Apple iPhone XS Max

between running apps), and also saying goodbye to the trusty fingerprint recognition.

We’ve been acclimatising to life without the home button since the iPhone X came out last year, and we’re still not convinced it’s for the better. Gestures aren’t as reliable as the home button, and FaceID, which replaces the TouchID fingerprint recognition, relies on you facing the handset head-on. Don’t get us wrong – it’s incredibly clever at recognising you even if you’re wearing glasses or a hat, and works in a dark room – but it’s annoying having to pick up the phone to unlock it every time you’re sitting at a table.

Budding photogs won’t be disappointed with the camera. While it appears to be the same dual 12-megapixel rear camera as last year’s iPhone X on paper, Apple has souped up the image processing considerably, resulting in punchier colours and sharper details. For the first time, you can also adjust the background blur on photos taken with portrait mode after you’ve taken the photo (up to an aperture of f1.4), resulting in subjects that really pop out of the frame.

The XS Max doesn’t have any cool gimmicks like stylus input, reverse wireless charging or unlimited cloud storage. But purchasing an iPhone means buying into the Apple ecosystem – and there’s a lot to like. As well as demanding the lion’s share of shelf space for cases at any retail store, Apple continues to offer the best smart watch (Apple Watch) and wireless earbuds (AirPods).

Apple’s support system is also second-tonone, and should definitely factor into the purchasing decision. Apple is the only vendor that facilitates on-the-spot exchanges in-store for faulty iPhones (within warranty), and it’s the only one with an extended warranty option (AppleCare) that enables users to swap out devices with smashed screens and other accidental damage at a fraction of the cost of repair. APPLE IPHONE XS MAX CRITICAL SPECS