iPhone XR Switching from 7/8 Plus to XR

[AppleHaterLover]

I have a 7 Plus (which is very good) but I think it's time for something new.

Honestly I think the iPhone XR is the best iPhone this year. Plus I've drawn the line at $750, I'm not going to give Apple $1000+ for an iPhone (much less the $1100+ they want for an X Max, which would be the true replacement) even though I sort of liked the Xs Max because I don't want them to get away with these prices.

Comparing both of them, the only disadvantage seems to be the absence of the portrait camera. If I used this feature more than 10 times over the last 2 years I'd be surprised.

Am I missing anything here? to those who made the switch, do you miss the portrait camera that much?

 

[Glideslope]

Replace the battery in your 7+ before the 31st for $29. Keep it for 2 more years. You’ll be fine.

 

[DaveyVigs]

You can still take portraits of people with the XR just not dogs/cats/objects. I rarely used portrait mode on my old iPhone 7 Plus but like it on my XR (via back and front cameras).

Honestly I don’t miss my old 7+ at all - other than maybe the durability of the 7+’s aluminum back versus glass back of the XR. Which only means I can’t quite go caseless yet on my XR like I was on the 2 year life of my 7Plus.

 

[Broadus]

I have a 7 Plus (which is very good) but I think it's time for something new.

Honestly I think the iPhone XR is the best iPhone this year. Plus I've drawn the line at $750, I'm not going to give Apple $1000+ for an iPhone (much less the $1100+ they want for an X Max, which would be the true replacement) even though I sort of liked the Xs Max because I don't want them to get away with these prices.

Comparing both of them, the only disadvantage seems to be the absence of the portrait camera. If I used this feature more than 10 times over the last 2 years I'd be surprised.

Am I missing anything here? to those who made the switch, do you miss the portrait camera that much?

The frugal side of me says to keep your 7 Plus for another year or two to get your money’s worth out of it and see what comes out then.

Then again, I upgraded from 6s to the XR and agree that it’s the best phone Apple is offering this year for those who like solid tech for under $1000. I don’t see any downside to the XR—no regrets.

 

[PeteS1963]

Yes, you can still do portrait mode with people. It seems to work well for me but I hardly ever used it on my iPhone 7 Plus.

One of the best advantages I’ve found with the XR is the battery life. On average I’m getting 2.5 hours more that my iPhone 7 and that’s with a new Apple installed battery.

 

[scotttnz]

I have a 2 year old 7+ and am considering getting an XR. The only thing holding me back is the lack of dual cameras which I use all the time. Not so much for the portrait feature, but for the optical zoom. I find the standard camera too wide a lot of the time and I hate using digital zoom, which is the same as cropping the image, loosing detail.

No way I'm paying Xs\Xs Max money for a phone!

 

[GuruZac]

I decided that I can live without 3D Touch and I told my wife, if I make a 4.0 this semester, I’m replacing my black 7 Plus with a Product Red or Black 128GB XR. I have watched a ton of videos and handled the XR in person, and I was really impressed with the phone. My last final is tomorrow so hopefully I make better than a 79 which is all I need to keep an A and a 4.0.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I have a 2 year old 7+ and am considering getting an XR. The only thing holding me back is the lack of dual cameras which I use all the time. Not so much for the portrait feature, but for the optical zoom. I find the standard camera too wide a lot of the time and I hate using digital zoom, which is the same as cropping the image, loosing detail.

No way I'm paying Xs\Xs Max money for a phone!

I thought about that but this dual camera thing on the iPhone 7 Plus at least is a scam. You’re only using it in 100% perfect conditions (LOTS of light). For anything else the (cropped) main camera is better. That’s how bad it is in terms of low light performance.

See for yourself - place your finger on the 2x camera and set it to 2x zoom. If it’s working it’ll go black, if your iPhone has determined the cropped image of the main camera is better all things considered, you’ll see it zoom but it’s not actually switching cameras.

So rationally this dual camera thing is pure FOMO (and people knowing you have the super latest iPhone) but it gets you nonetheless.

 

[Hansana]

I upgraded from my 7+ to a XR today.
I sold my 7+ for a reasonable price so it was worth the upgrade.
If I kept my 7+ for another year the value of it would have been significantly less than it was today.

 

[thadoggfather]

I think Plus to XR makes a lot of sense, especially if you

1) you are ready for an upgrade
2) can forego dual lens
3) dont want to downsize to X/XS, but also dont want to upsize or pay for a Max

I liked downsizing to X for in hand ergonomics, but I always missed having a little more real estate

 

[hipsheik]

Kept my 8+.

XR screen just looks washed out compared to 8+. Lower contrast?

Also I very much preferred reading text on 8+.

I'm sure Apple would be happy if people didn't notice the difference.

 

[timeconsumer]

I went from the 7+ to the XR and happy that I did. With 12.1.1 I’m not missing 3D Touch at all. Battery life is impressive and I’ve been preferring the wireless charging instead of plugging in a cable.

 

[kre62]

Kept my 8+.

XR screen just looks washed out compared to 8+. Lower contrast?

Also I very much preferred reading text on 8+.

I'm sure Apple would be happy if people didn't notice the difference.

You may have compared to a bad XR panel. There is variance out there.

I have a good XR panel and had an 8+. The XR is way better contrast and color wise. The screen looks so much better than the 8+.

Compare again to an Apple display unit. Turn off true tone on both for an accurate compare.

 

[hipsheik]

You may have compared to a bad XR panel.

Compare again to an Apple display unit. Turn off true tone on both for an accurate compare.

I went to the Apple store and didn't notice any difference with their XRs compared to mine, but it's hardly an optimal environment for comparison.

I couldn't live with the text on the XR though. If I were coming from a regular 8, I'm sure I wouldn't notice.

 

[RLRabb]

I’m actually trying to decide whether to take advantage of Apple’s $150 trade-in for my 4-year-old iPhone 6, bringing the price of a XR down to $600. I like the XR, my friend just got one, but my 6 works fine and I don’t spend a lot of time on my phone.

 

[GuruZac]

Wondering if Apple is adding haptic further feedback in the XR anytime within iOS 12? As far as app shortcuts etc?

 

[davedvdy]

Wondering if Apple is adding haptic further feedback in the XR anytime within iOS 12? As far as app shortcuts etc?

If it's the haptic to get the preview (similar to 3D Touch), that feature was added in the last incremental update, I believe.

 

[OLDGUYWITHAHIFI]

I decided that I can live without 3D Touch and I told my wife, if I make a 4.0 this semester, I’m replacing my black 7 Plus with a Product Red or Black 128GB XR. I have watched a ton of videos and handled the XR in person, and I was really impressed with the phone. My last final is tomorrow so hopefully I make better than a 79 which is all I need to keep an A and a 4.0.

What does a 4.0 have to do with a phone?

 

[GuruZac]

If it's the haptic to get the preview (similar to 3D Touch), that feature was added in the last incremental update, I believe.

Pardon the ignorance, but does that update offer functionality like 3D Touch with opening apps, hyperlink preview?
[doublepost=1544531867][/doublepost]

What does a 4.0 have to do with a phone?

Nothing, except it’s a way of rewarding myself for a tough semester in school, and I was being a bit facetious.

 

[MacAlien]

Oddly, I woke up this morning and immediately wondered if it’d be worth it going from an 8+ to XR and immediately found this thread. I originally wanted partner to get it from their SE but proved too big for them and settled on an 8. Got email about $350 trade in and I do still have my yearly upgrade available. Has anybody gone from an 8+ and what have the pros and cons been?
[doublepost=1544534045][/doublepost]

You can still take portraits of people with the XR just not dogs/cats/objects.

What does this mean? I take pictures of my dog in portrait mode all the time.

 

[leezz]

I'd like to add you can trade in a 6 for a new 8 or 8P at a $150 trade in value. The promotion from Apple is not only for the XR. I confirmed this with Apple.

 

[PeteS1963]

I'd like to add you can trade in a 6 for a new 8 or 8P at a $150 trade in value. The promotion from Apple is not only for the XR. I confirmed this with Apple.

As far as I can tell that’s US only but might be wrong. Can’t see anything as generous as that here in the UK.

 

[DaveyVigs]

Oddly, I woke up this morning and immediately wondered if it’d be worth it going from an 8+ to XR and immediately found this thread. I originally wanted partner to get it from their SE but proved too big for them and settled on an 8. Got email about $350 trade in and I do still have my yearly upgrade available. Has anybody gone from an 8+ and what have the pros and cons been?
[doublepost=1544534045][/doublepost]

What does this mean? I take pictures of my dog in portrait mode all the time.

The XR you need a $5.99 app to take portraits of animals with the rear facing camera don’t quote me on functionality as I never tried it.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.macrumors.com/2018/10/29/halide-portrait-mode-iphone-xr/amp/

I also don’t know about the front camera portrait for a dog as I’ve never used for my pets. Presumably if you did a rear camera selfie with you and your dog or take a picture of a person and your dog from the rear camera it would be portrait. But the iOS software only recognizes people with the rear camera apparently the app developer figured out a software based work around to it.

 

[OLDGUYWITHAHIFI]

Oddly, I woke up this morning and immediately wondered if it’d be worth it going from an 8+ to XR and immediately found this thread. I originally wanted partner to get it from their SE but proved too big for them and settled on an 8. Got email about $350 trade in and I do still have my yearly upgrade available. Has anybody gone from an 8+ and what have the pros and cons been?
[doublepost=1544534045][/doublepost]

What does this mean? I take pictures of my dog in portrait mode all the time.

Let's see a picture of your dog...

 

[tops2]

Another benefit from the Plus to the XR is its physically smaller. For me personally, it enough to make one handed use much easier. And I find the XR much more comfortable in my pockets. My 6 Plus in pockets "digs" into my hips depends on which pants I wear (and I don't wear skinny jeans).

If you do consider an XR, look at upgrading storage to 128GB for additional $50 (this is what I did). I don't need the space..but thought the price increase is more reasonable and I'm looking to keep my XR till it dies.