iPhone XS What exactly was the difference between the X and XS?

[Aydy]

No. Not to me but for any technical competent reviewer that analyzed the phone.

And it doesn’t take ”trained ears” to hear the difference.

If that worth the upgrade or not is subjective, but the differences are there.

It was definitely worth the upgrade in my case. The Xs max have the best speaker I have heard to date on a smartphone. It’s a component/feature thats particularly important to me as I can’t bear headphones and like to fall asleep listening to podcasts. I could always use a Bluetooth speaker but with the max there is genuinely no need, the sound is so rich and full & it actually has a proper low end which I have never found on any smartphone to date. It was honestly the sole reason for me for purchasing the xsm. As soon as I heard it’s playback on a friend’s I was sold there & then..The only speaker (phone) to come close was a single fire on my old Samsung S6 edge+. Nowhere near the max output/quality but superb nonetheless, for its time.

 

[Ta0jin]

I cant comment on your personal experience.
I can highlight technical data.

Personal experience is what I was relaying to the OP.

 

[Damo88]

They don’t mention it, Because they know consumers don’t care and/or even know what Ram is. Apple never addresses how much Ram iPhones have during their keynotes. When consumers are buying an iPhone, they’re just looking for the storage/color, they don’t go and ask much ram an iPhone has.

The fact they don't mention it is quite ridiculous. An extra GB of RAM is a decent upgrade, no matter how good iOS is at memory management. I'd argue it's as good an upgrade as any of the other changes from the X.

 

[MarkX]

The fact they don't mention it is quite ridiculous. An extra GB of RAM is a decent upgrade, no matter how good iOS is at memory management. I'd argue it's as good an upgrade as any of the other changes from the X.

To you it might be an upgrade but to the masses it means nothing.

If the average persons opens an app and they’ve to wait a second or two while it reloads then that’s what they do. Over the years not once have I heard anyone, other than on here, moan about lack of ram.

 

[maerz001]

To you it might be an upgrade but to the masses it means nothing.

If the average persons opens an app and they’ve to wait a second or two while it reloads then that’s what they do. Over the years not once have I heard anyone, other than on here, moan about lack of ram.

But they moan that their phone got slow and buy a new one

 

[FlyingDutch]

To you it might be an upgrade but to the masses it means nothing.

If the average persons opens an app and they’ve to wait a second or two while it reloads then that’s what they do. Over the years not once have I heard anyone, other than on here, moan about lack of ram.

What about Apple dropping support for that model one or two years earlier due to that 1 Gb of less RAM ?
It means something even to the “masses”.

 

[MarkX]

What about Apple dropping support for that model one or two years earlier due to that 1 Gb of less RAM ?
It means something even to the “masses”.

Example please?

The 5s only had 1gb ram and this far has been the only iPhone that has received 6 major OS updates.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Example please?

The 5s only had 1gb ram and this far has been the only iPhone that has received 6 major OS updates.

5S and 6 support dropped on the same year due to RAM limitation.
A8 iPhone (6 and 6 Plus) dropped while A8 iPad (Mini 4 and Air 2) still supported because they have more RAM than the iPhone.

Plenty of examples.

 

[MarkX]

5S and 6 support dropped on the same year due to RAM limitation.
A8 iPhone (6 and 6 Plus) dropped while A8 iPad (Mini 4 and Air 2) still supported because they have more RAM than the iPhone.

Plenty of examples.

iPhone 5s: 6 major OS updates, iPhone 6: 5 major OS updates.

As for why the 6 and 6 plus were dropped before the Mini 4 and Air 2 I’d hazard a guess at that it’s because they have iPad OS now, what difference that makes I have no idea.

Any way, after 5 years + of support I think that devices have reached their end of life, software wise. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them on older software, millions are still using the 5s and 6. At that age it won’t just be ram that is the limiting factor in running newer software.

 

[FlyingDutch]

iPhone 5s: 6 major OS updates, iPhone 6: 5 major OS updates.

As for why the 6 and 6 plus were dropped before the Mini 4 and Air 2 I’d hazard a guess at that it’s because they have iPad OS now, what difference that makes I have no idea.

Any way, after 5 years + of support I think that devices have reached their end of life, software wise. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them on older software, millions are still using the 5s and 6. At that age it won’t just be ram that is the limiting factor in running newer software.

Support is good, as usual, but the RAM made a difference here.
A Mini 4 user can still use his product, while an iPhone 6 Plus user cannot.
RAM is a big factor now that iOS added quite a lot of functionalities.

The 3 Gb of iphone X will be a limit sooner than later. Giving a chance, I would choose a 4 Gb model.

 

[MarkX]

Support is good, as usual, but the RAM made a difference here.
A Mini 4 user can still use his product, while an iPhone 6 Plus user cannot.
RAM is a big factor now that iOS added quite a lot of functionalities.

The 3 Gb of iphone X will be a limit sooner than later. Giving a chance, I would choose a 4 Gb model.

I think you’re missing my point, by the time hardware is the limiting factor the devices you mentioned have had their life hence they are no longer supported.

Also, you can still use a 6 plus, even now.

 

[Elitegate]

I just read all the comments here on the post and realized how minimal the differences are

But it wasn't always like that. For example, 4 to 4s, 5 to 5s, 6 to 6s they did noticeably improve. But now? Not so much anymore. 7 to 8 wasn't really worth it and X to Xs was also not worth it unless you went for the Max.

But it never really made much sense to upgrade on a yearly basis, keep the phone atleast 2 years, that's what i have always said.

 

[Closingracer]

5S and 6 support dropped on the same year due to RAM limitation.
A8 iPhone (6 and 6 Plus) dropped while A8 iPad (Mini 4 and Air 2) still supported because they have more RAM than the iPhone.

Plenty of examples.

And both of those phones lasted longer then any Android device in terms of updates other then perhaps pixel/ nexus lineup ?

 

[Closingracer]

Support is good, as usual, but the RAM made a difference here.
A Mini 4 user can still use his product, while an iPhone 6 Plus user cannot.
RAM is a big factor now that iOS added quite a lot of functionalities.

The 3 Gb of iphone X will be a limit sooner than later. Giving a chance, I would choose a 4 Gb model.

Lol... the X will last another few years with 3GB of RAM. RAM isn’t as much as an issue on iOS then it is on Android and how iOS runs you’ll be fine. No need to stir the pot

 

[d5aqoëp]

It may not be worth it to update to XS model from X at this time. I am holding to X for one more year. My Qualcomm X has way better 4G reception and speed compared to my wife’s XS which has Intel’s trash in it. Hopefully next year’s model blows away all previous ones when it comes to 4G/5G performance.

 

[FlyingDutch]

I think you’re missing my point, by the time hardware is the limiting factor the devices you mentioned have had their life hence they are no longer supported.

Also, you can still use a 6 plus, even now.

I wouldn’t say that for an iPhone.
There are still many iPhone 5S, 6 and 6Plus in use, where the hardware is a limiting factor but users would like to keep them (maybe just with a battery replacement).
It could happen to iPhone X too, in the future.
I would try to avoid that by buying an iphone with 4 Gb of RAM in 2020...
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And both of those phones lasted longer then any Android device in terms of updates other then perhaps pixel/ nexus lineup ?

And who exactly spoke about Android phones ?
Who cares about Android phones ? 🧐
[automerge]1576594856[/automerge]

Lol... the X will last another few years with 3GB of RAM. RAM isn’t as much as an issue on iOS then it is on Android and how iOS runs you’ll be fine. No need to stir the pot

Yes, iPhone X will last another few years, for sure.

But to say “RAM isn’t an issue on iOS “ is not so much valid anymore, since iOS evolved.
Apple is including many features in iOS/ iPadOS, fortunately, but that came at a price: resources.

The point is not if an iPhone X is a good product today. It surely is.
The point is today if I have to buy an iPhone, I would prefer a 4 Gb model like the iphone 11.