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What are the differences between the iPhone XR and the XS / XS Max, anyway?

We have already covered the fundamental differences between the iPhone X and iPhones XS and XS Max, that… well, not many. How about now, then, compare what distinguishes the new more expensive Apple devices from iPhone XR?

To understand more or less what the iPhone XR is, just think of it as a kind of reincarnation of the iPhone 5c – that is, a device more or less similar to the top of the line at the moment, but with some omissions that make it cheaper and available in a wider range of colors. Here, there are six: white, black, blue, yellow, coral and the special edition (PRODUCT) RED, red.

iPhone Xr red front and back, series (PRODUCT) RED

Fortunately (or unfortunately – some people like it), unlike the 5c, Apple here abandoned plastic and opted for a construction very similar to that of its more expensive brothers, with glass on the front and back of the device. The side is slightly different: glossy stainless steel comes out and a aluminum matte, which gives the pet a more “young” appearance.

The iPhone XR screen is visually similar to the XS and XS Max, with its edge-to-edge design and infamous cutout. In terms of size, it is positioned between the two most expensive devices, with 6.1 inches (the physical size of the device, therefore, also sets in the same way). In addition, we have here, instead of the OLED panel, a screen LCD more “common” and without HDR technology; still, True Tone technology and the wide range of P3 colors are present. The black border on the front is a little bit thicker on the XR, it’s good to note.

The resolution (1792 × 828) and the pixel density (328dpi) are also lower than those found in its more expensive siblings, which led Apple to name the screen Liquid Retina and not Super Retina, as in the XS / XS Max iPhones. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that iOS on the iPhone XR has the same horizontal layout as the iPhone XS Max, with two columns – this is because the two devices have the same logical resolution , with the cheapest model showing the interface elements in 2x and the most expensive in 3x.

In terms of processor, surprisingly Apple has equipped its new “mid-range” smartphone with the same chip A12 Bionic of the most expensive devices. All specifications are the same, which makes the iPhone XR, on paper, a device as powerful as the XS and XS Max – the only information we do not have yet is the amount of RAM in each device, which can affect this supposed performance parity. We’ll keep an eye out.

THE camera The back of the iPhone XR is simpler, with only one sensor. It is the same 12MP wide-angle lens with optical stabilization that equips the other iPhones, but without the company of the second telephoto lens – that is, no 2x zoom here. Apple, however, is doing a kind of magic: even with just one camera, the company is promising a Portrait Mode for iPhone XR entirely based on software; we will even have the depth of field adjustments shown on the iPhones XS. It remains to be seen whether the feature will have the same accuracy as the more expensive devices, of course.

Selfie with iPhone Xr blue

THE frontal camera, in turn, is identical to the iPhones XS, with 7MP and technology TrueDepth – ie, Front Portrait Mode is also guaranteed. Both cameras, front and rear, support the feature Smart HDR and the capture of video it is identical to that of the most expensive iPhones, with 4K recording at up to 60 frames per second, slow motion mode at up to 240 frames per second (in 1080p) and the new stereo audio recording.

Another important difference from the iPhone XR: it does not bring the good old 3D Touch, replacing it with a new feature called by Apple Haptic Feedback – which, in practice, is nothing more than a long press accompanied by a haptic feedback corresponding to what you have “pressing” the screen on the most expensive iPhones (the Taptic Engine is present here, after all). Would it be by cutting costs? Is Apple planning to retire the 3D Touch? This we will have to wait and see.

The device also does not have the new certificate of greater water resistance of the most expensive brothers and has, like the iPhone X and others that preceded it, certificate IP67 – which, in practice, means that it resists 30 minutes submerged in up to 1 meter of water. However, Apple, as with its entire line, does not offer warranty for liquid damage.

On drums, Apple did not release figures, but reported that the iPhone XR lasts 1h30 longer than the plug compared to the iPhone 8 Plus – which has always been a good student in this area, so we can expect another relatively long-lived device. In terms of storage, Apple will offer the device in versions of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB – the impressive 512GB option will be exclusive to the XS / XS Max iPhones.

The differences end here. Other aspects already known to us, such as Face ID, wireless charging support, NFC, Apple Pay and the lack of a headset connector are all identical, and the iPhone XR will bring the same support to Dual SIM most expensive models (with one eSIM worldwide and two physical chips in China).

Face ID on iPhone Xr

The iPhone XR, as we know, is relatively cheaper – and when I say “relatively” it is because its starting price is similar (or even higher) to that of iPhones considered top-of-the-line in the past; the case is that the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017 significantly raised the price level of Apple smartphones. For it, Apple will charge (in the US) from $ 750 – the 128GB version, from $ 800, seems to be the most attractive, while the 256GB will come out for $ 900.

Overall, the iPhone XR seems to me to be a novelty one a little more exciting than the doldrums of the iPhones XS – and could even be a bestseller (although it will only reach the international market in over a month). Do you agree?