmmm. I do all my media consumption on my iPad Pro. Which is watching shows, movies and reading. My phone i just use for communication, social media, photos and playing casual games etc.

Maybe I should go to the apple store and just see if I can notice the screen quality difference .

Well regardless of price i would take the 8 plus. The X obviously has OLED , 8 plus has touch ID.
I would take touch ID over OLED all day long.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I had a 7 Plus and had to choose between an X and a XR this week when I cracked my 7.

The main issue with the X/XS vs. the 7 plus is that the actual viewable area on the X/XS is a LOT less than the Plus phones. This is even worse in landscape mode. Apple says the screen is 5.8, but the entire notch area is useless.

If you absolutely need dual lens and 3D touch(and maybe that stainless steel, premium feeling) go with the X - but the XR has a much larger screen (in practical terms), viewing area is a lot larger, and the battery life is out of this world.

 

[noobinator]

Do you have a sensitivity to OLED at all? Do you want the BEST battery life? Is 3D touch not important to you? Are you ok with a single rear camera? Do you want the latest and best processor? Then get the XR.

Do you want the best screen (in my opinion)? Do you like the smaller form factor (both in overall size and thickness)? Do you value 3D touch? Do you value dual rear cameras? Then get the X.

 

[tl01]

I love the XR. I went with the Max but got my kid a new phone bc I wanted an XR. I would choose it over the X.

 

[I7guy]

I had a 7 Plus and had to choose between an X and a XR this week when I cracked my 7.

The main issue with the X/XS vs. the 7 plus is that the actual viewable area on the X/XS is a LOT less than the Plus phones. This is even worse in landscape mode. Apple says the screen is 5.8, but the entire notch area is useless.

If you absolutely need dual lens and 3D touch(and maybe that stainless steel, premium feeling) go with the X - but the XR has a much larger screen (in practical terms), viewing area is a lot larger, and the battery life is out of this world.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

View attachment 812538

What part of actual viewing area aren’t you able to understand? Not sure why I’m still engaging in this conversation, but I’ll try to see the best i people.

No content is displayed in the notch area. In Safari (and all other apps), it’s as if it isn’t even there.

Put an XS and an 8+ side by side, especially in landscape mode, and you’ll be surprised at how much less content the XS is able to display. In addition to the notch area being useess, the screen is much narrower.

It’s the main reason they came up with the Max (and why the XR is larger) - the 5.8 display is not a Plus replacament.

 

[I7guy]

What part of actual viewing area aren’t you able to understand? Not sure why I’m still engaging in this conversation, but I’ll try to see the best i people.

No content is displayed in the notch area. In Safari (and all other apps), it’s as if it isn’t even there.

Put an XS and an 8+ side by side, especially in landscape mode, and you’ll be surprised at how much less content the XS is able to display. In addition to the notch area being useess, the screen is much narrower.

It’s the main reason they came up with the Max (and why the XR is larger) - the 5.8 display is not a Plus replacament.

The viewing areas are virtually indistinguishable. The max is a different beast and is not comparable to the plus. The x/Xs is more comparable to the plus. Ymmv and we can disagree.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

The viewing areas are virtually indistinguishable. The max is a different beast and is not comparable to the plus. The x/Xs is more comparable to the plus. Ymmv and we can disagree.

Whatever floats your boat...

Anyway, facts to back me up:

See? More content.

The X’s screen is indeed small. Halfway between the 4.7 and the 5.5. And, again, the notch area displays no content, no new icons, no content in Safari, no nothing.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that the XR is displaying the same amount of information as the XS Max (but at 2x instead of 3x), making this XS issue even more apparent.

 

[I7guy]

Whatever floats your boat...

Anyway, facts to back me up:

See? More content.

The X’s screen is indeed small. Halfway between the 4.7 and the 5.5. And, again, the notch area displays no content, no new icons, no content in Safari, no nothing.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that the XR is displaying the same amount of information as the XS Max (but at 2x instead of 3x), making this XS issue even more apparent.

According to your own post the iPhone X screen orange/red is taller than the purple but a tad narrower. That means more vertical content and for videos in landscape slightly more compressed. Ergo, the plus and x are closer in size than the max.

The max decimates the plus in terms of screen and is not an apples to apples comparison. And yes it is a tad narrower than the plus also.

The Xr is a different beast with a 6.1 inch screen but the resolution is basically "super liquid retina". In using it in the apple store and comparing the phone to the Xs the screen was very close.

 

[davedvdy]

The viewing areas are virtually indistinguishable. The max is a different beast and is not comparable to the plus. The x/Xs is more comparable to the plus. Ymmv and we can disagree.

They measure the screen diagonally. The X/XS has an off beat aspect ratio, so if you have a standard size 6-8, you gain screen real estate. Since the width is missing, the Max is larger than the Plus, but the X/XS provides less useable screen area in the width than a Plus model.

Lisa from MobileTechReview dispells this myth that it's similar:

 

[I7guy]

They measure the screen diagonally. The X/XS has an off beat aspect ratio, so if you have a standard size 6-8, you gain screen real estate. Since the width is missing, the Max is larger than the Plus, but the X/XS provides less useable screen area in the width than a Plus model.

Lisa from MobileTechReview dispells this myth that it's similar:

Thanks for the link. The X/Xs is more similar in screen real estate to the plus than the max. The Max is in another league to both the plus and X/Xs. The X/Xs size was developed to entice plus users (imo) to upgrade with a slight bump in price. Those who want the absolutely biggest iphone screen can go for the max.

If one leaves the micrometer at home and compares sizes in the apple store, one will see (or not) the size similarity between the plus and X/Xs. I guess "similar" is defined similarly to an ambiguous term like "driving fast".

 

[davedvdy]

Thanks for the link. The X/Xs is more similar in screen real estate to the plus than the max. The Max is in another league to both the plus and X/Xs. The X/Xs size was developed to entice plus users (imo) to upgrade with a slight bump in price. Those who want the absolutely biggest iphone screen can go for the max.

If one leaves the micrometer at home and compares sizes in the apple store, one will see (or not) the size similarity between the plus and X/Xs. I guess "similar" is defined similarly to an ambiguous term like "driving fast".

If you go from a Plus model to an X/XS then you don't have a comparable usable screen real estate in the width.
That is basically her point.
I wouldn't say they are too comparable. The X/XS have a noticeably more narrow width. It's especially noticeable in landscape view where you lose quite a bit of space. The X/XS are taller, which gives it a bragging right in that regard, hence the 5.8" screen size, but diagonal isn't a good way to compare.

 

[I7guy]

If you go from a Plus model to an X/XS then you don't have a comparable usable screen real estate in the width.
That is basically her point.
I wouldn't say they are too comparable. The X/XS have a noticeably more narrow width. It's especially noticeable in landscape view where you lose quite a bit of space.

Going to the max from the plus isn’t a compatible jump either. That is my opinion by simply comparing phones at the apple store.

Of course all of this links back to what is a price jump between phone models. Depending on how you choose the model you upgrade to from the model you upgrade from the conclusion is different.

 

[davedvdy]

Going to the max from the plus isn’t a compatible jump either. That is my opinion by simply comparing phones at the apple store.

Of course all of this links back to what is a price jump between phone models. Depending on how you choose the model you upgrade to from the model you upgrade from the conclusion is different.

I would definitely compare them, because the only thing actually bigger than a Plus model is a XR or Max.
A Max is essentially a Plus phone without the bezels, and that's how it gains it's extra inch of screen real estate.

 

[I7guy]

I would definitely compare them, because the only thing actually bigger than a Plus model is a XR or Max.
A Max is essentially a Plus phone without the bezels, and that's how it gains it's extra inch of screen real estate.

I agree one has to form their own opinion. Its my opinion though it’s fallacious to say the max is essentially a plus phone and to not say the x/Xs is also essentially a plus. Neither have comparable screen sizes.

Would be interesting to put a poll up and see what the tally is.

 

[thadoggfather]

Xr is better value than x at this stage imo

It’s a non oled single cam 3d touchless Shrunk xs max

If those are deal breakers get an x but the battery is nowhere near as good.

Ymmv

 

[davedvdy]

I agree one has to form their own opinion. Its my opinion though it’s fallacious to say the max is essentially a plus phone and to not say the x/Xs is also essentially a plus. Neither have comparable screen sizes.

Would be interesting to put a poll up and see what the tally is.

The Max isn't just a Plus phone, but that is essentially who it's geared towards since
it has the width of a Plus phone, minus the bezels, so you gain that added real estate.


Many that lost their useable screen width from the Plus trying or buying a X miss the added screen real estate width.
That is lost since that isn't where the bezels were.
Someone who appreciates and wants the screen width of a Plus phone shouldn't go to a X/XS in other words...
they should explore bigger options (XR or XS Max).

This was a common gripe of people ditching the 8+ in
favor of the X. It was a disappointment to Youtube tech people such as Flossy Carter, Lisa/MobileTechReview, MKBHD,
Drew/Tailosive Tech, and the list goes on...

 

[agente46]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2017-x-and-xr-the-same-price-which-is-the-better-buy.2137022/

 

[TheIntruder]

Simply put, the XS Max and XR display the same amount of content on the screen. The X/XS have a shorter, and narrower screen, and therefore display less, requiring more line wrapping and scrolling.

Ignore the talk about physical screen size and pixel count. Those factors only affect how large the rendered elements are, and how sharp they may be. The UIKit framework helps developers to build and place the screen elements, and handles the behind-the-scenes work of scaling them to fit the various iOS device screens. Developers don't do their work in pixels, they work in abstract points, otherwise it would be a massive hassle to redo their apps every time Apple produces a new iOS device with different dimensions or pixel densities.

This is about the best overview I've seen. The first row is what's most relevant.

Both the XS Max and the XR have 414x896pt display areas, and side-by-side will show the same thing on screen, despite one having a 6.5" 458ppi panel, and the other a 6.1" 326ppi panel. Arguing about those characteristics mostly misses the point.

Also keep in mind that some space has to be reserved to accommodate things like the status bar, toolbars, etc. and for the X phones, things like the notch area and navigation bar, so not all of that space can be used for content, which is confined to the "safe area."

All of this becomes more striking, and clearly evident when everything is compared side-by-side. Unfortunately, Apple Stores don't readily afford that opportunity, because they segregate the models to separate tables, and don't allow them to be moved.

But other stores, like Best Buy, especially those with Apple mini-stores, do, because one table holds all the portable devices, and the phones are grouped in one area.

Other differences between the models are more literal, and clear cut, but the displays are a more complex topic than most realize, and unfortunately, something the media doesn't recognize, or expound upon.

I can't emphasize enough doing the simultaneous comparison, in store, or otherwise. Don't rely on intuition or other pre-conceived notions.

 

[I7guy]

The Max isn't just a Plus phone, but that is essentially who it's geared towards since
it has the width of a Plus phone, minus the bezels, so you gain that added real estate.


Many that lost their useable screen width from the Plus trying or buying a X miss the added screen real estate width.
That is lost since that isn't where the bezels were.
Someone who appreciates and wants the screen width of a Plus phone shouldn't go to a X/XS in other words...
they should explore bigger options (XR or XS Max).

This was a common gripe of people ditching the 8+ in
favor of the X. It was a disappointment to Youtube tech people such as Flossy Carter, Lisa/MobileTechReview, MKBHD,
Drew/Tailosive Tech, and the list goes on...

YouTube’s are not the benchmark. I actually shopped the phones by comparison in the store is. (That’s how I decided on the max)

What does an average person think is an upgrade path? My own belief is if you want the most screen real estate possible, the max. Else get the Xs. Doesn’t matter what phone you’re coming from. L

The Xs is closer in size than the max. The reason the max is so expensive, it’s value priced new apple tech.

The xr is a different story. It’s an option for people that gives up sone tech for a lower price point.