The new iPhone XS and XS Max are finally here! If you followed the #AppleEvent, you would’ve heard of the features, cost, what to expect and when you can buy one.
The anticipation is over, Apple has finally released the new iPhone XS and XS Max after all the rumors and leaks we finally have a new iPhone series and like most people expected, it’s amazing. There are actually three choices available to users, the iPhone XS, XS Max, and the iPhone XR. The new iPhone XS and XS Max went on sale globally at all Apple Stores on the 21st of September while the iPhone XR will be available for purchase on 26th October with pre-orders from 19th October.
No doubt iPhone X saw Apple make a great stride and welcomed users to the new era of iPhones. At a glance, the new iPhone XS looks just like the iPhone X from 2017 and this is no surprise as Apple choose to build on it. So think of the new iPhone XS as a direct upgrade of the iPhone X. Now the real question on most people’s mind is; aside from the name change, what else is new with the 2018 iPhone model?
The highlight of the features available on the new iPhone XS and XS Max are;
- A12 Bionic processor
- IP68 rated
- Updated 12MP cameras
- Adjustable depth of field in photos
- 512GB storage option
- Dual-SIM
Now let’s go into full details of what you’ll get in the new iPhone 2018.
Features of the new iPhone XS and XS Max
As we already hinted, most design and specification features of the new iPhone XS and XS Max are the same with that of iPhone X. The existing cases (for iPhone XS) fits, buttons, and port are also the same.
Screen
The new iPhone XS max saw a drastic increase in Apple’s iPhone screen size. It packs an amazing 6.5in Super Retina (OLED) display. The water-resistance on the 2018 iPhone improved to IP68 from last year’s IP67, the new iPhone XS price has been tested on salt water, wine, beer, and even on tea. It can survive being submerged at 2m depth for up to 30 minutes. Both the new iPhone XS and XS Max screens have 3D touch, a 120Hz touch layer, tap to wake and 625 nits max brightness.
Performance
The new iPhone XS and XS Max are powered by the new Apple A12 Bionic processor. The new engine runs on an octa-core chip and has the ability to process 5 trillion operations per second. In layman’s term, the new iPhone XS and XS Max could potentially launch apps at 30 percent times faster than the iPhone X. This new speed means you get faster controls and sensitivity from some apps and features like the FaceID.
Camera
The new iPhone XS and XS Max come with an improved camera with smart HDR which is a major upgrade from the 2017 iPhone X. Even though it retained the same 12-megapixel from the iPhone X, its image sensors and algorithm was updated.
Hardware
The battery capacity of the new iPhone has been improved compared to previous models of iPhone. The 2018 iPhone (XS and XS Max) has the best ever battery in an iPhone with over 30 minutes extra runtime compared to iPhone X for the XS and an amazing 90 minutes extra for the XS Max.
Dual SIM was also introduced with the new iPhone XS and XS Max. However, only the Chinese model of the new iPhone has a true dual SIM physical slot. Other models which will ship to other countries have eSIM feature. This is new for iPhones but Apple has been using it for the Apple Watch and iPads.
New iPhone XS and XS Max prices
The new iPhone XS 5.8-inch comes in space grey, gold and silver colors and the prices ranging as follows; 64GB US$999, 256GB US$1149, 512GB US$1349.
The new iPhone XS Max 6.5-inch comes in space grey, gold and silver colors and the prices ranging as follows; 64GB US$1,099, 256GB US$1,249, 512GB US$1,449.
Some observations with the new iPhone
The new iPhone XS and XS Max are beautiful, bigger, with some great new features but definitely expensive. The enormous screen of the iPhone XS Max is gorgeous, good for watching videos or photos but makes it heavier and larger in your pocket.
Some users have made complains about the new iPhone some complaints have been left unresolved from previous models. Users have complained about the wireless charging and the standard wired charging as being slow. Even with the exorbitant price of the USB-C fast charger, users were still complaining of its slowness. Another complaint is that there are problems with the LTE and WiFi connectivity with the new iPhone XS and XS Max. Users say the WiFi speed and signal was slower compared to iPhone X. So far they’ve been no response from Apple but we’re carefully monitoring the developments.