Apple iPhone XS vs iPhone X: What’s the difference?

Apple iPhone XS vs iPhone X: What’s the difference?

The iPhone XS arrives in a matter of days, and while it might seem excessive (XS-ive?) to consider upgrading from one £999 phone to the next, there are key differences from the iPhone X. They might look identical but the usual annual enhancements promise to pack in more power, improved dynamic range, better photos, and other benefits along the way. So what really sets these phones apart? Let’s break it down.

Design: The same, but gold

The iPhone X was a revolutionary handset for Apple, scrapping the familiar bezel-and-home-button approach for an edge-to-edge display, that divisive notch, and a whole lot of premium polish. Granted, it cost a grand, but somehow it felt worth every penny. The iPhone XS is not a revolutionary handset. It’s seemingly identical from a visual standpoint, aside from the addition of a new gold colour option. Still, what looked great the last time around hasn’t faded after only a year.

Screen: Even more dynamic

Likewise, we’re not expecting much of a difference here. It’s still a 5.8in OLED display at 2436×1125 (458ppi), and can handle HDR footage in both HDR10 and Dolby Vision flavours. Last year’s Samsung-produced panel was an absolute treat, but the XS one should be even better. That’s because Apple has packed in 60% more dynamic range than before, which means much bolder contrast, truer blacks, and more visual pop overall. It’s probably a subtle difference side-by-side, but it’s sure to be a noticeable upgrade over the lower-res, LCD screen of the new iPhone XR.

Cameras: The biggest upgrade?

On paper, the XS has the same dual 12MP camera setup on the back, but speedier sensors and the new Smart HDR feature promise improved highlight and shadow detail to photos, plus better low-light performance. The real show-stopper is the new Depth Control feature, though, which lets you adjust the background blur after shooting. It’s a similar story on the front, with the same 7MP TrueDepth camera enabling all the Face ID wizardry, although Apple claims it’s now faster and more secure.

Performance: More power!

Even a year after its release in the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the A11 Bionic chip is the fastest smartphone processor on the market today. And according to Apple the A12 Bionic tops it. The two performance cores within are up to 15% faster, while the four efficiency cores require up to 50% less power than the A11 Bionic. Apple’s new GPU likewise pumps up the graphics performance, plus the hugely-enhanced Neural Engine allows up to 5 trillion operations per second, a nine-fold improvement.

Battery and perks: Just a smidge more

As for battery life, Apple didn’t provide specs for the iPhone XS pack, but they claim that it’ll last for about 30 minutes longer than last year. Officially, Apple estimates up to 12 hours of internet usage and 14 hours of video playback. It should be a suitable all-day battery with average use. This time around, Apple is offering more storage on the top end, although you’ll certainly pay for it. Along with the 64GB and 256GB options from the iPhone X, the XS also has a 512GB version available. There’s still no expandable storage, mind.

Initial verdict: They’re close

The iPhone XS is the classic Apple revision model: it takes all the new bits from the previous year’s edition and simply refines and enhances them. That’s good news if you held out on the iPhone X, but will make existing owners antsy. At least they look the same so nobody will know which one you own. We’re not immediately convinced that the iPhone XS is worth any great expense or hassle if you’re considering replacing the still-brilliant iPhone X, but we’ll find out for sure once we issue our full review in the near future.