By Joanna Stern
Dear reader,
I write to you with a serious iPhone review predicament.
Imagine Goldilocks only tested the cold and hot porridges and
never found the one that was "just right." Her life might have been
entirely different. That's how I feel about testing the iPhone XS
and XS Max -- without the iPhone XR -- for the past week.
In case you missed it or just forgot, here are the basic
differences:
-- iPhone XS: An upgrade to the 5.8-inch iPhone X from last
year. It still starts at $1,000 and begins shipping Friday, Sept.
21. (The original X is gone. RIP.)
-- iPhone XS Max: A giant version of the XS with a 6.5-inch
screen -- Apple Inc.'s biggest-ever phone display. It starts at
$1,100 and also ships Friday.
-- iPhone XR: A new model that doesn't have the two-camera
system and vibrant OLED screen, but does have a slightly larger
6.1-inch LCD screen and apparently better battery life. It starts
at $750 and ships on Oct. 26.
Sure, Apple's monthlong shipping gap might be a result of
manufacturing timelines, or it might be a psychological trick to
get you to buy the more expensive models out right now. Whatever
the case, after in-depth testing of the new XS and XS Max models, I
do have some direction for you.
With subtle but strong improvements over last year's X, (subtle,
that's what the S stands for, right?) the XS and XS Max are
fabulous phones. But we've hit a point where every smartphone is
great -- it comes down to what you want and what you want to
spend.
With that, I present a choose-your-own-adventure iPhone XS and
XS Max review. Choose which iPhone features matter to you most,
ignore Apple's time frame and make your decision from there.
Big Screen
If you want a ginormous screen on an iPhone, the XS Max's
beautiful 6.5-inch OLED display is here for you. Surprisingly, the
XS Max is about as large as the older iPhone Plus models -- its
screen just covers more of the phone's face. The only way I could
make the Max look small was to put it in the hand of Gheorghe Mure
an, who shares the record for tallest basketball player in NBA
history. (See my video review above.)
Taking photos, watching videos, FaceTiming, Fortniting, even
writing emails felt more immersive on the big phone. But two things
hold me back from going to the Max.
1. Apple isn't doing enough to take advantage of all the extra
space. The Max just feels like a blown-up iPhone, when it could be
a new sort of computer. Unlike Samsung's Galaxy Note or even
Apple's iPad, you can't place apps side by side or float a video in
the corner.
2. One-handed use is a struggle at times with smaller hands,
especially typing -- even with Apple's "reachability" trick that
lets you shift the screen down when needed. The XS is more of a
"just right" fit for my hand and pocket. Even the XR felt much
smaller than the Max.
Both the XS and XS Max have what Apple says is "the most durable
glass in the world." That said, my XS Max review unit cracked after
a minor fall onto wood. All these glass slabs still need
protection.
Big Battery Life
The XS Max's battery life also makes it tempting. It generally
lasted one to two hours longer during the day than my X. (As a
heavy smartphone user -- yes, I'm working on it -- I typically
charge my X midafternoon to carry me till bedtime.) In my video
streaming tests, the XS Max streamed Netflix for nearly 13 hours;
the XS lasted 10.5 hours and the older X went just 9.5 hours.
But the XR might outlast them all. According to claims on
Apple's website, the XR will last 1.5 hours longer than the 8 Plus
model -- and it's rated to have longer battery life than the XS Max
when it comes to internet and video usage.
I would also like to note that all these iPhones come with the
same dinky 5W charger that's come with iPhones for the last 10
years. Use a faster charger, or else you'll wait hours for your
fancy iPhone to juice up.
Big Camera
If you are upgrading from any of the smaller iPhones of the past
few years, the XS and XS Max cameras will be a big leap. (Both XS
models have the new dual cameras.) If you're considering going from
the X or the iPhone 8 Plus to the XS because of cameras, though,
it's more of a mini hop.
The neatest trick is the new advanced depth control in portrait
mode. With this effect, you can simulate the artistic blur around
your subject that photographers call bokeh. But I found that the
phone still can't always get the blurring right around the edges of
certain objects. The smart HDR feature and new sensors did make for
a more even and clear photo when shooting almost directly into
brighter lights -- plus crisper, more colorful low-light shots --
but overall my photos looked similar to the ones I've taken with
the X. In many cases, they were not as good as shots I've taken
with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or Google Pixel 2.
What is noticeable? Autofocus and launching the camera on the XS
models are speedier than on the X. Apple's new A12 Bionic processor
also made augmented-reality apps on the XS feel less jittery.
Everyday actions are faster, too -- even just pressing the reply
button in the Gmail app. The XR will have the same processor.
The Face ID system on the front of the phone was also faster and
worked better in tough situations, like when I'm lying in bed, but
it still struggles with one pair of my sunglasses. (Luckily, iOS 12
lets you add a second face or look.)
Newest iPhone
Oh, you'd upgrade to the newest iPhone even if Apple only
changed the color of the volume button? Don't worry, this is a
judge-free zone.
Still, unless you are in an iPhone upgrade program or absolutely
dying for that Max screen, don't jump from the X to the XS. Going
back to last year's model, I missed the speed boost a bit, but not
enough to drop another grand or more. (That said, upgrading to iOS
12 will also speed up certain things, especially on older
phones.)
I realize this review may not have answered all your questions.
Don't blame me, blame Apple...and keep your wallet closed. See you
in a month with the XR review.
All the best,
Joanna
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 18, 2018 06:14 ET (10:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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