iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR: Everything New in Apple’s Latest
Sep. 13, 2018The three new iPhones are finally here and have beenpriced very exorbitantly. While all three phones represent an upgrade, theiPhone XS(pronounced the “Ten Es”), the larger variantiPhone XS Max, as well as theiPhone XRbuild upon the design of the iPhone X.
Now that we know that the new iPhones are more powerful than the iPhone X, let’s have a quick look at the exciting features offered in these upgraded models:
A12 Bionic Chipset
Much more powerful than previous chipsets and arguably the most powerful Apple SoC yet, the A12 Bionic based on the Fusion architecture issignificantly faster and more power-efficient Apple claims. Besides the bump in speed, the biggest noticeable change is anew eight-core neural processing unit (NPU)which allows apps the use of real-time AI algorithms for all kinds of use-cases.
The A12 Bionic is not only smarter but also the industry’s first commercially available chipset manufactured with a 7nm process – although Huawei recently announcedKirin 980 with the same process.
All three new iPhones now featurea newer and improved version of Apple’s Face IDwhich was introduced last year with the iPhone X. While Apple did not share specific numbers, thenew Face ID is faster at assessing faces and unlocking the iPhoneXS, XS Max, and the iPhone XR. Needless to say, Touch ID has been dropped completely from the lineup.
The iPhone XS Max redefines what a large iPhone means, so much so that the company had to choose a new nomenclature. The ‘Max’ display on the iPhone XS Max ismassive at 6.5 inches and gets a resolution of 2688×1242 pixelsto maintain the same pixel density of 458ppi as the smaller 5.8-inch display on the iPhone XS.
As we’d been hearing in rumored for a long time, Apple also unveiled an LCD iPhone this year with what Apple calls the“Liquid Retina” display. The 6.1-inch display has aresolution of 1792×828 with a pixel density of 326ppi. It’s not even full HD but Apple made some tall claims about color reproduction and accuracy on this display too.
The displays on all of the three iPhones also get 120Hz touch-sensing which will ensure better haptic feedback, faster touch recognition, and speedier typing. However, this isnot the 120Hz refresh ratewhich we get on the Razer Phone.
The iPhones XS, XS Max, and XRalso get stereo speakers which are improved over the iPhone X. The speakers now produce a wider stereo effect, giving you an immersive sound experience with enhanced spatial sound and better clarity while gaming or watching videos.
The most advanced Apple smartphone – iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max – lets you carry two different numbers in a single iPhone. Yes, these are the first dual-SIM iPhones. Besides the primary SIM,Apple has put in an eSIM just like the Apple Watch and latest iPads. This will be supported by leading operators across the world includingAirtel,Jio, andVodafonein India.
For China only, Apple will be changing the functionality and use adual-sided SIM traywhich will allow users to use two different physical SIM cards simultaneously.
Compared to the IP67 ratings on iPhone X, theiPhone XS and XS Max come withan IP68 ratingfor better dust and water resistance. Apple says that you can immerse the device in a 2-meter deep pond or pool of water for up to 30 minutes without fearing for any damage to the smartphone. The iPhone XR, however, comes with an IP67 rating.
The cameras on the new iPhones are getting a feature calledSmart HDR which automatically improves imagesby taking four different shots at very small intervals and inter-frames which record lighting and depth in the images. This multi-level image processing with the new ISP and enhanced by the better NPU on the A12 Bionic chipset.
The iPhones are also getting a noticeable bump in terms of battery performance with the iPhone XS offering30 minutes of extra power over the iPhone Xwhile the iPhone XS Max exceeds the iPhone X battery life by 90 minutes. On the other hand, the iPhone XR provides 90 minutes of additional usage time over the iPhone 8 Plus, Apple said. Apple has not revealed the battery capacities and we’ll update you over the same once we find out the mAh numbers.
Besides iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR, iOS 12 willbe available for older devices starting September 17which is actually before the new iPhones start shipping.
The new iPhones have taken iPhone’s top-notch performance to the next level, but whether it is a worthy upgrade to the iPhone X, is a question that we are yet to find the answer to.
A lot depends on the performance of these new phones and how much the cameras have improved over the last gen. We will have to wait until September 28 to check out the device when it starts shipping in India. While I feel the new smartphone will be a great upgrade for anyone ditching older iPhones, I think iPhone X users can still make the most out of last year’s flagship, without feeling device envy.
What do you think about the new iPhones? Tell us your opinions in the comments below.
