Last night (September 12), Apple had their annual hardware event where they announced a trio of new iPhones alongside other new devices that will be on the market soon after the announcement.
The new flagship iPhones, the XS, XS Max, and XR, feature hardware upgrades like a new chipset and better durability and performance, but so far they aren’t standouts compared to previous models like the iPhone X or even the 8.
The iPhone XS and it’s plus version the XS Max are a newer iteration of the iPhone X. The iPhone XS Max features a 6.5-inch OLED display, the biggest screen ever on an iPhone. This is compared to the regular XS with a screen at only 5.8 inches. In terms of specs, the iPhone XS and XS Max are identical, both having Apple’s latest A12 bionic chipset.
iPhone XS Specs
- 5.8″ (2436 x 1125) OLED display
- 143.6mm x 70.9mm x 7.7mm
- 177 grams
- Dual 12 megapixel back cameras
- 7 megapixel true depth camera module
- FaceID
- A12 Bionic chip
- IP68 water resistance
- Wireless charging
- 3D Touch
- Starts at $999
iPhone XS Max Specs that differ from the XS:
- 6.5″ (2688 x 1242) OLED display
- 157.5mm x 77.4mm x 7.7mm
- 208 grams
- Starts at $1099
Already there has also been some controversy over the prices of these new models. The iPhone XS starts at $999 for a 64GB version, while the 64GB iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099. With the XS Max being Apple’s most expensive iPhone ever and not much to be said in terms of upgrades or redesign, Apple fans are hesitant to shell out a cool $1099 for something so big that isn’t even that different from its previous iterations.
Method of payment for the new iPhone XS and XS Max#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/EdvfZ6qMkR
— Komolafe Daniel (@Danphy6X) September 13, 2018
The XR, however, is supposed to be a more affordable take on the iPhone X. The “edge-to-edge” cuts down the pricetag of the original X by using an LCD display instead of the OLED one found in the iPhone XS. The only areas where it drastically differs from the XS and XS Max are the single camera module and its lack of 3D Touch. Its body is also made of aluminum, where the XS is stainless steel.
The XR’s specs are as follows:
- 6.1″ (1792 x 828) LCD display
- 150.9mm x 75.7mm x 8.3mm
- 194 grams
- Single 12 megapixel back camera
- 7 megapixel true depth camera module
- FaceID
- A12 Bionic chip
- IP67 water resistance
- Wireless charging
- Starts at $749
Pre-orders for the XS and XS Max will start on September 14 and be shipped September 21. The XR will arrive later, around October 26.
By Daniëlle Kruger
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