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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 Americans, the difference between XR and XS is less than 1/16 of an inch.

For comparison sake, iPhone 8 has 4.385 mm bezel and iPhone 8 Plus has 4.87 mm bezel.

Landscape on the "new" Xr is going to be limited. Better off sticking with 8+.
 
Wait, aren't these all retina displays? I thought the point of retina was that you can't tell the difference?
It’s a marketing term with no real solid definition - the original retina (iPhone 4) was basically marketed in the way you describe - you can’t see any better than this, however that wasn’t strictly true. What they actually meant was at that density, from a normal viewing distance you can’t see individual pixels, and that is true. However, at densities above 326ppi you can still notice more detail in images, and that is especially true given the other part of ‘retina’ - the reverse pixel binning where what was one pixel on a non Retina display, is rendered and shown as 4 on the retina device. Starting with the iPhone 6 Plus, they introduced @3x retina, which basically makes that same single non retina pixel into 9 on the @3x display, therefore there is a huge amount more detail to be seen over even an @2x ‘original’ retina screen.
 
Stopped by Target during lunch and their Apple phone station has a Max, XS, and iPhone 8 all next to each other. I now know for sure two things: 1 - the iPhone 8's screen isn't "soft". And 2 - the max is a stupidly big phone. The XS is the perfect size for me, shame that its 1000 dollars, which I can afford but I can't justify. Initially I hated how all 3 phones looked but then realized they all had true-tone enabled, which was making them all incredibly yellow.
 
It’s a marketing term with no real solid definition - the original retina (iPhone 4) was basically marketed in the way you describe - you can’t see any better than this, however that wasn’t strictly true. What they actually meant was at that density, from a normal viewing distance you can’t see individual pixels, and that is true. However, at densities above 326ppi you can still notice more detail in images, and that is especially true given the other part of ‘retina’ - the reverse pixel binning where what was one pixel on a non Retina display, is rendered and shown as 4 on the retina device. Starting with the iPhone 6 Plus, they introduced @3x retina, which basically makes that same single non retina pixel into 9 on the @3x display, therefore there is a huge amount more detail to be seen over even an @2x ‘original’ retina screen.
So would you say this difference is likely to carried through to the XR? What about the downscaling to 1080p on the Plus phones? Does that impact the 3X display on the Plus or are we talking apples and oranges? Is there a relationship between the two?
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Stopped by Target during lunch and their Apple phone station has a Max, XS, and iPhone 8 all next to each other. I now know for sure two things: 1 - the iPhone 8's screen isn't "soft". And 2 - the max is a stupidly big phone. The XS is the perfect size for me, shame that its 1000 dollars, which I can afford but I can't justify. Initially I hated how all 3 phones looked but then realized they all had true-tone enabled, which was making them all incredibly yellow.
Can someone define what "soft" means in this context? Seems like there would be a more descriptive term.
 
So would you say this difference is likely to carried through to the XR? What about the downscaling to 1080p on the Plus phones? Does that impact the 3X display on the Plus or are we talking apples and oranges? Is there a relationship between the two?
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Can someone define what "soft" means in this context? Seems like there would be a more descriptive term.
The Xr is simply an @2x retina screen with no interpolation, the same as the 6-8. The resolution it is rendering at is the same as the physical resolution of the screen panel so there is no ‘penalty’ if that is the case with the plus iPhones.

I think because the interpolation was a higher resolution image it didn’t make quite as much difference as it would have trying to stretch a lower resolution one to a panel with more pixels. At least, the screens on the plus iPhone line have always looked really good to me, arguably even better than the oleds on the X (which are @3x but interpolated to a pentile subpixel layout (which is a whole other tangential discussion!)).
 
So would you say this difference is likely to carried through to the XR? What about the downscaling to 1080p on the Plus phones? Does that impact the 3X display on the Plus or are we talking apples and oranges? Is there a relationship between the two?

Can someone define what "soft" means in this context? Seems like there would be a more descriptive term.
It’s already been explained a few times in the last little while in this thread.

Anyhow, small text on the 8 can sometimes look a bit fuzzy around the edges. Some people don’t see it but some do. The smaller the text, the more obvious, and also often the more complex it is, the more obvious (eg. Chinese characters).

For almost all of us who see this fuzziness, it’s completely gone on the Plus and OLED models.

Despite the fact that LCD displays have steadily improved in many regards over the years, this aspect has not improved much (if at all) for 326 ppi screens. It’s still present in the 8 and thus likely it will still be present in the XR.

For many people it will not be an issue, to the point some of them adamantly refuse to believe it can be an issue for anyone, despite the fact that physics and math tell us otherwise. I will reiterate that 20/20 vision isn’t actually good vision. It’s just average vision for middle-aged people.

IMO, it is enough of a concern that if you’re unsure about your choice and the significance of this issue for your usage, it’s best to check out the phone in person next to the Plus and OLED models.
 
Landscape on the "new" Xr is going to be limited. Better off sticking with 8+.
How so? The landscape screen point resolutions on iPhone 8 Plus is 736 by 414 and XR is 896 by 414. Even if you zoom out to compensate for the notch and rounded corners, you will get wider display area on the XR.
 
It’s already been explained a few times in the last little while in this thread.

Anyhow, small text on the 8 can sometimes look a bit fuzzy around the edges. Some people don’t see it but some do. The smaller the text, the more obvious, and also often the more complex it is, the more obvious (eg. Chinese characters).

For almost all of us who see this fuzziness, it’s completely gone on the Plus and OLED models.

Despite the fact that LCD displays have steadily improved in many regards over the years, this aspect has not improved much (if at all) for 326 ppi screens. It’s still present in the 8 and thus likely it will still be present in the XR.

For many people it will not be an issue, to the point some of them adamantly refuse to believe it can be an issue for anyone, despite the fact that physics and math tell us otherwise. I will reiterate that 20/20 vision isn’t actually good vision. It’s just average vision for middle-aged people.

IMO, it is enough of a concern that if you’re unsure about your choice and the significance of this issue for your usage, it’s best to check out the phone in person next to the Plus and OLED models.
Thank you. That clears it up. Sage advice.
 
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Thank you. That clears it up. Sage advice.
Seeing them next to each other is definitely a big help, so for me it was fortunate that my local Target had this configuration. But ultimately if you're deciding between the XS/Max and XR, you'll want to see both of those next to one another, which I imagine you'll be able to do in Apple stores the week of the 26th. I would guess that if Apple wasn't confident in the XR screens, the XR units won't be anywhere near the XS units.
 
Seeing them next to each other is definitely a big help, so for me it was fortunate that my local Target had this configuration. But ultimately if you're deciding between the XS/Max and XR, you'll want to see both of those next to one another, which I imagine you'll be able to do in Apple stores the week of the 26th. I would guess that if Apple wasn't confident in the XR screens, the XR units won't be anywhere near the XS units.
Why? If you see the Xs and prefer the screen and decide to buy one of those instead what does it matter to Apple? You’re buying one of their phones and they’re making their money either way...
 
Seeing them next to each other is definitely a big help, so for me it was fortunate that my local Target had this configuration. But ultimately if you're deciding between the XS/Max and XR, you'll want to see both of those next to one another, which I imagine you'll be able to do in Apple stores the week of the 26th. I would guess that if Apple wasn't confident in the XR screens, the XR units won't be anywhere near the XS units.

I'm sure they will be right next to each other, and no one will notice a big difference. Even those that can tell a difference are overthinking the actual effects on their day to day. The screen on the Xr will be great, and look fantastic.
 
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Why? If you see the Xs and prefer the screen and decide to buy one of those instead what does it matter to Apple? You’re buying one of their phones and they’re making their money either way...
Because Apple's goal from the start has been to sell a ton of the XR. They'd much rather that than have customers just not buy either phone and go to another brand that doesn't cost 1000 dollars.
 
i know it hasn’t come out yet but many places are saying it’s the same LCD from the iPhone 4.

The screen can’t possibly be worse then the 7 or 8 can it?

If it is as good as my iPhone 7 then I want it. I am waiting for the XR before making my decision. But a lot of places online make it sound like the screen on this phone will be garbage
 
According to Apple's website it states the XR has the following:

-Liquid Retina HD display
-6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen LCD Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology
-1792-by-828-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
-1400:1 contrast ratio (typical)
-625 cd/m2 max brightness (typical)

I would wait until you can see it in person and judge for yourself before listening to others.
 
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It is not the same LCD from the iPhone 4, however it does have the same pixel density as the iPhone 4 (326 ppi, which is the same pixel density that is in the 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6s, 7 & 8. Other things have improved over the years with improved contrast ratios, wider color gamuts etc. The screen in the XR should be as good as the screen in the iPhone 8.
 
Thank you. That clears it up. Sage advice.
I went to the Apple store yesterday and spent some time with the Xs Max which I had returned after 5 days, and the 8 and 8 Plus next to each other. For the life of me, I can’ t figure out why I returned the XS Max. I was sick at the time with the flu and I ordered both the Apple Watch 4 and XS Max at the same time which was too many changes at once.

I don’t like change as a rule and it turned out the gold stainless watch was too heavy for my wrist (I exchanged it for the aluminum silver and I love it - especially the Infograph watch face). In comparing the 8 and 8 Plus (full disclosure - I’m 65 with significant astigmatism and near sightedness and often view the phone screen fairly close up). Both the 8 and 8 Plus seemed fine to me. I was surprised. The 8 was also a bit brighter overall and the specs say that. Both phones had this same settings.

I could be happy with the 8 but I prefer the larger screen of the Plus, not because I think the 8 is inferior. Both seem fine, at least for me. Squinting and bringing the phones closer and further from my eyes, I just couldn’t find any difference in the text quality. In short, the 8 just looks like a great phone, has a bit more brightness and I can see why people wanting that form factor really love it. I will await the XR and then make a decision. My feeling is I can’t go wrong whether I keep my current phone or upgrade. These are just my personal reactions that I thought I’d pass along.
 
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Compared my iPhone X to a friend's iPhone 7 today and the difference was quite palpable. Yes the iPhone 7 screen was bright, colourful and sharp. But the X was simply on another level for me. The text was crisper and felt painted onto the screen. The content just jumps out at you which is the OLED effect i know.

Reminded me why i opted for the plus models (sharper text) prior to getting the X. And why i am unlikely to get along with the Xr but i will check again once released.
 
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Compared my iPhone X to a friend's iPhone 7 today and the difference was quite palpable. Yes the iPhone 7 screen was bright, colourful and sharp. But the X was simply on another level for me. The text was crisper and felt painted onto the screen. The content just jumps out at you.

Reminded me why i opted for the plus models prior to getting the X. And why i am unlikely to get along with the Xr but i will check again once released.
The PPI isn't why content felt like it just jumps out at you, or "painted on". That's OLED. A Plus model of the 7 wouldn't be any different in that regard.
 
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