Iphone x, iphone xs / xs max or iphone xr, which one do I buy?

Yesterday afternoon Apple unveiled its new flagship devices for the 2018/2019 academic year: the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max and the "least expensive" iPhone XR. Since then, many people have asked me whether to buy the already discontinued iPhone X, or opt for any of the new models, mainly the XR and XS. I am going to give you my purely personal opinion in case you feel like, at least, consider it.

iPhone X or iPhone XS / XR

It is clear that I am not going to do a boring list of technical specifications here, for this you can visit Apple's own website and inform yourself in detail of everything that each of the different devices offers. However, I will make mention of some specificities.

Let's start from a reality: the iPhone XS is nothing more than an improvement to the iPhone X, and the iPhone XS Max is nothing more than the enlarged XS model. Inside everything is the same (although with a little more battery the largest) so, let's consider them as one, being the difference in size of your screen what will most attract, or not, the end user.

On the other hand we have the iPhone XR, an incredible high-performance smartphone, with a screen of intermediate size between them (6.1 ″), and a price that, although not cheap, is highly attractive (€ 859) and a variety of colors for almost every taste. I think I have already seen the feather duster ?, but let's continue.

Finally, the iPhone X of 2017, practically the same in everything to the XS model, the 5.8 ″ of this year, but "one step behind" in terms of processor and some other details.

Key differences between iPhone XR and iPhone XS

Between the iPhone XR and the rest of the X family there are two essential differences beyond size or release date:

1. Camera. While the Xr model features a single main camera, the rest feature a dual camera setup (wide-angle and telephoto), all with 12MP lens, four-LED True Tone flash, portrait mode, 4K video recording, time lapse, etc., etc. Screen type and quality. IPhone X, XS, and XS Max feature a Super Retina OLED HD display with True Tone, while iPhone Xr offers a Liquid Retina LCD IPS HD display, all with True Tone

From here everything is practically similar between some models and others, being able to describe the differences as simple improvements. For example, the jump in protection against dust and liquids from IP67 to IP68 certification, or the greater capacity of the battery between one model and the other, which will ultimately depend on the use we make.

Some questions to ask ourselves

Now we can ask ourselves some questions that are quite common when someone searches for answers:

• Yes, the 2018 models are faster than the 2017 iPhone X, but are you really capable of perceiving it? I already tell you that no, unless you do a specific test by placing one smartphone next to the other, or are you able to perceive and account for yourself a thousandth of a second? Yes, the X and XS range offers a quality of screen older than the iPhone Xr but are you really able to perceive it individually, without putting one device next to the other? The vast majority of users don't. Is there something you can't do with any of these four models? Definitely not. The vast majority of users will be able to do exactly the same as before with any model: WhatsApp, Telegram, surf the Internet, take incredible photos, make and receive calls, tweet, post on Instagram, watch videos on YouTube, watch series and movies on Netflix in high quality, etcetera and all the etceteras you want.

And clarified the main lines of the differences between one and other iPhone models, is it a good idea to buy the iPhone X from 2017 now? What new iPhone should I buy?

The solution (my solution)

The easy answer is that if you have the money, do with it as you please; as last night my friend Manu said, "from time to time you also deserve a whim". But getting serious, the iPhone X is a high-end smartphone in the long term, that is, except for an unfortunate accident, you can enjoy it at full capacity for at least four years. It is an investment like any iPhone, iPad or Mac. But be careful, because now the price drop begins, and you should look for the best option. On the other hand, do not forget that, being a phone from a year ago, its value will depreciate before the value of current models. Only if you can not avoid having the latest, come on, if you are a fanboy of "Jobsian" religion, you should get the iPhone XS or XS Max to be able to say that you notice its higher speed and higher screen quality, although in deep down you know that's not true.

My totally personal option, based on my tastes and my habits and uses, is the iPhone XR. And of course, I will not deny, that influences the price. Although at first my idea was to jump for the largest device because what I was taking into account most was precisely this factor, the size of the screen, its price has put me back. € 1, 259 for a smartphone? Sometimes I lose my mind a little, but this time it will be not because, as Enrique Dans wrote, “if it falls off and breaks, you will not be disappointed, but instead consider cutting your veins with the resulting pieces of glass"

Regarding the iPhone XS, I see it as a simple improvement, and I have never liked these models, in fact, I have never bought an "S" generation, they seem like a joke. So, if I opted for a 5.8 ″ screen, I would go for an iPhone X and save myself a good pinch, but looking very well at prices, because now there is a lot of smart. Now, if you only consider XS or XS Max, then for a hundred scholars, I would take the Max.

On the iPhone Xr the quality of the screen is spectacular. And with regard to photographs, since I'm not an expert, I honestly do not care, because I know that I will be able to take photos and record better videos than I intended. On the other hand, I come from an iPhone 7 Plus, and before that a 6 Plus, that is, four years with practically the same phone in my hands, so the difference that I am going to notice with the iPhone Xr is going to be brutal. And lastly, I'm tired of black or white phones, I want color and joy in my life, and that iPhone Xr Coral earns points as I look at it the most.

As you can see, there is not a single answer to the initial question, although I have given you my opinion and revealed my choice. Choosing between iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR is really difficult. In the end, that decision will depend on your personal tastes, your habits of use and, obviously, your financial capacity. But do what you have, I am sure you will succeed, because any of the four models are really incredible.