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

[GuruZac]

With these insane screen sizes, I guess my next phone will be the iPhone 7.

Kind of sucks that the only options for iOS are: super expensive, huge phone and slightly less expensive but still super expensive, even bigger phone.

Well you could buy the iPhone 8 and at least get some of the new features like wireless fast charging, True Tone screen, the A11 chip (for future proofing), better camera. I would not buy a standard iPhone 7 at this point.

3D Touch is a flagship feature that’s not available on non-flagship devices. No different from an OLED display, dual rear camera, thin bezels, 4GB RAM, gigabit LTE, etc.

You don’t get what you don’t pay for.

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.

 

[Mr. Dee]

The lineup is awkward. I suspect, just to make it a differentiator, Apple will bump the current 5.8 OLED to 6.1 in the next revision. And in the process bump the price I guess.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

The XR is my perfect phone outside of the size. If they made it in a 4" size I'd snap it up without a second thought.

4” is long gone dude. Let’s move on.

 

[GuruZac]

No. I was comparing a 128 GB XR vs. 256 GB Max since there is no 128 GB Max available.

64 is too small for me. I could live with it but it would take a lot more careful use and maintenance.

128 GB is my sweet spot. 256 is overkill.

Hopefully the 2019 Max comes with 128 GB minimum.

At this point in time, I am leaning very heavily towards a Product Red 128GB XR. I have a 2 year 7 Plus 128GB and currently sit at 58.9GB. I only use Apple Music so I could drop 18GB if I turn on iCloud Photo Library and Auto Delete Messages. 128GB is a sweet spot.
[doublepost=1537019440][/doublepost]I have a question in regards to the Geekbench scores between the iPhone XR and the iPhone X/XS. How is the iPhone XR only scoring in the 9300 range on GB4 running the new A12 with 3GB of RAM when the iPhone X/8/8 Plus were hitting 10,200+ on GB4? And why would the XS be nearly 1,000 points higher than the XR with just 1GB of additional RAM? Also, the XS and XS Max are not scoring any higher in Multicore scores than the A11 in last years iPhones. Am I missing something here?

 

[azentropy]

The XR looks like a great device. The additial features the XS has isn’t worth the $250 to me. Though it seems to me the XR should have been ~5 inch model starting at $649 and the 6.1 inch should have been called the XR Plus.

 

[AppleFan910]

I concur. I think XR will be the most popular iPhone of 2019. Share the same processor minus the camera, and display. But it's still bigger than XS which costs $999. People would take the middle ground and willing to compromise.
[doublepost=1536992699][/doublepost]

Yes I agree. I think it was dangerous for Apple to make rather long introduction for the XR. Hence it was placed at the last session with 5 - 10 minutes to spare, while they spend lots of spotlight for XS. But for $749 and the same A12 chip (instead of $999 with smaller display), XR needs only minutes of introduction to steal XS' thunder.
[doublepost=1536993841][/doublepost]

XR is about the same size of an iPhone 8 plus only about 8 mm taller. But the width is about the same, meaning you get the same width of 8Plus display, but taller. So if you're already a user of 7+ or 8+ then using the XR will take no time to adapt.

I agree on the showing of the xs and xs max. They should’ve showed the xR first. With it being a new phone and a new design.
[doublepost=1537020410][/doublepost]

At this point in time, I am leaning very heavily towards a Product Red 128GB XR. I have a 2 year 7 Plus 128GB and currently sit at 58.9GB. I only use Apple Music so I could drop 18GB if I turn on iCloud Photo Library and Auto Delete Messages. 128GB is a sweet spot.
[doublepost=1537019440][/doublepost]I have a question in regards to the Geekbench scores between the iPhone XR and the iPhone X/XS. How is the iPhone XR only scoring in the 9300 range on GB4 running the new A12 with 3GB of RAM when the iPhone X/8/8 Plus were hitting 10,200+ on GB4? And why would the XS be nearly 1,000 points higher than the XR with just 1GB of additional RAM? Also, the XS and XS Max are not scoring any higher in Multicore scores than the A11 in last years iPhones. Am I missing something here?

I don’t know if the leaked scores are valid. Well have to wait and see. I know single core was supposed 15% higher versus the a11. Single core is more accurate from what I understand on how a device will actually preform in real life.
A12 has like 6.9 billion transistors versus the 4.3 in a11. That’s a big jump, but I think they focused more on better battery life versus speed which makes sense. The a11 is plenty fast. The true improvements are the smart HDR camera system and an upgraded GPU that’s supposed 50% faster. Apple is always modest about speed bumps and specs so I would take those leaked scores with a grain of salt.

 

[matjamca]

Does anyone know the mm size of the XR screen (width/height) compared to the 8 Plus? The Apple website only gives the size for the diagonal or the handset as a whole.

I specifically want to know how the width of the XR Screen compares with the width of the 8 Plus as viewed in portrait mode.

I found the X too narrow now that I’m used to the Plus sized display.

Thanks in advance.

 

[EugW]

Does anyone know the mm size of the XR screen (width/height) compared to the 8 Plus? The Apple website only gives the size for the diagonal or the handset as a whole.

I specifically want to know how the width of the XR Screen compares with the width of the 8 Plus as viewed in portrait mode.

I found the X too narrow now that I’m used to the Plus sized display.

Thanks in advance.

8 - 59 mm
XS - 62 mm
XR - 65 mm
Plus - 68 mm
Max - 69 mm

The numbers may be off by up to half a mm but you get the picture.

 

[Falhófnir]

A more pertinent comparison would probably be the Xr with the 8 plus - they are closer in price and there’s something to be said for each of them

 

[BigDO]

Think it’s 4GB in XS and 3GB in XR

What do you base that statement on?

 

[EugW]

8 - 59 mm
XS - 62 mm
XR - 65 mm
Plus - 68 mm
Max - 69 mm

The numbers may be off by up to half a mm but you get the picture.

PS. I should point out that the XR, Plus, and Max all show the same amount of screen information width-wise. So that means the default screen elements and font size will be smaller on the XR.

Similarly, the 8 and XS will show the same amount of screen information width-wise. So that means the default screen elements and font size will be smaller on the 8.

Screen element and font sizing will be similar between the 8 and XR.
Screen element and font sizing will be similar between the XS, Plus, and Max.

 

[BigDO]

Fancy but necessarily always useful...

Seriously though, one place where some may find it useful is in the Mail app.

I was hoping that this was the case when the 6 Plus came out, sadly the reading pane is just too small for it to have any benefit.

In fact, the only app which made good use of it was MyFitnessPal which gave you macro totals in landscape on the Plus but not on the "normal" sized iPhones before. They changed this since, and you get it across the board.

 

[The Game 161]

What do you base that statement on?

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....iphone-xs-max-xr-benchmark-geekbench-ram/amp/

 

[WilliamG]

They do, they just have edges with different thickness.

Like...every phone?

 

[corebeliefs]

"Fast charging capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes."

Is that with the included charger?

 

[michial]

the bezels on the XR is too thick

Not for me. I actually like it more having a little bezel the way I hold phones. The no bezel phone trend look cool but are not practical for how I hold them.

 

[MacBH928]

There is an option you left out..the iphone 8...cheaper and more capable.

Seriously no 3D touch is a reason enough NOT to buy the XR, not to mention the drop of the home button (forcing faceID) and the notch which eats part of the image/video.

I use the 3D touch a lot and is extremely useful for previewing links

 

[MoreRumors?]

No one is talking about this, but you can NOT get an unlocked Xr, only Xs/XsMax. That can be a deal breaker to many including myself.

I saw that too but I will decide later if that will be a deal breaker for me.

 

[BigDO]

There is an option you left out..the iphone 8...cheaper and more capable.

Seriously no 3D touch is a reason enough NOT to buy the XR, not to mention the drop of the home button (forcing faceID) and the notch which eats part of the image/video.

I use the 3D touch a lot and is extremely useful for previewing links

I used to be one of the biggest 3D Touch detractors but I'm now used to it, use it wherever possible, and it's actually become part of the muscle memory for many things.

I am interested to know if XR will be able to dismiss all notifications with long press (currently no 3D touch-less device can't, which is a real PITA).

 

[MoreRumors?]

No one is talking about it because it's not true.

As you might expect, you can pre-order the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR directly from Apple unlocked"
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-iphone-xs-xs-max-xr-availability/

I already checked on Apple's website and it doesn't show option you can buy an unlocked one. It does show the option for the Xs and Xx Max.

 

[EugW]

No one is talking about this, but you can NOT get an unlocked Xr, only Xs/XsMax. That can be a deal breaker to many including myself.

That would suck, but that is region specific. In Canada, all the phones are always available unlocked.

 

[hoxuantu]

A low resolution screen for $749 phone. What a blood sucker, Tim Cook !

 

[michial]

Well you could buy the iPhone 8 and at least get some of the new features like wireless fast charging, True Tone screen, the A11 chip (for future proofing), better camera. I would not buy a standard iPhone 7 at this point.


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.

There’s even a debate about lcd vs oled in small screen sizes where some nerds believe lcd is still better suited for the form factor. OLEDs have deeper blacks but they have drawbacks that lcd doesn’t. For a large flatscreen tv in my house I’ll definitely agree oled is amazing, but for a screen that fits in the size of my hand oled and 4K type resolutions are more hype and not what drives my iphone enjoyment all these years.

 

[martin2345uk]

I used to be one of the biggest 3D Touch detractors but I'm now used to it, use it wherever possible, and it's actually become part of the muscle memory for many things.

I am interested to know if XR will be able to dismiss all notifications with long press (currently no 3D touch-less device can't, which is a real PITA).

It does allow this, yes.

 

[martin2345uk]

"Fast charging capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes."

Is that with the included charger?

Nope sadly not!