With the recent release of this year’s flagship iPhones — the XS and XS Max — there’s also a great deal of discussion around the somewhat more affordable iPhone XR. It’s understandable, since the XR comes out at a time when people seem to be caught between settling for last year’s iPhone X offerings and choosing the latest improvements — if you can get over the four-figure price tag — of the XS.
Like an unpredictable middle child in the Apple family of products, the iPhone XR is causing quite a stir as consumers search for reliable information regarding the following questions.
How Is the iPhone XR Different From the XS?
Let’s start with price, since that’s what’s going to attract many people to the XR over the XS. The XS retails for $1,000, and the XR comes in at $750. While this price tag is still hefty when compared to lower-priced Android phones, Apple aficionados will just want to know how the XR’s features stack up against the XS. And here’s where many users will be in for a series of happy surprises.
The first surprise comes when looking at the phones’ screens. The iPhone XS has a 5.8-inch screen, while the XR comes with a 6.1-inch screen. That’s right — the XR actually has a slightly bigger screen than the XS. Of course, there are differences. The XS has an OLED screen with eye-catching resolution and a smaller bezel. The XR, on the other hand, has an LCD screen with a slightly larger bezel. However, most users will probably find the XR’s respectable aspect ratio and True Tone color accuracy perfectly acceptable for the vast majority of video content.
Next up is the camera technology. The XR has only a single lens, while the XS has a dual-lens system. However, since the XR is powered by the same chip — the A12 Bionic — as the XS, its software-inspired photo improvements like depth adjustment after a photo is taken are identical to those of the top-of-the-line XS. Plus, the XR — like the XS — allows for FACE ID.
Lastly, the casing of the XR is made of aerospace-grade aluminum, while the XS is wrapped in stainless steel. But once again, the surprise is that the XR comes in a choice of lively colors — white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (product) red — while the XS limits you to silver, space grey and gold.
Is the iPhone XR Better Than the iPhone X (2017 model)?
The answer to this question is pretty much up to personal taste. As already mentioned above, the XR has a bigger screen — 6.1 inches — than the iPhone X — 5.8 inches, yet the same difference of comparing an LCD to an OLED screen applies.
Nevertheless, the chip under the hood is different. While the iPhone X is driven by the very respectable A11, the XR sports the latest A12 Bionic processor. What this difference means is entirely dependent on how you plan to use the phone. If you’re heavily into gaming and augmented-reality experiences, you might prefer the XR, while if you’re into internet browsing and social media, the iPhone X could be sufficient.
When it comes to camera technology, the X has dual lenses on its rear camera, while the XR has a single lens. But again, with some new software technology thrown in with the XR, it’s no slouch in the photo department.
Both phones are IP67 rated, which means they’ll both survive the occasional drop and even a dunking in three feet of water. Plus, both are compatible with wireless Qi standard charging.
How Is the iPhone XR Different?
There’s no doubt that the iPhone X is still an amazing phone, and the XS is the frontrunner for those willing to pay the price for the best Apple has to offer. The XR, however, is proving to be a real contender somewhere in the middle. With its large screen, top-of-the-line processor and more affordable price tag, the XR will be the choice for many smartphone users.
One last point for consideration for users looking to brag about the XR’s performance: Due to its lower-energy-consuming LCD display, it actually gets up to 25 percent more battery life per charge when compared to the XS!
Need more information? The Whiz Cells would love to hear from you. Contact us for answers to all of your iPhone questions — we’re always happy to help.