If you’re not willing to spring for Apple’s cream of the crop, but you’d like to upgrade from an older iPhone, or even make the switch from Android, then this iPhone competition should interest you. We’re pitting the new iPhone XR against last year’s iPhone 8, the iPhone 7, and the now-discontinued iPhone 6s to find out just what the differences are.
Which iPhone will suit you and your budget best? Find out in this iPhone royal rumble as we compare the specs in various categories and explain what has changed.
Specs
Apple iPhone XR |
Apple iPhone 8 | Apple iPhone 7 |
Apple iPhone 6s |
|
Size | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches) | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches) |
Weight | 194g (6.84 oz) | 148g (5.22 oz) | 138g (4.87 oz) | 143g (5.04 oz) |
Screen size | 6.1 inches | 4.7 inches | 4.7 inches | 4.7 inches |
Screen resolution | 1,792 x 828 pixels (326 ppi) | 1,334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) | 1,334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) | 1,334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) |
Operating system | iOS 12 | iOS 11 (upgradeable to iOS 12) | iOS 10 (upgradeable to iOS 12) | iOS 9 (upgradeable to iOS 12) |
Storage space | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB |
MicroSD card slot | No | No | No | No |
Tap-to-pay services | Apple Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
Processor | A12 Bionic | A11 Bionic | A10 Fusion | A9 |
RAM | 3GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB |
Camera | 12MP rear with OIS, 7MP front | 12MP rear with OIS, 7MP front | 12MP rear with OIS, 7MP front | 12MP rear, 5MP front |
Video | 2,160p up to 60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps | 2,160p up to 60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps | 2,160 at 30 fps, 1080p up to 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps | 2,160 at 30 fps, 1080p up to 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps |
Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 4.2 |
Ports | Lightning port | Lightning port | Lightning port | 3.5mm audio jack, Lightning port |
Fingerprint sensor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water resistance | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 | No |
Battery | 2,942mAh | 1,821mAh | 1,960mAh | 1,715 mAh |
App marketplace | Apple App Store | Apple App Store | Apple App Store | Apple App Store |
Network support | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint | T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint |
Colors | White, Black, Blue, Coral, Yellow, Red | Silver, Space Grey, Gold, Red | Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red | Space Grey, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold |
Price | $750 | $600 | $450 | $400 or less |
Buy from | Apple | Apple | Apple | Discontinued |
Review score | Hands-on review | 3.5 out of 5 stars | 3.5 out of 5 stars | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
Performance, battery life, and charging
With a new processor rolling out every year, Apple steadily improves on power efficiency and performance. The
There’s wireless charging support for the iPhone XR and iPhone 8 and both also support fast charging, though you have to buy a fast charger separately if you want to enjoy it. We didn’t find a big difference between the iPhone 8 and 7 in terms of battery life, but Apple claims that the iPhone XR can last 90 minutes longer than the iPhone 8 Plus, so it clearly has more stamina than the rest of our competitors.
Winner: iPhone XR
Design and durability
From the
After a few years of gradual refinement, the iPhone XR stands out as a bigger shift with a large edge-to-edge display and the same notch you’ll find in the iPhone X, Xs, and Xs Max. There’s no room for TouchID and it continues the glass back trend.
In terms of durability, the
Winner: iPhone XR
Display
Amazingly, the display remained almost entirely unchanged from the
All these iPhones have the same level of sharpness with resolutions that work out to 326 pixel-per-inch (ppi). You are going to be comfortable watching movies, playing games, or reading on any of these displays, but the iPhone XR is the best in terms of size and quality.
Winner: iPhone XR
Camera
All of these iPhones have solid cameras, but there was a significant jump between the
The iPhone XR sports a 12 megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS, which is the same as the iPhone 8’s camera on paper, but the newer sensor is supposed to be faster, according to Apple. It also supports the new depth control in portrait mode for a customizable bokeh effect.
The selfie cameras in the iPhone 8 and 7 are similar, but the iPhone XR boasts the same TrueDepth front-facing camera as the X, Xs, and Xs Max. That’s handy since you’ll need FaceID to unlock it without any TouchID on the device, but it means you’ll be able to enjoy Animojis and Memojis on the new iPhone, too.
Winner: iPhone XR
Software and updates
There’s a new version of iOS every year, but Apple is also very good at updating older iPhones. The iPhone XR will launch with iOS 12 on board, but all of the iPhones we’re comparing here can be updated to iOS 12. The
The current cutoff for iOS 12 is the iPhone 5s, so we expect the
Winner: iPhone XR
Special features
There aren’t a lot of special features to speak of because Apple concentrates on getting the core experience right, but we could highlight that TrueDepth camera again since the XR is the only one here to have it. The extra screen real estate and quality, as well as the new color options, might catch your attention, too.
Winner: iPhone XR
Price
When Apple releases a new iPhone, it always drops the prices on its older models. The
While the rest are widely available now, you can’t pre-order the iPhone XR until October 19, it will ship on October 26.
Overall winner: iPhone XR
Unsurprisingly, the newest of the bunch, the iPhone XR, has more to offer than its predecessors, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best choice for you. If you would prefer a smaller iPhone and you love the classic design and TouchID, then the iPhone 8 is going to be a great buy that could still last you for years. The
If you’re buying now, we think the iPhone XR justifies the extra expense and offers many of the same features you’ll find in Apple’s much more expensive flagships.
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