During the launch, Apple slipped in the iPhone XR along with the premium XS and XS Max versions. Well, we all know iPhone XS range is expensive, and not many would be keen on such offerings. However, to reclaim market share, Apple decided to make the move to launch a cheaper alternative this 2018 – iPhone XR Singapore.
The iPhone XR is slated to release in October and most importantly, it’s the cheapest iPhone released this 2018. The release date was set on 26 Oct 2018. (preorder from 19 Oct 2018)
Will this be a game changer? Why would a phone with the same features as the XS, be priced cheaper?
We have Youtubers in different opinions.
We answer all your important questions about the XR and the XS in this comparison article.
The Display and Screen of iPhone 10R
You would think, being the cheaper phone, the XR would have a smaller display. But on the contrary, the XR has the bigger screen.
The XS has a screen size of 5.8 inches while the XR is 6.1 inches.
But the XR’s domination ends here.
The XR’s screen is an LCD which is a big downgrade from the XS’ OLED screen. An OLED screen in terms of picture quality and colour is way better than an LCD.
The bezels are thicker on the XR with a screen to body ratio of 79% and the XS has a screen to body ratio of 82.9%. This is not a major difference.
Another big drawback on the XR is that it can’t play 1080p videos. This is a huge setback as 1080p has become pretty standard, so if you watch a lot of content on your phone, you are likely to notice this void in the XR.
One more missing piece on the XR is the lack of 3D Touch technology, which means a lot of gestures and long press based popups will be amiss.
If you are obsessed about displays, then the XR lacks quite a few important features. If you aren’t particular, then the lack of features won’t make a difference to you.
Design, Finish and Colour Options
The XS is made of stainless steel and the XR is made of aluminum. The stainless steel finish is a bit more premium compared to the aluminum. But to the untrained eye, the difference isn’t clear.
The XR has an IP67 rating while the XS has an IP68, which basically means the XR can be submerged underwater for 30 minutes up to a depth of one meter while the XS can be underwater for 30 minutes up to a depth of 1.5 meters. Again, not a difference most users should care about.
The colours are a big game changer. The cheaper XR has more colour options than the XS.
The XR comes in White, Black, Blue, Yellow, Coral, and Red.
While the XS comes in Space Grey, Silver, and Gold.
If you are tired of the traditional colours of the iPhone, the XR’s colour options look very enticing.
Chipsets, RAM and LTE
Both the XS and the XR run the latest A12 Bionic chipset. This is a big win for the XR.
The RAM for the XS is better than the XR because of the former having a 4GB RAM while the latter has a 3GB RAM. This difference in RAM is definitely palpable in terms of multitasking and when playing games with high graphics.
The XS beats the XR hands down but having said that the iPhone X also had a 3GB RAM and it was the fastest iPhone when it was released.
Another missing component in the XR is the lack of 4G Cat LTE that is available in the XS.
Cameras
At the face of it, the camera race has won by the XS because of its dual camera setup whereas the XR has a single rear camera.
XR’s camera
XS’s camera
But the difference is minimal.
The primary back camera for both the phones is the same. It’s a 12MP camera with Optical Image stabilisation (OIS), Quad-LED True Tone flash and Portrait Lighting.
The second camera in the back for the XS is a 12MP telephoto lens with a 2x optical zoom. This is missing in the XR.
The selfie camera for both the phones is again the same, being a 7MP ‘Truedepth’ camera.
Both the XR and the XS have the SmartHDR feature and the XR has the portrait feature without a need for a dual camera.
To summarise, the only difference between the XR and the XS camera’s is the presence of the 12MP telephoto lens with an optical zoom. If you aren’t a professional photographer, you wouldn’t know the difference in image quality. Although the difference in the optical zoom is real. For the XR, you’ll need to move closer to to the object while taking a photo.
Battery
This might come as a shock to many, the XR has a bigger battery than the XS.
The iPhone XR has a 2942 mAh battery and the iPhone XS has a 2,658 mAh. A clear difference. And with a cheaper LCD display that consumes lesser power, it’s safe to say the XR’s battery trumps the XS’
The Pricing
The clear winner is the XR, but you already knew that. So how cheaper is the XR compared to the XS.
The 128GB XR is cheaper than the 64GB XS by over S$250. For a phone with more internal memory, the XR is cheaper.
This price difference is big and it will most likely affect the sales of the XS phones.
iPhone XR – Apple’s Android Killer
Apple has never competed with Android devices. They have set the tone and the standard for smartphones in the world. Their prices have only gone up while the features have improved.
But, the XR is different. It’s Apple’s answer to Android flagships. By making the phone more affordable, they truly compete in the smartphone environment
The XR is sure to cannibalize the sales of the XS and the XS max, but like the late Steve Jobs said: “If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will”.
So when it comes to choosing between the iPhone XS and the XR, it’s a simple choice.
If you want the best of the best and you are willing to pay a high price, then the XS is a good option. But if you choose practicality and want a good phone at a great price, the clear winner is the XR.
The XR’s colour options are admirable, the build and design are almost the same as the XS. The internal storage of the XR is more for a cheaper price. The RAM and Cameras for the XS are slightly better but not in a way that will affect the performance or quality of the photos.
The better battery life and finally the price seals the deal for the XR as the much better phone.
If you are looking to move to an iPhone from an Android or want to upgrade from a 6 or a 7, the iPhone XR Singapore should be your next choice.
Check out our iPhone XS Review.
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