Read our Apple iPhone XS evaluation.
See all photos.
For more like this.
Take an appearance at pictures from the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
The iPhone 11, which Apple announced in September 2019, is a impressive and fairly affordable handset with a wonderful camera and a quick processor. Those with an iPhone XS from 2018 may question if its time for an upgrade. The iPhone 11 has some fantastic new hardware and a spectrum of enjoyable, luring colors to pick from..
In short, the iPhone XS is still worth holding onto, and if you want an upgrade, I d wait to see what the 2020 iPhone 12 has in store first, or think about the iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max rather. If it comes down to the iPhone XS or iPhone 11, the better choice is the iPhone 11. Note that while Apple ceased the iPhone XS, you can still snatch the device from numerous sellers and providers..
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The updates youll get from updating to the iPhone 11 arent worth dropping the iPhone XS if you currently have it. In addition to all the advantages I previously discussed, the iPhone XS also isnt typically any more affordable than the iPhone 11, regardless of introducing in 2018.
Read our Apple iPhone 11 review.
Note:.
KEEP IN MIND: Longer bars suggest better performance.
iPhone XS has a much better screen, but its barely obvious.
Compared to the iPhone 11s 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone XS has a 5.8-inch display screen and is smaller, thinner and lighter. The screen is technically better on paper too, as in it has a sharper resolution and a greater pixel density (for particular numbers, scroll to the spec chart listed below)..
The iPhone XS also has an OLED screen, whereas the iPhone 11 has an LCD screen. When it comes to seeing videos on YouTube or scrolling through your Instagram feed, you will not discover much a difference with day-to-day usage. As CNET editor Scott Stein noted, “Apple does a fantastic task with its LCD Liquid Retina screen in the iPhone 11. It does not feel like a compromise other than when taking a look at dark images with subtle light details.”.
The iPhone 11 is available in a handful of lively colors that consist of red, yellow, green and purple (the last of which caught the attention of many individuals on Twitter), on top of the basic black and white. The iPhone XS on the other hand, launched in only black, white and gold– and even then some of those colors might not be available from merchants offered their lower stock. While phone colors may be a shallow function to think about, especially when a lot of people slap cases over their gadgets anyway, theres no embarassment in deriving happiness from a fun color.
Winner: Im a big fan of the iPhone 11s candy-colored looks, however the iPhone XS has the edge due to its display screen.
Starting at $699, the iPhone 11 is economical as far as iPhones go. Despite its LCD evaluate not being as high-resolution as the iPhone XS OLED display, the iPhone 11s upgraded electronic camera setup includes Night Mode and an ultrawide-angle lens for dramatic, sweeping shots. The phone is also faster, has a longer-lasting battery and subtle upgrades like a U1 chip keep it in great shape for the future.
Angela Lang/CNET.
Read more: The brand-new 2020 iPhone SE review.
iPhone 11 is faster and has a longer-lasting battery.
Whether youre hanging onto your iPhone XS or considering buying a brand-new one, the XS wont perform along with the iPhone 11. Thats not to say it wont be a dependable and quick phone in and of itself, and with day-to-day use you might not experience any distinction in between the two. Even without almost 2 years of usage to slow it down, a brand name brand-new iPhone XS out of the box still has the older Apple A12 Bionic processor, whereas the iPhone 11 has the A13. Have a look at the benchmark tests below:.
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited.
iPhone 11s electronic cameras provide Night Mode, ultrawide and more.
Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 11 has a much better electronic camera setup. Though both have double rear electronic cameras, Apple switched the iPhone XS telephoto lens for the iPhone 11s ultra-wide lens. That suggests you will not have that 2X telephoto zoom that the iPhone XS had, but youll have the ability to take dramatic wide-angle shots for innovative closeups or sweeping landscapes.
The iPhone 11 likewise features Night Mode, which brightens and catches low-light scenes in impressively clear information. The results are fantastic, and competing other phone makers who have their own nighttime camera modes, such as Samsungs Bright Night, Googles Night Sight and OnePlus Nightscape. You can still capture appropriate low-light photos on the iPhone XS, however theyll be grainer, not as sharp and have more digital artifacts.
Another camera upgrade on the iPhone 11 is Deep Fusion, which enhances photo quality and optimizes details for images taken in medium-light settings, like inside a structure or room. (To see this in action, read CNETs iPhone 11 versus iPhone XR comparison.) Video quality is smoother and more supported on the iPhone 11 as well, and its 12-megapixel front-facing cam is much better too, compared to the iPhone XSs 7-megapixel shooter. You can also record slow-motion video on the iPhone 11s selfie cam, which Apple has sadly branded as “slofies.”.
Winner: The iPhone 11 provides beneficial new cam tricks that raise everyday photos.
Sarah Tew/CNET.
How we evaluated.
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited.
iPhone XS.
Apple doesnt divulge the battery capacity of its phones, third-party teardowns report that the iPhone 11 has a 3,110-mAh battery while the iPhone XS has a 2,658-mAh battery. And during our lab tests for continuous video playback on Airplane mode, the iPhone 11 clocked in 15 hours and 24 minutes, while the iPhone XS lasted 13 hours and 17 minutes.
Winner: With its faster processor and bigger battery, the iPhone 11 is the clear winner.
iPhone 11 prepares you for future tech.
Apples newer iPhone packs a couple of things under the hood that, while not the “sexiest” things to promote, help futureproof the phone in anticipation of future technologies. These include:.
The iPhone 11.
Angela Lang/CNET.
A U1 chip helps the iPhone 11 with “spatial awareness” and allows it to discover other iPhones more precisely in close proximity. The ultra wideband chip likewise lets AirDrop focus on the other device so you can share files quicker. The U1 chip is likewise thought to be laying the groundwork for a long-rumored Apple tile tracker.
Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation of cordless networking. As CNET editor Ry Crist puts it, “Wi-Fi 6 supports quicker leading transfer speeds; lets gadgets send more info with each private transmission … assists in much better, much faster efficiency in thick, crowded environments,” and more. Remember though that you most likely wont see any benefits in your iPhone 11 anytime soon. Wi-Fi 6 was just certified in September 2019 and Wi-Fi 6 routers are costly.
Haptic Touch, which changes the iPhone XS 3D Touch. Apple phased out 3D Touch in 2018, beginning with the iPhone XR.
iPhone 11 vs. iPhone XS.
Note:.
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance.
iPhone 11.
Show size, resolution.
6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792 x828 pixels.
5.8-inch Super Retina OLED; 2,436 x1,125 pixels.
Pixel density.
326ppi.
458ppi.
Dimensions (Inches).
5.94 x2.98 x0.33 in.
5.7 x2.8 x0.3 in.
Measurements (Millimeters).
150.9 x75.7 x8.3 mm.
143.6 x70.9 x7.7 mm.
Weight (Ounces, Grams).
6.84 oz; 194g.
6.2 oz; 177g.
iOS 13.
Mobile software application.
Electronic camera.
iOS 12.
12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide).
12-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (telephoto).
Front-facing camera.
12-megapixel with Face ID.
7-megapixel with Face ID.
Video capture.
4K.
4K.
Processor.
Apple A13 Bionic.
Storage.
Apple A12 Bionic.
64GB, 128GB, 256GB.
64GB, 256GB, 512GB.
Adapter.
Expandable storage.
Earphone jack.
Not revealed.
Fingerprint sensor.
₤ 999 (64GB), ₤ 1,149 (256GB), ₤ 1,349 (512GB).
$ 999 (64GB), $1,149 (256GB), $1,349 (512GB).
₤ 729 (64GB), ₤ 779 (128GB), ₤ 879 (256GB).
If it comes down to the iPhone XS or iPhone 11, the better choice is the iPhone 11. Beginning at $699, the iPhone 11 is budget friendly as far as iPhones go. The updates youll get from updating to the iPhone 11 arent worth dropping the iPhone XS if you already have it. The iPhone XS also has an OLED screen, whereas the iPhone 11 has an LCD screen. And during our laboratory tests for continuous video playback on Airplane mode, the iPhone 11 clocked in 15 hours and 24 minutes, while the iPhone XS lasted 13 hours and 17 minutes.
None (Face ID).
Unique functions.
Water-resistant (IP68); dual-SIM abilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging.
Lightning.
No.
Apple iPhone 11.
Much better in nearly every method.
AU$ 1,629 (64GB), AU$ 1,879 (256GB), AU$ 2,199 (512GB).
Not divulged.
$ 699 (64GB), $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB).
* prices at launch.
Rate (AUD) *.
RAM.
Water-resistant (IP68); dual-SIM abilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging.
AU$ 1,199 (64GB), AU$ 1,279 (128GB), AU$ 1,449 (256GB).
Lightning.
Cost (GBP) *.
None.
Not divulged, however Apple claims it will last 1 hour longer than iPhone XR.
No.
Rate off-contract (USD) *.
None.
Not divulged, but Apple declares it will last 30 minutes. longer than iPhone X.
Battery.
None (Face ID).
Apple iPhone XS.
A keeper if you already have it, but not worth buying now.
