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With this year's batch of iPhones, he caused a stir Apple dilemma for many customers. All models are essentially equally powerful and while one offers more camera features or more durable materials, the other boasts higher durability and, above all, a lower price. That's why we are often asked whether it is more advantageous to buy a more limited but cheaper model. iPhone XR, or feature-packed, more premium and also more expensive iPhone XS. We are currently testing both models in the editorial team, so we decided to summarize how both phones affect us, and which one, in our opinion, is a better buy.

An ordinary customer will logically say that more expensive iPhone XS must of course be better than the cheaper one in every way iPhone XR. In the vast majority of cases, it really is. The XS offers more premium materials, a more durable rear glass, higher water resistance, a second camera for optical zoom and more options in portrait mode, and most importantly, an OLED display with 3D Touch support, HDR, and narrower bezels.

Even so, the XR has something to impress. If we ignore the 7 crowns lower price, then there is an area that is key for many customers – longer battery life. And this is what we have proven in practice. While iPhone The XS barely lasted a day with intensive use, and we survived the last few hours mostly on low power mode, so the XR handles a very similar all-day load without any major problems, and in the evening after 12 hours we still had 28% of capacity left.

However, one single benefit does not compensate for the several limitations that the XR has compared to the XS. The main one where Apple The most important thing is the display. Not only is it an LCD panel, but it also has a resolution of only 1792 × 828, which for a 6,1″ diagonal is only 326 pixels per inch (versus 458 ppi for the iPhone XS). The resolution, and therefore the fineness of the display, was often criticized after the premiere of the phone. But once again, it turned out that the reality is much brighter than the technical specifications suggest. In fact, the iPhone XR display is really high quality – you can't get a lower resolutionanceven in normal use, the colors are saturated, almost comparable to those on the XS, only the black is not as perfect, on the other hand the white is not yellowish like on the iPhonewith OLED panel (with functions deactivated) True Tone (i.e. Night Shift). It is thanks to the more pronounced white that the display is maxat maximum brightness and noticeably brighter, although on paper both models are rated at 625 cd/m2.

iPhone XS vs XR vs XS Max display

From left: iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone XS Max

The biggest negative Liquid Retina The display, in my opinion, is the absence of 3D Touch. Apple although it was replaced by a new one called Haptic Touch, however, it doesn't offer nearly as many features or advanced options. It lacks link and photo previews, the ability to mark entire words or sentences, or even simple shortcuts on application icons. Apple Apple plans to add more features, but it's already clear that not everyone will be able to do so due to the lack of technology. So if you're upgrading to the XR from an iPhone 6S or later (excluding the iPhone SE), you'll be left with Haptic Touch sometimes act like 3D Touch is not working.

The camera is also worth noting. Although the iPhone XR lacks a second telephoto sensor, the main camera is exactly the same as the XS – 12 megapixels, f/1,8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and a 1.4µm pixel size. For the vast majority of photos taken by the average user, between iPhoneYou won't know the difference between the XS and XR. Apple even the cheaper model has a portrait mode, although previously a dual camera was required for its functionality (not counting the front-facing camera of the iPhone X). However, iPhone XR portraits have their limitations. First of all, the phone is only able to detect people, so the portrait mode simply cannot be used for animals, plants and various objects. Second, foreground and background detection is not always 100% accurate, and sometimes more attempts are needed to get a really high-quality photo.

In the paragraphs above, I have described the main areas in which iPhone XR and XS are different and should play a major role in choosing the first or second model. However, there are also a few other, minor points that I would not like to leave out. Let's summarize them clearly into points:

  • Although the aluminum edges on the iPhone XR aren't as premium as the stainless steel ones, they do feel sleeker and cleaner. And most importantly, they're not a magnet for fingerprints and other dirt, which is a common problem with the iPhone X/XS and XS. MaxOn the other hand, smooth aluminum is sometimes quite slippery, so models with a steel frame fit better in the hand.
  • iPhone The XR has symmetrical speaker and microphone vents on the bottom edge, while on the iPhone XS, the left vent is interrupted by an antenna.
  • The bezels around the display on the iPhone XR are nowhere near as wide as it might initially seem. Yes, they're wider than the iPhone XS, but unless you have the two phones side by side, you'll barely notice the difference. The only distraction may be the wider bottom edge, but only for those who would switch to the XR from last year's "ten".
  • iPhone The XR is larger than iPhone X/XS, but it's still quite comfortable to use with one hand, which is what the XS is about Max It's impossible to say. In terms of size, it's a great compromise between XS and XS Max, which feels closer to the 5,8″ model, but offers the features of a 6,5-inch iPhone.
  • iPhone The XR supports split-screen functionality in Messages, Mail, and Settings when rotated to landscape mode. It is also possible to set the XR to zoom in, which was previously only possible on the Plus (and Max) models. None of the mentioned functions iPhone XS does not offer.

Finally

So it is better to buy iPhone XR or iPhone XS? At first glance, it may seem like a simple question, but after my own experiences with both models, I know that the answer to it is always different. It depends on your preferences. If you want a phone for everyday use, for classic photography, and you require all-day endurance without limitations, then the iPhone XR is the clear choice. But if you like iPhoneIf you take photos, use advanced photography apps, require a high-quality portrait mode, don't want to get used to the limited replacement of 3D Touch, want a more colorful display with HDR support, and don't mind larger phones, then go for the iPhone XS. Either way, I have to admit that iPhone XS (not counting the model Max) will not have it easy this year and a large part of next year. After all, the XR is basically the same, but by buying it you will save almost 8 thousand crowns, part of which you can buy a wireless charger and accessories for fast charging.

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