The XR has the latest buttonless iPhone design, similar to the iPhone XS, but without the big bucks asking price. Small compromises can save big bucks
Dubbed the everyman phone for iPhone users, the iPhone XR might sit at the bottom of the new iPhone X range, but that’s not to say it should be overlooked. It’s still got a powerful processor, large screen and a great camera.
The iPhone XR does make a couple of compromises compared to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max — it has an aluminium core rather than stainless steel, an LCD display rather than OLED, and just the one camera lens rather than a pair — but otherwise it promises to deliver all the power of the iPhone X range.
For those who might not want to part with £999 for the iPhone XS, is the XR the iPhone you should be getting? We’ve been living with the new iPhone — in a fetching yellow finish — to find out. Best pre-order Apple iPhone XR deals
Pre-order the iPhone XR from Carphone Warehouse and get a free £40 Currys PC World voucher
Bright colour design stands out Six colour options: white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (Product) Red Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm All glass and aluminium design Single lens camera on rear IP67 rated
Bright and colourful, the Apple iPhone XR is a playful device in comparison to the more serious iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models. Available in six new finishes — comprising white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (Product) Red — it’s the blue and yellow ones that stand out as the most desirable. The coral is very hit and miss, as it’s neither orange or salmon. Pocket-lint
The iPhone XR features the same design language as its more premium siblings, with an all-glass back and a notched screen dominating the front (yes, that black-out dip in the screen, as introduced in the 2017 iPhone X). It delivers this with an aluminium frame, making it slightly thicker than the XS models — although the thickness isn’t noticeable in the hand, only that it’s a smaller device than Max model — and it has a slightly lower IP rating too at IP67.
There is a single lens camera on the rear, while hidden beneath the glass cover is wireless charging. Like its predecessors, the iPhone XR is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. If you prefer the speed and convenience of wired then there’s still the Lightning port on board for at-the-plug charging — that’s default anyway, as there’s no wireless charger included in the box. Apple iPhone XR vs iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: What’s the difference? Apple iPhone XS vs XS Max vs iPhone XR: What’s the difference?
We think the iPhone XR is likely to appeal most to iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users who are looking to upgrade. By comparison the new and more colourful iPhone is a huge step forward. The buttons and large bezel have gone, giving you more phone for the form factor. The phone itself is only slightly smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus, but noticeably bigger than the iPhone 7, striking that happy mid point. A bigger LCD display 6.1-inch LCD display, 1792 x 828 resolution (326ppi ‘Liquid Retina’) True Tone and Haptic Touch (not 3D Touch)
The Apple iPhone XR has a ‘Liquid Retina’ display — read that as an LCD display if you step away from Apple’s language. Or look at it this way: it’s not the ‘Super Retina’ OLED display that you’ll find on the new XS models. Pocket-lint
Now, if you’re looking to upgrade from the iPhone 6,7, or 8 ranges, then LCD is what you’ve been using all along. The XR’s pixel density is the same as the iPhone 6,7 and 8 too, so clarity is one and the same.
This panel also caters for the P3 wide colour gamut, meaning strong blacks and good colour vibrancy, while True Tone technology uses sensors to change the screen colour according to the ambient light in the room (in the same way as many of Apple’s other screens) for greater eye comfort.
The iPhone XR does lose 3D Touch, marking one of the few areas Apple has compromised to drive costs down. The technology was introduced on the iPhone 6S as Apple’s answer to a pressure sensitive display, allowing for various features depending on the force with which you press.
But not all is lost, for the XR replaces 3D Touch with Haptic Touch. This works in the same way as the trackpad on an Apple MacBook — making you think you are moving something even though you aren’t. It doesn’t offer the same functionality as 3D Touch — you can’t press down hard on an app icon and be presented with shortcuts for example — but given 3D Touch struggled to catch on, we’re not sure many will miss it or even know it existed in the first place. Pocket-lint
There are still some concessions to those who like long-pressing on the screen. You’ll be able to ‘fake 3D Touch’ the camera and flashlight/torch icons on the homescreen and settings within Control Center. And for those who use the cursor on the keyboard when typing you’ll now have to long-press on the spacebar instead. It’s a strange omission, and one that’s only going to reduce developers developing for 3D Touch in the future.
Mobile HDR is another feature absent from the iPhone XR, so no high dynamic range compatibility for available content. The iPhone XS and XS Max both offer Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, hence being a step above. So while the XR will do its best to deliver an ‘HDR-like experience’, it’s not the real deal. That means you’re Smart HDR pictures aren’t going to pop as much when viewing on screen, nor will you be able to see as much detail on a dark TV show or movie that’s available in HDR. Performance A12 Bionic processor Same power as iPhone XS and XS Max 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models (no 512GB option)
The Apple iPhone XR might compromise in a couple of areas, but power and performance are most definitely not one of them. The XR runs on the same A12 Bionic processor as the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, which means it has plenty of power for running augmented reality apps, playing graphically demanding games, processing photographs or 4K video, or simply managing day-to-day tasks. Pocket-lint
In our hands-on at the launch event at Apple Park we had a brief play on Blades, a new game from Bethesda. Dripping with lighting effects and textures, the iPhone XR was more than capable of handling this gaming heavyweight.
Since getting the phone in the office we’ve been playing Fornite and Asphalt 9 to put it through its paces with no issues whatsoever. Having extensively used the iPhone XS prior to testing the iPhone XR, it’s clear there is no difference in terms of processing power or capabilities. The experience hasn’t been subdued in terms of power or performance.
Apple claims the iPhone XR will last 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus in terms of battery life, which should give you more than enough charge to last a day. During our use the battery has certainly lived up to those claims. Unless you’re performing really demanding tasks, like long stints of gaming. Light use would easily see you get through the day and a good way through day two as well. Pocket-lint
Like the XS range the XR also supports Dual SIM using eSIM for the second SIM. The feature isn’t enabled yet, but we’ll make sure we test it out when it goes live, presumably when iOS 12.1 software arrives. The single rear camera still delivers 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture wide-angle lens, 1.4µm pixel size Smart HDR and Portrait Mode with Depth Control 7-megapixel front facing Face ID camera
The iPhone XR features a single lens camera sensor on the rear. No dual-lens offering here. But don’t let that put you off — because the iPhone XR still offers plenty in the camera department. 1/11 Pocket-lint
For starters, the wide-angle view and sensor is the same as found in the XS models, offering optical image stabilisation, wide colour capture for photos, and Live Photos.
