Apple has finally unveiled its new iPhone for 2018 – iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are virtually the same, with the only difference in screen sizes. The former is 5.8-inch (458 ppi) while the latter is 6.5-inch (458 ppi). On the other hand, iPhone XR showcases Apple’s attempt to pack a less expensive phone into the premium iPhone mix.

This is not the first time that Apple has tried its hands on cheaper iPhones. iPhone SE and iPhone 5C were launched by Apple following a similar strategy, but they looked too different from the mainstream iPhones, and thus didn’t last. However, the latest iPhone XR shares the design and many of the same specs as the top-tier iPhones. It is offered in bright colors and has a smaller battery than the iPhone XSes.

Prices

64GB 128GB 256GB 512GB

iPhone XR                   $749        $799            $899             N/A
iPhone XS                   $999         N/A          $1,149        $1,349
iPhone XS Max       $1,099          N/A          $1,249        $1,449

On The Exterior

The new iPhone looks identical to last year’s iPhone X. This means that all-metal body has made a return, complete with notched 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches edge-to-edge screens, chamfered edges and softly rounded corners. Both the Xs and Xs Max also feature a similar bulging out dual-camera arrangement as last year’s top-end phone. A lot of Apple fans would be disappointed with the lack of design changes. The iPhone Xs is available in ‘Gold’, with ‘Silver’ and ‘Space Grey’ colourways back, too. While the iPhone XR comes in flashy colors like coral pink, yellow and blue.

What’s Inside?

All three models are the first to feature Apple’s homegrown A12 Bionic CPU, the first commercially available 7nm processor. The all-new 7nm A12 Bionic has a 6-core processor: two of which are high-performance cores that deliver 15% more power, while the rest of the four cores are ‘high-efficiency’ cores. The latter result in better battery life in non-intensive tasks.

But, that’s not it, the A12 Bionic has a 4-core GPU, which Apple claims to be 50% faster than last year’s A11 Bionic. Finally, the chip has an 8-core Neural Engine chip that brings everything together.

Camera

There are dual rear-facing cameras in iPhone XS and XS Max, while iPhone XR has a single rear-facing camera. A f/1.8 12-megapixel wide angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens that has an aperture of f/2.4. The cameras capture more detail than before – it can take Smart HDR photos, which is better than any iPhone has in the past.

Display

The biggest difference to most will be the ultra-smooth 120Hz display – a first in an iPhone. This 120Hz display provides a better experience when scrolling through the web, and even in games. Colour-accurate Super Retina display also returns, as we saw on last year’s iPhone X. It’s an OLED display, too. The OLED display covers a wide colour gamut, which makes colours pop when watching movies; with HDR10 and Dolby Vision supported natively, you’ll get the most out of movies and shows that support it. Moreover, the display has True Tone and a Tap to Wake function as well.

Full Specs

At a time when phones are becoming more and more expensive, Apple’s decision to embrace the new “X” family is important and it further strengthens its new strategy. This is a welcome move that will set the tone for other phone makers, moving into the next year.

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