If you‘re in the market for a new iPhone but can‘t quite justify the high price tag of Apple‘s latest and greatest models, you may be considering picking up an older iPhone XR or iPhone XS instead. Released in 2018, these two iPhones represented the best Apple had to offer at the time. And while they may no longer be cutting-edge, the XR and XS still deliver excellent performance and features that will satisfy all but the most demanding users.
But how do you choose between the iPhone XR and iPhone XS? While these two iPhones share a lot in common, there are also some key differences to be aware of that could sway your decision one way or the other. In this in-depth comparison, we‘ll take a close look at the iPhone XR and XS in all the areas that matter most, from the display quality to performance to battery life and beyond. By the end, you‘ll know exactly which model is right for you.
Display
The most obvious difference between the iPhone XR and XS is the display. The iPhone XR features a 6.1-inch "Liquid Retina" LCD display with a resolution of 1792 x 828 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 326 ppi. In contrast, the iPhone XS sports a higher-end 5.8-inch OLED "Super Retina" display with a much sharper 2436 x 1125 pixel resolution, working out to a pixel density of 458 ppi.
So what do these display specs mean in the real world? In short, the iPhone XS screen is noticeably crisper, delivering more fine detail especially when viewing photos, videos, and text-heavy websites. The XS display also gets brighter, topping out at 625 nits compared to 625 nits on the XR. And thanks to its OLED technology, the XS offers richer, more vibrant colors and perfect black levels.
That said, the iPhone XR‘s LCD display is still excellent and among the best LCDs ever put in a smartphone. It has roughly the same pixel density as a 4K TV, so it‘s plenty sharp for all but the biggest screen-staring pixel peepers. The XR display also supports wide color and True Tone like the XS, dynamically adjusting white balance to ambient lighting conditions. For the vast majority of users, the iPhone XR screen will be more than good enough.
Performance
Turning to performance, the iPhone XR and XS are equals. Both phones are powered by Apple‘s A12 Bionic chip – the same blazing fast processor found in the company‘s latest iPhone 11 Pro models. In fact, the A12 is so powerful that it beats many modern laptop CPUs in benchmarks.
In Geekbench 5, the iPhone XR and XS both put up single-core scores around 1100 and multi-core scores around 2700. That‘s only about 15% slower than the A13 chip in the brand new iPhone 11 Pro and still faster than Snapdragon 855-powered Android phones. You can expect the XR and XS to chew through any task you throw at them now and for years to come.
The iPhone XS does have one small performance advantage: it packs 4GB of RAM compared to 3GB in the XR. This gives the XS better multitasking abilities, letting it keep more apps stored in memory without needing to reload. But in real-world usage, you‘d be hard-pressed to notice a difference between the two phones.
Cameras
If smartphone photography is a priority, the iPhone XS is the clear choice over the XR. While both phones have the same excellent 12MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, the XS adds a second 12MP telephoto lens. This enables optical 2x zoom on the XS for getting closer to your subject with no loss in quality. The telephoto lens also powers the XS‘s portrait mode with adjustable background blur.
The iPhone XR isn‘t totally left out when it comes to portrait mode. It can still take portraits using its single lens through software processing. However, the effect isn‘t quite as convincing as what you get from the XS dual cameras. The XR is also limited to 3x digital zoom vs. 10x digital on the XS.
Both phones support Apple‘s Smart HDR technology, which combines multiple exposures to increase dynamic range in challenging lighting. Low light performance is also similarly great on both, though the XS pulls ahead thanks to its telephoto lens giving it a real 2x zoom in dark scenes.
Around front, you get the same 7MP TrueDepth camera on the iPhone XR and XS with f/2.2 aperture. It takes excellent selfies in all lighting conditions and supports portrait mode with depth control. The TrueDepth camera also enables secure Face ID authentication on both phones.
Battery Life
The iPhone XR is the battery life champ in Apple‘s 2018 lineup. Thanks to its larger physical size and lower-resolution display, the XR packs a big 2,942 mAh battery. Compare that to the 2,658 mAh battery in the iPhone XS.
The result is the iPhone XR lasting up to 25% longer than the XS on a charge. In Tom‘s Guide‘s web surfing battery test, the XR endured for 11 hours and 26 minutes. The iPhone XS clocked out much sooner at 9 hours and 41 minutes. Similarly, the XR streamed video for 16 hours straight, beating the 14 hour run time of the XS.
Both the iPhone XR and XS support fast charging with an 18W power adapter (not included) and can charge to 50% in about 30 minutes. They‘re also compatible with Qi wireless charging, topping up at 7.5W speeds.
Design, Colors, and Durability
The iPhone XR and XS share a similar design language with glass backs, aluminum bands, and nearly edge-to-edge displays. The XS is a bit more compact thanks to its 5.8-inch screen and also slightly lighter at 6.14 ounces vs. 6.84 ounces for the XR.
Around back, the iPhone XR comes in six fun colors: black, white, blue, yellow, coral, and red. The XS has a more subdued color palette of silver, gold, and space gray.
Both phones boast durable glass and are rated for dust and water resistance, though the XS takes it a bit further. It has an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive being submerged in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes. The iPhone XR is IP67 rated to withstand 1 meter of water for the same 30 minute duration.
Additional Features
There are a few other differences between the iPhone XR and XS worth noting:
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The iPhone XS supports 3D Touch, which lets you perform quick actions by pressing firmly on app icons and notifications. The XR lacks 3D Touch but offers similar functionality with long presses through its Haptic Touch system.
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The iPhone XS enables Animoji and Memoji recording through its TrueDepth camera. The XR can play Animoji and Memoji but not record them.
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The iPhone XS starts with 64GB of storage and is also available in 256GB and 512GB capacities. The XR comes in just 64GB and 128GB configurations.
Price
Price is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the iPhone XR and XS, and it‘s here that the XR really stands out. When buying new from Apple in 2018, the iPhone XR started at $749 for 64GB, with the 128GB model going for $799.
The iPhone XS cost a good deal more: $999 for 64GB, $1,149 for 256GB, and a whopping $1,349 for 512GB. That means you could get a 128GB iPhone XR and still have $350 left in your pocket compared to the base model XS.
Today, you can find even better deals on refurbished or gently used iPhone XR and XS models. Expect to pay between $500-$600 for a refurbished iPhone XR and $600-$800 for an iPhone XS depending on storage capacity. That‘s hundreds less than a new iPhone 11 or 11 Pro, making these older models a great value.
iPhone XR vs XS: The Verdict
So which should you buy – the iPhone XR or the iPhone XS? It ultimately depends on your priorities and how much you‘re willing to spend. But for most people, the iPhone XR is the smarter choice and one of the best smartphone values around.
With the XR, you get the same blazing fast A12 Bionic processor as the XS, a big and bright 6.1-inch display, excellent 12MP main camera, secure Face ID, and industry-leading battery life. The only things you really give up compared to the XS are the telephoto lens and super-sharp OLED screen. For hundreds less, those are trade-offs most will be happy to make.
On the flip side, the iPhone XS still makes sense if you absolutely must have the best of the best Apple has to offer. Its dual cameras are meaningfully better than the single shooter on the XR, especially for portraits and zoom. The XS also has a fantastic OLED display, more premium materials, and additional niceties like 3D Touch. Serious smartphone photographers and spec junkies will want to ante up for the XS.
Whichever model you choose, both the iPhone XR and iPhone XS are phenomenal smartphones that hold up extremely well considering their age. You‘ll be getting an incredibly fast and capable device with years of iOS updates ahead of it. And thanks to the savings over buying the latest and greatest, your wallet will thank you.