The iPhone XS and iPhone XS MAX came in 2018 and boasted a host of advanced features and also bigger & brighter displays. Customers and critics received these phones well, proving to be resounding successes.
This review will look at the features and specs that make the iPhone XS and XS MAX stand out from their competitors. We will also discuss whether or not it’s worth investing in either for your everyday use. Read on to find out more.
Specifications of the iPhone XS:
- Device Type – iOS 4G Smartphone
- Cores – Hexa-core
- Chipset – Apple A12 Bionic Chi, 6-Core
- Cores – Quad-Core (4-Cores)
- Camera – Dual 12 MP + 12 MP with Quad-LED and AF Rear Camera | 7 Megapixel Front camera
- Memory – RAM- 4GB | ROM 64GB/256GB/512GB External Memory Not Support
- Display – Screen size 5.8-inches OLED Display (1125 x 2436 Pixels)
- Battery – Non-Removable Lithium-Ion
- SIM – Dual SIM (Nano-SIM + eSIM) | Dual nano-SIM Only Available in China
- Sensors – Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Barometer, Infrared Face Recognition Sensor
- Color – Silver, Gray, Gold
- Operating System – iOS 12
- I/O Interface – 1 x Nano SIM Card Slot, 1 x eSIM Card Slot, TF Card Slot, USB v2.0, Headphone Jack, Power Button, Volume Button, Microphone
- Dimensions – 70.9 mm x 143.6 mm x 7.7 mm
- Weight – 177 Grams (with Battery)
- More Features – Stainless Steel and Glass Body Design, Hexa-Core chip, LTE-A EV-DO Rev.A, HSPA+, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE Support, NFC, Liquid Retina HD Display, HDR10, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo speakers, HAC (M3/T4) – Hearing Aid Compatibility, Document Editor, Qi Wireless Charging, Fast Charging, M12 Motion Coprocessor, Neural Engine (Eight-core design), 7 nm CPU Technology, IP68 Water and Dust Protection.
Pros and cons of the iPhone XS:
Pros:
- Stunning display
- Incredible camera
- Durability
- Compact in size
- Responsive Face-ID
- Fast processor
- Loudspeaker sound
- IP68 rating
Cons:
No lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack provided
Battery needs improvement
Expensive
Specifications of the iPhone XS MAX:
- Device Type – iOS 4G Smartphone
- Cores – Hexa-core
- Chipset – Apple A12 Bionic
- Cores – Quad-Core
- Camera – Dual 12 MP + 12 MP with Quad-LED and AF Rear Camera | 7 Megapixel Front camera
- Memory – RAM- 4GB | ROM 64GB/256GB/512GB External Memory Not Support
- Display – Screen size 6.5 inches OLED Display (1242 x 2688 Pixels)
- Battery – Non-Removable with 15 hours of Video playback time
- SIM – Dual SIM (Nano-SIM + eSIM) | Dual nano-SIM Only Available in China
- Sensors – Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Barometer, Infrared Face Recognition Sensor
- Color – Silver, Gray, Gold
- Operating System – iOS 12
- I/O Interface – 1x Nano SIM Card Slot, 1xeSIM Card Slot, TF Card Slot, USB v2.0, Headphone Jack, Power Button, Volume Button, Microphone
- Dimensions – 77.4 mm x 157.5 mm x 7.9 mm
- Weight – 208 Grams (with Battery)
- More Features – Stainless Steel and Glass Body Design, Hexa-Core chip, LTE-A EV-DO Rev.A, HSPA+, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE Support, NFC, Liquid Retina HD Display, HDR10, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo speakers, HAC (M3/T4) – Hearing Aid Compatibility, Document Editor, Qi Wireless Charging, Fast Charging, M12 Motion Coprocessor, Neural Engine (Eight-core design), 7 nm CPU Technology, IP68 Water and Dust Protection.
Pros and cons of the iPhone XS MAX:
Pros:
- Immaculate design
- Excellent camera
- Gorgeous, large display
- Powerful & fast processor
- Snappy FACE-ID
- Outstanding speakers
- IP68 rating
Cons:
- Not easy to carry in pockets or bags
- No lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack provided
- Average battery life
- Expensive
- The iPhone XS & XS MAX design & display:
The iPhone XS is available in 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max. Both phones have OLED displays with 2436 x 1125 and 1125 x 2436 resolutions, respectively, which Apple calls a Super Retina display. The OLED panel enables an HDR display with a wide colour gamut and true blacks.
The display also features True Tone technology, which adjusts the display’s white balance to match the ambient lighting in your environment. It’s a stunning display and is noticeably better than the LCD panels used in older iPhones.
The bezels around the display are extremely thin, and the phone has a small notch at the top that houses the front-facing camera and facial recognition sensors. The bottom bezel is slightly thicker to make room for the Home button/Touch ID sensor. The phone’s sides are made of stainless steel, and the back is glass.
Both phones have gorgeous displays. It’s bright and vibrant, and the colours are incredibly accurate. The colours are true to their nature, nice and crisp. The display is also noticeably brighter than the iPhone X’s, making it easier to read in direct sunlight.
Performance:
Both these phones have identical A12 Bionic chips and 4 GB of RAM. So, their performance is very similar. Let us discuss it in a little detail.
The performance on both phones is top-notch. Thanks to the A12 Bionic chip, both phones are fast and highly responsive. There are very few apps or games that can slow them down.
It’s not just the raw processor speed that makes the phone so fast. Apple has also optimised iOS 12 to utilise the A12’s capabilities fully. As a result, apps launch faster and run smoother on the iPhone XS than on any other phone.
The camera:
Like the processor, both phones have the same camera configurations too. They both sport 12 MP dual rear cameras (wide and telephoto) and a 7 MP front-facing camera.
The camera setup is one of the best on any smartphone. It has a 12-megapixel sensor with large pixels that allow in more light. It results in better photos, especially in low-light conditions. The camera also has a new image signal processor for better pictures and videos.
One of the best features of the iPhone XS camera is the ability to shoot in portrait mode. This mode uses wide-angle and telephoto lenses to create a shallow depth-of-field effect. It blurs the background and makes your subject stand out.
The portrait mode also works great with the new TrueDepth camera system on the front of the phone. It lets you take selfies with the same blurred background effect.
Battery life:
The iPhone XS’s battery life is pretty impressive. With a capacity of 2,658mAh, it’s one of the largest batteries ever used in an iPhone. Despite its large size, the iPhone XS only weighs 6.24 ounces. That’s thanks to the use of lithium-ion polymer rather than the older and heavier lithium-ion batteries.
The iPhone XS can last up to 12 hours when streaming video over LTE or Wi-Fi, browsing the web or using other power-intensive applications. When used more moderately, like for making calls, sending texts, and checking email, the iPhone XS can last up to 20 hours before recharging.
The battery life on the iPhone XS MAX is even better. It has a capacity of 3174mAh and a longer life than the iPhone XS. Because of its size, Apple had the leverage of using a large battery which it did effectively.
On a single charge, the iPhone XS MAX can provide you with 25 hours of talk time, 65 hours of music streaming, 15 hours of video playback and 13 hours of browsing. These figures can vary but, on the whole, provide an impressive performance.
Thanks to the fast charging capabilities, you can also gain up to 50% charge on both these phones in just 30 minutes.
How can you buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS MAX?
These phones are now available at a lower price because they are old. The price can be even lower if you go for the refurbished option.
Wise Market, Australia, is an online platform where you can buy refurbished phones, tablets and other devices at highly competitive prices. The company provides a 13-month warranty and a 21-day money-back guarantee on every item it sells. Log on to the website to explore more.
Conclusion:
The iPhone XS and XS MAX are the perfect combinations of beauty, power and style. The sleek designs, powerful processors and large displays make them ideal for anyone who wants to stay connected while on the go.
With their impressive battery lives and excellent camera capabilities, it’s no wonder why these phones have become so popular and continue to be so after all these years. Whether you’re looking for a new way to take pictures or want to stream your favourite shows more conveniently than ever before, the iPhone XS and XS MAX are worth considering.