Deciding between Apple‘s colorful lower-cost iPhone XR and the premium iPhone XS can be difficult. How do their displays, cameras, and overall performance compare? Which iPhone model gives you better value for money? This in-depth comparison examines all the details.
Overview
The iPhone XR and XS were launched in September 2018, just a year after the radical iPhone X overhaul. While both phones ushered in key improvements like faster processors and better cameras, the iPhone XR stood out as "the most affordable iPhone X yet" with its $250 lower starting price.
But iPhone XS buyers still got rewarded with an OLED display, stainless steel body, dual rear cameras and increased storage. Understanding these and other differences is key to picking the right model for your needs.
iPhone XR
- Lower $599 starting price
- Large 6.1-inch LCD "Liquid Retina" display
- Faster A12 Bionic chip
- Single 12MP wide rear camera
- Portrait selfies via software
- Face ID, Wireless charging
- Aluminum body, IP67 water resistance
iPhone XS
- Premium $999+ pricing
- 5.8-inch 2436×1125 OLED "Super Retina" display
- Same fast A12 Bionic chip
- Dual 12MP wide + telephoto rear cameras
- 2x optical zoom, up to 10x digital zoom
- Stainless steel body, IP68 water/dust resistance
Now let‘s compare these iPhone models across various usage scenarios – if display quality is paramount, long battery life is needed or budget is a concern, which device fits the bill?
Detailed Display Comparison
The larger canvas of the iPhone XR’s 6.1-inch LCD makes it better suited for messaging, browsing and playing games. And its quality is impressive with accurate colors, wide viewing angles and enough detail for most users with a pixel density of 326 ppi.
But side-by-side, the iPhone XS‘s 5.8-inch OLED panel edges out ahead in sharpness and vibrancy. With 458 ppi, Dolby Vision/HDR10 support plus inky blacks and near infinite contrast for true-to-life video quality.
Display Specs Face-Off
| Feature | iPhone XR | iPhone XS |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1-inches | 5.8-inches |
| Display type | LCD "Liquid Retina" | OLED "Super Retina HD" |
| Aspect ratio | 1792 x 828 pixels | 2436 x 1125 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Peak brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Contrast ratio | 1400:1 | Infinite |
| Color gamut support | P3 wide color | P3 wide color + HDR10/Dolby Vision |
Day-to-day, most users would be very happy with the vibrant colors and crisp quality of the iPhone XR’s LCD screen. But those who prioritize display performance for movies, apps and games will appreciate the iPhone XS’s even better dynamic range and clarity.
Benchmarks – Neck-and-Neck Performance
The A12 Bionic chip powering both new iPhones delivers absolutely blistering speeds whether you’re launching apps, multitasking between dozens of Safari tabs or playing intensive 3D games.
As per independent testing by reporters and analysts, both phones benchmark almost identically thanks to having the same processor and graphics architecture. The iPhone XS pulls slightly ahead only in tests that gauge sustained peak performance levels.
iPhone XR vs iPhone XS Speed Test
| Benchmark | iPhone XR | iPhone XS |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (Single-core) | 1738 | 1777 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-core) | 4568 | 4643 |
| 3DMark Wild Life | 8754 | 8795 |
| GPU Frames Per Second | 52 fps | 53 fps |
| Storage Read Speed | 856 MB/s | 862 MB/s |
| Storage Write Speed | 223 MB/s | 188 MB/s |
So whether you pick the iPhone XS or save money with the XR, you are assured of top-tier iPhone performance for years thanks to Apple’s blazing fast A12 chip. Both devices trade blows on most metrics and operate extremely smoothly even under load.
Only intensive games/apps that run for very long durations might reveal the iPhone XS pulling slightly ahead courtesy its extra 1GB RAM (4GB vs 3GB). But the difference is marginal at best for real-world usage.
Optical Zoom Makes the Camera Difference
Casual photographers will find little separating the iPhone XR and iPhone XS‘s photo quality under good lighting. Both capture plenty of detail with accurate colors and exposures.
But zoom in closer and the XS‘s 2x optical (and up to 10x digital) zoom provide a clear edge. The XR relies solely on up to 5x digital zoom, resulting in lower quality at a distance.
iPhone XR vs iPhone XS Cameras
| Feature | iPhone XR | iPhone XS |
|---|---|---|
| Rear cameras | Single 12MP wide | Dual 12MP wide + telephoto |
| Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.8 + f/2.4 |
| Optical zoom | None | 2x optical zoom |
| Digital zoom | Up to 5x | Up to 10x |
| Portrait mode | Via software | Via 56mm tele lens |
| True Tone flash | 6‐LED | Quad‐LED |
For landscapes and group photographs, the minor drop in quality from digital zoom doesn‘t matter much. But the iPhone XS gives you far better control when framing shots of your kids‘ football games or capturing wildlife from a distance. Its 12MP telephoto lens works wonders.
Ultimately, the iPhone XR’s rear snapper still outpaces even premium Android phone cameras. So unless you shoot a ton of video or images needing regular zoom, it produces stunning photos.
Battery – Surprisingly Comparable Endurance
The iPhone XS packs a smaller 2,658 mAh battery versus the iPhone XR’s 2,942 mAh unit. However Apple‘s internal optimizations result in both phones lasting about the same duration day-to-day.
Per Apple‘s testing methodology, you can watch up to 16 hours of video on the XR and up to 14 hours on the XS. While lab tests don’t reflect real-world conditions, independent reviews found usage times were quite similar with both lasting a full day unless you play graphics-intensive games for hours.
Charging times are almost identical too – 30 minutes to hit roughly 50% from empty using an 18W USB PD charger. As Apple doesn‘t provide fast chargers in the box, be sure to purchase one separately if you need to top up in a hurry.
So whether you splurge on the iPhone XS or not, plan on needing to charge nightly with mixed use. Only extreme power users may notice somewhat faster depletion with the XS as the day wears on.
Other Notable Differences
Design and Colors – The iPhone XS carries forward the same design language as the iPhone X, just with a new Gold color option. Meanwhile the colorful palette of the iPhone XR helps it stand out with eye-catching Blue, Yellow, Coral and Red finishes.
3D Touch – iPhone XS retains Apple’s pressure-sensitive 3D Touch technology that enables deeper press-based UI actions compared to the long press gestures on iPhone XR.
Water Resistance – Both phones carry strong IP67 or IP68 dust/water protection. But the iPhone XS is rated to survive submersion in 2 meters for 30 minutes versus 1 meter rating for the iPhone XR.
Storage Options – The iPhone XS offers 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities while iPhone XR buyers are limited to 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations.
Bottom Line – What Should You Buy?
The iPhone XS is undoubtedly the "best" iPhone money can buy if you want absolutely top-tier display quality, optimal zoom from its dual cameras and don‘t mind the $250+ premium over the iPhone XR. Future-proof storage options up to 512GB are a bonus too.
But for most buyers, the iPhone XR is clearly the smarter pick. You get the same blazing fast A12 Bionic performance, great single rear camera lens for everyday shots plus incredible battery optimizations – all for at least 20% less.
Unless you watch a ton of HDR movies/shows where the display differences are more apparent or require 2x lossless optical zoom, the iPhone XR is the obvious choice offering fantastic user experience for hundreds less. Pick your favorite color and enjoy big savings without major compromise.
