iPhone XS vs. iPhone XR: Design, Tech Specs, and Price Comparison

[lewchenko]

The XR is going to be a massive hit with the general populace. Despite people complaining about its cost, it is actually a huge value proposition when you consider the screen size, battery life, color options, and the fact that it has all the latest and greatest internals (unlike the 5C did at launch). Those picky about IP68, OLED, dual cameras, and status symbols will spring for the XS of course, but everyone else should be perfectly happy with the XR. Perfect business move by Apple.

750... XR is hardly a value proposition. Its priced like their flagships from 2016. Other than processor it has the specs of a low end Android which is a fraction of the price. The screen itself is like going back to 2014 for most Android phones.
So yeah, smart move by Apple , at your considerable expense.

 

[GuruZac]

If anything I think this make the Xr a better deal (compared to the Xs Max). You get basically the same "plus" software and same chip (without the high-res screen / extra camera) all for $350 less! And I have no idea why you would get the regular Xs at this point (unless you like the form factor).

I kind of agree, although at this point, other than buying a 7 or 8 (non Plus models), the XS is the smallest form factor iPhone. I believe a 5" display wrapped up in the form factor around the size of the SE would sell incredibly well. Seems there are a lot people wanting a compact full screen phone. I personally think the iPhone X is the perfect compromise between screen size and phone size/portability.

 

[lewchenko]

Blimey, slight hyperbole there! It's exactly as sharp as the 8 which is only a year old!

The 8 Plus had a 5.5 inch screen and it was 440ppi.

The XR is 6.1 inches and only 326ppi

So yeah I meant the 8 plus.

But the comparison is obvious. One is going to look decent , the other a turd of a screen.

 

[GuruZac]

750... XR is hardly a value proposition. Its priced like their flagships from 2016. Other than processor it has the specs of a low end Android which is a fraction of the price. The screen itself is like going back to 2014 for most Android phones.
So yeah, smart move by Apple , at your considerable expense.

You should clarify. Face ID is still unmatched technically by any Android, flagship or not. Other than the 326 ppi screen res, which doesn't make the screen 'low quality', so what is low quality about the XR? It's a much better phone than low end Android devices, and will certainly age much better.

 

[recoil80]

There will be the annual product red Xs and Max in the Spring like they do every year if precedents hold.
[doublepost=1537030158][/doublepost]
I agree but I value battery and money more than the best resolution, but I’m a cheapskate. Lol. For just $50 bucks more than buying a Max I could buy an Apple Watch 4 and an Xr.

We didn't have X product red last year, only iPhone 8. So I'm not sure, I sent them a suggestion: make a product green for the environment. Xr has a red option but not green, I think it will look great. I'm not sure the Xs would be as beautiful as the Xr in colour due to the different materials.

As for the last part of your post I was thinking the same, I could buy an Xr and a series 4 and spend almost the same amount of money but I may keep my series 1 another year and go for the Xs. Haven't decided yet, I'll take a look at series 4 in person and make my decision.

 

[martin2345uk]

The 8 Plus had a 5.5 inch screen and it was 440ppi.

The XR is 6.1 inches and only 326ppi

So yeah I meant the 8 plus.

But the comparison is obvious. One is going to look decent , the other a turd of a screen.

The 8's screen is far from a turd, so I think we'll be okay.

 

[EugW]

The 8 Plus had a 5.5 inch screen and it was 440ppi.

The XR is 6.1 inches and only 326ppi

So yeah I meant the 8 plus.

But the comparison is obvious. One is going to look decent , the other a turd of a screen.

8 Plus is 401 ppi.

6/6s/7/8 looks fine in standard mode, and I say that as a 7 Plus owner (also 401 ppi). However, the fonts are smaller on the 6/6s/7/8.

 

[michial]

The 8 Plus had a 5.5 inch screen and it was 440ppi.

The XR is 6.1 inches and only 326ppi

So yeah I meant the 8 plus.

But the comparison is obvious. One is going to look decent , the other a turd of a screen.

I think the 8 plus I have is 401 ppi

 

[lewchenko]

I think the 8 plus I have is 401 ppi

Indeed it does. I stand corrected. Thank you

If the XR had the same PPI/ res as the 7/8 plus it would be perfect.

 

[Baymowe335]

If the Xr dominates sales they will. They should have at least retained an 8 size phone. Two Xr’s, the current one and a smaller 8 size.

You can still get an iPhone 8 or iPhone 7 for really decent prices. I think that's enough.

 

[michial]

I believe my 2016 9.7inch iPad Pro only has 264 ppi and I never use it lamenting it’s poor pixel density. I’ve never been disappointed by any of the iPhones for that matter. I’ll be more than satisfied with the 6.1 inch screen with 326 ppi. Sure the Xs line will be better in ways and that’s a great option. Me, I want more money in my pocket and more battery life in my phone. To each their own. Either way we will all enjoy these phones.

 

[recoil80]

I believe my 2016 9.7inch iPad Pro only has 264 ppi and I never use it lamenting it’s poor pixel density. I’ve never been disappointed by any of the iPhones for that matter. I’ll be more than satisfied with the 6.1 inch screen with 326 ppi. Sure the Xs line will be better in ways and that’s a great option. Me, I want more money in my pocket and more battery life in my phone. To each their own. Either way we will all enjoy these phones.

I usually keep my iPhone at a smaller distance compared to the iPad, thus pixels density is less important.
However iPhone is just fine, I'm not saying it a poor display at all. I think the Xr will be a great product for the majority of their customers, as it is better than iPhone 8, 7, and 6s displays. Plus users could notice a difference, but many of them will go for the Xs Max anyway

 

[EugW]

I believe my 2016 9.7inch iPad Pro only has 264 ppi and I never use it lamenting it’s poor pixel density. I’ve never been disappointed by any of the iPhones for that matter. I’ll be more than satisfied with the 6.1 inch screen with 326 ppi. Sure the Xs line will be better in ways and that’s a great option. Me, I want more money in my pocket and more battery life in my phone. To each their own. Either way we will all enjoy these phones.

Most (or at least many) people use their iPads a bit further than their phones. However I noticed that if I hold the iPad as close as my phone, the pixels become resolvable on my 264 ppi iPad Air 2.

EDIT:

recoil80 beat me to it.

 

[manu chao]

Like...every phone?

My comment was partly tongue-in-cheek. But to be more serious, nobody would describe the chin and front of all iPhones prior to the iPhone X as the bottom and top edge. But the side bezels of the iPhone 6 through 8 might qualify for some people as edge as it was hard to see visually where the screen ended and the rounding of the glass started. This probably applies even more so to the iPhone Xr (I have not directly compared the iPhone 8 with an iPhone Xr). And even more so to the iPhone X.

 

[AlexJoda]

The 8 Plus had a 5.5 inch screen and it was 440ppi.

The XR is 6.1 inches and only 326ppi

So yeah I meant the 8 plus.

But the comparison is obvious. One is going to look decent , the other a turd of a screen.

That is bs. Other things are much more important than ppi. A nearly borderless display based on LCD with Face-ID is a brilliant move. 326ppi was totally sufficient from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 8. That is definitely no turd....

 

[mpConroe]

I went with iPhone XS 256GB Gold. I currently have 3 years old iPhone 6s Plus 64GB also in gold. It was a little bit to big for the years, I chose it cos of the Full HD resolution. Now, the XS will be a little bit smaller, still with great display and good resolution.

I wouldn't buy XR - I don't like the fact that it has lower resolution than 3 years old iPhone 6s Plus. Also, I want this better dual-lens camera (I think it's nice) and stain-less steel gold color is cool.

 

[Phone Junky]

If anything I think this make the Xr a better deal (compared to the Xs Max). You get basically the same "plus" software and same chip (without the high-res screen / extra camera) all for $350 less! And I have no idea why you would get the regular Xs at this point (unless you like the form factor).

Here's why you get the Xs:
1. You don't already have a X
2. You want/need the dual camera 2x optical zoom
3. You DON'T want the huge Xs Max

 

[Aston441]

I'm VERY disappointed in the pixel density of the 10R.

A downgrade from my 6s+

I have no interest in OLED.

I'll be skipping this upgrade cycle... again.

Sigh.

 

[lewchenko]

I'm VERY disappointed in the pixel density of the 10R.

A downgrade from my 6s+

I have no interest in OLED.

I'll be skipping this upgrade cycle... again.

Sigh.

I agree. Resolution is less than the 3 year old plus range but if you want a decent screen , it's the XS or XS plus... But then they are unaffordable.

No decent middle ground.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

I still remain hopeful that SE is coming with the same edge-to-edge notched-screen design. Although it would no longer be a 4" screen, it would be slightly larger, because I don't see them making the overall phone itself any smaller; it's already a great size. The Xr was the ice breaker for that tech, and now they can make it smaller into the SE size. That would be both smart and awesome, and a wonderful surprise, much like the original SE was.

I’ve got a launch day iPhone 6 and I’ve been waiting for an SE 2. I want that size. I really hope you’re right because as much as I’m tempted to upgrade this year my wife and I really don’t want a phone bigger than the 6. So we may just wait another year.

 

[Return Zero]

750... XR is hardly a value proposition. Its priced like their flagships from 2016. Other than processor it has the specs of a low end Android which is a fraction of the price. The screen itself is like going back to 2014 for most Android phones.
So yeah, smart move by Apple , at your considerable expense.

It has all the flagship features that most people care about. It’s processor will smoke any other phone’s. It looks to have the best battery life of any iPhone ever. It also looks to have the best quality LCD of any device, ever. Don’t get caught up in the screen resolution race. OLED resolutions are misleading and should be counted at 2/3 when compared to traditional LCD because of the pixel layout.

Anyway, I’m talking about value proposition in the iPhone world, which is totally different than the Android world.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

Important thing MacRumors missed.... The iPhone Xs does NOT have the landscape home screen and iPad-like landscape views from the iPhone Plus models. The iPhone Xs Max DOES have those views, BUT, so does the iPhone Xr. That extra 0.3 inches makes up for the rounded corners to give you the full "Plus" experience in the iPhone X design.

No way this is confirmed?! Wow interesting.
[doublepost=1537041437][/doublepost]

XR, XS Max, Force Touch, 3D Touch, Haptic Touch, Retina HD, Super Retina HD, Liquid Retina HD... Did John Sculley return to Apple?

Burn!!!
[doublepost=1537042180][/doublepost]

Oh yes, you're right. It's gone on the X for some reason.

That makes me wonder about the XS, Max, and XR now, and wonder about iOS 12. More reason to wait. I'm in no rush.

I think I'm going to start a thread on this. Thanks for the reminder about the X.

Are you serious it’s gone on X? Why?!!! Wow that’s dumb. Why take settings away?!!! Holy cow I’m floored if this is true. I use the zoomed aspect and have grown so use to it.

 

[PickUrPoison]

<snip>

OLED display, thinner bezels, I'll give you. It has all other performance features that the XS models have. The camera may as well be a wash since you get the core features of the XS dual cameras. You get the same front cameras on the XS and XR as well. I'm really struggling to see how Apple thinks the XS is $250 more expensive ($350 more expensive for the XS Max) than the XR. Other than the OLED display, there really is not any more expensive tech in the XS vs the XR. Considering all the things Apple put in to the XR, and it is available in the 128GB version, it is a lot of phone for the money. It's still less expensive than the iPhone 7 Plus was 2 years ago in in the 128GB and 256GB versions.

The XR is indeed a great value, and analysts think it could take 2/3 of the 2018 model year sales, with XS and XS Max comprising the other third. It wouldn’t surprise me.

As you mention, the OLED display itself is the biggest difference between the models and is in fact responsible for most of the cost increase. Component cost estimates for the X last year put the display at $110 vs $50 for the LCD display in the 8 Plus. That $60 cost difference translates to roughly $150 of selling price.

 

[EugW]

It has all the flagship features that most people care about. It’s processor will smoke any other phone’s. It looks to have the best battery life of any iPhone ever. It also looks to have the best quality LCD of any device, ever. Don’t get caught up in the screen resolution race. OLED resolutions are misleading and should be counted at 2/3 when compared to traditional LCD because of the pixel layout.

Anyway, I’m talking about value proposition in the iPhone world, which is totally different than the Android world.

Using that 2/3 number, let's do the calculations.

1242x2688 = 3338496 pixels x 66.67% = 2225664 pixels = 1014x2195 = 372 ppi

That 372 calculated number seems a bit low to me for comparison to LCD IPS screens. Obviously it's not the same as a hypothetical LCD's 458 ppi, but it's probably somewhere in between, because of how we perceive the diamond pentile matrix, esp. given that there are more green subpixels than that number suggests.

Are you serious it’s gone on X? Why?!!! Wow that’s dumb. Why take settings away?!!! Holy cow I’m floored if this is true. I use the zoomed aspect and have grown so use to it.

I don't think the Zoomed Display mode was ever there on the X.

 

[BuddyTronic]

I'm VERY disappointed in the pixel density of the 10R.

A downgrade from my 6s+

I have no interest in OLED.

I'll be skipping this upgrade cycle... again.

Sigh.

Wow - I'm surprised you wouldn't want a maxed out XS or XS Max - What is wrong with OLED?