Apple iphone XS & XS Max
New phone models keep Apple’s core appeal
Let’s deal with the name first. It’s capital X, small-capital S. But how do you write that using normal fonts? In Apple’s first press release, it was Xs (lower-case s). Within a day, that was corrected to XS (upper-case S). And in case you were wondering, it’s pronounced ‘S’. The X is still pronounced ‘ten’. In a New Zealand accent, by our reckoning, that makes this the iphone Tennis.
The rest of us will still think of it as the iphone Excess. At £999, at least it’s no pricier than last year’s iphone X (see our review, Issue 517), which, having been discontinued, is now the iphone Ex. But then this is basically the same phone, with the tall 5.8in screen and the ‘notch’ at the top containing the front camera and the Truedepth sensors, which allow it to unlock when it sees your face.
So what’s new? Well, it’s even more waterproof, and – we’re told – a little tougher. It comes in Gold as well as Silver (with a white back) and Space Grey. There’s an even faster A12 processor inside – so fast that on some measures it beats a Mac Pro desktop computer. The Mac Pro starts at £2,999. So you see, the iphone XS is actually cheap! Not really. Nobody needs a processor this fast in a phone.
We’d be more persuaded by the further improved rear dual cameras (pictured left). Both are optically stabilised, and they take absolutely lovely pictures and 4K video. The front camera now has stabilisation too, and uses Truedepth to enhance the adjustable blurred-background ‘portrait’ effect. All these features match the larger XS Max, so for the first time you can choose your iphone purely on the basis of size, not options.
For an extra £100, the 6.5in Max is almost a tablet, but its narrow shape is manageable, and you get longer battery life. The XS lasted 12 hours 45 minutes in our video-playback test, and the Max 14 hours 20 minutes. Not the best around, but better than previous iphones. Both have equally ultra-sharp HDR AMOLED screens, which look fantastic.
To avoid pricey network contracts, Apple offers 20 months’ credit, or if you add Applecare+ for £199 you can opt for the Upgrade Programme, giving you next year’s new model when it appears, all at 0 per cent interest (see www.snipca.com/29288). But however you pay, it’s a lot of money. The first iphone cost £269. Just replacing the XS’S screen costs £283 (£327 for the Max).
SPECIFICATIONS
5.8in 2436x1125/6.5in 2688x1242-pixel screen • 2x 12-megapixel rear cameras • 7-megapixel front camera • 64GB flash storage • 802.11ac Wi-fi • Bluetooth 5.0 • IOS 12 • 144x71x7.7/158x77x7.7mm (HXWXD) • 177/208g • One-year warranty www.snipca.com/29286 VERDICT These are amazing devices, but habe become so expensive that carrying one starts to feel more of a worry than a treat ★★★★ ★
ALTERNATIVE
iphone XR £749 This cheaper option hasas a lower-resolutionon screen and single camera. We’ll test it in our next issue
No big leap forward, but improved speed, camera and battery