Last year Apple launched the iPhone X, it didn’t just release a new phone, it presented a new vision of what iPhones should be. The fact that the X became Apple’s top-selling model quarter after quarter was proof that people were embracing change. Now, we have the arrival of the new iPhone XS and XS Max.
The new XS models represent Apple at the top of its hardware game, and if you buy either of them, you probably won’t need to upgrade for quite a while. They’re that good. The bigger question here is whether the iPhone XS and XS Max are must-own devices, and that’s where things get complicated. Before we can divine an answer to that question, though, we need to understand what makes these iPhones as valuable as they are.
Pros
First-rate build quality
Excellent performance
Helpful camera improvements
iOS 12 is fantastic
Slightly more durable than the iPhone X
Cons
Still very expensive
Minute design changes mean old cases might not fit well
Incremental battery gains
They’re very nice phones but I can’t help but think I would buy one, play with it for a day, and then think “Why the hell did I spend £1100 on this?”. I have always paid for the iPhone rather than the expensive contact for the phone.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max key features at a glance
Release date September 21 (pre-orders open now)
5.8-inch/6.5-inch Super Retina OLED screen
iPhone X-style ‘notch’
Improved Face ID
No physical home button
Faster Apple A12 Bionic 7nm SoC
Dual-camera with completely new sensor
IP68 water- and dust-resistant (up to 2m for 30 minutes)
Gold, silver and space grey colour options
iOS 12
