iPhone Models Compared

At first glance, it might look like all iPhones are largely the same – particularly the new XR, XS and XS Max models.

However, the differences between the models, no matter how subtle, do have an impact on the experience you’ll have with your phone.

iPhone XR

The XR is the only new iPhone that offers something a bit different. It follows the same design language as the X and XS: A big edge-to-edge screen, a large, protruding notch and a glass back. And you get the latest A12 Bionic processor, which means it’s just as speedy and smart as the XS and XS Max. However, the XR offers a choice of six colors which are nowhere to be seen on the other iPhones.

Another crucial point of differentiation is the price: The XR costs $750, much more reasonable than the $1,000+ price tags of the XS and XS Max.

However, there are some drawbacks with the XR. For a start, you get an LED display, rather than an OLED. This means you won’t get the same level of contrast on the screen – colors simply won’t jump out on the XR in the way they do on its bigger brothers. You’ll also have to make do with one rear camera. By losing the wide-angle snapper, the XR is unable to replicate the detail found in the photos from the XS or XS Max, and will struggle more in low-light situations. It’s still a good camera, and you get access to Portrait Mode, but it’ll never be quite the same.

Verdict: A compelling, colorful and cut-price alternative to the XS and XS Max.

iPhone XS Review

The iPhone XS is a very, very good phone, oozing quality from its hardware right through to its software and AI smarts. However, it doesn’t feel like a major step forward from last year’s iPhone X. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, really, as Apple tends to launch new phones every other year.

Having said that, the XS still has some welcome upgrades over the X. For a start, it has an improved processor, making everything from gaming to switching apps or unlocking the phone via FaceID even faster and even more seamless.

The processor also improves its AI and machine learning capabilities. This means you get better AR experiences, from games to tools like Measure or apps like IKEA Place.

Verdict – If you already own an iPhone X, it’s probably not worth upgrading. However, if you own any other iPhone, it’s well worth it.

iPhone XS Max Review

Taking everything that was good about the iPhone XS, and there’s a lot which is good about it, and making it bigger. A bigger screen, bigger battery, and naturally, a bigger price tag. It is, on paper at least, the best iPhone.

However, for a lot of people, the XS Max will be simply too big to handle. Reaching to the top corner of the XS is already a struggle at times, and with an extra 0.7-inches of screen real estate, the XS Max is akin to using a small tablet. It doesn’t use the extra screen well, either: Icons and notifications, for example, are simply bigger, rather than more numerous or more information-rich. It feels like a missed opportunity.

To get the extra screen size, you have to pay a $100 premium over the iPhone XS. But as you don’t see any other improvements other than the larger screen, it’s difficult to wholeheartedly recommend. It’s still a great phone, but the XS seems like the smarter choice.

Verdict: Big, bold, but lacking the subtleties needed to make it a great phone.

iPhone XS Max vs iPhone XS

The two most expensive iPhones going head-to-head. Frankly, if you want the best iPhone experience, the XS Max is the phone for you. Its screen is significantly larger, with a higher resolution but no loss of sharpness. You also get better battery life across the board – likely due to the XS Max’s larger case being able to accommodate a larger battery.

However, both phones feature the same camera tech, the same processor and the same software. So, is the XS Max’s bigger screen and longer battery life worth the extra $100? Well, lets put it this way. You’re already spending a grand on a phone – if price is an issue, should you really be looking at the XS? There are loads of good, cheap phones out there.

There is one more caveat, though. The iPhone XS Max is significantly larger than the XS. Dimensions of 6.2x.035×0.3 inches play 5.65×2.79×0.3 with the XS Max and XS respectively. So, if you’ve got small hands, the XS Max might a touch too large.

Verdict: The iPhone XS is fantastic – read our iPhone XS review for more – but if you’re already breaking the $1,000 mark, go big or go home. Get the XS Max.

iPhone X vs iPhone XR

The XR is Apple’s new budget iPhone, coming in at a surprisingly low $749. Given its similarities to the controversially and extravagantly-priced iPhone X, one wonders whether the iPhone XR represents a bit of a bargain proposition.

The XR gives you a larger, but slightly less sharp screen than the X, although the XR’s screen would still be the envy of many non-iPhone users. The iPhone XR only has the one rear camera compared to the X’s wide-angle and telephoto combo, but you get the same 7Mp front camera with FaceID tech. However, as would be expected, the camera tech has been improved on the XR compared to the X, with improved bokeh and depth control features (this should help the foreground stand out in your pictures). You also get smart HDR (high dynamic range) on the XR, compared to the auto HDR on the X – this should, according to Apple, bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

Beyond that, there’s very little to separate the XR from the X. Consequently, the iPhone XR might be the better option for most people.

Verdict: The XR may not have a dual camera, but this cheaper 2018 model is a better value option than the 2017 iPhone X

Which iPhone Has the Best Camera?

iPhones nearly always have good cameras, so we’re pretty confident that whichever iPhone you get will be able to take decent pictures. However, might the introduction of two new dual camera models in the XS and XS Max, as well as the single camera XR, have made the choice more difficult?

Rear cameras

On first glance, the iPhone XS and XS Max seem to have pretty much the same camera hardware as the iPhone X. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR seems to be a bit left behind with its single lens.

Which iPhone has the Best Battery Life?

iPhones normally get slandered for their battery life compared to leading Android models. Given that Apple recently landed itself in hot water for throttling processor speed to preserve dwindling battery life, this isn’t exactly surprising.

Having said that, iPhone battery life is far from bad. Each phone continues to improve, if only slightly, on its predecessors. As battery life varies with how you use the phone, it’s difficult to state which iPhone actually has the best battery life. However:

Which iPhone is the Best Value for Money?

If you want an iPhone and want to pay as little as possible, the aging iPhone SE, launched back in March 2016, is the way to go. The iPhone SE costs just $350. But, we would recommend going for one of the newer iPhones instead.

It’s hard to recommend the iPhone XS or XS Max as value-for-money, given their $1,000+ price tags. However, there’s a good chance that they’ll hold their value for longer, and depreciate slower than the 8 or 8 Plus – so if you come to sell your phone, you’ll have a bit more cash to play with when the next iPhone arrives on the scene.

The iPhone XR probably represents the best value iPhone from new for a while. Costing $749 – which in the grand scheme of things is a lot, but in the scheme of iPhones isn’t very much – the XR is only $150 more expensive than the 8 and looks to be a much better device.

For starters, you get a sizable 6.1-inch screen, a huge upgrade over the 4.7-inch display offered on the iPhone 7 or 8. You also get the new A12 processor, which promises to be speedier and smarter than the A11 unit in the 8, or the A10 unit in the 7. This should keep your phone running quickly for at least the next four years.

The iPhone 8 Plus has, frankly, been usurped by the XR. Only the 8 Plus’ dual-cameras prevent it from becoming obsolete. But if iPhone cameras really matter to you, get the XS.

Verdict: All told, the XR is almost certainly the best value iPhone on sale today. However, you can still pick up the 8 and 8 Plus for less, so these are decent options if you’re looking to get an iPhone on the ‘cheap’.

Is a Refurbished iPhone Worth It?

The only iPhones currently available on Apple’s certified refurbished scheme are the 7 and 7 Plus, and they seem like pretty good value:

• iPhone 7 32GB – $499
• iPhone 7 128GB – $589
• iPhone 7 256GB – $679
• iPhone 7 Plus 32GB – $599
• iPhone 7 Plus 128GB – $689
• iPhone 7 Plus 256GB – $779

We’d steer clear of the 32GB variants of either the 7 or 7 Plus. It simply isn’t enough storage space by modern standards. iOS 11 requires nearly 10GB, while the Facebook app, for example, takes up nearly 300MB – and that’s before it’s cached any data.

The 128GB 7 Plus is the pick of the bunch, but for that price, we’d get a new iPhone XR.