iPhone XS, XS Max, XR first impressions – Apple says goodbye to home button and rolls out ‘budget’ option
The XS Max boasts a 6.5-inch edge-to-edge display but fits easily in the hand, being smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9; the US$749 XR should sell well – but you can easily see where Apple cut costs
Named XS, XS Max, and XR, the first two are iterative updates of the iPhone X. Everything offered on last year's phone – Face ID, OLED display, glass sandwich design, dual cameras – is there, and there’s an improved main camera sensor and new 7-nanometre (7-nm) mobile chipset. The XR, meanwhile, is a “budget” (by Apple standards) variant that uses an LCD display panel and has only one camera.
The XS has the exact same look and dimensions as the original iPhone X, while the Max is a plus-size variant with a 6.5-inch display.
I got my hands on all three briefly, and while the XR should sell the most due to its lower price tag (US$749) and happy-medium screen size of 6.1 inches, I personally am most excited about the XS Max.
With its bezel-less design and curved corners, the 6.5-inch XS Max doesn't feel too big in my hands. It's smaller than a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Apple’s older generation Plus phones.