Apple has a new range of iPhone models for 2018 and has announced them during a special event held at its futuristic Apple Campus in Cupertino, California. Rumors were rampant ahead of the event, telling us that we should expect three new phones, a new Apple Watch series, and the new AirPods too.
Sure enough, that’s what we got — the iPhone Xs, the iPhone Xs Max, and the iPhone Xr.
The world of smartphones is constantly moving forward, with a never-ending and almost scary parade of improvements (upgrades which have continued to fascinate us). A year on from Apple’s biggest overhaul of the iPhone range and we have a direct successor to the iPhone X which is clearly part of the same family (Like the typical “s” versions of iPhones). With a notched OLED screen and all the same design cues, we find the iPhone Xs vying for our affections.
Owners of an iPhone X will be weighing up whether the upgrade to an iPhone Xs is worth it. Others may be anticipating a price drop for the iPhone X and wondering if the iPhone Xs justifies the extra outlay.
We have all the answers you need right here as we compare last year’s iPhone X with this year’s iPhone Xs.
| Feature | Apple iPhone Xs | Apple iPhone X |
| Size | 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm (5.65 × 2.79 × 0.30 inches) | 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm (5.65 × 2.79 × 0.30 inches) |
| Weight | 177 grams (6.24 ounces) | 174 grams (6.14 ounces) |
| Screen size | 5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display | 5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display |
| Screen resolution | 2,436 × 1,125 pixels (458 ppi) | 2,436 × 1,125 pixels (458 ppi) |
| Operating system | iOS 12 | iOS 11 |
| Storage space | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB |
| MicroSD card slot | No | No |
| Tap-to-pay services | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A11 Bionic |
| RAM | TBA | 3GB |
| Camera | Dual 12MP rear, 7MP FaceTime HD front | Dual 12MP rear, 7MP FaceTime HD front |
| Video | 2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps | 2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5 | Bluetooth 5 |
| Ports | Lightning | Lightning |
| Fingerprint sensor | No | No |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Battery | TBC | 2716MAH |
How about the rest?
The third new iPhone is the iPhone Xr, which is the more affordable model, essentially replacing the iPhone SE. It has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD screen, which Apple calls the most advanced LCD display available, and a 1792 x 828 pixel resolution for a 326ppi density. There’s no 3D Touch, but Apple has added a similar feature it calls Haptic Touch, which provides clever shortcuts, just like the full 3D Touch feature. It shares the same camera, Face ID system, and A12 Bionic chip with the iPhone Xs range, while the battery promises 90 minutes longer use than the iPhone 8 Plus.
Overall Winner: Apple iPhone Xs
It will come as no surprise that Apple has made improvements over the last year and the iPhone Xs is a slightly better phone than the iPhone X. It boasts better performance, longer battery life, and a few other tweaks to make it more appealing, but the difference isn’t massive. If you have an iPhone X already, it may be wise that you hang on to it for at least another year. For those choosing between the X and the Xs, we’d definitely opt for the newer iPhone.
