Or not raise the price $200. The iPhone 6 Plus had 401 PPI at $749 in 2014, no reason it's not possible in 2018.
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iPhone X So Xr’s screen is only 720p...
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Yup, compared to the 8 Plus, small text is soft.
Compared to all the Plus sized iPhones and X/XS/XS Max...yes.
Text on my iphone 8 looks just sharp enough. However,i do see a difference when i look at apps on the 7 plus display of my wife. They look crisper.
They look bigger to me. Not crisper. The notion that 328ppi is soft is ridiculous.
So having read all the posts on this thread, and learned a lot in the process, I have come to some tentative conclusions about the suitability of the XR for me. And I hope I’m proven wrong when the XR comes out. I have an 8 Plus. My chosen upgrade path was to an XS Max. That did not work out because I didn’t like the OLED screen, beautiful but hard to look at like some Greek Myth What do I like about the Plus phones, of which I have had 4 going back to the 6? - the larger form factor, the larger fonts, the larger screen icons , and the sharper fonts courtesy of 401 PPI. What don’t I like about the 6/7/8 phones, none of which I own but my wife has?: small form factor, smaller fonts, less crisp text, icons on the home screen which are harder to distinguish, require more dexterity with the multitouch interface. I also have an iPad Pro 12.9” - it has a PPI of 264. I like it fine. I have no idea about the font size. it just works.
Based on the specs, one would expect the XR to look like a much larger version of the iPhone 8 with all new technology (aside from the display, which ironically Apple bills as the latest and the greatest LCD in the history of mankind). Since the Iphone 8 display specs are carried over to the XR: 326 ppi, exact same brightness and contrast ratio, True Tone, wide color gamut (P3), 163 posts/inch - small font size, one would expect the display on the XR to be just like the 8 and as many have said, if you like the 8, you’lll love the XR. Apple calls this display Liquid Retina and “the most advanced LCD ever made”. In fact, you could make the exact claim for the iPhone 8 display other than the technology that allows the LCD display to flow all the way to the thinner bezels. But the latter doesn’t have any impact on screen quality. For me the most important attribute of a smartphone is the display. Going from the 8 Plus to a phone with a very large screen crammed with smaller fonts and smaller screen elements, relative to the 8 Plus, and a lower PPI, which exactly describes the XR, would not be acceptable. Now when the XR hits the stores, this may turn out not to be the case. I hope so. However, looking at the YouTube videos hands on demos by the tech press at the Apple event, I see a Phone with a home screen full of icons that are sized very much like an iPhone 8.
Based on the specs, one would expect the XR to look like a much larger version of the iPhone 8 with all new technology (aside from the display, which ironically Apple bills as the latest and the greatest LCD in the history of mankind). Since the Iphone 8 display specs are carried over to the XR: 326 ppi, exact same brightness and contrast ratio, True Tone, wide color gamut (P3), 163 posts/inch - small font size, one would expect the display on the XR to be just like the 8 and as many have said, if you like the 8, you’lll love the XR. Apple calls this display Liquid Retina and “the most advanced LCD ever made”. In fact, you could make the exact claim for the iPhone 8 display other than the technology that allows the LCD display to flow all the way to the thinner bezels. But the latter doesn’t have any impact on screen quality. For me the most important attribute of a smartphone is the display. Going from the 8 Plus to a phone with a very large screen crammed with smaller fonts and smaller screen elements, relative to the 8 Plus, and a lower PPI, which exactly describes the XR, would not be acceptable. Now when the XR hits the stores, this may turn out not to be the case. I hope so. However, looking at the YouTube videos hands on demos by the tech press at the Apple event, I see a Phone with a home screen full of icons that are sized very much like an iPhone 8.
But the 8 and XR has the same ppi. Are we going to stop comparing factual similarities and just drive all arguments with opinions?
I personally can see the difference between regular 8 and plus ppi. 401 and 326 I think it is. But the majority of people have never complained about the resolution on iPhone screens.
Ppi is all about viewing distance as well. iPad only has a ppi at 250 or something and that’s fine as you have that screen further away from your face. 6.1” is bigger than 4.8”. Which means you may hold the XR further away from your face.
I have not seen the XR in real life so I can’t say what it looks like.
But arguing that it doesn’t have the same ppi has the 8 is just crazy to me.
After you’ve seen an XR in the flesh, come on here and try to tell us all how the bezels are so thick it’s hardly edge to edge, when in reality the difference to the XS is minuscule. It’s like trying to desperately overblow out of all proportion the tiniest thing to be totally negative just to rubbish a phone, for apparently no reason?
And what features is the XR missing? Touch ID? Nope rubbish replaced with Face ID just like it’s other premium models, so they still have biometric security.
Inflation is one of the reasons. $749 in September 2014 is $793.41 today. Newer technology being more expensive is the other. The XR, while still using LED-lit LCD panels, use newer display technology than was available in 2014. Same with RAM, processor, radio... so yes, the PPI is lower, but overall it's a better, newer phone for $44 cheaper when adjusted for inflation.
My point is that it's unlikely the cost savings from using a lower-PPI panel are significant. I wouldn't expect a higher-cost OLED panel from Apple at $749, but 401 PPI, sure. The XR is positioned as the replacement for last year's Plus model, yet the display simply isn't there.
The XR is positioned as the replacement for the SE. The replacement for the 8 Plus is the XS Max.
The XR is marketed as 6.1" and almost twice the price. Not even close...
The price point is not comparable to last year's iPhone 8 Plus, but instead to last year's iPhone X, which was the first of a new premium tier of iPhones at a higher price point.
I don't think you need to see the XR in the flesh to conclude its pretty much edge to edge. It's already obvious. If true edge to edge on the XS models reach the 5 yard line where the goal post is full edge to edge, then the XR is at the 10 yard line. The older iPhones are at the 30 yard line on the opposite end of the field. The new XR, whatever else you might say about the display is a decidedly edge to edge phone. It's a giant technological leap forward except for the display - well other than the "liquid" part where the LCD flows around the screen almost right the edge just show of 4 mm
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For me it's pretty simple:
- 326ppi is more than what my eye can discern at a normal phone viewing distance. It never felt lacking when I had an iPhone 4, 5, or 6.
- Fewer pixels to drive means better performance with a given CPU/GPU.
- The XR costs significantly less than the XS or XS Max, and has a screen size right in the middle
- LCD means no burn-in worries. I can leave Maps running at full brightness on a road trip without worry.
- I don't really use 3D touch much.
For me it's like win, win, win, win, very slightly lose. The only thing I might miss on the XR is the dual cameras, but I think about how often I take zoomed in or portrait photos with my 7 Plus (not often at all) and it's not a big deal for me.
- 326ppi is more than what my eye can discern at a normal phone viewing distance. It never felt lacking when I had an iPhone 4, 5, or 6.
- Fewer pixels to drive means better performance with a given CPU/GPU.
- The XR costs significantly less than the XS or XS Max, and has a screen size right in the middle
- LCD means no burn-in worries. I can leave Maps running at full brightness on a road trip without worry.
- I don't really use 3D touch much.
For me it's like win, win, win, win, very slightly lose. The only thing I might miss on the XR is the dual cameras, but I think about how often I take zoomed in or portrait photos with my 7 Plus (not often at all) and it's not a big deal for me.
Again having not seen the XR except in YouTube videos at the Apple event, we're only dealing w/suppositions and theories. Based on the display specs alone, which are almost exactly the same as the iPhone 8, Apple, I believe, is positioning the XR primarily as a replacement for the iPhone 6/7/8. it's the new premium phone for the masses. The Plus owners, who have always been willing to pay a premium of their phones, would gravitate, in Apple's view towards the XR Plus. Should it be that way? Is it a matter of selling price? When the reviewers or consumers compare the XR with the 8 Plus displays one against the other, they might say, h'm, what's the big deal, same visual experience as the 8 plus, who knows? We'll find out later this month.
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Why the SE? That doesn't seem to make much sense. People clamored for the SE because of its form factor - 4" screen? It sold way more phones that Apple ever could have imagined. Why would an SE owner want go upgrade to a 6.1" screen? SE's are great phones. They will last a long time and keep their owners satisfied. Agree that the XS Max is being marketed as a replacement for the Plus phones for reasons I listed in an earlier comment.
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"326ppi is more than what my eye can discern at a normal phone viewing distance."
More than the eye can see, huh, so to speak you say. Then ask yourself, why did Apple tout Plus phones for years as having an ADVANTAGE for users with its 401 PPI display and larger screen. Why do most reviewers who look at both phones say that the text is modestly sharper and the fonts are larger on the Plus phones and the icons are more spaced apart? Users differ on how they hold the phones in terms of distance from their eyes, so mileage may vary. Users' visual acuity differs. As a long time owner of the Plus series of phones, 4 years, all upgrades from the previous years, and as someone who needs to regularly update the software on my wife's 6/7/8 non-Plus phones and teach her some of the basic concepts of using those phones when IOS is updated, I can readily see a difference between the phones' respective displays. And she can too. But she likes the smaller phones. Ironically, she has terrible eyesight. You'd think she would prefer the Plus.
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We're just going to have to see. I'm going to spend some time playing with the XR in the store before I decide to buy it. I feel reasonably confident I'll be okay with the 326PPI screen, given my previous experience with that resolution.
I see a lot of people talking about what competitors are doing, but the simple fact is that I want to use iOS so I'm stuck with what Apple offers. The XR seems like a good device; we will find out soon enough.
yeah kind of crazy. at a 2% inflation rate $749 is more like $810.
the problem is usually tech prices get cheaper over time (or at least stay the same nominally). Not with iphone. It's apple's cash cow and theyre defending the margins by tooth and nail
Sounds like a great plan. If it turns out I will be happy with the XR, I don’t want to wait a long time for it. My guess is that w/so many colors and options, there are going to be supply constraints. There are 18 different configurations of the XR and this is a brand new product line. I would not be surprised if there are 8-12 week waits on the Product Red variants. I’m going to order a white XR with 128 gb on preorder day and hope for the best.
Apple might have some tricks with the screen of the Xr and have a better display even when they have the same ppi as the iphone 8. It might look better with new hardware/software tech. It is possible.
i really hate the 'inflation' argument.
does my salary go up at the same rate as inflation? hell no.
it's simply more expensive now than before.
Not my fault your job treats you like crap. I get two raises a year: one based on inflation, and one based on performance.
As a SE owner I have zero complaints & I doubt I will once I get it in a few weeks. That's the beauty of my upgrade plus I'm not that type of person making a big deal about a phone's resolution.
The real problem is people want too much from a ****ing phone.
The real problem is people want too much from a ****ing phone.
Yes, that's right, never underestimate Apple.
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Curious - what phone are you upgrading to? I'm afraid the ship has already sailed upon consumer's ever rising expectations from what they want from a phone. And Apple has turned that unquenchable thirst into a trillion dollar market cap.
More precisely,
- XS has 3.91 mm bezel on each sides, for screen to body ratio of 84.14%
- XS Max has the same 3.91 mm bezel on each sides, for screen to body ratio of 85.45%
- XR has 5.57 mm bezel on each sides, for screen to body ratio of 79.00%
For comparison sake, iPhone 8 has 4.385 mm bezel and iPhone 8 Plus has 4.87 mm bezel.